Shopping

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There are a few shows on T.V. that I love to watch, Castle, Once Upon a Time and Revolution are three that come to mind. I really like the character of Castle and the other two have unusual plots enough to satisfy my “weird” thought process.

I watch a lot of reality shows on H.G.T.V. but the one show I watch that surprises even me is ‘Til Debt Do Us Part’. For those of you who don’t know what the show is about, the star helps couples who are way over their heads in debt. She formulates a 3-part plan to help them get out of debt and improve their relationship. What is my fascination with the show? I have no idea! I am fortunate to owe very little but I have gleaned some tips to help save even more for my passion of travelling. The first step is to live on cash only. She gives them jars with budgeted money for food, clothing, entertainment, transportation etc.

With the modern convenience of debit and credit cards, it is too easy to spend money and not know how much you have spent on any one area. We do track our finances on Quicken, a great financial program but I only look at the bottom line, my balance. This program can also tell you how much you spend on food clothing, entertainment, whatever parimeters you set up.

In Melaque, you pay for everything in cash so this is a perfect opportunity to try out this method. I spend approximately $125.00 per week on food so I took out the equivalent in pesos. Below is the list of most of the items purchased which includes of course, staple items:

1 lb. bacon 1 lb. pork ribs 2 large chicken breasts 1 kg. prawns
1 lb. hamburg 1 kg. dorado fish

Ketchup salt 2 lbs. margarine soy sauce
Bbq sauce ginger green pepper carrots
Onions marmalade olive oil milk
1 ½ dz. Eggs mayo 6 limes 12 plum tomatoes
Grapefruit 1 lb. cheddar cheese cereal tomato sauce
1 kg rice lettuce x 2 4 beefsteak tomatoes 5 avocados
4 small cucumbers

Dish soap scotchbrite pads spray bottle saran wrap
Toilet paper bleach cleaning solution scrub brush
Liquid hand soap

Shopping here is enjoyable. Trying new food items and just interacting with the people. Enjoy the pictures of some of the merchants we frequent.

meat store
the meat store where we purchase the majority of our meat

 

these guys sit here for hours peeling onions and tomatillos
the owner on the right is a wonderful lady.  We shop at her store because she is very honest and has great prices.

 

 

you will find people selling fresh fruit just about anywhere you go

This is the oven that is used for baking.
this is the local bakery. They supply most of the baked goods for the town.

 

 

Trip to Melaque, Mexico

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Sometimes we are so anxious to get to our vacation destinations that we fail to appreciate the trip itself. This year I was determined to enjoy whatever came my way.

Our trip south to Melaque, Mexico, started with visits with some of our family. Thanks to Ron, Heather, Kelly, and Lyn for the warm love and hospitality that they always give.

Our flight to Melaque via L.A. was, for the most part, uneventful. There was a moment enroute to L.A. when the plane shuddered, for lack of a better word. It felt strange. We had never felt turbulence like that before. We found out later that there was another plane ahead of us that caused the turbulence. Our pilot radioed the L.A. tower, asked what the size of the plane ahead of us was, and was told it was a 777. We were on a 737-700. Our pilot responded back to the tower that it would have been good to know that information! He then made the adjustments to avoid the big guy’s backwash.

It was hot and muggy when we arrived in Melaque but we did not care – we were here. Going thru customs in Mexico is funny. You have to push a button and if it turns green, you go straight thru but if it is red then they pull you over and inspect your luggage. I was hesitant to push the button because I seemed to get many red buttons. The customs man assured me that it would be green – he said that again so, I pressed it, and voila, it was green. I was beginning to think that customs controlled the outcome but one theory has it that it is every 5th person or so that gets the red light. I guess I am luckier than most!

Once at our bungalow, the landlords warmly greeted us as usual. We were finally in our winter home.

Our Mexican adventure has begun!

Chilliwack

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I love road trips but when we ended up travelling for over 5 hours and without food for over 9 hours, I must admit that I was getting a little irritable.  By the time we arrived in Chilliwack at 9:30 p.m., I could care less where we ate. Fortune was certainly smiling on us when we found Dakota’s Restaurant.  From the moment we entered, we felt welcomed even though it was a half hour before closing time.  Tawnya, our waitress, assured us that it was not a problem ordering food at this late hour.

We had an excellent meal. Tawnya also helped us with our hotel query, bringing us a telephone book, and making suggestions as to where to stay.

Dustin, the manager, came over to make sure all was well and chatted for a bit, helping us to feel very welcome.

So whenever you are in Chilliwack, make sure you stop at Dakota’s for excellent food, excellent service and great staff.  Thanks again to Tawnya and Dustin.

Cow Bay

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Legend has it that Cow Bay got its name when a dairy farmer brought a boatload of cows to what was then Cameron Cove in 1906. As there was no dock at the time, the cows had to swim to shore. In memory of this event you’ll find businesses such as Cowpuccino’s Coffee House with the black and white cow motif and the same cow motif can be seen on the lampposts, dumpsters and buildings. You could say that Cow Bay has gone to the “cows”.

On the road again

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We drove from Prince Rupert to Prince George today.  The weather was warm and sunny. The views of course were spectacular, snow-capped mountains, and waterfalls created by the melting snow. I don’t think there is anything to compare with this section of highway, the scenery seems different each time – it all depends on the weather. We didn’t see any wildlife on this portion of our trip.

There were several stops due to road construction but the longest we had to stop was approximately ten minutes. Watching the pilot car drive back and forth leading the waiting vehicles, I thought that this must be the most boring job in the world, second only to the flag person. At least they are working.

I noticed that more people were driving the speed limit – that is one good result of high gas prices.

We stayed at the Bon Voyage Inn, a pleasant inexpensive motel.  Rooms are not fancy but are clean and comfortable with fridge, stove and microwave.

Next door is the Bon Voyage Restaurant.  Also a good deal.  The service was good,  the food was excellent with large portions and very reasonable prices.  I would recommend this place.

Coffee, desserts and sunsets

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The sun is just beginning to set. Vivid orange, yellow and blue colours permeate the sky. I sit sipping my latte watching the eagles flying to “Eagle Bluff”. Tourists just off the cruise ship are wandering the streets, taking in the sights of our little town. There is a directional sign showing how far it is to Alaska and other parts of the world. Depending on the season, you may see a sign advertising fresh fish for sale on the docks. Many of the tourists make their way to where I am enjoying the view; Cowpuccino’s a coffee shop in our town.
When I look around at their clientele, there is such a mixture of people, young, old, tourists, fishermen and business people.  It seems like everyone gravitates to this little shop. Although Cowpuccino’s is not the only coffee shop in town, it is the unique. Located in Cow Bay (why this seaside area is called Cow Bay is another story) Cowpuccino’s has a casual, rustic look with its plank wood floors, funky cow “art,” cow decorations and cow postcards from people all over the world.  There is another wall that is designated for local artists to display and hopefully sell their art.
If you are fortunate, you might arrive when Cowpuccino’s is having local musicians for a jam session or having their annual gingerbread house decorating contest for the children.
The staff knows all the local customers’ names and what usually drink and eat.  The coffee is wonderful; there are teas of every flavour and homemade desserts. You can also have homemade soups with their famous bread “sticks” that are more like a long bun. Breakfast can be one of their huge muffins or bagels with eggs, cheese, and ham.
There is no music playing, just the hum of people talking while enjoying the ambience.

Patzcuaro Misc.

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While wandering around Patzcuaro one evening, we decided to go into the courtyard of a hotel that our friend had stayed in several years ago.  The courtyards of the hotels in Patzcuaro are spectacular.  Once we were inside, we heard music and decided to see what it was happening
We discovered 11 men playing guitars and singing in harmony with several taking turns at solos.  The only way to describe how fortunate we were is to give you a link to their music.  We listened for over two hours.  They took one ten minute break.  We did not have to pay, just order some beer, which we did gladly.  Please enjoy.  At the 3:56 mark, they sing an ‘English’ song.
Press ctrl and click on the link.
The following link is some wonderful pictures of the people in and around Patzcuaro
Press ctrl and click on the link.
Another night of wandering around Patzcuaro – please enjoy the pictures.

Mask in a restaurant

 

Mask in a restaurant

 

Painting for sale – beautiful face

 

double-decker bus

 

trolley bus

 

 

wedding

 

beautiful bride

 

 

parade for a celebration taken from our hotel room

 

such a pretty little girl

 

Patzcuaro at night

 

 

just a ‘few’ buses

 

saying goodbye to friends

Monarch Butterflies

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Every year, millions of monarch butterflies undertake a great journey of up to 4,000 miles in their annual migration from Canada and the United States to their wintering grounds in Mexico.  Once in Mexico the monarch congregate in the Oyamel fir trees of Michoacán.
The Monarch butterfly biosphere reserve covers over 200 square miles. Within the biosphere reserve, a few areas are open to the public.
Our trip to the butterflies began at 6:00 a.m. with a 4 ½-hour ride to the little town of Campo. Our guides for the trip were Jorge Guzmán Orozco and his lovely wife Hilda.  Jorge is a very knowledgeable guide and entertained us during the trip with his knowledge of the areas we were travelling through and with stories of some of the Mexican traditions.

 

 

We arrived around 11:00 a.m. and walked up to the starting point of the reserve.  Along the way were several wooden ‘huts’ for vendors who were selling food and tourist trinkets.
We paid our entry fee to the reserve, which was approximately $3.50 cdn.   Because I have ‘exercise induced asthma’, I elected to ride a horse to the top where the monarchs were gathered. Thankfully, due to the warmer weather, they were not very far up the mountain.  The horseback ride was very interesting to say the least.  It was not a smooth road.  There were ruts, rocks, steep hills in both directions.  Nevertheless, it was better than walking.  The cost one way was approximately $6.00 cdn.
We had seen pictures of these monarchs clumping on the trees before but nothing prepared us for the wonder and beauty of it all. There were so many butterflies on the branches that they would bend. The dark clumps that you see in the pictures are hundreds of butterflies gathered on each branch.  We were fortunate to arrive when the sun was shining and saw thousands of butterflies all around us as we walked, or rode up the hill.
Once up the hill, the clouds appeared and the butterflies went back to the branches. We waited for the sun to come out again and watched them come off the branches.  There were so many that you could hear the beating of their collective wings.   It was a rewarding experience and well worth the long trip to the reserve.
After making our way down the mountain, we had a very nice lunch prepared by Hilda. She brought sandwiches, fruit and drinks.  All included in the cost of the trip.

 

 

the dark ‘spots’ are clumps of butterflies
the reddish colour are the butterflies

 

We arrived back home around 8:00 p.m., tired but immensely happy with our experience.

Santa Clara del Cobre, Mexico

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The State of Michoacán is renowned in Mexico for the hammered copper of Santa Clara del Cobre, a town founded in 1530 after the construction of an enormous smelter for the nuns of the Order of Santa Clara.  Around the end of the 17th century, a huge foundry fire burned down most of the town and the convent.
Reconstruction began in the early years of the 19th century, continuing the copper industry and establishing other businesses. Santa Clara reclaimed its stature as the quality producer of hammered copper tubs, trays, sinks and all forms of containers.  Today, vases, ladles, skillets, pots and jewellery are fashioned with rustic tools, mallet, two-headed hammers, anvils and chisels.
There is an amazing array of copper products to choose from – it is almost overwhelming but we managed quite nicely.
We also saw a demonstration of how the copper is formed into various shapes. Just about 100% of the copper products are now made with recycled copper.
Darn, won’t fit in my suitcase

 

very hot near that fire

 

hammering the copper was hard, something a ‘queen’ shouldn’t have to do

 

my brave knight

 

Anna’s brave knight

 

life as befitting a queen but wow the copper was hot

 

my husband bought a lot of things at this store

 

 

 

even the army knows a good thing when they see it

Uruapan, Mexico

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We decided to go to Uruapan, just a short bus ride from Patzcuaro.  Uruapan is a semi-tropical, mountainous agricultural region founded in 1540. It is the second largest city in the State of Michoacán. Uruapan means “place of eternal formation and fertility”. They are known worldwide for their high quality avocados that are grown here, which has earned them the title of “World Capital of the Avocado”.   You will also find macadamia nuts, which are not as oily as their Hawaiian counterpart is.
We did not spend a lot of time in the city itself except to go to the plaza and have dinner there.  All of our time was spent in the Parque Nacional Barranca del Cupatitzio.  The Cupatitzio River runs underground except for approximately two miles of it where it comes up in Uruapan and then back underground. The town has taken advantage of this and created a park that has waterfalls and pure crystalline streams that wind through thick lush vegetation.  Along some of the pathways are the usual vendors plying their wares and some brave young men who for a few pesos will leap off a tree or rock into what appears to be shallow waters.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I will leave you with some photos of our trek through this wonderful park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

fish farm where you can ‘catch’ your dinner and take it around the corner to have it cooked

 

this is where the river comes out of the ground
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