One More Road Trip

Before leaving México we fit in one more road trip, and it was to the state of Querétaro in the central highlands. We stayed with our good friends Naomi and Jose, who we came to know in our opening weeks in México, and who we are glad to have seen before we leave the country. Jose received a Fulbright grant to work with art therapy in Querétaro with his wife Naomi. They have decided to stay in México until December while they apply to doctoral programs in the states. We enjoyed great meals and fun conversation with the pair, and we traveled south together to the Otomí pueblo Santiago Mezqititan, from where many of the CODENI families migrated to Guadalajara.

Naomi with avocadoes, mangoes, tunas (cactus fruit) and squash from the market

Fresh cheese from the pueblo Amealco, near Santiago Mezquititan

Blue tortillas from Amealco

Maíz and cebollas, Frijoles (estilo dominicana), Ensalada nopal
Corn and onions, Black beans Dominican style, Nopal salad

Quesadillas

The festival taking place in Santiago was an odd mix of homage to Catholic saints, blaring Mexican banda music, old carnival rides (perhaps leftovers from the states), greasy enchiladas and gordiitas, and women dressed in traditional Otomí brightly colored blouses with white pleated skirts and colorful ribbons in their hair. We circled the square with all of the town's activity numerous times, and spent a good deal of time sitting at a CODENI family's home. The photos below capture a bit of our day outside at Gloria's house.

Guajolotes (Turkeys)

Rosi and Jose attempting to cut off a tuna fruit from a Nopal cactus.

Success.

Playing marbles (jugar a las canicas)

Josh giving Jorge an airplane ride

Danielle and Jose

Llorona and a baby chick