Trip to Dolores Hidalgo

We had a lovely trip to Dolores Hidalgo yesterday, Monday. The city is a bit smaller than San Miguel, and not quite as pretty, but it provided a most relaxing day. The bus ride was just over an hour, and the terminal was an easy walk from the historical center of town.

Dolores Hidalgo is known as the cradle of the Revolution against Spain, due to the involvement of Father Hidalgo who rallied the citizens to oppose the Spanish oppressors in 1810. In addition, the city is now famous for its Talavera pottery, the style that was adapted from the Spanish majolica

pottery.

We visited one Talavera store that had been recommended, and

we succumbed to the beauty of the treasures. We purchased a set

of dishes at a reasonable price--61 pieces--and it will be shipped to us in two weeks. Forget the fact that the shipping costs almost as much as the pottery; it is still a bargain.

The third thing that Dolores Hidalgo is famous for is the ice cream

(and many unique flavors) sold around the square. We passed on the tequila, cerveza, and jalapeño flavors, and settled on

some delicious flavors with fruits and nuts. We think figs were a part of the mix. Mmmmmm!

Last night we dined on the rooftop of a restaurant, just in time to watch the sun set behind the towers of an ancient church. The view of the city was spectacular, and that was before the second margarita and cerveza! On the way home we stopped to enjoy watching some dancing on the stage in the Jardin--tangos, cha chas, and other Latin dances.

Our evening usually concludes with us trying to improve our Spanish by watching B American movies on TV, with subtitles in Español. Surprisingly, it really is helpful!

We can't believe we have just one week to go. It will be good to be home, but we are going to miss the clear blue skies and the warm 'sol.' Frank is getting so tan he no longer resembles his passport photo, so he may have to stay on.

We are now heading to the library to buy tickets for a Gypsy Guitar concert on Friday. We will share more later about our Thanksgiving Dinner experience, which is a fundraiser for a local nonprofit group.

Hasta la vista!

Gayle y Pancho