Saltillo and our stay with Carlos & Co (die verbesserte Version)

Leaving Mexico City was not as easy as we expected it to be. The impact of the hurricane should prevent the landing in Monterrey, why the pilot decided to go back to Mexico DF just before we reached the ground. So we ended up going from Mexico City to Monterrey, back to Mexico City (to get more petrol) and to Monterrey again. The funny part of the trip was that Carina was sleeping like a baby while the rest of the people in the plane was literally praying for a save landing. There was a guy - first sitting next to me and than next to Carina - who was praying loudly the whole trip long and drinking shots when even this didn´t seem to help anymore.
Fortunately Carlos and Yadira were meanwhile waiting patiently for us. The trip from the airport to Saltillo should be challenging too as some parts of the street were flooded.
However, we safely arrived at Carlos place at around 6 a.m. - exhausted but happy.
Back to our strength we got up at noon to pick up Barbara from her grandparents. For all of you who don`t know yet, Barbara is the babydaughter of Carlos and Yady.
To describe this lovely baby is impossible but we will give it a go. She is: a sunshine, funny, wilful, a beauty, intoxicating, well-behaved, laughing all the time, able to understand Spanish, English, German and even Illmitzerisch :-) To put it in one word, she is simply AWESOME!! Carina and I decided that if we ever wanna have a baby it has to be Mexican :-) - O.k. mamacitas, this was just a joke an no reason to freak out :-P

Barbara and Yady.....guapas :-)

Well, the first day was reserved to wander the streets of Saltillo, visiting its market and the cathedral and of course to eat tacos.
In the evening we were invited to a BBQ to Mickeys place where we learned to eat steaks in tacos and to drink beer with lime and Maggi. Yummie!!!

Michelada

The later the evening, the harder the drinks. Hence we ended up to have the very first DELICIOUS Tequila in our live. Mmmmmmmmmmmm. Uno mas Carina?!?!!!!!! :-)

Carlitooooooooooos

Don Julio and us :-)

To let the night end harmoniously, Dani unpacked his guitar and sang a few songs for us. Thank you Dani, it was great!!

Dani, a MAN who is able to multitask. So YES, Mexico is different to Austria ;-P

"Master" of the guitar :)



It is probably unnecessary to mention that we got up pretty late the next day. In unison we decided to stay at home and have a chilly day. This guys, was actually very good for you as we finally managed to write our postcards ;-)

As our aroma became more and more similar to the aroma of our backpacks, Wednesday seemed to be the perfect day to do our laundry. Well, we managed to mess it up with a tissue but at least it wasn´t smelly any more.
Afterwards we had a shopping spree with Barbara and Carlos while Yady unfortunately had to work. We ended up buying stuff for an Austrian dinner. So YES, we had Schnitzel and Kartoffelsalat (Erdaepfelsalat) in the middle of Mexico and NO we didn´t burn Carlos house off. We can´t really be sure if they liked it but everybody ate it and nobody´s died of it so far. We guess that´s a success for two masters chefs like us :P

After dinner we got  our lazy asses in gear and went out. First we went to the historical centre of Saltillo where a life band was playing in a really nice bar.

Yady and Carlos (just the Australian Connection knows him :-))

However, we were not able to understand each other why we decided to go to another place called "La Milla". This place fulfilled all the clichés we had from Mexican bars including Cowboys and -girls :-D It was simply awesome! We even shook a leg or two :-)
(Mum Moni....it was like dancing our traditional dances. You would have loved it there!!!)
As usually we were the last ones to be thrown out of the bar. Some things just never change no matter in which country we are.

Two hours after we went to bed we got up again to go to the mountains. It was high time to have a closer look at the Sierra, a mountain range known by everyone in Austria - thanks to the Schuerzenjaeger.

(People of Saltillo we`ve decided to be crazy enough to deliver you the link to this song on youtube. However, we would like you to take into account that the song is almost 20 years old and Austrian men usually do not look like the members of this band.)

Sierra Madre (Schuerzenjaeger):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Aix_slSh7Y&feature=related

Carlos just after our arrival to Monterreal, obviously lacking of sleep.

The trip to the Sierra was worth everything as it seems to be a piece of home in the middle of Mexico.

Well, the cacti on the way are very different to the Austrian landscape but the most obvious difference is what the people in Monterreal call a slope. :-) :-) :-) :-) ha ha ha ha



The skiing region of Monterreal. This picture is taken from the balcony of the restaurant :D :D :D

 On the road again we stopped for food. Which brings us to the topic of our figure. Folks, be prepared to find us well but heavy, heavier, heaviest at the airport. Don´t be surprised if we remind you of a taco. We feel like we´d had taken on exactly this shape. Well, at least we can say we´ve tried almost every Mexican food available. :-)

this food is worth a sin

Back to Saltillo we had a last walk through the city and as a grand finale "Tacos à la Pastor". They are like Kebab Mexican Style and probably the best tacos we´ve eaten on the whole trip.

In the evening Carlos prepared a traditional dinner for us. Together with friends and family of Carlos and Yady we had a great last night in this lovely city. We were drinking and chatting till dawn while some of us had fallen asleep on the terrace ;-)

After only one hour sleep it was time to go to the airport and to say good-by to Saltillo and the people :-(

We left this fabulous place with a heavy heart as we had a great time there with simply awesome people which we miss already. THANK YOU GUYS for making us feel so welcome!!!!

To sum up, we´d simply like to say: "Saltillo, meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee gusta!!"
Carina & Lydia


@ Carlos and Yady: This is a pre-link for Barbara till we are able to send you our video.
Hopp, hopp, hopp, Pferdchen lauf Galopp:
http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7364522705237059098&postID=9078706394353215688