Weekend stuff...

Friday: I decided to just walk around Guanajuato by myself. I explored some shops and different plazas they have around here. I happened upon a few really neat places. And as I was wandering through one plaza to another, I found a plaza with tents and tents of books. Cheap books, mainly used, some new but soooo many books!!! It was crazy!!! I found these old Mexican comics from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. I was pretty excited to find them because I think I can use them in my future classroom. I also found a bookstore that sells English books owned by a woman who originally came here on vacation a couple times a year. She returned to Wisconsin one day and realized she just loved Mexico too much so she bought a house and started a bookstore. The owner was talking to another customer when I walked in and he proceeded to introduce himself. He studied in Gto. 12 years ago and now lives here teaching English. After all the shops and things, I sat outside at a café, enjoyed a vanilla chai tea, and read some of a book. Very pleasant day. Then I relaxed and packed for the trip.

Saturday: We left about 8 a.m. and traveled to Morelia. Along the way we got to see an Ex-Convent and a church. Very pretty, as expected. We saw more churches, a Purépecha museum. Purépechas are native people that are still a large part of the population in Morelia. Pretty neat artwork, ceramics, etc. Then we got to our hotel, the Qualitel in historic downtown Morelia. It was pretty nice. Crystal and I had to wait 30 minutes longer than everyone else to get our room because they were still cleaning it. Ugh. And this was a bare room. Not very homey but it worked for one night. We walked around downtown a bit, saw some more churches...haha...and then some of us ate at this taquería. Mmmm...so good. Quesadillas, tacos dorados...so delicious. After that, Crystal and I watched some tv and went to bed because we were exhausted.

Sunday: We drove to Pátzcuaro and Janitzio. We saw some more churches but then we got to go to the island of Janitzio. It was about a 30 minute boat ride but the island was pretty cool. Bands, parades, a giant monument, plenty of stuff to buy...haha. Gorgeous though. We even happened upon a local basketball game by taking a back way down from the monument. All locals...very cool to see. Then we just had the long bus ride home. But on our way to and from Morelia, we drove through this lake. They constructed a highway through the middle because it is so big. It is the first lake the Spanish built-artificial-but still pretty cool.

Monday: Did lots and lots of homework. I had this delicious chocolatey coffee drink at the café we went to last night. Mmmm...very good. Today is another day full of homework. class, and more writing papers.

There is a film festival going on here this week so Crystal and I are going to try to check it out. They have a variety of movies playing all over the city in different venues, even the tunnels...crazy! Should be pretty sweet...as long as I can knock out these papers.

Only 10 days left here!!! Whoa...