One of the fringe benefits of being an All Breed judge is the the opportunity to visit different countries around the world. Mexico....when the email invitation arrived I was especially excited as I had never judged there before and it also was one of my favorite 'Sun' destinations. I would be judging the weekend shows for the Cero Cero Kennel Club shows and I was thankful for the invitation from a couple of old friends I had judged with previously, namely Jose Luis Garcia and Javier Ramirez. It would be a shame to travel so far and not combine it with a holiday so Wendy & I decided to fly after the show to the Pacific ocean resort city of Puerto Vallarta for a week of 'R&R'.

We arrived after the 5 hour flight from Toronto well rested and relaxed as we enjoyed the comfort of executive class as a result of our Aeroplan upgrade coupons. We were met at the airport by Jose Luis and Javier who gave us a short tour of the vast city on our way to our hotel, the Holiday Inn Trade Center. We dropped off our bags and were off for a late lunch for us and regular time of 3:00 pm for the locals at a typical Mexican eatery called the La Bella Lula. Along the way we collected Jose Luis's lovely wife Kena and Javier's friend Benigno Zacarlas "Beny". The restaurant was packed, always a good sign, and we began our visit with a toast of Mescal similar to Tequila but with a dryer taste. The sampling was preceded by a pinch of salt and in this case combined with a ground worm from the Agave plant which Mescal is made from and lime with a beer chaser for the 'faint of heart'...wow very potent.

The meal began with 'Tlayuda', a pizza like dish on a hard shell with refried beans, ground beef and cheese....Yummy. We left the ordering to our friends and they decided on a sampling of dishes of a traditional Oaxaca meal highlighted by Chapulines (fried grasshoppers) and Mole Negro (chicken in a spicy bean sauce). NOT your 'Taco Bell Fair'. Good food, good times and plenty of drink was an excellent welcome from our gracious hosts. Jet lag was also setting in and we declined an invitation to dinner which would be normally around 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm. We were already stuffed and bid goodnight to our friends and retired to our room for an early night. The plan for the next day was for us to go on tour of some of the many local attractions.

We started our day at 8:30am when we were picked up at our hotel by our tour guide, Manuel. We would be traveling in a full size van with six other tourists. We did a driving tour of the historic city which abounded in churches, monuments and parks all teeming with the bright local color and culture. Our first stop was the Aztec ruins of Tlatelolco, the "Plaza of the Three Cultures" comprising Early Indian, Spanish and Modern cultures. The sacrificial altars, burial grounds of the early Indians and the oldest Catholic church Santiago Apostol, built by the Spaniards, was in deep contrast to the modern adjoining urban area.

We were then off to Teotihuacan, to visit the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, a short one hour drive outside of the city. Before climbing the pyramids, we stopped at a handicraft center where we learned the process of making tequila and the many other uses the locals have found for the cactus like plant, the Maguey. The tequila is made from pulque, liquid produced by the plant in a reservoir in the interior created by removing the center stalk. Other uses for the plant included using the fibers from the leaves to make Loofas and other woven items, thin layers stripped from the leaves make paper and the juice of the leaves makes a natural shampoo. The main crafts were statues and masks made from the various types of local stone and shells. The common stone was obsidian embellished with inlaid shell and stone pieces to create elaborate top quality Mexican crafts.

Then it was off to the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, the Avenue of the Dead in the expansive archeological find of the "Place Where the Gods Were Made". The ruins of Teotihuacan, are considered the most remarkable in Mexico and are among the most important ruins in the world. The magnificent pyramids and palaces covered over 12 square miles and had over 200,000 inhabitants at its peak. We climbed both pyramids....46 steps on the first.....248 on the second....you certainly know what shape you are in. The views were spectacular on this warm sunny day. Local vendors teemed the entrances with their stalls and offered a myriad of crafts. Individual vendors in the interior were very "encouraging" for you to buy what they had for sale and we learned two valuable lessons.....do not buy from the first person you see and the price keeps dropping the more you walk away! We purchased two beautiful carvings of the two sun and moon gods and an elaborate mask. As we walked to the ruins, we were offered the same items which became cheaper and cheaper the further we walked. It was then off for a quick buffet lunch at a local restaurant where we were serenaded by a Mariachi band and Aztec dancers.

Next, we headed back into the city to tour the Basilica de Santa Maria of Guadeloupe, a shrine to the Virgin of Guadeloupe and the miracle of her vision in 1531 by a poor indian named Juan Diego. The site is now a collection of six main churches, basilicas and museums. The architecture of each church was breathtaking with elaborate carvings and statues and the grounds all immaculately groomed. On the day we arrived, Catholics were celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi and the blessing of the children who were dressed in traditional Indian clothing. All the children in their brightly colored clothing made for a spectacular sight.

We returned to the hotel for a quick rest before meeting Javier, Beny and fellow judge for the weekend, Clay Haviand from Florida for supper. Javier had experienced Caesar salad North American style and although agreeing it was good, reminded us that Caesar salad had in fact originated in Mexico. It was off to one of his favorite restaurants in the Condesa area of the city, reputedly the SoHo of Mexico City with its trendy night spots and restaurants to have "real"Caesar salad. Our North American salads tend to have a much creamier dressing than the authentic caesar we were served which had a dressing that was more of an oily vinaigrette with the leaves uncut, smothered in the dressing and sprinkled with cheese. DELICIOUS!! Prime rib was the order of the night as well as an accompaniment of potent sangria and more Mexican beer. We enjoyed a pleasant walk around the bustling urban area with patrons in every establishment enjoying the evening on the many patios spilling out onto the streets. We were quite content to then return to the hotel and plan for the next day's adventure to the town of Taxco with the rest of the judges.

The following morning we drove 2 hours south to the colonial town of Taxco with fellow judges Clay Haviland from USA, Myriam and Carlos Yasuhara from Brazil, Javier and Beny. The romantic picturesque hillside city is renouned for it's museums and silver. We strolled along the winding narrow maze of steep cobble stoned streets, stopping at the multitude of shops on our way to the famous Santa Prisca y San Sebastian Church. It is one of the most impressive baroque churches. The ultra carved facade is eclipsed by the interior with its intricately carved gold leaf saints and angels....breath taking. We then climbed six flights of stairs to one of the many rooftop restaurants for yet another Mexican feast washed down with some thirst quenching Margaritas. Next some serious shopping.....Wendy and Clay scored some outstanding hand painted jugs and platters in bright Mexican colors to be used at home for some additional Margarita celebrations. While wandering Wendy spotted a stunning handmade Aztec colored jacket suitable for showing. The original price was out of our league but some masterful haggling and several revisits to same store rewarded us with a more reasonable although still dear price. Every second shop featured silver and we hoarded several gorgeous pieces of jewelry as gifts for family and friends at home. We hated leaving this magical haven and vowed to return and stay for several days next time.

In the evening we were guests of all the club members at an exclusive haunt called the Specia Restaurante featuring a European menu. Tequila was again the welcoming drink followed by some great food including a succulent roast duck and lamb and beef dishes. Our gracious hosts included Jose Luis and his wife Kena, Javier and Beny, Alfredo and Maria Estrada, Luis and Gloria Loaiza and their lovely daughter Maria Louisa. They out did themselves and made us feel most welcome and expressed a genuine feeling that we were their honored guests. The evening was a fantastic pre show party and we looked forward to tomorrows judging.

Click Here To Continue