On the Road Again

It is 6:30 and we are leaving. “adios XOXOX” has been written on our car window... Bev did that we are quite sure! It is sad to leave.
As the sun begins to rise we are in the Sierra Madre Del Sur Mountains which are much higher and steeper than I expected.

There are amazing panoramic views as we go this way then that way, up, up, up, then down, down, down. The road is perched on the side of the mountains with no barriers and steep drop offs. These are the biggest mountains that we have driven through on this trip and we call this nerve racking drive the “Really Jim” or the “Don’t Look Jim” *copyright Susan Smith last trip to Mexico.

It is a truly beautiful and spectacular drive. We are lucky that we had a full tank of gas and packed a lunch as there are only a few small farming communities.
The valleys get wider and the mountains are not as high when we reach Ciudad Altamirano.

On the map the tiny short road to Taxco seemed like a better idea than the much longer highway route. It was definitely more picturesque but much longer in driving time. However the towns that we went through made it worthwhile.

We finally arrive in Taxco. Joanne and I were here in April 2008 and loved its narrow streets and charm but hated all the cars.

Finding a hotel and parking were difficult, and finally we got a room in Hotel Los Arcos, a small old hotel that we found on our last trip. From the courtyard in our hotel lobby a large tree trunk filled the corner and on the third floor the beautiful purple blooms became the focal point of the rooftop deck. We must find the name of these trees that are so common in Mexico.

We settled in quickly as we realized that Carnival was about to start with a fireworks display in the main square.

The fireworks were not your regular high in the sky bursts but all took place on a large tower that had been erected in front of the church in the square.

An amazingly good horn band played Mexican music with improvisational jazz-like sections as the fireworks on the tower spun and exploded.

This was fireworks with a religious theme. Goblets, bells, stars and other symbols whirled round and shot out coloured sparks. A drawing of Jesus that looked like it had come from The Family Guy television show, unfolded and on each side there were two flaming angels spinning round and round. The end finally comes when the band played an almost "um- pa- pa" beat as the top of the tower exploded in sparks and a whirling crown shot a halo of light far into the sky and the church bells began.

Oh brothers and sisters I have seen the light.

Following this spectacular display, cages of fireworks that resembled a toy bull were lit and young boys charged around the square carrying them. When the burning sparks became too much for the carrier, the firework bull was dropped and another boy would pick it up and charge through the fleeing crowd. There were about ten of these bulls.