Yesterday and today in Guanajuato we’ve had weather like at home: cold and rainy  It gets old really fast!  Perhaps this will lessen the shock when I land in Vancouver this Saturday.  The forecast at home is dismal.

Tomorrow is my last day of classes as I will prepare to leave and pack on Friday.  I catch a bus to Puerto Vallarta at 11pm, arriving Saturday morning, and have to kill time at the airport waiting for my flight in the afternoon.

I will spend a couple of days in Vancouver before heading to resume “normal” life in Garden Bay.

Wow!  Fifteen weeks have gone by and only two remain.  There is some anxiety in these final days that lead to change and great expectations for the future, so I guess that’s a good thing.  Current thinking is that I will return to Guanajuato next fall.

The people of Mexico are much more expressive in love than Canadians.  One obvious example can be found in their traditional ranchera music.

It was a beautiful day Sunday February 14 and the streets of Guanajuato were filled with couples carrying flowers etc as well as vendors of all sorts of Valentine gifts.  My valentine and I went for dinner and then to a concert of romantic music in Teatro Principal.

The trip to the beach was a total success.  I have finally learned how to spend the day on the beach.  One needs: beach umbrellas, a table, beach chairs, toys, and a cooler full of food and beer.

We slept in the small town of Lo de Marcos and started the day with a jog on the local beach.  After a late breakfast we drove to a different beach each day: Guayabitos, Los Ayala, and Chacala.

The drive home Monday was brutal as somehow I consumed tainted food, and even though I had taken Dukoral before I left, I got sick.  We stopped as I felt nauseous, I got out of the car, fainted in the heat, and then vomited.  I recovered somewhat after that.

Tuesday I felt poor, was struck by severe diarrhea Wednesday and had to stay in bed all day.  Finally decided to take the Cipro that brought from Canada just in case.  I am recovering now thankfully.

Monday February 1, 2016 is a national holiday in Mexico, Día de la Constitución Mexicana.  The owners of the Spanish language school, Luis and Esme, are taking advantage of the long weekend to head to a quiet beach north of Puerto Vallarta called Lo de Marcos.  Myself and another long term student are very fortunate to have been invited to join them.  Including Esme’s two children we will be six in total and will be staying in a house being rented by former students from the US.  I am very pleased.

Wore my Gortex jacket for the first time in Mexico.  Wednesday was cold and rainy.  Fortunately the forecast is all sun and warming temperatures.

School is going well.  Although I’m paying for group classes, most have been private.  My confidence is building but I still make lots of mistakes which is frustrating.

January is the coldest month here in Guanajuato, but these cool sunny days would be well appreciated in Vancouver.  The city has calmed down after the busy holiday season, better for us locals.  Booked my return flight for March 12 flying out of Puerto Vallarta.  Decided to extend Spanish school by another four weeks as I like the routine, the friendships, and still need the practice.

I did go to the gringo party on the 26th.  It was enjoyable but I just don’t want to be speaking English so I’ll pass next time.  I was invited to a New Year’s Eve party at a teacher’s house.  It was interesting to see their home in a historic building near Alhondiga.  It was a typical Mexican party (in my experience), very fun, and we stayed up all night.  Needless to say that I spent much of the 1st sleeping and recovering.

I have completed six weeks of Spanish school and have at least six more to go.  Went for turkey dinner at the neighbor’s Christmas Eve.  The owner of my house prepared breakfast Christmas morning for three of her friends and I was invited.  The group then went for a hike up a local mountain.  The weather was sunny and warm, as it is again today, as is the forecast for the coming week.  Am invited to a “gringo” party tonight.  Don’t really want to go but I guess I *should*.

Thankfully, my cold is gone.  The trip to León was fun.  We visited numerous plant nurseries, the big shoe market, and Home Depot!

It was a good week at school.  All of my classes were private due to the lack of others at my level.  Looks like the coming (short) week will be the same.  The weather forecast for Christmas day is 24/11C.