Mexico: Part 2

Guanajuato was one of my favorite cities in Mexico. 

There are tiny, steep pedestrian alleyways hidden throughout the colorfully painted houses that are built into the hills. 

Sopa Azteca was one of the foods we ordered as often as possible

Callejoneada: a drunken singing tour through the alleys

We stayed in a 4-story house that was only $75 and was literally built into the mountain. You could see the mountain in the staircase. We fell asleep with the window open, listening to rain falling, and woke up to barking dogs. I climbed to the roof to greet and bark at the roof-dwelling dogs.

Morning walk with my girl.

This is a recreation of a picture from almost exactly 10 years before.

 Ivan is substituted for Elijah.

The Mummy Museum of Guadalajara. 

The eyeballs rolled right out of the sockets.

These pictures are to help me sleep better at night.

Below are the 3 mummies who died unnaturally. 

The best part of the tour was when, right after our guide told us about the woman on the left who was buried alive, there were several claps of thunder and then the electricity when out.

Pitch black.

With real mummies. Not kids wrapped in toilet paper.

Everyone screamed. 

The tour guide said it was all part of the show. 

I don't think so.

That would be an amazing apocalypse.

Archeological museum.

Voladores de Papantla

30 meters in the air, playing music as they descend, upside-down

One more note: we saw several lines that were around the block--people waiting in line to get the vaccine. And in Mexico, many places only have the less-desirable ones like astrozenica and sputnik. Whereas, in the US, pharmacies are practically bribing people to come in since everyone who wants one has already gotten it or the disease itself. My parents had it a few weeks ago, but the illness wasn't too bad since they had been vaccinated. We got several $5 coupons.

So much to catch up on! We'll see if I can squeeze it in before I start working on Monday. Yesterday was my last day of work for University of Michigan School of Nursing. After 17 years. That's some longevity! 
 

Mexico

When I get behind in blogging, I want put life on pause so I can catch up. I feel that way more than ever right now, but because the passage of time has robbed me of someone I love very dearly. And because I feel like there is so much to do that I might soon have to schedule time to breathe. 

I have almost simultaneously accepted a full time position for the first time since having kids and also been called to the busiest calling at church that I have ever had: RS president. Now I must say that both of these new positions scare me and I have been devising secret ways to possibly get out of them. In my more lucid moments, I remember that I have received spiritual confirmations that both of these positions are right for me right now. 

Now, here is a post that I started weeks ago about a wonderful trip David and I went on. Retrospectively, it seems as if it was our last fling before life got complicated. And can I just say that the first sentence I wrote to this post weeks ago is all too painful right now, a pain that I hope to write about later but that is too fresh right now, when the tears flow so freely at the thought of our loss...

Sometimes you don't know how much you miss someone until you see them again. 

     That's what happened when we landed in Mexico City. It was mainly little things that helped me remember: singing advertisements from the radio repetitively: "Chedraui cuesta menos." Riding in the backseat of a taxi being similar to riding a roller coaster minus the safety precautions. Blatant faith: Maria adorning walls, the cross hanging from the Uber rear view mirror. Stoplight street shows: fire-blowers, music makers, dancers. Always being aware of my visual difference (although this wasn't good nor bad).  

     Our first order of business was strolling through our old neighborhood in the pouting rain. It was nice being in another place where worries are far away (I had a lot on my mind, to the point of insomnia). David and I walked together under an umbrella with our nostalgia. I love being with David more than anyone. I think I had forgotten that too. We ate choco mazapán atole and bean and cheese tamales. That night, we had a wonderful dinner with amazing people: David's former co-workers. I had the best fish ever: totoaba, which is apparently and endangered species. Mamey pie finished off our 4 hour dinner. 

     

The next morning, David and I ran a brisk 6 miles around Chapultepec. 

Of course, the most important meal was tacos al pastor.

Chinatown in the background:

Turkey anyone?

This little guy (plus a javelina quesadilla) was eaten by the manliest man alive.

Manliness is a way of life. A journey, not a destination.

The Mexican hairless dog: xoloescuincle

Downtown, the Catedral and the Zocalo

After a few nights alone, we joined the Lopez Frol family and Claire (who had been staying with them for a few weeks) and headed North. We hiked Pena de Barnal. It was a Monday and we saw a group of elders on their P-day. I told them that Claire and I were Oaxacenas, but I don't think they believed me. 

On the way to Guanajuato, de drove through 

Queretaro and saw it's beautiful elevated aqueducts.

Strolling the streets of Guanajauto:

 

Magic Waters

 No matter how horribly the kids are fighting, there is always a cure:

the pool. 

Kids are unable to fight in the pool. 

Or maybe I just don't hear them, which is equally satisfying.

Second-best antidote: momma dancing a jig. 

These are things I knew, but relearned today.

First Day

Before our family prayer the other night, we discussed the need to pray for the restoration of Elijahs' vision and hearing, both of which are faulty in public spaces that are inhabited by his parents. Poor kid is embarrassed silly by most parental anything.

This is what I got as a first-day picture.

It could possibly be because David was dancing to 

"Eye of the Tiger" accompanied by the dog's aggressive dislike. 

Sometimes the teenager enjoys it, usually in the privacy of our home.

We were fortunate to have Marguerite stay with us for a little while before her big temple calling begins.

My first grader!

The 2 middle schoolers:

I tried to follow them to the bus stop, but they are transforming into teenagers too. 

I weasel my way into their hearts as much as possible.

 Quick park trip after school: