Part two of our trip

So the days of the festival are long past, but I was able to see Jesus, and see Jesus and see more Jesus...sweet Jesus.Semana Santa, also know as Easter, lasts for at least a week in Mexico and is complete with fan fare and traditions.

We spent a week in Patzcuro and saw all the sites that were to be seen. Including Aztecan ruins, which Maddie seemed to ruin a couple of when she tried climbing up on one of the walls and some of the rocks came tumbling down. 600 years they were in place and one jump up on to the wall and they fell to the ground. Thankfully this is Mexico and no-one seemed to be around to notice the destruction. Notice I don't say which ruins in case any of you were to tell on me...

The town should have asked us to map it, for I think we walked most of the main roads in and out. But, along the way we also were able to see the cemetary, which like typical Mexican affair is very well adorned and honored. As for cemetaries, it was one of the better ones I have seen and proved to be quite the photo op for camerman Joe. We also saw all of the other main sites, including the Basilica, the Bibloteca, the Bars...oh, I was just in the B's so I thought I would add bars...but yes, drinking is part of the Semana Santa holiday, so when in Rome...

One day was spent taking a boat out to the island of Janitzio which is the biggest island in Lake Patzcuro. And after you pay your pesos, you step into one of the many (and I do mean many) boats that traverse the lake. The island proved to be well worth a day spent, albeit it is all uphill, I am sure we must have climbed the equivalent to 1000 stairs.

But finally our time was over, and after I purchased my new friend, Tia Katrina (whom you shall see as soon as I am smart enough to figure out how to upload pictures) we were on our way.

Next destination, Playa Azul.

Again heading back down to the Pacific Coast, we left early Sunday morning and began our long drive Southwest. Joe, being the driver thought taking the "libre" roads would be more scenic. I, being the passenger, thought that was the most "hillacious" drive of my life. Imgaine driving to the top of Rainier, for 7 hours...that was what it was like. For those that don't know, "libre" are the free roads as opposed to the "cuota" which are toll roads. I prefer the toll roads. I'll pay anything to avoid driving 25 mph for 5 hours. But once we got on, we very well couldn't get off to catch the toll roads that I would longingly gaze out. Particularly when we came to the 15 mile stretch that had falling rocks every 100 ft, and the occasional garbage fire (infierno) next to the road. And the fact that NO-ONE else was on the road. But, all being said, we made it to the glorious Playa Azul.

And since the massive people were leaving to head back home we were able to find a spot on the water (more on the that later) that included a big hut and 5 feet to the beach access. It really was a beer commercial once the hammocks were up and the cooler filled. All for $23 USD for two people and two nights. Behind us was marshes filled with birds, (possibly a croc or two, I wasn't really sure) random pigs, asses (I mean donkeys), and of course dogs dogs dogs. The waves were high, and I do mean high, sometimes 50 feet I would guesstimate so swimming wasn't really feasible. But, really that didn't matter since swinging in your hammock is work in itself.

The last night proved that the water gods did not like me as the water came up over the 5' bluff and into our sleeping area. Engulfing all of us with ocean water at 11:40pm, I know, I looked at my watch. I thought it was a Tsunami, or the Michocan police as I was dead asleep. But after running for our lives, or so we foolishly thought, we realized that it was just high tide. Goddamn soaking wet clothes are hard to run in...

More later, as we must continue our drive and daylight is diminishing...