Hotel Virrey de Mendoza Morelia

... it was still an enjoyable ride, for I made a few friends and the Mexican guys continued to party throughout the journey. Seemingly never tired, downbeat or too hungover to drink, the Mexicans blasted out Reggaeton and brought round rum for us to down straight from the bottle. We arived home late that night, tired after a fun but exhausting three days on the road. Michoacan is meant to be the best place to celebrate the Day of the Dead so I should be returning there in early November.

... so I´ll be able to join in! (By the way, it was free - as is everything here!)

Tonight I´m going to hear the state orchestra of Michoacán playing Sibelius and Wagner - also free! We in the US and UK could do with taking a leaf out of Mexico´s book on the availability of the arts to the public!

Tomorrow, off to a volcano - Paricutin. Hope to have more pictures later - I´ve borrowed a camera from my family.

Love to all. Waiting for lots of replies!

... with masks of old men and women, grey hair, hats with long streaming ribbons and traditional sandals with wooden soles. They dance bent over with a cane to look old, but the intricate rhythms they make with their feet take lots of energy! A bottle of water in my bag leaked and my camera got wet so the pictures end abruptly with lunch - unfortunately none of los viejitos. I hadn´t budgeted for a new camera on this trip....(sigh)

It´s Wednesday of my second week already - the time is flying! We are marching on through the maze of Spanish verbs in the first two hours of classes each day, and I was very glad that today that we tackled pluperfecto (have done, had done, will have done, will have wanted to have done if I hadn´t already done...okay I made that one up!) which I´m finding almost comforting after days of trying to decide whether I want imperfecto or pretérito and when I do decide ...

... did understand a lot!

I spent a lot of time in the Museo del Estado, which had lots of info about the P'urhépecha - the indigenous people in Michoacán. Lots of beautiful pottery, and also pictures made from feathers, with LOTS of amazing detail. I headed back toward the cathedral after the museum closed and the heavens opened, nearly turning my umbrella inside out. Decided to wait out the storm in the cathedral, which was just starting the 7th or 8th mass of ...

... last hour of each morning an ESL teacher (also a piano teacher!) from Wisconsin who is about my age. After 3 hours of classes on Monday morning with just me and the 4 "kids" I was relieved to meet the other two, especially Carol. I have hung out with the Wisconsin group a little. ¡Todos son muy agradables! Each week new people come and some leave. The freaky musician is leaving - I don{t know if we{ll get someone new!

We have four hours of class per day ...

It is with great sadness that we have to say goodbye to Monika and Paulina. We have had a fantastic time with them here in Morelia, thanks so much for hosting us, showing us around and translating everything. Last night Monika's friend Onel Peralta had us over for a wonderful Mexican dinner of burritos, he spoke no English but his son & wife did and we learned all kinds of things about ...

... en direction de la Maison du Gouverneur. Là nous découvrons beaucoup d'histoire et de magnifiques fresques ornant l'intérieur de cette bâtisse majestueuse. Nous nous rendons ensuite à la Cathédrale. À notre entrée nous découvrons toute la richesse à l'intérieur. La construction de cette église fut commencée en 1660 et terminée en 1744, 84 ans plus tard....on espère qu'ils n'étaient pas payé à l'heure! Ses 2 tours s'élèvent à plus de 60m ...

... as the steel bracket attaching the bumber snapped, and the bumper is now strapped to the roof of the bus. I was a little irritated, but Laura wisely said "if this is the worst thing that happens to the car, we're lucky". That statement, fear of law enforcement (and the fact that he disappeared) probably saved that kid from a sound beating. The preserve is basically a national park. We paid our fees and hiked through the vendor gauntlet, up a ...

... City, but here's my feeble attempt... Before we even got to Morelia I felt like I knew the city, or at least what Lonely Planet thought I should know about it. Sidenote: Lonely Planet guidebooks RULE! They have been my bible over the past couple of weeks. Their "Places to Eat" reccomendations are right on. Their "Places to Stay" section could use some updating though. Back to business...Apparently, I didn't know that ...