Our next stop quickly gained the nickname Little Canada. The entire community were Canadian retirees down for winter. Tall sky scrapers, and a collection of Senor Frogs lined the beach. It was just like a poor man`s Cancun, and it wasn`t our style. Unfortunately, we were forced to spend 2 days in McDonalds trying to sort out some car insurance issues, but at least we didn`t feel too much like we were missing out.
From one Little Canada to another, San Carlos, was one of the friendliest towns we had come across. Free camping on the beach, a good English speaking mechanic and very friendly locals. After one week in this town we felt quite at home. Much more laid back than other ``snowbird`` towns on the West Coast, San Carlos is the kind of place you could stay all winter (and many people do!). We met a couple of friendly folks camped on the beach who returned every Canadian and US winter without fail. The beach was pristine, and every evening we sat and watched dolphins play in the bay.
Unfortunately we had to leave a week before Semana Santa (Easter Week) where hundreds of thousands of Mexicans descend on the beach, to play loud music, and to eat and drink with family. It would have been a sight to behold, and I`m sorry to have missed it.
From one Little Canada to another, San Carlos, was one of the friendliest towns we had come across. Free camping on the beach, a good English speaking mechanic and very friendly locals. After one week in this town we felt quite at home. Much more laid back than other ``snowbird`` towns on the West Coast, San Carlos is the kind of place you could stay all winter (and many people do!). We met a couple of friendly folks camped on the beach who returned every Canadian and US winter without fail. The beach was pristine, and every evening we sat and watched dolphins play in the bay.
Unfortunately we had to leave a week before Semana Santa (Easter Week) where hundreds of thousands of Mexicans descend on the beach, to play loud music, and to eat and drink with family. It would have been a sight to behold, and I`m sorry to have missed it.
From the coast to inland Mexico, the following day in Hermosillo was spent anxiously waiting our new number plates and insurance info that was being posted from Canada. We hadn’t quite anticipated how much trouble we were going to have re-registering the car in Canada, from another country. As we were no longer considered Canadian residents, we were not allowed to register the car from Mexico, it had to be done in Canada. However, we couldn’t drive it legally in the US (or Canada for that matter) without registration and insurance. But to get insurance and registration, we had to be in Canada, with the car. You get the picture, it was quite a pickle. Luckily, we have some great friends in Canada, and were able to sell the car to a fried, who could complete the paperwork, and insure the car in his name, with the two of us listed as drivers. Lucky, because none of the alternatives were very promising!
Morelia
Monarch butterflies spend summer in the USA and winter in Mexico. Near Morelia in Mexico’s central -west, thousands of butterflies hang about in trees, and await the right weather to begin their journey north. Interestingly, it takes the butterflies four generations to make the trip, but somehow they stay on course, and work out how to return when the weather turns. We followed the guide book`s advice, and head out nice and early to visit the colony. Getting up early wasn`t a problem, as we had spent the night parked in their car park, and it was COLD!
Ticket price was a puny $4 which included a personal guide. Fortunately, the cold weather meant we had a chance to see the butterflies in their colony. Thousands of butterflies hanging in great clumps from trees. Unfortunately, thousands of monarch butterflies hanging from trees look a little like big brown blobs on branches. Had we arrived when the weather was warmer, we might have been able to see them flying through the forest, displaying their wonderful orange wings. Seeing them all asleep in their various family groups gave you an idea of the sheer number of butterflies in one spot, but it was a long way from the Disney scene I had imagined, walking through the forest surrounded by clouds of orange and black wings.
On the path up the hill, our guide showed us some basic butterfly first aid level 1. Butterflies littered the path, cold and dead, their little butterfly legs curled up into the foetal position (or the chrysalis position?) wings scrunched together. She began picking up their cold little butterfly corpses, and blowing hot air into her fist. Low and behold, a short time later they were awake enough to fly away. Apparently those that don’t make it to the warmth of the colony, pass out and eventually die from the cold. If the sun comes out quickly enough, they can be revived.
Ticket price was a puny $4 which included a personal guide. Fortunately, the cold weather meant we had a chance to see the butterflies in their colony. Thousands of butterflies hanging in great clumps from trees. Unfortunately, thousands of monarch butterflies hanging from trees look a little like big brown blobs on branches. Had we arrived when the weather was warmer, we might have been able to see them flying through the forest, displaying their wonderful orange wings. Seeing them all asleep in their various family groups gave you an idea of the sheer number of butterflies in one spot, but it was a long way from the Disney scene I had imagined, walking through the forest surrounded by clouds of orange and black wings.
On the path up the hill, our guide showed us some basic butterfly first aid level 1. Butterflies littered the path, cold and dead, their little butterfly legs curled up into the foetal position (or the chrysalis position?) wings scrunched together. She began picking up their cold little butterfly corpses, and blowing hot air into her fist. Low and behold, a short time later they were awake enough to fly away. Apparently those that don’t make it to the warmth of the colony, pass out and eventually die from the cold. If the sun comes out quickly enough, they can be revived.