- Hello Tangerineys.
Today's vlog is gonna be a little bit
different than normal.
But if you're new here, my name is Maddie.
Jordan and I have been traveling all over Mexico,
for going on four years now.
And we, he and I have been doing all the traveling,
but today I'm gonna be taking a road trip by myself,
the first one ever by myself.
So I'm taking you with me.
Wish me luck.
(pop music)
I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was pretty scared
and kind of intimidated to be doing this drive by myself.
I think the longest solo road trip
I've ever taken in Mexico, is like an hour.
(Maddie giggles)
So four and a half, about five hours is,
you know, pretty big.
And it's always good to have
an extra set of eyes on the road,
to look for unmarked speed bumps, potholes,
weird driving maneuvers that people make.
And in case we get pulled over,
well in case I get pulled over,
which has happened, like, I don't know,
50 or more times, all across Mexico.
It's nice to have somebody there
to diffuse the situation, make sure it doesn't get sketchy.
So, I'm just crossing my fingers
that none of that happens,
and I'm going to enjoy the scenery along the way,
listen to my music,
and just try not to think about how scared I am.
(Maddie laughs)
Hello.
(speaking Spanish)
So far I have paid,
81
and 49 for tolls,
which is not too bad,
but I think it gets pretty expensive on this drive.
So there's these signs on Mexican freeways,
that say, "no deje
piedras
sobre el pavimento",
or something like that,
which basically means don't leave rocks on the highway.
And when we first saw those, it was like,
does there really need to be a sign?
Like it's a legit sign that's posted into the ground.
But yes,
in fact is necessary because sometimes
when people breakdown side of the road,
as cones they'll take big rocks
and leave them leading up to the car.
And then when they're done,
I guess they just leave them there,
but it is still kind of comical,
that that needs to be a sign, like isn't that just obvious
that you wouldn't leave big boulders
in the middle of the freeway
for somebody else to run into and have an accident.
Apparently it's not that obvious.
Well, so far this drive has been uneventful AF
and by Kali, that is just the way I wanted it.
Well, since I was driving right by it,
I really wanted to stop in Leon
because this is considered
the leather capital of Mexico.
Might even be the leather capital of Latin America.
I'm not sure about that one,
but the traffic is insane
and there's so many people walking around.
I'm literally concerned that I'm going to hit someone
because people just start out right in front of the car.
And since I have all my luggage with me,
I think I'm going to have to make this another day.
But,
here's some footage that I was able to get while driving
and also attempting not to kill someone.
(in Spanish)Tanque lleno por favor.
(speaking Spanish)
(Maddie speaking Spanish) Puedo pagar con tarjeta.
Yet another toll.
That one was more expensive one, 155.
One thing we've mentioned before in videos,
but it's worth bringing up again.
Rumble pad.
Is always keep your ticket that they give you
when you pay these tolls,
because this acts as insurance when you're on this road.
So like, if anything happens, damage, accident,
things like that you're covered with this receipt.
♪This is a drive that never ends,♪
♪ Cause it goes on and on my friends.♪
♪When I started driving it,♪
♪I knew exactly how long it would be.♪
♪And yet here I am continuing driving♪
♪and it just won't freaking end.♪
♪This is a drive that never ends,♪
♪ Cause it goes on and on my friends.♪
I am clearly going crazy.
And it's not even that long of a drive.
In my defense, that pit stop in Leon,
was like 45 minutes or something of just me
sitting in traffic, which was probably a mistake,
but I'm glad I stopped anyway.
Cause I know I want to go back there.
So since I'm pretty sure,
I forgot to tell you where exactly I was going.
If the title of the video, didn't give it away already.
I am in Ajijic, Lake Chapala.
So excited to be back again after three years.
So after a pretty long day of travel,
I'm going to get settled into my friend's house here.
And I will see you mañana.
Buenos días, I'm so excited to get my day started off
in Ajijic at a gluten free bakery cafe.
I am so stoked.
This was not here when we lived here before.
And this place is called RJG Gluten Free Coffee Gallery.
So there were many gluten-free options
that I could choose from,
but I went with this amazing
peanut butter
cupcake.
Of course, gluten free, like everything else.
And it's Russ's gluten-free cupcake.
So that's the owner and my goodness is this so good.
And then a nice latte on the side.
Coffee is so good here.
Pretty sure its from Veracruz.
Right?
His wife is from Veracruz.
Died and gone to heaven.
Hi there pretty kitty.
- [Background] Is that the cat or its like you?
- [Maddie] That's me, that's me.
What is it?
She's licking his chops.
Is that food?
(cheerful pop music playing)
Now I'm back in the center of town where you see behind me,
the Casibo here.
And I love there's still-
Honestly, I don't know
if these are like new year's decorations
or maybe leftover from Christmas,
but actually should come back over here,
is what is leftover from Christmas,
is this nativity,
which means I don't think I'm going to be allowed to do
El Centro el Centro.
So how about El Centro adjacent of El Centro.
And here let's look over here, got all these decorations.
It pretty much looks the exact same to me,
which is kind of cool,
that I remember all of this and it's very familiar.
Oh my gosh.
Guess what? I just saw a thing.
It's it's an imposter thing.
Cause it's like my thing,
but,
but is that thing.
It's a different thing,
similar thing,
but you know what I'm saying?
It's a thing.
It's totally a thing.
Aww.
It's so crazy as I'm walking around here
because we lived here for four months.
So we got pretty familiar with the town, small town,
but now there's so much stuff where I'm like,
that wasn't here, this wasn't here.
And then what did that used to be?
And, oh my gosh, I remember this restaurant
like peacock,
- [Blue shirt guy] Wait, are you back again?
- Back for a visit.
Thanks for being a tangeriney.
Bye. - [Blue Shirt guy] Bye see ya.
- And yes.
So as I'm walking around too, I'm like, I love,
I- I almost forgot how beautiful it was
with all the murals and the painted walls.
So delightful.
It's good to be back.
So now we're here walking along the Malecon.
The lake is gorgeous, as always,
very full, but wait,
it's a, garza blanca.
Hola.
Señor.
Hola.
It's like, don't come any closer.
Oh my gosh so graceful.
And then he just stands in a shallow water.
Oh to be bird.
(pop music playing)
And just like when we were living here,
although maybe even more so,
tons of stuff is being built.
Like I said,
tons of stuff has changed and it's just kind of crazy
to see the difference.
In three years,
how much of the town is not the same at all, anymore.
Well, after walking in the sun all day,
we worked up quite an appetite,
so we went to Baja Norte,
which is supposed to have some really,
really authentic Baja style tacos.
I got two fish and one camaron, one shrimp.
You could dress them up how you want them
at this little like station with salsas
and I don't know
everything you could possibly want for tacos.
I'm really excited to try this.
It's got some mescal.
Can't say that that was the best.
A little bit, like you're describing, lighter food,
its a little bit like lighter food but.
Forty-five pesos for my fish taco
and 50 pesos for the shrimp.
Let's see how this is.
I am tryna, I'm going to-
One handed is kind of difficult.
This is where recording partner does come in handy.
(mouth filled speaking) Oh that is good.
Okay, bye.
And you know what,
normally I don't drink coffee after like 11:00 AM
and it's what, can't see my watch,
What time is it?
4:00 PM,
but it's also new year's eve.
So if I want to survive until midnight,
I have to get,
a Carajillo,
especially because it's 80 pesos here, 80 pesos.
I'm getting tired of the high prices in Queretaro
being back here.
That's actually really good.
I love the foam on top.
(cheering in Spanish)
Oh my gosh.
- [Background] That was good, that was good.
- [Maddie] He is like, let me eat my stick.
Oh my Gosh, so talented.
Admittedly Ajijic at Lake Chapala
is not one of those places
that you absolutely need to know Spanish
because so many people here speak English,
but it is so empowering to be able to go into a shop
or a restaurant or whatever,
and know that you have Spanish
to be able to communicate with somebody.
Because I remember in the beginning it was like,
oh, like, I'd be so timid.
Even though I'm learning Spanish.
What if I don't know enough to get by?
Or what if we can't get through the interaction?
What if they don't know English
and them it's awkward or whatever.
So I've been learning Spanish for years now.
And the program that I've been using,
the one that I recommend the most is called
Rocket Languages.
This is such an all-inclusive course.
It's a great value for your money.
And you actually learn to speak it out loud.
To get comfortable, hearing yourself, say these things.
So if you want to check that out
and empower yourself as well,
to be able to really connect with the culture,
and the people in a way that you really can't
if you only speak Spa-, English or minimal Spanish.
You can head over to tangerinespanish.com.
That's our affiliate link,
and it'll take you right to their website.
So again, tangerinespanish.com.
So now we have found our way to a new year's Eve party,
where what I have in my hand is the most interesting tequila
I've ever heard of.
I've heard tequila all over,
Jalisco and nearby areas,
but this was aged and had classical music played for it,
to it? Around it?
24 x 7, for three years.
So it was very, very expensive
and super nice that Dwayne,
is sharing it with all of us.
Especially me, he just met me.
Salud.
- So is everybody here?
- Who is missing?
- Voilet.
(everyone calling Voilet)
- There's Carmen.
(everyone cheering)
So our second event,
at house Warosa.
We raise a glass to the last day of this year.
(everyone cheering)
This is a diverse crowd.
In Russia we say (foreign language).
(everyone repeating)
As a good Jewish-
- (speaking foreign language)
(everyone repeating)
- In Spanish we say,
(everyone cheering)
- Turkish? - Turkish?
(everyone cheering)
- In the south, in the southern America we say,
let's get drunk y'all.
(everyone cheering)
And remember okay,
there is no dancing on the furniture tonight.
(everyone screaming)
- [Maddie] Party over.
So like most things in my life.
I had no idea what I was walking into here,
but they also prepared this magnificent feast.
And this meat is like,
its got sun dried tomatoes, hawk and cheese.
He described the whole thing probably better than I could.
But what I can tell you is,
one of the most pieces of meat I've ever had,
and the chef is apparently from Spain
and we've got some live music going.
(band singing)
What a great party, what a great way to spend the last day,
of 2021.
Last night of 2021.
(clapping)
Yes, oh well, thank you thank you thank you.
I am here all night folks.
(party music playing)
Well, happy new year amigos.
Thank you so much for watching.
Please be sure to subscribe to our channel before you go.
On the screen here is a playlist of all the videos
that we've made in Ajijic.
We lived here for four months at one point.
So there were quite a lot of them.
If you want to learn more about the town and one more thing
before you go.
Gong that bell,
so you get notified the next time we release a new video
and we will see you on Saturday morning.