The (Not-So-New-Now) Walmart in Lake Chapala!

Just after our arrival to Lake Chapala in early November, we were surprised and excited to learn that the new Walmart was nearly complete!

Outside of the Walmart parking lot a huge crew was working hard to lay the cobblestone entrance. In this particular section, they were filling the cobblestone cracks with concrete rather than dirt (making it a bit easier to drive on), but it was amazing to us to see how long the still worked to complete this relatively small section.

Within a few days, the Walmart was complete, and had a grand opening! Of course, it was PACKED, and I had to take a photo of one of their newly erected parking signs:

Only in Mexico would you see a lime display this large...

One of the culture shocks when we entered Mexico was figuring out how to purchase pastry and bread items at Walmart. By watching others, we finally figured out the Mexican way. This is how it works: In the bread section you claim a tray and some tongs, and then you make your selections from the displays. Then you take your tray to the sales counter where they weigh it, price it, bag it, stick a price tag on it, and send you on your way!! We loved it! Our favorites were the super cheap bread rolls (10 cents), and the yummy pink frosting donuts (30 cents)...our splurge on many Walmart trips!

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La Cristiania Park

Back in November we were exploring Chapala, and came across a seemingly deserted park called La Cristiania Park. We had to pay a small admission to get in, and we then found ourselves in a very large, quiet park. It is located right on the lakeside.





The lake has risen to its highest level ever in the past year, and it has left destruction in its path. Here is an example of the walkways destroyed by the rising waters.

I had to borrow this photo from my friend's blog (thanks, Carrie!)...but this also illustrates how the lake has risen well beyond its previous years. Oops!

Plaza Galerias

Well, we are back in the US...but I'm not quite up for posting about our 8,000 mile trek, yet. I haven't even finished Mexico! So, I will probably be switching back and forth between past Mexico posts I have wanted to do, and current US posts. Oh well...such is life :-)

Back in November (yeah, 5 months ago), we went to the Plaza Galerias in Guadalajara. It is across the street from Costco, and next to a very large Walmart. It is 3 stories high, and is quite the place!

Don't try playing in the fountains, though. They don't like it (as we learned).


Notice the Hooters, Chilis, and Outback Steakhouse?


And when we left the mall, I was blown away by the AMAZING, colorful trees at the entrance!


I kept getting closer and closer and closer to the trees, taking photos. When I got within a few feet, I finally realized that their florescent pink color was just as unbelievable as I thought. In other words, blow this photo up (click on it) to make the same discovery I did...

And of course, how could I forget the mall security guards with their very intimidating guns? Can you imagine this in the US?! Well...perhaps we'd have less random violence in the US if our security looked like this, too.

Can it get any better?

Some wonderful friends of ours, Mark and Martha (as mentioned in previous posts) invited us over for dinner last weekend. They are the parents of Pablo, Ella's beau from school. They are so attached to each other that the teachers often complain that they can't separate them! We don't mind :-) More Spanish for her, and more English for him!

Anyhow, we arrived to dinner, assuming it would be just us and them. Imagine our surprise when friend after friend began to show up! It turns out that they invited several families from Ella's school class, and they were all there to wish us safe travels! Several people even gave gifts to Ella...we were shocked!







We had so much fun at the party, and couldn't believe that someone would be so kind to do this for us! Thank you Mark & Martha! We will miss you (and Ella will miss Pablo SOOO much)!

A few days later...our friends from Utah (that are living here for the year) brought us dinner when we couldn't make it to a dinner appointment (Ella got a stomach bug...that was fun), later watched Ella, and even helped us clean in preparation for our checkout, tomorrow! Thank you Dave & Carrie....we wish you could be here EVERY year!

Everyone here has been so kind. We received more dinner and home invitations in 4.5 months than nearly all of our winters combined! How do you beat a place like that?!

We're leaving Mexico!

It is with great sadness that I write this post...and yet such joy, because I am reflecting on all of our great memories we have made here! Looking at our photos from just the past week and a half, I am reminded of so many reasons I love Mexico. Such as...

I love the cheap car washes you can get in the Walmart parking lot from the turbo water sprayer guys!
I love the bright purple flowers everywhere, that just came in bloom. I believe they're called Primaveras...
I LOVE the bugumbillias. Their color variety seems endless, and they are always in bloom!
I love the artistry...the traditional pottery...
The wood crafts...
The metal crafts...
The amazing corn husk dolls and flowers...
The artesania purses and bags...
The Mexican's celebration of death...that surprisingly isn't morbid...but refreshing...
The beautiful dolls they make that are as vibrants as the people...
The kind, talented people that put such love and care into their work...
The colors of Tonala, Guadlajara....

The ceramics that you can buy for pennies on the dollar...
(In this case...$7 each)The road-side food stands...
The small-time stands in front of individual's homes...
The food stands at the markets...
The native people and their colorful clothing...
The honey sellers that walk around with their wheel barrels full of honeycomb...
The FRESH and CHEAP food!! Oh, I will miss this SOOO much!
Someone DEFINITELY had it right when they posted this sign:

A dream...

Last night I had a dream that I was hand washing clothes on the top of the White House for the president. I thought that was very odd.

That is, until Jared told me he dreamed last night that he was the president. Ah-ha! It's all making sense, now....