Las Mariposas

This past Saturday I went on a day trip to see the butterflies. The Monarch butterflies come down here for the winter and stay in the mountains in some of the towns here in Michoacán. My host mom spoke to a local travel agency and found a trip for me, it was only about 50 dollars for the van lunch and the ticket to see the butterflies. The car ride took 3 hours but there was so much to see. It is absolutely beautiful here. We drove through small pueblos and up into the mountains. Once we got to Angangueo we were able to go a little further in the car up the mountain and then we got out, got our guide and started climbing the mountain. Well, so we didn´t really climb it we walked up the uphill path to where the butterflies sleep and hang out until their journey back north. They were so amazing I can´t even begin to describe it. They were everywhere one flew right past my cheek and another landed right on my leg. I will try to post a video so you can see what I mean by everywhere. We stayed and watched the butterflies and took lots of photos for probably half an hour 45 minutes, then we hiked back down the mountain and raided the little vendor booths for cool souveniors, can´t tell you what I bought though because some of them are gifts :). Then we drove back down out of the mountain to the pueblo Angangueo for lunch,( it was about 4pm, so a late lunch). All that was left was the drive home. It was a great day and the butterflies were so amazing I will post the pictures as soon as possible.
The next day was Sunday so my host family and I went to mass in the morning at 10, the earliest we´ve gone yet, because the family was coming in the afternoon for a big lunch to celebrate my host sister´s husband´s birthday. We ate outside in their garden and there were about 13 of us. We had carne asada, which is basically barbequed beef, quesadillas, rice, taquitos, chips with salsa and guacamole, there was so much food. I couldn´t believe how much I ate. Then to top it off we had desert this really yummy cake my host mom made with rompope, which is mix of all kinds of stuff, peach syrup and peaches. Not your traditional chocolate birthday cake but still very good, muy rico as everyone at the party said. Then when everyone left after stuffing themselves my host family and I watched the SuperBowl. (I´m sure many will not agree but I was kind of glad that the Giants won. :) )
Monday there was no school because it was a day to celebrate the Constitution of Mexico, it´s like our Memorial Day or Labor Day, a day off of work and school to remember something important, so on my day off my host brother took me to see some museums and historical sights downtown. We went to the birthplace of Morelia´s namesake, the museo de artesania, the museum/marketplace where artisans from all over the state of Morelia can display their work and sell it, I think I may have to go back there before I leave to buy some of the crafts. We also saw the Palacio de Justicia and another very traditional style church. It seems like there is so much more to see here than if someone were to come visit me in Wisconsin. I feel like I would run out of stuff to show them before their visit was over :).
Well I´ve rambled on long enough. More updates later this week. I take over the class starting tomorrow so wish me luck! I´ll let you know how the first week goes on Friday!