Day 3 - Ajijic
We woke this morning about 8:00 a.m. to a glorious blue sky and a great night sleep. We deserved it, Saturday seemed like such a long day.

We decided that we'd head off for breakfast and from there start the walk towards Ajijic's town square. One of the things that we've found out very quickly is that we better get used to walking (it would be very fair to say cobble stoned roads) or taxi's or the local bus system. Suppose we can rent a car, but we've opted for the "healthy" option to begin with.

After showering up (our shower can remove paint that it's so forceful) we decided to head down the "back alley" to get breakfast and then head off towards town. Down the back way, we ran into a troupe of goats and their herder, just something you don't expect to ever see.

Breakfast was good, Eggs Benedict with home fries for $6.00 and Deb's Ham and Cheese omlette with toast and fruit was just under $5.00. Very good food, and apparently all is well with the water in the ice cubes as long as they have holes down the middle. While we sitting on the patio, catching the ambience wouldn't you know it a guy on a horse trots buy. Only in Mexico.

From there we started out on foot towards the town Ajijic, population of about 11,000 (as per the sign) and no map (which I left at the house). We knew to walk west but god was the sun hot and unrelenting, it was quite a change from the cloud and wetness of Abbotsford. One has to be very very careful as you walk the streets, the cobblestones are or could be dangerous to your health. particularly your ankles so we've been very careful as we walk. We kind of knew which direction to travel as you can only go as far as Lake Chapala before you get wet. We moved through some of the local side streets with the lake insight.

Lot's of big estates (used by the well of Guadalarjarian's) with gates for their cars and entry/exit. Given the monthly wage for the average Ajician is around $400 - $500 you can see why so many of these properties have security or razor wire surrounding the property. As we walked along one the beach once we hit Lake Chapala, we came upon one of the local crazies, he gave us the "look" and loudly announced....."why don't you people stay in your own country".....I guess I know how some of the people feel in Surrey.

We made it to the Ajijic Malecon (a very nice walkway that has been built next to the Lake) to find a hoard of people with their families. People were setting up their picnic, assembling their boats and just walking to enjoy the blue sky. Every few footsteps we'd see GRINGO after GRINGO and a nod of the head with a hello in English is always welcoming, despite our constant lookout for shade under a tree or larger palm. Given that we were both coming down heat stroke, I knew that it must be time for Cervesa or Margarita's so we ducked into a nice little restaurant call Victor's and grabbed a table on the patio so that we could cool down and people watch. God for a $3.00 Margie, I'm not sure how much Tequila they put in this, but whoooo was it strong.

From there it was our intent to head home so we walked north on one of the main roads that lead up to the Ajijic square. Deborah found a number of o-so-quaint dress shops, she just had to try on some cotton dresses to cool down. Nothing purchased but it's been noted for the next time in town.

We we both somewhat exhausted so we grabbed a cab ($3.50) to take us back to El Dorado. God was that a good decision. Soon as we hit the door, I was on the couch under the ceiling fan. Nice way to spend a Sunday and only 28 days or so to go.