converted in the caves

We left Monterrey for Grutas de garcia, a very old tiny cobbled stone street town with a very old cathedral surrounded by mountains that led to the caves. It was eerily quiet but peaceful and beautiful. We thought the quiet was a result of arriving mid week and wondered if it was a town that hosted weddings and celebrations on the weekend. We stayed in a posada that Andy called¨"his favorite place yet" out of all our travels I thought that was pretty high praise. This building reminded us of an old abbey with high solid wood doors that opened with one of those 2 pound looking huge metal keys. Andy loved the key too, try to find the pictutre of him holding it. The courtyards inside this building were tidy with plants and ceramic sculptures and the cielings were so high it seemed to open right into the night sky.

The time spent here was very calming and we thought often of our close friend Paul who has been dealing with the loss of his mother. The days we were at the caves and this magically town were during the memorial and gathering at our house after the funeral for Pauls mom. We had just been reading about Mayan culture and how many rituals are perfomed at the mouths of caves to help aid and encourage spirits to find there way to the next realm. The inside of the caves were a walking meditation throughout, it was breathtaking and grandiose. We stood inside this natural forming cathedral of mineral sculptures and statues and it was one of those moments, like hiking deep into the grand canyon, that brought me to this place, through such wonder and amazement, of believing. It cant be described but I sure hope you can get to these kind of transforming places. It was in this place that I remembered Paul and his Mom and how sad I felt for him and for us for our loss, how grateful I was to have met his mom and how even being so far away, in places like this we can call on those we love and feel very close.

we landed in Zacataras, this old colonial town. Little Madrid or some european town. I feel like a grungy traveler for this hip and rich little city. the woman are beautiful and the night life is happening, the narrow cobble stone streets are a theme in many cities outside the US. I get that now. We rode another teleferico (cable car) we are becoming addicts to those things. we get to the highpoint of the mountain and oooo and aaaa about all we see.

we are heading out to Guadalajara tomorrow and have discovered that this weekend is a long weekend for Mexicans (candalmas) so our uncrowded peaceful easy traveling experience may heat up. we have been warned. either way, we are going to Gaudalarja just in passing on our way to the magic pacific coast or hidden coast as it is called and we are ready for the open undeveloped beaches. The weather is significantly cooler here but not cold. days are sunny and warm high 70s and nights are high 50s. so it feels.

for those wondering about gremmy he just got a sombrero stay tuned for photos.
much love
dawn