Brunts return to Nova Scotia

We took Tarra, Jeff & Aiden to the airport at 7 a.m. Their plane was to leave at 8:30. The last few days were busy, but I think that Jeff and Tarra did enjoy themselves. Jeff and Tarra were pleased with the walk up to the chapel. The views of the town and the lake were great. Also, at each of the turns for the switchbacks going up to the chapel, there was a small shrine representing one of the stations of the cross. Jeff took a lot of pictures.

On Thursday, we all went in to Tlaquepaque. There are lots of shops and with the street closed off to vehicles, it is very pleasant to walk along and to go round the square. We had lunch in one of the restaurants. By about 4:30 or so, everyone was tired of walking and window shopping, so we started back for the Lakeside (the term for the area along the north shore of Lake Chapala). Someone in Ajijic had recommended a restaurant in Chapala, called La Luña, as being very authentic Mexican. It is on the main street leading from Chapala to Guadalajara. It is not at all fixed up for Gringos; however, the food was good. After dinner, we all walked down to the waterfront, out on the pier and then along the ‘malecon’ (walkway along the water) to the east. There are a large number of stalls selling all sorts of goods and foods. By the time we got back to the car and drove home, it was after sunset; we were all so tired that we went to bed almost immediately (just after 9 p.m.).

Friday, we tried to take it easy as the Brunts were facing the trip home on Saturday. After a couple of weeks, we put the hummingbird feeder up again. It was only a couple of hours before the birds were returning to the feeder. At night the bats also returned and Jeff got several pictures; it is tricky because they move so fast and with the short delay for focusing, often they are gone, before the flash for the picture. So far (Saturday evening, after 2 days), no sign of the bees returning. Barb BBQ’d a good sized pollo (pronounced ‘po yo’)--i.e., chicken--on the still new BBQ. The ‘beer-can’ roaster does a very nice job and we had the last dinner with them at home. Tarra fixed strawberry Margaritas. They are really good (much like a strawberry daiquiri), much better than the other Margarita recipes we have.