MEXICO

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

Our first day on the streets of San Miguel with Chip and Lucy Swab (Philip's cousins - our gracious hosts for the first leg of our adventure).  We enjoyed quesadillas at the Saturday market and finished the evening in the jardin principal (the town square) where people had gathered to celebrate carnival.  As part of the celebration, children were smashing cascarones (confetti filled eggs) on each others heads.  Almost immediately after Lucy indicated we were safe because of our height (what little kid could smash an egg on mine and Philip's head?!?) we were attacked. Two kids jumped up and smashed them on our heads. Fortunately for us, this is thought to bring good luck...unfortunately, days later I'm still finding pieces of broken egg shell and confetti...

  

La Parroquia - the emblem of the town

We enjoyed brunch at the beautiful Posada Crazon Bed & Breakfast on Tuesday (February 12th) where we discovered a giant poinsettia and an equally impressive ficus.

The beautiful Swab hacienda.

  

Michuacan

Monday February 11th
Michuacan las Mariposas Monarcha

Millions of monarch butterflies come here to winter from Canada and the US. They will make the trip three to four times in their life.

Guanajuato, Guanajuato

The city is the site of the first battle of the Mexican War of Independence.
  Wiki info on Guanajuato, Guanajuato

The El Pipila monument towering over the city commemorates a miner from San Miguel de Allende who had joined the insurrection.  The Spanish had barricaded themselves in the Alhondiga (grain warehouse - the prominent square building in the third photo below), which was nearly impenetrable except for its wooden door.  El Pipila tied a stone to his back to protect himself from musket fire, carried a torch to the door and set it on fire, allowing the insurgents to storm the Alhondiga.

The Callejón del Beso - folklore states that if a couple kisses in this narrow alley they are guaranteed seven years of happiness together.  The name comes from a legend of two young lovers from different social classes who came to a tragic end.