Category: Mexico

I’ve been in Guanajuato for a week now and am very content.  The photo above is the view from the roof of the casa.  It has been sunny and warm every day.

I’m enjoying going to Spanish school and I don’t think I have every spoken better, which is very encouraging considering that I’ll be here another 16 weeks or so.  I go to school Mon-Fri, 9-12.  It’s about a 15 minute walk to the school.

Up to now I’ve been eating out.  A nice multi-course meal of the day costs around 75 pesos including tip ($6 Cdn).  Also there is lots of street food of course.  Saturday morning is when I enjoy tamales for breakfast in Plaza Baratillo.  I made salsa roja last night and will eat in tonight.

I’ve been physically active every day, either running or hiking.  I walk everywhere and everything is a short distance away.  There are many options for entertainment including my favourite CineClub at the university. Just like at home, I usually watch Spanish telenovelas on YouTube in the evenings before turning in.

Life here is very tranquilo and comfortable.

I left Guanajuato on Saturday and took a bus to Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city.  The historic Centro is impressive, the surroundings are typical.  I only saw the old city and that was enough.  I took a bus to Puerto Vallarta on Monday.

I ended my trip in 2007 in Puerto Vallarta and I am staying in a cheapie hotel right beside where I stayed last time.  I have said that I don’t like PV but now I must admit that it’s a great place for English-speakers.  Vallarta is beautiful and comfortable and a great place to own property.  However, its success is its weakness.  It is packed with non-Mexicans, and it’s tough to speak Spanish here.  North and south of PV are many beautiful beach communities, both inundated with foreigners and not.