Celebrating my birthday in Mexico today!  It began with a trip to the Immigration Office in Chapala about 10 minutes away.  Fortunately this office had people who spoke English and were very friendly and helpful. We will need more paperwork before returning again to this office.  The Immigration rules and paperwork are confusing and frustrating.

Next we decided to do a  little bargain hunting.  We went to the store below.

I purchased this hand painted art piece on thin tree bark for about $6.50.

 

We decided to have lunch in the Plaza.  Each small city has it's own plaza and they look similar with a gazebo in the middle with benches and lots of plants around.  It is a meeting place for families on the weekends. A band usually plays under the gazebo. 

 

 

There is a nice specialty coffee shop

 

 and many restaurants are around the plaza.

 

 

We choose a restaurant with a balcony so we could look over the plaza and see the mountains also.

 

We ate on the balcony of this restaurant.

 

View from our balcony table.

 

Another view from our table.

 

 

Bob's sister and I had taco salads

 

Bob was craving a hamburger!

 

 

As we left we noticed that the ceiling and walls were all intricately painted with murals.

 

 



 

 

 

 



 



The restaurant was exhibiting  an art show on the lower level.  Here are some examples of the work.

 

 

I love pictures of children

 

Some far out

 

Some  3-D creepy ones

 

Some beautiful

 

 

The turtle sculpture below has a humorous story behind it.  Bob was backing up to get a better view of some artwork when he bumped the stand and the turtle began rocking back and forth. He quickly turned around and grabbed it.  We almost bought a 10,000 peso turtle, about $1000 US and I

didn't even like the turtle!

 

 

 

Some whimsical

 

 

As we walked thru the plaza back to the car we came upon this very beautiful old church

 



 

 

and some electrical work in progress on a tree in the plaza??!

 

 

Our day ended with his sister fixing us a wonderful dinner of filet mignon,  fresh string beans, mashed potatoes, bread and chocolate cake.  She is a great cook!!