Make Me Laugh Again

May 28 2024 Tuesday Tequila

(posted 06/01/24)
Breakfast across the street from hotel – instant coffee but interesting food – Neil had burritos de tinga and I had mollete con carne. Next a distillery tour at La Tequileño. Then we went to the Tequila museum. Next came lunch on the plaza. We then did a Jose Cuervo (La Rojena) tour. Neil tasted and Reneé found an agave beer at a stand in the plaza. On the way back to our hotel we bought ice cream which we both agreed was not very good. We rested before dinner then walked to El Real Marinero and had chicken fajitas. It’s a good thing we’re walking so much because we are eating too much!

Again there was a political rally in the square.

We were sad to see that the famous bar, La Capilla, (Oldest bar in Tequila, supposedly one of the top bars in the world) was closed on Tuesdays…another day perhaps.

This is what happens to the remains after the sugar has been extracted, it is becoming mulch.

Pulling out a hunk to taste. Very sweet, literally dripping syrup!

This is the extracted sugar and some water that is headed for fermentation

Fermentation takes from 3 days to a week (depending on process) ending with about 7% alcohol.

After two trips through the stills, the Tequila is trucked to Guadalajara for bottling and aging. At this point it is probably about 55% or 110 proof. It must be diluted down to 80 proof to be sold in Mexico

At dinner, This is Mexico and the fan is in the fountain

This is where we learned the age of the city

May 27 2024 Monday Paradise Village to Tequila

(posted 06/01/24)
Up at 0600 morning routines, then off to the bus stop. The bus (collectivo – small van) got us close then we walked a couple of blocks. Somewhere in here I realized I had left my full cup of coffee on the boat, bummer! The ride to Guadalajara was uneventful, smooth and comfortable. A newer bus, with good AC. Then we had about a half hour wait for the bus to Tequila, smaller, older not as comfortable but still pretty good.
We got to Tequila and walked to our hotel. About a half mile.
Pretty nice, but interesting water system. The toilet seat was warm, because the water was hot in the tank. When we took a shower, the water was hot or hotter, cold was not an option.
While there was a pool, it was not clean.
We walked into town for dinner. Very nice. Reneé had seafood spaghetti, I had coconut shrimp with an Habanero Mango sauce.
To drink we had an imperial stout from Minerva a Mexican craft brewery.

There was a political rally in progress. Which dominated the square. Then back to our room and bed. There were several “train whistles” overnight.
This town appeared to have more money than most of the places in Mexico we have seen.
Nicer, cleaner, better paint and stucco. It’s an old town, 494 years.

This was the route that we took on two buses, first to Guadalaraja then to Tequila

These are tour buses, we did not use any of them.

A view of the stills at one of the distilleries

This is what the Agave looks like in the field

May 26 2024 Sunday Paradise Village

(posted 06/01/24)
Church with Tracy and Danelle, then lunch at Karen’s Restaurant and a walk through the market. Followed by a bus ride back to the boat. A Very good day, with new friends.

May 25 2024 Saturday Paradise Village

(posted 06/01/24)

Game night with Tracy and Danele, and Danny and Robin the ladies played games, the guys chatted.

You guessed it, no pictures today either.

May 24 2024 Friday Paradise Village

(posted 06/01/24)
Up about 0600, morning routines.
Today’s activities include cleaning compartments below the sole (floor inside the boat). This is about the last thing we can do before the “last days”. So, effectively we will be done!
We are having guests today at 2 pm, Tracy & Danele Cain from SV Parable. They have an IP38, and are new to cruising. They will be are going to go to church Sunday with us.