Semana Santa 2016

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, goes from Palm Sunday to Easter (March 24 – 27 in 2016). It is Mexico’s second most important holiday season, after Christmas.

School children have a two week holiday, and many companies close-up shop during that time so that their employees can spend time with their families.

For some, it is time to spend in church, but many Mexicans will also take advantage of the holiday to go on vacation. And, for their vacation, half of Mexico flocks to the beaches looking to play in the surf, camp on the beach, spend time with family and friends and to dance, drink and have a fiesta.

Semana Santa San Carlos: By day the beaches are overflowing with tourists and locals alike, flying kites, swimming and soaking up the beautiful weather — while enjoying fun in the sun and a couple of cervezas. If you need to drive anywhere, this is the time to do it, because by late afternoon, the roads are bumper to bumper with trucks, cars, ATVs and motor bikes cruising up and down the strip. The vehicles are overflowing with people. Whole families ride on ATVs. And, speakers and plastic Tecate chairs in the back of pick-up trucks convert them into parties on wheels.

From one end of the town to the other, celebrants, young and old, families and friends fill the streets. Thirsty revelers guzzle Pacifico and Tecate. The already raucous atmosphere is pumped up even higher with roving musicians who add to the cacophony coming from hundreds of vehicles’ sound systems turned up to the max. People dance in large groups anywhere and everywhere that the feeling moves them.

Vendors line the street selling everything from souvenirs and sunglasses to local crafts. The mouth-watering smell of BBQ wafts through the air. All the local food specialties are available, from ceviche to carne asada.

Yes, Semana Santa is noisy and crowded and the traffic can be horrible, but it’s a fantastic Mexican celebration that should be experienced at least once. You will not regret or soon forget sharing in the excitement of a whole town celebrating together.

We watched the proceedings from the roof top at Delfines.
Boo was not too impressed!

Bands with tubas and drums just set up right at the street
corner beside the gas station.

Pick up trucks, coolers and ring side seats are the order
of the day.  Kind of reminded me of cruising in the 50s.

Good thing we were on foot.  The streets are clogged.

And, this is just a small part of tent encampments on the beach.

The big boats are out showing their stuff.  Many of the
 Mexicans come down for big family reunions.

We stayed home most of the time.

Played in the pool

And Boo actually had his first swim in the
pool!  To be truthful, he wasn't too crazy
about the idea but we had fun with him!

Attended an occasional neighborhood party

And hung out by the pool with four legged friends

Finally it was Easter Sunday, most of the crowds went home and we went to Margene and Joe's for an Italian Easter Fiesta.

Karen and Dee

Jerry, Judy and Suzanne

Joe and Margene

Judy and Larry

The tribe

March Madness Before Semana Santa

Well, our time here is getting short and we are working on enjoying every moment of our beautiful home here.  We have been looking for next year's place and there just is nothing to compare with what we have.  We are so thankful that we were lucky enough to be able to call this place home for two years:  656 Chula Vista, Sector Villa Hermosa, San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico.

One of Boo's favorite places to walk right down the street

Boo loves this chair in particular.  He can stand
up on the arms and check out the cars and the
dogs walking by.  

Our swimming pool, which we are using alot now that it is
so much warmer (80s most days).  That is just a painted
shadow on the turtle, but it does look like 3D.

Views of the Tetakawis even from below.
That's Selena's panga covered up in her
driveway because she's gone back to the
states for a few weeks.  We are going to
miss her being our neighbor next year.

Another beautiful night at the fire pit 

From the grill area on the balcony

Our bedroom which has views of the mountains, the ocean
and parts of the city.  

Probably playing Words with Friends

It's spring!

 On Tuesday, I went on a foodie tour of Guaymas, with mucho history thrown in.  Ruth, from Ruth and Rudy's Bakery, is a masterful tour guide and a whole lot of fun!

Joyous Ruth

We all rode in the back of Mike's big van!

Our first stop was the La Superior Tortilleria which makes corn tortillas for Guaymas and San Carlos.  

The assembly line

The dried corn

The corn is soaked in hot water and limestone.

Then it is put through this mill, making the dough.

It is then cut into the appropriate size and
is fried in oil-usually corn oil, but
sometimes canola oil.  This lady is packaging
the finished product.

They also make chips, tostadas and a wonderful
snack called churritos.

Although I had been to the church before, I hadn't seen this
lovely statue of Mary.

Inside was this statue where parishioners
write their wishes on ribbons on the left,
and when they come to fruition, they move
them to the right.

This was a wonderful little taqueria
next to the market.  Afterwards we
roamed the markets and had a fabulous
dessert of a malted milk concoction!

Suzanne Hale celebrated her 65th birthday at Delfines for
dinner and afterwards, we all went dancing at Froggy's to
the Red Hot Blues Band-a very full night!

Our table

Suzanne and Jerry dancing the night away at Froggy's

The Melodrama was exceptionally fun and hilarious this year.

Joe and Margene's beautiful view

Cocktails prior to the Melodrama

The following evening, we were invited to Karen and Dee's
gorgeous house on the Caracol for a great St. Patrick's Day
feast.

The sunset and views were stupendous!

We ate in their wonderful little Palapa down below.

There is always something going on.  Tonight it was Sam's
birthday party at JJ's with The Dudes.

Sam, after many tequila shots

Elizabeth, Sam's wife, and Susan King

 As if the celebrating thus far had not been enough, there was a fundraiser at La Posada Beach for Castaway Kids.  It was a whole afternoon affair and I am proud to say that we lasted until about 3 and then had to go home for some peace and quiet.  Every band in town played two or three songs and had us entertained thoroughly.

We sat with Karen and Jim, Win and Cinda and assorted
others over the course of several hours.

Cinda and Marjorie 

A few of the highlights from the day: