Our daily walk

I thought maybe you all would like to see our normal daily routine 

(and parts of our beautiful town)

For the last 2 weeks every morning around 8:40 Alice and I leave to walk to school.

She has been so good about helping in the morning (making her lunch, making the bed, picking up so Rufina doesn't have to!) that we are hardly ever even late! 

The big wooden door on the left is our patio.

As we start our walk on Hernandez Macias things are just starting to wake up...

We can't figure out what the big pink building on the right is but it has VERY shiny doors 

and Alice loves them!

The town is getting ready for Dia de la Independencia de Mexico on September 16th!

They are serious about this celebration. I've heard the already crazy

fireworks get even crazier!!

Take a right on Canal.

One short block.

Take a left on Zacateros.

Step up onto what I think are the highest sidewalks in town 

(Alice found a little step that helps give her a boost)

and start walking down hill. 

Stop to admire the view.

Things are starting to get busier....

See I told you they clean the sidewalks everyday!

Keep walking.....

and walking...

and walking....

More decorations go up everyday! By 2 weeks from now this whole town is going to be 

covered in red white and green tinsel!

Oh yay... now we get to start walking uphill ;)

Take a right on Orizaba.

It's a little street that not much happens on.

There are lots of pedestrians on Orizaba though so we are starting to recognize 

people and say "Buenos dias".

Still walking....

Finally!!!!

The school has a beautiful courtyard where the kids get to eat lunch

and a happy classroom with amazing teachers!

(Daniela in the green stripped shirt is Alice's favorite...

Shhhh don't tell)

I kiss her goodbye 

(well not so much anymore, she's getting to cool for that)

and walk back home for 3 hours of peace and quiet before I turn around and walk back down 

to pick her up and we walk back home!

Thank goodness we have found the ice cream shop and a great guy on the corner 

that sells sorbet along the way or we might not have the energy to keep going!!

Hope you enjoyed your walking tour today you may exit through the gift shop ;)

Making new friends

So what have we learned so far.....

 

That if we are open to and excited about new things, we will make amazing connections

wherever we go!

 

............

 

One morning while sitting in my favorite coffee shop where I had gone to read my book, I unexpectedly met some amazing women and got invited to the birthday party of one of their sons

that very afternoon.

 

When I picked Alice up and told her where we were going she thought it was a little strange (to say the least) to be going to a birthday party of someone we had never met. I tried to explain to her that that is the beauty of this place, we are all in the same boat and all trying to meet new people and have new experiences.  Of course as soon as we got there she made friends right off the bat just like she always does and I think might trust me a little more next time, maybe?

 

 

Alice and Remy at Milo's birthday party 

 

We are continuing to spend lots of time with sweet Sofia.

 

Playing in el Jardin.

 

Swimming at the Rosewood again....

(its a rough life but somebodies got to do it)

 

And back at home Alice has made fast friends with our landlady Ruth.

She helps her feed the fish in the fountain and Ruth helped A make a reading fort  in the bedroom :)

 

...........

 

Everyday we find new experiences to have and as long as we continue to to keep our hearts and minds wide open to them, the connections to the people surrounding us will keep growing.

 

I am a lucky lucky girl :)

 



Things that are better in Mexico

I think I should just start a list because there is so much!

#1- Saran wrap. OMG this stuff will stick to anything!

#2- the smell of cleaning products. The laundry isle at Mega smells like Kendra's house :)

#3- Alice's ability to do chores.

#4- Breakfast. Tortillas with every meal!

#5- Clean sidewalks. They scrub them down with sweet smelling Mr Clean stuff every morning,

                 it is what Mexico is going to smell like to me forever!

#6- Netflix. Thanks for reminding me Brian Carlson.

#7- Eggs. They are real and yellow and yummy!

#8- Tomatoes.  Tell me really.... when was the last time you bought a tomato from the store and it was 

                actually red INSIDE!

#9- Drivers. I know, I know you think I'm crazy but they are actually trustworthy down here. Yes they 

                drive too fast and yes they stop too fast but they will stop for you.... Every Time! Yes the

                streets are too narrow and yes they drive 6in away from your elbow but there is nothing

                to worry about because I trust them not to do anything stupid and they trust me not to 

                do anything stupid! If everyone just plays by the rules there really is nothing to worry about!

#10-  Coke. But everyone knows that one... 

Don't worry I'll keep adding to the list :)

A typical day

Its a rough life but I spend most of my day sitting at my little table on my patio reading, relaxing, sewing, writing and just enjoying the sounds and smells of Mexico.

  (well not totally typical) 

This night we went out for the fancy "Bienvenidos a Mexico" dinner we had been saving up our coins for all summer.

 Look Kendra..... Squash blossom ravioli! It was totally amazing! I think the brown sauce was made out of moldy corn? I cant pronounce it but it was so good :)

I love that my kid will look at a menu all in Spanish and order the shrimp and octopus plate! The waiter couldn't believe it :)

Happy girls with full tummys.

She is so confident and secure in this place that as soon as we leave the restaurant and she hears music coming from el jardin she takes off running to see what we are missing.

On almost any given night there is something going on in the square.

Tonight they have set up a stage and there is beautiful music, dancing and people out and about everywhere.

She makes friends wherever she goes!



new friends



We started our first full day feeling right at home with a crazy firework explosion at 4am-ish, apparently you light off fireworks at the time of your birth on your birthday (or so is the story)???

Then after dropping off our new friend Sofia (5yrs old) at school her mom Olivia took us to a wonderful breakfast at a little cafe, sat and watched the world go by and got the lowdown on town....

Then we had our first excursion to MEGA (imagine a poorly laid out walmart where you cant read any of the labels) but we made it there and back, in a taxi and I remembered our address!

When we got home Sofia asked us if we wanted to go to the pool..... who knew this is what we were gonna get at the end of that cab ride! :) 

I could get used to a lunch of guacamole and fresh chips for lunch everyday!

Beautiful pictures are always made better by adding beautiful girls!

and onto another day in paradise.....