Explored Dolores Hildago Today

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Got up yesterday morning and headed to the small town of Dolores Hildago a small but very busy town about an hour away. This is the town where the Mexicans won their independence from Spain steeped in important history for the Mexican people. Also compared to SMA it is more a town the Mexicans visit. In fact we spoke with some Mexican Americans from San Diego and they were not even going to SMA. Dolores is a bustling town with a million ice cream stands it seems on every corner all with at least 10 choices of very tasty ice cream. The Jardin square was very pretty and surrounded by yes you guessed it Churches. The main church was busy with some sort of very large service going on so was unable to go into it but outside was stunning. Managed to go into a few of them and take a few pictures (empty of people and kept the flash off trying to be very respectful). They seem to really like that we are so interested in their churches and like to show them to you. After purchasing some Talavera plates to go with my dishes (Yes Rick knew I was buying more dishes for those who know how he feels about my dish buying this is funny!). We walked and walked around this place until we were tired then caught a bus home. Spent a quiet evening here at the house just too tired to go walk the Jardin in SMA. Not sure what we are doing today but wanted to get these pictures up hopefully for you to enjoy. Hasta Luego (See you later in Spanish)

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Photos

Main Church
This church faced the Jardin. They were holding a very large service so didn't get inside but I am sure it was stunning.

Manger Scene
The scene was not only pretty but the figures were also mechanical so they moved. It looked really old. Saw one of the priests walking outside all dressed in his robes.

Pretty Mural
This is a pretty mural done in tiles quite impressive. Said something about the name of the church.

Typico Mexican Dulceria
They have candy stores called Dulcerias all over for their pinatas. Some are the size of a 7-11 store and some much bigger just stacked with bags of candies, small toys and large bags of chips and snacks. They love to snack here!

Man making Talavera
This man was doing a demonstration with the clay. This town was filled with stores selling Talavera of every kind quite colorful. Managed to buy some to take home hope they make it unbroken.

Ceiling
Wish I could have got a better picture of these domes they were really old and cracking but beautiful.

Pretty church
It looked like they were having a wedding inside.

Wedding party
This one is not as decked out in flowers as we have seen. I must say I like their idea of the flowers instead of cans tied to the back and soap words written on the windows. You see them loading all the flowers in trucks to take to whereever they are holding the reception. They all leave in a procession much like a funeral. As you can imagine it really clogs the traffic in an already tight situation. I think walking often is much quicker than driving in these towns. Always a funeral or a wedding or both making their way through town.

Another Church
This is only about a block from the last one and a few more as well. How do they decide which one to make the family church with so many?

Ice Cream man
On every corner someone is selling Ice Cream here! Rick wanted a beer and a taco stand which was much harder to find! I swear we have more Taco stands at home then here LOL

Rick at Market Comedor
Had lunch at the comedor. I had an excellent Relleno and he had some stew with rice and beans. You walk through the markets and they have sections devoted to these little lunch counters. Typical Mexicna food, hard to decide as they are all trying to get you to sit down. They make up all these pots of food and then warm them up as ordered. Having pretty seasoned stomachs we eat at them but most tourists would be scared to death! Often this is where you get the best food though and cheap. We paid 50 pesos for both of our lunches which is about 4$ in SMA at a restaurant it could have been 200 pesos! Big difference and to be honest the few restaurants we have eaten at weren't as good.

Nopals
This road was lined with women preparing Nopal (Cactus) for sale. They take off the thorns and slice into strips before putting them in bags for sale. Who was the first one that figured that out the same person who figured out the Artichoke must have been hungry!?

Chilies Anyone?
Those two bags are filled with dried chilis and he is not the only right there many others also had trucks of dried chilies. They use these for dishes like Mole and Colorado, Adovada dishes. In fact as I write this Rick is eating a pork colorado dish for breakfast. Muey Rico (Very Delicious in Spanish)

Old Ox Carts
@Tom We loved these carts the wood Patina was so beautiful! Now how to get one home LOL

Cool Mailbox
Looked very Asian to me.

Comments

[lisa]

Hola
Kim: I love how the both of you can find your little passions while travelling. I am sure Rick is going nuts with all the food selections and buying dishes, how cool! Isn't it amazing how life can just be as simple as you let it be. It is great to see all of the pictures and hear your stories. Lisa

[Wandering Gal]

Thanks Lisa! Hope all of you are doing well. Yes we have been having fun but kind of looking forward to being in our home but am sure when I get back to the rain that thought will change. Talk with you soon Love K