Coming Home

Hello Everyone,

We are 13 days away from our return to Canada. I think March and April are the nicest months here. It is Chapala spring and the move-blue flowers of the Jacaranda trees are a gorgeous backdrop to the startling brilliant yellow flowers of the Primavera.

Our landlady once again says she hopes to sell the house we rent here, so we are busy packing all the items we have accumulated over 4 seasons. (We have storage in the club house) 

The days are warmer and our friends got us a pass to use their pool up in the mountains. Alan is an architect and has designed a house (see photo of round roof with brick design) he is having built several miles from here. We have enjoyed visits to a different development with view of the lake, Palm trees and mountains. It has been a nice change and better swimming pool for Ivan’s 45 minute laps.

Ivan just saw the 40 peso ($3.00) Dr Erika today.  Several people told him they experienced terrific relief from arthritic pain after an injection commonly used in Mexico. Ivan has severe shoulder pain, so he will see how this works. I checked the product online and no side effects, most of the comments were so positive. It has a small amount of cortisone and relieves the pain for a couple of months with some luck. He is feeling uplifted and hopeful after his first shot today (there are two more).

I will be finished my online course next week. It has consumed most of my time here, but what a great place to study. Few distractions,  very peaceful with great interludes of dancing, walking, stretching, swimming, floating, or visits.

The orange flowers in the photo are squash soup flowers. Once we tasted this soup at Panchita’s we were determined to make some. The beautiful orange squash flowers are being harvested now and the soup is delicious.(you steam veggies and the flowers and put it all in a blender with onions and garlic herbs and spices, then warm it up)

We will spend April 9 at Casa Grande, a hotel connected to the Guadalajara airport, then fly on April 10 with a connecting flight in Phoenix.  We expect to be in Gibsons late afternoon on Tuesday, April 10, if all flights go as planned. (very  tired due to an extremely early start)

I hear of windy days back home, so hope our Gibson’s weather does a quick switch to warmer spring like temperatures. We are looking forward to reunions with family and friends in between my overnight trips to VCC to take two more courses between April and July 27.

Hope everyone is well…..see you all very soon.

Abrazos,

Evi y Ivan 

Thirteen more days in Mexico, then many lovely reunions in Canada

Ivan is filled with joy to meet and spend time with Panchita

Today, traveling with Bill who knows the artists, the pueblos and has great enthusiasm

Yesterday we visited Monte Alban

Exploring Oaxaca and surrounding Pueblos

Lovely walks nearby

Casa Panchita's...what do you remember?

Our Room at Panchita's - The creations of Oaxaca's Artists

The Colours of Oaxaca

Arrival at Casa Pancita's

Casa Panchita's...warmth and hospitality

We arrived in Oaxaca yesterday after two flights, first Mexico City then a connecting flight to Oaxaca.  We had to awake at 3 AM in Roca Azul so that Mark’s friend could drive us to the airport and watch over our rental vehicle which needed servicing. (good timing)

Once again, the airport specail service was wonderful.  A young nimble Mexican attendant had a wheelchair ready for Ivan and whisked us off to the connection flight in another terminal. I trotted along thankful we just had carry-ons. We had time to spare before the second flight.

As we left Mexico City I was impressed by the snow-capped mountains I could see from the plane window, majestic, dramatic and mysterious in a blue sky mixed with wispy clouds.

We arrived at Panchita’s on time and Irme was there to welcome us,  it was an emotional meeting for Ivan who had never seen Panchita or Irme but knew all the stories and regretted he never visited during his Mother’s lifetime.  Irme was relaxed, conversational, and showed us around.  Leon’s (Ivan’s uncle) paintings were visible in two rooms, both in excellent condition and a testimony to the creativity that this place holds.  Elda (Ivan’s Mother) and Franny his aunt are cherished by Panchita and family and photos of all three (Leon, Elda and Franny) can be seen in many rooms.

Panchita, now 86, is a small but nimble woman with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.  She moves with ease and was so excited to meet Ivan.  Hospitality has been the theme, but sadly Irme is returning to LA as her (adopted) father is dying.  She did not expect the urgent call she received from Tonja today.  We will have one last meal with her tonight sadly.

Bill, a regular who has been coming here for many years, has offered to show us some small towns with famous artisans, as well as various other towns nearby.  He was a buyer for a museum in Chicago, now is perhaps 79+ and has so much knowledge about this area and the talent that lurks in places we will soon see. Once again we seem to have magical timing (in some ways).

Ivan is still a bit fatigued as his head heals, and his toes (he somehow got 4 spider bites that became infected and were lanced before we left, he is on Cipro for both head and toes).  So although we did explore Oaxaca today, Ivan rested in the Zocolo and I walked for hours enjoying the colours and pleasing atmosphere of the town.

I posted some photos of Panchita’s but hope to get some better pictures as Carrie has been wanting to know what changed, and what is the same.  This is a peaceful oasis behind a tall wall, no sign, but an electric wire above. 

It is very interesting for us to experience another part of Mexico.  On one hand we appreciate many things about our quirky less touristy Jocotepec, but the upscale talent and gentrified town feels safe, picturesque and full of opportunity.

Oaxaxa con't

Oaxaca and Casa Panchita's