March 30, 2007

Cabo San Lucas, BJ Mex (map)

Tequila Sunrise
This is Janice writing to fulfill Jeff’s promise of a “bonus blog” about what I learned at a tequila factory. Actually, if you’re really interested in the process, view this website: http://www.itequila.org/made.htm. Suffice it to say: I have a new appreciation of tequila. We visited the Los Osuna Reposado (middle grade) factory in La Noria, Mazatlan, which has been in operation since 1876. Gorgeous grounds, long and complicated process involved to produce the tequila, including use of computers to check the grade and quality specs required by the “Tequila Associates Jalisco,” and a fine tasting area with various tricks taught about how to truly enjoy a shot of straight tequila. (Also see a blog done by an earlier visitor which gives a nice synopsis of the factory’s history http://johnsmitchell.blogspot.com/2006/03/los-osuna-tequila-factory.html.)

My favorite surprises were the “asparagus” growing out of the center of the mature plants and the juice bearing “pineapple” weighing over 300 pounds. Needless to say, I made a purchase or two there.

It’s too bad Jeff missed this particular day tour, because it was one of the better ones. On the way to the tequila factory we stopped at a private cemetery of a very wealthy family. The family visits it once a week to bring fresh flowers and tidy it up. Our tour guide explained about the local tradition of the Day of the Dead. This website— http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/muertos.html closely follows what he told us, except this was interesting: He said the family brings a change of clothes for the deceased, an extra place setting for the meal that will be eaten at the gravesite, and his/her favorite things, e.g., if the person smoked, they set out a lit cigarette in an ash tray.

We also made a stop at La Noria, a small town of 900 with a leather factory where they make beautiful saddles, belts, purses, and huaraches. The town had numerous colorful buildings and a quaint church, and I saw some of the most beautiful children I’ve seen on the trip yet—all presenting the women on the tour with blossoms from Vinca plants or small rosebuds—probably wanting pesos in return, but maybe not. They appeared to be genuinely glad we were visiting their isolated little community. One 10 or 11-year-old boy sporting a backpack—presumably on his way home from school—followed me everywhere. When we settled back into our van he peered through the tinted windows to bid his final good-bye. Very sweet boy with big brown eyes that would melt anyone’s heart.

Today I arose at 5 a.m., awakened by the usual barking dogs and roosters crowing—even though the sun won’t be up for another hour and 15 minutes. I was awakened every other hour all night by the same cacophony of sounds, but I’ve become pretty good at being able to go back to sleep. But since we went to bed around 8:00 last night, I felt it was time to get up and take advantage of having time on the computer for a change.

Poor Jeff, he’s joined the “sickos” on the trip—coming down with hopefully just a bad cold—thus our early to bed last night. (By the way, the fresh fish dinner was superb!) We’ve had 2 or 3 men get Montezuma’s revenge and two women become very ill with a respiratory malady. Fortunately, one of our co-caravaners is a doctor (OB-GYN) so he’s made several trips to the farmacia to help the husbands select drugs for their wives—no prescription needed.
We’ll be leaving at 9:30 this a.m. for Cabo San Lucas—a short 65-mile trip, but one estimated to take 2 hours—not as steep and curvy, but still very narrow lanes and trucks to do battle with. I’m praying Jeff will be up to it so I won’t have to drive. By the way, he has been an awesome driver on this trip. My hat goes off to all of our drivers—a couple of wives on occasion, but no thanks!

[Because the usual blog author has been smitten with a head cold that, in combination with over-the-counter medications has rendered him a dullard, he thanks Janice for her contribution today.]