Vacaciones Pt. 2

Guadalajara Wedding
For the second part of the trip we had a wedding to attend. Adan's younger brother Dominic was to get married right in the heart of Guadalajara.  So after saying our goodbyes to Pazi's family we made our way to the city center where we would spend the next few days touring the historic sites leading up to the wedding.

We managed to see amazing cathedrals, colonial architecture, and many monuments.  However, the two things we found ourselves doing time and time again were eating and shopping.  Fabulous vendors selling tacos, tamales, menudo, and pozole.  You name it they had it.  And the rich, vibrant street markets better known in Spanish as tianguis lined the city blocks tempting us to buy artistic handicrafts, handmade clothing, and candy.

Then on Tuesday, December 21, Dominic and Dorys got married.  They had a traditional Catholic wedding in the same small church that Dorys' parents used for their wedding.  The day went off without any hitches and the day was as memorable as could be.  After mass, Dom and Dorys took turns giving family and guests rides around the city in a 1930 Model A Ford.  We were the last couple to ride with the bride and groom.  It sure was worth the wait.  They had us wait  to go last so that we could take a 45 minute ride up to Cerro de la Reina, a hill with a gorgeous little church made in a checkered pattern of dark and light brown stone, right at sunset.

The night continued on with an amazing dinner and dance at La Perla del Mar restaurant.  We devoured dishes of pork, beef, and Mexican sausage given to us with sides of beans, cheese, and tortillas.  Later before everyone got on the dance floor, we had Pastel de Tres Leches, three milk cake, for the wedding affair.  The day couldn't have gone any better.

Off to Vallarta
The next day all of the De La Paz family and the Gutierrez family loaded up our cars to celebrate the fine matrimony with a "honeymoon" trip to Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit.

We made the four hour drive just thirty minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and relax.  For the next six days we stayed at the Marival Resort.  This hotel was superb.  Adan enjoyed boogie boarding and jet skiing, while Pazi laid out and soaked up the sun.  We also had a blast playing with our six year old nephew Jaiden and three year old niece Alyssa. 

Christmas day was also a special time for us.  It marked our first Christmas in three years with family.  Celebrating with loved ones made it nice.  The only thing that could have made it any better would have been snow...well on second thought 80 degree weather did just fine.