There had been a terrific storm overnight that killed our electricity for a period - sparks flew out the air con system and the ceiling fan stopped spinning. By morning, the electricity had returned but the puddles remained and there were some pretty big ones too, more like small lakes.

We didn't care though because we were going on the bus to Valladolid for a few days. We arrived late morning and it was only a couple of blocks walk to the hotel. The hotel was very unassuming from the outside, it looked just like the rest of buildings on the street. Once we stepped through the entrance it was a different story. All the rooms were built around a central courtyard with a pool in a typical colonial style. As we walked to our room at the far end of the first floor, David was trying to work out in his head whether jumping into the pool from the balcony would be a good idea or even tolerated by the staff.

We had a wander round town in search of a coffee. That is actually a difficult task when vendors keep offering beer instead even though it was still morning. During our search, we came across a street cart selling pork tortas and tacos - with huge spoonfuls of tomato and green chilli relish from the bucket sized bowls, they were so good (and cheap) that there will probably be a return trip tomorrow.

We chilled out in the hotel for the afternoon, there is a really nice roof terrace with a couple of spa tubs to keep you cool when a walk down two flights of stairs to the pool seems too much.

When we walked out the hotel for dinner, a procession was coming down the street. It was being led by a white horse pulling a cart and a driver throwing candy to the people waiting on the pavement. We caught some mid-flight and just put them in our pockets for later. It would appear to have been a procession on kindergarten kids with some dressed as monkeys and others as elves and flowers. We still have no idea what it was for but it caused chaos with the traffic as it slowly wound it's way toward the main plaza.

Lonely Planet had suggested eating at Conato 1910, once a meeting place for 20th century revolutionaries. It was down a narrow, badly lit street with buildings desperately in need of a new coat of paint. It was, however, the odd one out in the street- a bright, high ceiling room with interesting artwork greeted us (see photo). It was a mainly Mexican menu or you could have fresh pasta with a chipotle twist as Maria decided. David, once again, chose something he had no idea about what would be brought to the table, 'Pechuga Xcatik'. It turned out to be a huge pile of chicken filets smothered in Xcatik chilli sauce...very nice!!