Out and About Around Cuernavaca Part II

A little over a week ago the kids and I were given the opportunity to participate in an excursion to Xochicalco. This excursion was on Wednesday of my first week of classes, but I felt it my motherly duty to put the children's education ahead of my own. So I skipped class and went.

Xochicalco was founded by a group of Mayans around 650 A.D. The name Xochicalco is translated "in the house of flowers". We had a great tour guide who told us all about the people who lived here. It was very interesting and definitely a memorable school day for the kids.

We caught a glimpse of several of these guys as we were heading up to tour the ruins. We've been told they are very tasty, but have had the chance to try them yet.

They rainwater collected in these pools and was their water supply. There were several of these throughout the area.

There was quite a bit of this artwork on the outside of the temple. Each picture told a story of men who had come there.

This was a type of sauna used to prepare the player for a special game they played.

This is the ballfield. The hoop that is on the ground was actually on the side. Each player had to try to get a 7lbs. ball into the hoop using only his elbow and his hip. The player to ring the hoop first was declared the winner. His prize was having the honor of being sacrificed to the Gods. I don't know about you, but I believe that is one game I wouldn't mind loosing.

On our way back to Cuernavaca, we stopped by Hacienda Vista Hermosa for a bit. It was built in the 1520's by Hernando Cortez. Today it has been restored and is a 5 star hotel. We didn't see everything, but we saw enough to know it is quite amazing.

This is down under part of the house. It was used as an escape route, but there were also cells along the way were prisoners were kept.

This was the amazing pool. After seeing this, Phillip decided this is where he would like to come for his birthday. The structure across the pool is part of the aqueduct system that was used to bring in water.

After touring the grounds a bit, we got to hang out by the pool. Even though I am not much of a guacamole fan, we were told they made some of the best. So we felt obligated to try it. It was pretty good, but the chips were really good.

This was a pretty amazing day! We missed having Vance with us, but are very thankful that we got to go. We hope to take he and Elizabeth back when she comes

Out and About Around Cuernavaca Part I

As of tomorrow, we will have been in Cuernavaca for a month. Things continue to go well. During this month we have been blessed to experience many new things and places. One new thing is that I, Susan, also started taking classes at the language school two weeks ago. I attend class every morning from 9-12, then work with the kids on their school in the afternoons. I wasn't too sure how this would work, but so far has gone extremely well. The kids are doing a great job of working on what they can while I am in class.
The language learning is coming along. Vance and I are beginning to understand more of what we hear and are starting to try to talk with one another in Spanish a little bit each day. We still have a long way to go, but as our teachers say, "poco a poco" or "little by little".

This is a picture Rebekah took as I headed to my first day of class. She captioned it, " Mom's first day of school. They grow up so fast."

We have found a fabulous Mexican restaurant called La Gringa III. It is just around the corner from our apartment, which might not be such a good thing. It makes it way too convenient. We have been a couple of times. At this point we don't really know what we are ordering until we get it, but so far we have done really well!

These are the yummy sauces and salsas they put on your table.

Some of the dishes from our first trip.

We have already decided that this will probably be where we eat our last meal in Cuernavaca before heading to Honduras. There will probably be multiple trips before then also!

Stay tuned for "Out and About Around Cuernavaca, Parts II and III". I tried to do one big post about several things, but couldn't upload all the pictures. So I am going to do 3 different posts. Hopefully I will get them all up today.

Out and About Around Cuernavaca Part III

Well, here is part III to bring you up to date. We started this week preparing for Valentine's Day. The kids spent Sunday afternoon making Valentine cookies to share with people at the school and the guards at our apartment complex. Rebekah was very happy to be back in the kitchen. We don't have many baking supplies here so this is the first time she has been able to bake since we arrived. We weren't sure how the cookies would turn out because we didn' t know if we were getting self-rising flour or not, and we could not find baking powder. But, there weren't any left uneaten, so they must have been o.k.

Everyone putting on the finishing touches.

We started Valentine's Day with heart shaped pancakes and then delivered cookies to the guards and the school. That evening we got pizza for the kids and Vance and I got to go around the corner to a nice little restaurant. All in all it was a very good day!

On Thursday the girls and I got to attend a Mexican cooking class. Although I'm not sure we could recreate the dishes, we had a good time.

We cooked pollo con mole, arroz de mexicana, and frijoles.

And for dessert, cafe flan!

We have also been in contact with friend in Honduras over the last week or so. They are beginning to get things ready for us to arrive. We will be living the the same place we stayed when we visited last April with the plan to build a house for us when the funds become available. We also have folks there looking for a vehicle. We are hoping to have one bought before we arrive. However, the type of vehicle we need isn't extremely common so we would ask that you would join us in praying for the right vehicle at the right time. Although we are very excited to get to Honduras, we are also excited to see what the next three months will bring here in Mexico.

Basilica of Guadalupe and Teotihuacan

Diego's cloak

On Saturday we had the awesome priviledge of going on an excursion with the school. We visited two amazing places and learned lots of great history. Yes, we had a school day on Saturday.

On the way we received some Mexican candy. This is a lollipop covered in chilli powder. Vance was the only one brave enough to eat it.

Our first stop was the Basilica of Guadalupe. According to tradition, a peasant named Juan Diego saw a vision of a young woman. He told the local bishop who asked for proof. Three days later, according to the legend, the image of Mary miraculously appeared on Diego's cloak when he was showing the bishop his proof.

Today this cloak is displayed at the Basilica. It is the first picture of this post. Millions of people travel to this place each year. It is the second most visited church in the entire world.

This is the latest structure that was built in 1976.

This is the structure that was built in the early 1700's. The 1976 sturcture had to be built because this one became unsafe because it was sinking.

You can actually see the building leaning forward in this picture.

These are the only remains of the original structure built in 1531.

Many people believe the cloak holds special power and will make request as they pass by it. Our guide told us that some people will only walk on their knees once they enter the Basilica grounds. This is a way of showing respect or gratitude. This lady is walking on her knees carrying her baby.


Our next stop was.....

This city was thought to have been established around 200 BC. At its height it was the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas. Included at the site are two pyramids, the Sun Pyramid and the Moon Pyramid.

The Sun Pyramid

Our crew ready to climb to the top!

A view from the top.

View of the Moon Pyramid from the top of the Sun Pyramid

This is Mini Olivia. She is a doll that Sarah's friend gave her when we left. She is experiencing Mexico first-hand with us.

We all made it!

The girls

The boys

The parents (Mom this one is for you since you say I never put up pictures of myself.)

Back down on level ground.

This was such a great day! We learned so much about Mexico and some of its history. We are blessed to be able to have such experiences while living here.

El Centro

Last Thursday we got to go on a tour of El Centro which is the downtown area of Cuernavaca. Our first stop was an amazing old cathedral. It is from the 16th century and was a Franciscan monastery. Although the tour was all in Spanish, it was still very interesting to see.

After the tour of the cathedral we headed downtown to become acquainted with what was there. We found a mall, a McDonald's, a Burger King, several museums and best of all a great market for getting all kinds of souvenirs. We didn't buy anything on this first trip, but we are sure we will return multiple times.

There was also a neat town square with all types of food vendors, including everything from sausage to candy apples covered in chilli powder. There was also live music and dancing.

It was a very lively place on a Thursday evening!

When the tour ended we decided to find a bite to eat before catching the taxi back home. We found a nice restaurant. Vance and I searched the menu to see what Mexican food we could find to try.

These were my yummy quesadillas!

The kids weren't quite so adventurous.

They all went for the cheeseburger and fries!

Maybe they were just wanting a little taste of home.

We all went home very satisfied and eager to return to El Centro for some shopping.