Sunday, April 28, 2013~

We began the day by exploring Oaxaca, Mexico, with our gracious hosts, Riccardo and Guadalupe….  Oaxaca is pronounced “wha-ha-ka.”  They guided us through the town to see some amazing things!

Riccardo and Guadalupe took us into the mercado for some local food…

Tejate is a maize and cacao beverage made by the Mixtec and Zapotec people.

Monday, April 29, 2013~

We left Oaxaca this morning – clutching out (as Riccardo would say) at 8:00 am.

The ride today was on the Libre – free road – to Mexico City, through some beautiful countryside covered with organ-pipe cactus and saguaro.

We stopped at one town to see a beautiful church that is being restored. The restoration will take another 20 years to complete.   The pipe organ is still used…. We climbed in altitude through beautiful, lush pine forest and arrived in Mexico City at Riccardo’s condo around 5 pm.

Riccardo says that his condo is just a “hole” for him to sleep in – but it is a very nice hole.  It is just one bedroom, so we are staying around the corner in a hotel for tonight. After resting for a few hours, Riccardo and Guadalupe took us to the San Angel Inn for dinner.

Their friends, Miguel (whom we met in El Salvador in January) and his wife, Sarah, as well as Riccardo’s son, Edgardo, and his fiance, Jessica, joined us.  The San Angel Inn was once the main house of a large hacienda that was built in 1776.  The gardens and courtyards are beautiful!  While we waited for everyone to arrive, the four of us sat in the courtyard for hors d’ourves and listened to a pianist play.   Then, we enjoyed a lovely dinner together.  The service was outstanding. What a wonderful evening….

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 ~

After a light breakfast at the hotel with Miguel and Riccardo, Riccardo left to work for a few hours.  Miguel was our tour guide today to see Mexico City.   He generously took the day off from work (he is a retired engineer who now teaches) to show us the city.   The city is very beautiful with many monuments and historical buildings.

We took the tour bus and sat on the upper open-air level.  It was a good way to see the highlights of this beautiful city.

Standing guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier…

 

 Miguel and Scott, with his sweater “hat”  🙂

  This is the palace where President Obama visited a few days after we were there….   

Mexico City is at an elevation of over 7,000 feet – with very temperate weather – no heat or air conditioning is needed.  We enjoyed lunch with Miguel at his club after our tour. In the afternoon, we met up again with Riccardo and Guadalupe and rode to their lake house.  It is two hours north of Mexico City, in Valle de Bravo.  The ride took us up to over 10,000 ft in elevation through beautiful pine forests, then down to about 7,000 ft to Valle de Bravo – a town on a mountain lake.  Riccardo built this beautiful home ten years ago.  The house has a commanding view of the lake from every room – we have our own suite.

…  He has one room just for his motorcycles.

We drove into town for a walk through the plaza and dinner.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013~

We are spoiled!  After a good night’s rest, Marie made us all a delicious brunch of fruit, pastries, fresh orange juice, eggs, meat, tortillas and quesadillas.  We ate on the veranda, while beautiful music played.  Riccardo, Guadalupe, Scott and I took a long walk down to the village after brunch.

We wandered through the market….

…and bought some candy from Fernando (who was born in Indio, CA)….

…purchased some fresh berries….

and bought a few souvenirs…

Scott found a sheepskin for our motorcycle seat….

Edgardo, Jessica and their girls, Barbara (5) and Regina (10), picked us up in their speed boat for a ride around the lake.

 A wolf in sheep’s clothing?  🙂

Edgardo took us back to the marina where they pulled the boat out of the water.

All 8 of us – 6 adults and 2 children – crammed into their little car for the ride back to the house.

When we arrived at the house, Marie had a delicious meal waiting for us – salmon, grilled beef, rice, beans, tortillas…. and birthday cake for Regina’s 10th birthday.  We also had yogurt gelatin with berries and cream… So many different tastes for us – and so delicious!

Sunset over Valle de Bravo….

Thursday, May 2, 2013~

Left early from Valle de Bravo to drive into Mexico City, then on to Veracruz for the BMW ride.

We arrived  around 4 pm and got settled into our hotel.  Dinner with Riccardo and Guadalupe and several people from their BMW club that is hosting the ride on Saturday.  A walk through the square to watch the dancing, musicians and people…. We stayed until almost midnight helping to assemble the bags that will be given to all the riders tomorrow.

Friday, May 3, 2013~

The riders began arriving in the afternoon.  I helped by giving out the bags to riders as they checked in.  There are 500 people registered.  Everyone is so friendly – even though they can’t understand me, or I understand them – we are welcomed so warmly.

Saturday,  May 4, 2013~

We all assembled at 6:30 am for a picture on the gulf coast.  I heard that more than 450 people showed.  The amount of bikes that are here is amazing!

There is a Go-pro camera attached to a remote helicopter that hovers over us, filming.

The riders are taking several different routes to Acapulco.  We left with a group of 50 around 7:00 am.

It started to drizzle, but after a few hours, cleared.  By 11:00 am, after splitting off on our own route, our group was only 12 bikes.

Special parking….?

We arrived in Acapulco around 4:00 pm.

It was a great ride.  We were welcomed with cheers, cameras, drinks and pretty girls as we pulled into the Hotel ElCano.

We heard there was one accident that resulted in some broken bones, but everyone else arrived safely.  We all congregated on the beach in front of the hotel at sunset for our picture again.

Happy hour was a meal in itself! 

Guada and Riccardo, Acapulco

The celebration dinner at ElCano hotel was fun – the dinner was excellent.  The main dish, Paella  – a Spanish dish with rice, shrimp, chicken, sausage and mussels – was delicious.  The dinner lasted long into the evening.  We have really enjoyed our week with Riccardo and Guadalupe – they have shared their lives and culture with us in such a way that we will remember our time with them forever.  Their friendship is a gift that we will cherish.

Sunday, May 5, 2013~

A day to relax and rest before we make our trek home… with dinner in “Old Acapulco” with a group of friends.

Monday, May 6, 2013~

Left Acapulco at 7:00 am…On the road home!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 ~

2,137 miles in 3 days….  Acapulco to Big Bear – home sweet home!!!!!!!

Thank you for following our adventure  – we have enjoyed hearing from you all!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

~Scott and Vickie 🙂