Our sauna time in Tequisquiapan done, we moved on to the small town of Bernal. It’s in wine and cheese country and is best known for its blue corn tortillas and the ‘Peña’, which is a monolith that is the tallest freestanding rock in the world. We hiked up as far as we could without needing rock climbing gear and soaked in the energy that Mexicans believe eminates from it. Supposedly now we should live to be 100. We enjoyed a well earned Chilada after the climb. Taking the beer and salt into account, maybe we’ll only live until 99.
In the morning we got up before sunrise to see the pink hued Peña bathed in the morning light. As the sun rose a dense fog set in and within 10 minutes we couldn’t even see the rock anymore.
We returned via local bus to Queretaro, where we checked into a new guesthouse. I think I have to point out that Rocky booked this one. Turns out there isn’t a door on the bathroom. I guess you can say that our travel buddy commitment has reached a new level. Here’s the view from my bed:
Today was a day that puts a check mark on a bucket list item and makes my life highlight reel. We travelled about 2.5 hours to El Rosario, which is a sanctuary for the migration of Monarch butterflies. The typical lifespan of a Monarch is 24 days, but they have evolved so that the ones that hatch in Canada in July of each year actually live 8 months! Each September they start their journey south and arrive in the Mexican forests about mid November. They breed and the 2nd to 5th generations are the ones who migrate back, relay style, arriving to Canada in the spring.
As we started the trek into the forest Rocky and I were so excited to take pics of groupings of 5 or so butterflies. The further we climbed the more dense the butterflies got until we were surrounded by millions of them. We actually took a wrong turn and had the surreal experience of just the 2 of us enveloped in a sea of fluttering orange. After our ‘rescue’ by the Mexican guides we were led to the spot where the butterflies are hanging from the trees in huge clumps. It was like nothing I could have imagined.
Is it good luck if one lands on your head? Has to be!
We have a few days and more adventures planned, so stay tuned.
I don’t even know what to say! Rox sent me the videos, and it is so beautiful and magical it brought a tear to my otherwise dead eyes. Wow!
Wow I can not imagine. That’s a lot of beautiful butterflies 😀 liked the pics of the free standing rock.
It was a travel test … you will stay in a room with me when there’s a sheet for a bathroom door, but will you stay in a room with me with no bathroom door? Congrats!! You passed! 😝