Hacienda Contreras (day 3)

We had a beautiful day today, and it was a perfect day to climb to the highest point overlooking the valley. It was a little hazy, but otherwise the view was fantastic.

So we packed a lunch, and just before 9:00am Sal drove a group of us up about half way in their pickup truck. It was a one lane dirt track, and pretty rough in spots. Really should have a four wheel drive, even to get as far as we did in the pickup. But eventually it was time to get out and hike.

Heading for the cross on the top of this hill

Terri, Mike, and Sal, overlooking the town of Valle de Juarez

Made it to the top! Terri, Kevin, Ruth, Mike, Barb, and Sal. Good job taking the picture Whiskey!

Heading back down through an avocado orchard

Part of the trail goes through an oak tree forest

It’s beautiful countryside, and perfect weather. Sal thinks you could buy a hectare (2 ½ acres) of land on the side of this mountain for about 200,000 pesos ($16,800). Prices are actually fairly high here because we’re only about an hour and a half from Guadalajara and a lot of people from Guadalajara come to this area for holidays. If you were willing to live inexpensively, you could have a nice little shack built in a nice climate for not very much money.

Also, some news that we have officially decided that we are going to Nova Scotia for the spring and summer of 2011. Our daughter and her husband live in the Annapolis Valley and are expecting our first grandchild towards the end of March. So that’s where we are heading over the next 5 or 6 weeks. Lots of driving to do, but we’re going to stay in the warmth as long as possible before heading north of South Carolina!