Day Off Collage

Yea... a day off! This morning we were laying in bed and I asked Annette, "What do you want to do today?"

"What about driving over to Tlapujahua? We can check out the new Christmas ornaments and the cosmos are still in bloom."

I'd had that same idea, so we jumped in the car and headed off on the "scenic route" to the old mining town of Tlapujahua, Michoacan. It took about 2� hours to get there and the scenery was 100% Mexiquense (that means "of the state of Mexico" as opposed to "Mexicano" which means "of the country of Mexico"). We passed rural, indigenous women washing clothing in cold mountain creeks...we dodged burros, sheep, cows and potholes in the road...we ooh'ed and aah'ed at the acres and acres of purple and yellow cosmos flowers scattered among the corn fields...we passed thru pine forest and around lakes where families or solitary men fished...and we even picked up a candy and nuts vendor who was walking along the side of the road carry a big basket full of his mechandise. It had just started to pour down rain and he was running but there was no shelter nearby. He gladly accepted our offer of a ride and during our short time together, Salvador told us that after 8 children and 25 years together he and his "mujer" finally got married. He said he felt "so much love" when they finally got married. All in all it was a great day off.

Click on the little photo collage to see a bigger version