MEXICO TRIP - Aug 2007

To start our trip we drove to El Paso, Texas, to visit Juan's cousin Irene and her sister Nellie along with Irene's husband Jim. They were gracious to drive us to the Juarez airport where we caught a one-hour flight to Chihuahua.

(CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO SEE IT FULL SIZE)

Juan's cousin Chayo and her husband Ron (from California) made plans to visit Mexico at the same time we did. They met us at the airport, helped us arrange a rental car, took us to dinner at this nice restaurant in Chihuahua, and got us on the right road to Anahuac where Juan's cousin Pavi and her husband Juan were expecting us.

Pavi's husband works at a big factory in Anahuac and they have two sons and a daughter, Paola, Josua, and Luis Carlos.

Paola and Josua took us to their neighborhood pool for a quick swim the next morning. Paola competes in swimming in school.

We met up with Ron and Chayo in Rubio where we visited this little church. The entire town block was owned by members of the Julian Marin (brother of Juan's Grandfather)family in the past, although this church dates from more recent times.

Ron, Chayo, me and Josua.

From here we drove out to Colonia Chupaderos to visit Juan's Uncles Chema and Carlos. Josua, who is 14-going-on-25, was our guide!

Juan was born at Campo 45 -- a tiny hospital about 5 miles from the family properties. This is the area but the hospital has since been torn down. Marlene Hebert was the Obstetrician for Juan's precious mother.

The church and school at Campo 45.

Uncle Chema hadn't seen Juan in years.

Uncle Chema with Juan, Chayo and Ron.

Juan's cousin Paco runs a tiny store in the front room of his house. Here's me and Chayo shopping, of course!

I asked about the post-it notes on the counter and was told they were reminders for people who needed to pay their bills at the store! On the left are the people being politely reminded what they owe (see inset). On the right are the people who will no longer be extended credit!

Everywhere we went they had these wonderful old stoves. They had modern gas stoves, too, for cooking, but these older ones were still used to heat the houses in the winter. This is Paco's kitchen.

Paco and Mimi are brother and sister and live next door to each other.

Vianey Susana immediately adopted us as her new best friends! She's a darling little 10-year-old who wanted us to stay forever. Mimi is her mother.

Paco's house.

Uncle Chema and Aunt Eva with their daughter Beatrice (center) and family. Her husband had just been injured by a horse who kicked his hand, requiring many stitches. The elder boy is starting at an engineering technical college in Cuahtemoc.

Yes, Aunt Eva really is that tiny! They all live together in this large house.

Cousin Carlitos (with bucket) helps his brother run their farm down the road from Chema and Eva. The big storage barn was hand built from rocks in the area.

Cousin Conrado in front of his barn.

Chayo grew up in this house as a little girl. It was about half a mile down the road from the others.

Carlitos with the cows at feeding time.