Batch 7 Descriptions

Settled in our Roman Villa at Agua 8, Atascadero, we had a toga party but only one person turned up appropriately dressed.  Gil looked magnificently romanesque in his sheet and graciously posed for me.

After dinner we played CLAG, introducing Alexa and Gil to the game.  Ron continued his losing streak and it showed!  We broke off to eat some of the delicious pastries from La Cumpanio on Correo. 

The next day we were off to the hot springs, stopping first at Atotonilco (Indian word for place of hot waters) just North of San Miguel on the road to Dolores Hidalgo. "This is a very important religious and historical site in Mexico.  The Church was built in the mid-eighteenth century by Father Alfaro and was dedicated to Jesus of Nazareth.  Inside one will see the many poems and frescos painted on the walls and ceilings of the shrine and its chapels.  In 1810, it was the site where Father Hildago stopped during his march to San Miguel to pick up the Standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe.  Also, the place where Ignacio Allende was married.  Atotonilco attracts thousands of pilgrims annually.  It was listed as a World Heritage site by the United Nations."  This quotation is an extract from The Insider's Guide to San Miguel, by Riccado Alessandro Simeone, which we are finding extremely useful.

The Church is huge for such a small place and is well worth a visit.

From there, we walked to the hot springs, Escondido Place Balneario.  I have photographed the grounds (lovely pond with water lilies) and a view of the swimming pool which we swam in after our time in the three hot pools of varying temperature.  These are enclosed and concreted throughout, connected by steps.  Water gushes down on the bathers from above.  There are changing cubicles available with lockers, and showers.

It was a very refreshing and wonderfully relaxing diversion from our schedule.  Once again, we bumped into Tim and Diana from the San Juans (you constantly meet fellow tourists wherever you go).  We were now famished and walked to La Burger, an outside restaurant ruled by the chef working the grill where he produced great hamburgers, veggie burgers and steak.  The young men who served us were a delight and very cheeky.  (You may see a few very large photos at this point - I have no idea how this happened!)