Relax and enjoy is exactly what I did. After I blogged last night, I went promptly to sleep. Woke once thru the night but right back to sleep and woke and dozed around 6am. Think it was more to do with the sun coming through the blinds. I rolled around until 7ish and got up as I thought I heard voices so thought coffee would be happening.
I was the first one up, so just sat outside (jaja bet you all can't say that early in the morning unless your bundled up!) (FYI jaja is Mexislang for haha) doom scrolling and actually catching up on things I have missed. Was just a nice relaxing morning. Lilia was the first to get up and she instantly got coffee going for me. I have to say it was the best cup of coffee I have had in a long while. Hard to believe that I only had a shitty half cup the first morning, otherwise I have gone without this whole trip and better yet I haven't killed anyone! Lyle eventually got up and joined us and we sat and talked over coffee. Then Lilia started pulling things out for breakfast. Fresh fruit and they enjoyed some cheese croissants and pizza buns I brought from Canada. While we were talking their son Danny came home and I got to meet him. Very polite young man and nice to meet him also. He was going away with his girlfriend to another state for the festivities today.
Lilia was amazed with all my craft making and says she wants one of everything. I told her we could figure it out and I can courier it to her, or just bring it next trip. She reminds me of a Spanish version of the Italian grandmother/mother who is always trying to get you to eat. Italian - Spanish close enough I guess. She is a super nice lady, very friendly, little bossy and I'm so happy that Lyle found such a wonderful person to be in his life. She was telling me today that she had been to Progreso 35 years ago and that she's sure so much has changed since. I told her to figure out some time and come for a visit to the beach. She said really, of course, you are more then welcome to come for a visit, you welcomed me into your home, I can welcome you also. She looked at Lyle and I have a feeling they may talk about it after I leave.
I got ready, and we headed off to a popular town an hour away, San Miguel de Allende. We knew it was going to be busy due to the festivities but we didn't realize how busy. The drive over was easy enough but once you approached the old part of town it was super narrow cobblestone lanes that you were just squeezing 2 vehicles thru. The parkade was out of a nightmare (it could have had to do with the capacity of cars that they were pushing in.) When you came up the ramp (which was very steep) you had to crank hard to the left, back up, and crank again to get around the turn to the next level. Now along this straightaway, they had cars parked to the side, if they weren't there you may have been able to do it in one very sharp turn. This we did 4 times to get to the top where there was available space. We parked, walked down 4 flights and then off we went to wander the town.
It was very congested, the sidewalks super narrow also. Kahlua started off okay but being on a short lead and not being able to run amok and all of the stimuli she became stressed quite quickly. I wasn't going to bother with getting my face painted but Lilia said I should and well I figured when in Rome..... So I sat down to get it done and Kahlua would not settle. The girls in the shop, took turns taking her off for walks down the street and back but of course she wanted to be near me. Due to her restlessness, I decided on just a simple design, instead of doing a full skeletal design or sugar skull to get it finished as quick as possible. We wandered some more and went by the church that was built in the 1600's, very reminiscent of the gothic churches in Europe and Lyle said the only one of its style in Mexico. We wandered thru a couple of galleries with all different styles of art. Saw a couple of beautiful paintings but 1) they were far too much money and 2) I keep telling myself to stop buying anything large, and take it home when I'm just going to bring it back down here eventually. So I walked away from anything I may have liked. I did as requested and got Krystal a prize from the day of the dead, she just has to wait 6 months for it or come for a visit.
We wandered some more and then went for lunch. Kahlua was not settling at all even thou we were in a small quiet courtyard with few other people, so needless to say I ate one handed while holding on to her doing circles under my feet. Lunch was great, I had chicken enchiladas in verde sauce. They were good but mine are better, simply because they don't add sauce to the filling so the chicken is dry. We left lunch and worked our way back to the parkade. Kahlua and I waited at the bottom instead of climbing up 4 stories. As soon as we got in the car she started to settle.
It was a bit of an adventure on the narrow streets to get out on to the main road to head home. One corner was so narrow I though for sure Lilia was going to scrape the rear quarter panel but she pulled it off with an inch or 2 to spare. We got back and Lilia had a nap before making Mexican elote (street corn) as I made the mistake about talking about my version of it that has been nicknamed porn corn cause it is that good. Lilia was first going to stop somewhere in the neighbourhood so that I could try some but we had just eaten, so she decided to make it at home. It was good but the porn corn is better! Lyle and I have spend the evening talking away again and they have finally headed off to bed so that I could finish this and do the same.
I pick up Ismael from the airport in the morning and we will start our journey to Progreso. It should take us 3 days and we will be there on Tuesday. So it has been wonderful catching up and meeting Lilia and Danny but looking forward to the rest of the trip and finally getting settled in Progreso.
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