Monarch Butterflies

This passed weekend Joaquin, my aunt and I went to see the butterflies, we took a tour that went to "Valle de Bravo" passing by the sanctuary first. We walked (hiked) about 1 mile up to get to were the butterflies are most seen. it took us about one hour to get there, and then walk back to the bus. On our way to town (Valle de Bravo) we got to see a lot of butterflies allround the bus, on the street. It was amazing and beautiful. In Valle de Bravo we took a boat trip on the river, the day was nice, we got back home tired! it was a long day.

Monarch butterflies, merge from Mexico were they re-produce then head back north, We got to see some of them take flight back to the northern part....

Monarch butterflies are not able to survive the cold winters of most of the United States so they migrate south and west each autumn to escape the cold weather. The monarch migration usually starts in about October of each year, but can start earlier if the weather turns cold sooner than that.

Joaquin and Tia Celia! Valle de Bravo, Mexico

Joaquin and Me at Valle de Bravo

Joaquin and me Velo de Novia Watter Fall

Velo de Novia Watter Fall

Dia de la Candelaria, Candlemas

In Mexico this holiday is celebrated as Día de la Candelaria, known as Candlemas in English, because candles were brought to the church to be blessed.
In Mexico Día de la Candelaria is a follow-up to the festivities of Kings Day on January 6th, when children receive gifts and families and friends break bread together, specifically Rosca de Reyes, a special sweet bread with figurines hidden inside. The person (or people) who received the figurines on Kings Day are supposed to host the party on Candlemas Day. Tamales are the food of choice.
That is Wed February 2nd, and here at work we will have our tamales, I did not get the baby Jesus, but I will eat some tamales. At my aunts house we also had some rosca, Joaquin got about 3 (or more) baby Jesus,,, so I don't know how many tamales that will come up to..... Trying to stay on a diet, after the tamales,, maybe?
I will put up some pictures, of the little work party and the one at my aunts house as soon as I have them.

The ones I liked the most!

Picking Pictures!

Here comes the Stress! hahaha,, well after all is done, the Picture picking begins, the hardest thing is liking a lot of them, and then having to get some input on the husband's part!
Well we finally got it done,, and just sent the list of the pictures that were selected to the photographer... Here are some that I liked....

Yes, we are picture perfect! ;-)

Honey Moon

Tortuguero beach (caribean)

We whent to Costa Rica for our honey moon. Arrived to San Jose at night, and then very very early the next morning we left to Tortuguero it's a very cool island in the Caribian part, it took us 3 hours in a bus, and 1.5 hours in a boat to get there. It was beautifull we whent to the little town, stayed there only one night. The hotel was nice, very natury, we whent in a boat trip to see the animals, got to see some monkeys and a lot of birds, eagles, and turtles.

Black sand from beach in Caribean. Beautiful!

Entrance to our room

From Tortugueros we whent to Arenal, that was a 1.5 hour boat trip, then about 4 hours to Arenal. That is were the Volcano is, but it was very clowdy the days we were there, that the Volcaneno was not visible on any day we were there, we did got to some hot spring waters and then saw some butterflies, ants, and cocodrilles in a little reserve they had. We also whent to the Fortuna water falls, it was amazing, but that day it was raining a little bit...

Hot-springs water in Hotel Los Lagos

Fortuna water fall

From Arenal we whent to the Pacific side, where the weather was much better, but the longest distance in a little van to travel... about 5 hours, but it was very nice, we went to Manuel Antonio, it's a National Park, and it's adorable! very green, and lot's of animals, we saw monkeys, sloths, lot's of lizards, and many other animals, there we whent on a Catamaran tour, we got to see some local dolphins, and a whale, we did some snorkeling as well, it was a lot of fun, saw a lot of fishes, and had some great food, mahi mahi cobob's.

Catamaran, ready to snorkel!

Manuel Antonio

Then from all of that back to San Jose, and then back to Mexico... (back to reality)

little shop on the back to San Jose

Yuhuuu Wedding!

Sorry it took so long to write, but,, the wedding finally passed, it was great... with little details of course....
Like, getting there, yes the flight was CANCELLED! we get to the terminal and what is the news? your flight has just been cancelled,,, well the good thing is that they changed airlines and we did make it to TIJ airport on that day, just 3 hours later.. not soo bad. On the wedding day, the Mariachi forgot they were playing in our wedding so they arrived afther I entered the church,, they were there for the rest of the mass... and then 2 brides maid's were missing,,, but they arrived with the Mariachi. fun at the party and had delicious lobster on that day.. yummy Puerto Nuevo. On out flight back, we had a 2 hour layover in Guadalajara, and then came to Mexico,, and surprise in Mexico our luggage did not make it here with us, we had a flight that afthernoon to leave on our honneymoon. Yes we were hours on leaving to Costa Rica, and our luggage from our wedding trip had not arrive, he whent to Costa Rica with our knowing if our luggage came back, or when they did... (They made it back we were told on monday night... still late for Costa Rica.)

Alebrijes en Reforma

Alebrijes, there is an exposition in one of the main streets here, and it's between my house, and work, they made some Alebrijes (are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures) There were some cool ones, and some that really were not put to a lot of effort. We strolled down as we walked to get some yummy Pozole... and the DIET! ups! yes we are less then the month away....

The Eagle is going to grab me by the head!!

Mi cousin Esteban, his wife Adriana and baby Lilia!

Esteban, Adriana, Lilia, and Joaquin. (and some random guy added to the picture)