San Miguel de Allende

On our road-trip to San Miguel this weekend we stopped in the town of Dolores Hidalgo.

D.H. is is the birthplace of Independence (México), but it is also known for its nieves

(gelato-type ice cream). Aside from the usual flavours like strawberry and chocolate, one can also find tequila, rum, shrimp, cheese, and other interesting kinds.

Here John is enjoying a beer and mole cone and Dave is having a mole and avocado combo. Yum!

Here is the somewhat Gaudi-esque main cathedral in San Miguel.

The mercado

A view of San Miguel from the bullring.

Thanks Johnny McGyver for breaking us in, I mean helping us gain access.

San Miguel de Allende is a real ex-pat strong-hold.

Though not as pretty a city as Guanajuato, it does have quite unique shops, a terrific artisans market, and many fine restaurants.

Alas, no Starbucks.

Lucinda's 8th Birthday

We celebrated Lucinda's 8th birthday last Saturday at Mundo A,

an aquatic park in the south of Aguascalientes.

Lucinda invited her friend Frida.

Much of their time was spent in the wave pool.


After many hours in the water, one needs a little relax time on the "beach".

Feria de San Marcos

Lucinda and Dave (a fellow Canadian) at the Fair

One of the biggest attractions at the Fair, the real- fake

snow slide. (Wow, snow!)

Medieval Knights Show

Johnny Jester and the King of Medieval Knights






Lucinda playing Loteria (Mexican Bingo)



























Escaramuzas


Teams of female, side-saddle horseback riders


performing, intricate, thrilling, and dangerous


moves at high speeds.

The Feria San Marcos is the biggest fair of its kind in México. On the first weekend alone it attracted 1 million visitors. This month-long extravaganza features rodeos, horse shows, a midway, concerts, a casino, bullfights, cockfights, art exhibitions, a film festival, various types of theatre, the Medieval Knights Show, and the world's largest open-air bar (1 litre of beer for just 25 pesos - about $2.50).

El Rancho Relaxo

The ranch.





















Lucinda and Maria on a horse being led by Arturo.












































Goat wrangling








































Johnny performing his show at the ranch.
Way in the background are the Sierra Fria.



























The day ended with a dip in the pool.













































Summma dog treats

Probably a lot of the rawhide chewies we've all given to our dogs in Canada, the States and even Europe for the past 10 years have come from an ever expanding industry right here in Aguascalientes called Summma. The owner and many managers at Summma study English at Kiosk. One day Johnny took a tour of the plant and returned home with a year's supply of dog treats for Toto. Several days later we were invited out for a fantastic day at Arturo's (the owner of Summma) ranch - we call it Rancho Relaxo, though it has a different name. I think that day and evening at the ranch, horseback riding, goat-wrangling, and a delicious Mexican barbecue, epitomized the kind of experience we had hoped for during our year in México. Gracias Arturo and Toto thanks you too!