2021 - A Bucket Full of Woe:
Let's just get this over with fast. Here is what 2021 dealt the Searles family: Alex- a failed liver which amazingly snapped back without a transplant thereby stupifying medical science yet requiring 5 months in LA, an air ambulance and horrific, bureaucratic manos-a-manos with the American insurance maze; a massive heart attack for Michael --luckily experienced on land after completing a 10km kayak paddle on the lake; a mysterious onslaught of pulmonary/cardiovascular malfunction for Deirdre. Doctor, unhinged at regular checkup stating "You could have a heart attack at any minute." I didn't but it took 4 days in the hospital to convince them I'd make it. Justin, bless his soul remained upright and supportive of the rest of us throughout the year. But, now we are all fine -- or fine-ish-- and ready to once more venture forth to stride the world like Goliaths.... if co-vid will let us.
It's Not All About Us
While you have (perhaps) been wondering what happened to us over the last six months, we have been wondering what happened to YOU! So, please enlighten us. Send us a little update, a photo that shows you still breathing, your latest Wordle score... whatever. Please.....
We have been nowhere and done nothing pretty much. Therefore, we shall include photos that are esthetically pleasing and perhaps photographically quite swell but have nothing to do directly with this post. They are just to cheer you up. Particularly those of you who are wading through deep snow or slipping your way down the driveway.
So, Now What?
Well, who knows really. Our little village got off easy on the early rounds of co-vid. While we were careful going out to dinner, it was pretty safe since almost everything here is out of doors. We had open air concerts and lectures that were socially distanced and masked and it was bearable. But then can Omicron. This has been bad -- maybe double bad because AMLO (the presidents initials) went with the Sinovac vaccine which, unfortunately, does nothing for Omicron. So we are limping along waiting for the peak to hit and the decline (hopefully precipitous) to click in.
One Brief Escape
We did manage one brief escape to the near-by town of Sayula with our friends Barbara & Allen in November. Sayula's biggest claim to fame is the Ojeda knife factory. These knives are famous throughout Mexico for their craftsmanship & beauty. We did purchase one of their knives for our son Alex to add to his collection of fine culinary knives. We also made the obligatory stop by the plaza, basilica and the Sayula museum.
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| The place we stayed in Sayula we called Casa de los Patios. |
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| Imagine our surprise when we were greeted by this ghost outside our room . |
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| After buying the knife for Alex we visited the factory. The workers were socially distance and wearing their cubrebocas (masks). |
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| The Sayula Museum had some interesting old photos... |
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| a very large colorful mural... |
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| and this most interesting painting. |
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| Despite its small size, Sayula boasts a basilica with this statue of San Rodrigo in the courtyard. |
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| The carved stone entrance to the basilica was noteworthy... |
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| as was the mural in the courtyard of the church. |
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All towns and cities in Mexico now sport these brightly colored letters spelling out the name of the town or city.
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| The signs are usually in the plaza or near the malecon (in the case of Ajijic). This sign is for the town next to Ajijic. |
Having done in Sayula in one day (it is not a very big town), the next day we took a trip to another one of our favorite towns --- Tapalpa. You might remember from previous blogs that Tapalpa looks like a Swiss/Mexican town because of its elevation and abundance of pine trees. Outside of Tapalpa we found a delightful hacienda for lunch, where we were the only people there. Certainly a safe spot for lunch in these times of Covid. After lunch we found the elusive road to the cascadas (waterfalls) that we had failed to find on our many previous trips, despite our many desperate searches with conflicting directions from the Mexicans who never like to disappoint. This time of year is also the peak time for wildflowers here. Unlike the US our wildflower appear in the fall at the end of rainy season.
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| This table was at the outside dining area at the hacienda. It was made from one very long section of tree. |
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| The grounds outside had beautifully manicured lawns which led down to a dock on a small pond. It also featured this stone circle. |
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| In our search for the cascadas we encountered this burro... Michael, I think that is a horse....or maybe a mule. Those ears are short. What do our readers think? |
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| beautiful, blooming trees... |
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| an interesting cairn arrangement... |
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| this magnificent horse... |
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| some colorful lichen... |
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| and these wildflowers. |
The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow
Feeling a little bit like a naif, optimistic (if not adorable ) Annie these days. We just can't believe this thing won't end sometime soon-ish. Based on this (perhaps) pipe dream we have booked flights to Europe for late April to spend a month in France and Spain. And then we are planning what we are calling The Sentimental Journey starting in June which will be a mega-road trip beginning here in Ajijic and following the Texas coast, across the South, up the East Coast and wending to the midwest culminating in the Fowler family reunion in Michigan at the end of July. From there, if we are still alive and not divorced, we shall wind our way down to Mexico. Hopefully, it will be just in time for the fall festivities at Lake Chapala to begin. Have you noticed how many times I have used the word hopefully?
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| We leave you with these magnificent sunrises we have witnessed as inspiration for better days to come. |
Adios Amigos. Take care.
