Tequila and Fishing (or Al and Patti's summer vacation 2014)

Location:  Guanajuato, Mexico

When we signed-off from the last blog, we were touring Guadalajara, on our way to visit Lake Chapala and waiting for Al and Patti to join us for another great summer vacation.  Once again we have a lot of pictures, so we'll let them tell the most of the story.

We spent another few days in Guadalajara and then we moved to a rental house in Jocotepec, on the north shore of Lake Chapala.  From there we took a few day trips to Ajijic, a small town also on the north shore and to Mazamitla, a small "alpine" village in the mountains south of the lake.

Our last Sunday in Guadalajara.
Table of desserts for sale in the
nearby square.

Dance lessons in the square.

The yard/garden at our rental house
in Jocotepec, on the north shore
of Lake Chapala.

The church in Mazamitla, a small
village in the mountains south
of Lake Chapala.

Al and Patti arrived in Guadalajara on July 30th.  We picked them up at the airport and headed for the town of Tequila.

Patti and Al ready for vacation.

Children performing traditional
dances on the square in Tequila.

Our hotel in Tequila.

Suited up for a tour of the
Jose Cuervo factory.

Oven for cooking the agave "pineapples".
They cook them for ~30 hours, let them
cool and then squeeze out the juice to
make the tequila.

Tasting the tequilas after they have
been aged.

Tasting in the tequila cellar.

Tequila tasting using all of our senses.

Tasting two-for-one tequila margaritas.

A mural in the square

Back on the boat.

Al enjoying two-for-one
happy hour mango margaritas
at the pool.

Martini tasting while provisioning
at Costco (~10:30 a.m.)

Leaving Paradise Village Marina,
heading to Marina La Cruz for fuel.

B on the fuel dock.
730 gallons successfully
loaded in the aft tanks.

BBQing on the boat deck at
Marina La Cruz.

Early morning start.

Sunrise on the way to the fishing grounds.

Waiting to catch
something yummy.

Only thing caught today
is bait fish.

Taking a break from fishing and doing some snorkeling at Tres Marietas.   

Dave and Al snorkeling to the beach
at the Tres Marietas Islands.

Maybe tomorrow...

After fishing for three days
with no luck, we decided to
head for the mountains
and the old mining town
of San Sebastian.
Dave and B at the hotel
in San Sebastian.

Taking an afternoon break
at the Italian restaurant in
San Sebastian.

Banana tree in San Sebastian.

Hiking the town trails
in San Sebastian.

Finally, FISH ON!!!

Al wearing both harnesses.  It took
over an hour to reel the fish in.

The marlin close to the boat.
We estimated that he weighed 300+ pounds

Coming up to the surface.

Dave on the swim platform, releasing
the hook and making sure the marlin
swims away.

Relaxing after a satisfying day.