The road to Oaxaca, MX

 Dear Family and Friends,

We left Puebla for a long (4 hour) drive to Oaxaca.  

Our trip consisted of going through areas that looked just like we were back in Tucson, AZ.

Outside of Oaxaca, we stopped for lunch in a village where our tour guide, Ian, grew up.  He wanted to share a beloved restaurant with us.  The restaurant Santa Martha is family owned and has been around for many years.

The restaurant seats thousands of people.  Food is served buffet style and it is an all you can eat type restaurant.  People come from all around to enjoy eating here.  They have something for everyone, even a play area for the kids that includes a real airplane.

Below are some photos inside the restaurant and of the play area.

There were about 10 or more rows of buffet style food.  I think every kind of Mexican food was represented there.  Salads, soups, main dishes, many kinds of rice and vegetables.  Also, there was a mountain of desserts,  cookies, cakes, flans, etc.

We all made multiple trips through the buffet lines.   Here is my plate from just one trip.

Our travel buddies enjoying their food and company.

We all felt so fortunate to be eating there.  It was such an off the beaten tourist path type place that I bet we were some of the very few gringos that ever get to experience it.

After enjoying our lunch, we loaded back on our motor coach and drove about 30 minutes to the outside of the historic center of Oaxaca.  Ian took us on a walk through the historic area to our hotel. 

When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted and entertained by folkloric dancers.  

We all enjoyed a welcome to Oaxaca dinner at a nearby restaurant.  Very excited about our trip to Mount Alban tomorrow.

Love you,

Nancy

Special Day in Puebla - A visit with Bob Cox and Family

 Dear Family and Friends,

Since we were in Puebla about 5 years back, we decided to forgo this part of the tour in favor of spending time with our friend, Bob Cox.  A few of you that read this post know Bob Cox, the same way I know him, from the internet.

About eight years ago, I joined a group on the internet who were from my hometown, Columbus, GA.  It was close to our upcoming 50th class reunion and several of us in this group were former classmates, reconnecting before the reunion.  Not all members were classmates, but we were all raised in Columbus and most of us went to the same high school.  The thing about Bob is that I never really knew him except for our cyber connection. Bob is about 5 years older than me.  What we had in common is that we both lived outside of the USA.  Over the years we have stayed friends through messenger.  

We met Bob in person when we were in Puebla five years ago.  Bob, a professional tour guide, showed us all of Puebla and the surrounding areas.  He knows more about Mexico's history than most any Mexican.  His roots are deep in this part of Mexico.  He is married and has raised children, grandchildren and even has great grandchildren.  

Our tour group was staying in an old, converted, convent.  Very spacious and a nice quiet place for lunch.

Bob arrived with his son Mike.  Sorry I did not get a picture of this handsome dude.  A short time later we were joined by his daughter, Claudia.  Mike could not stay for lunch, but Claudia joined us.

We spent the afternoon visiting and catching up.  Unfortunately, Bob's wife, Raquel was not able to join us for lunch,  

Bob is a very fortunate man.  He has a beautiful family that truly loves and cares for him.  It was such a pleasure to meet his son and daughter.  We were fortunate to meet two very polite grandsons also.

All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon spent together.

After Bob and his family left, the sun was starting to set.  Chuck and I walked a few blocks to the main town square.  

The cathedral in Puebla is one of my favorites.

While we were out, we happen to catch this amazing dancing.

As we headed back to the hotel, Chuck and I agreed that this visit with Bob and family was the best part of the trip so far.  

Thank you very much Bob for coming to meet us in Puebla. 

Love you,

Nancy

Making Our Way to Puebla

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry folks, Chuck and I have had to take a leave of absence from telling you about our trip to Mexico  because we have been very sick.  We no sooner arrived back in Tucson when we came down with some sort of virus.  Flu?  Not sure what we had but fever, congestion, no energy.   Audrey provided me with a Covid test kit and I tested negative.  It has been a solid week now and we are no longer running fever, but the recovery is taking its time. We still do not have much energy.  

I got up this morning and decided I have to finish sharing about our trip before you all forget we even went anywhere.  So here I go...back to our Mexico adventure.

My last post was about our brief tour of Mexico City.  The next morning we left Mexico City to drive to Puebla.  The trip should only take about two and a half hours on the freeway. We took the whole day because we stopped and toured in Cuernavaca and Atlixco before arriving in Puebla.

On the way out of Mexico City, we passed the monument to the Revolution.  The rising sun made for this great picture.

Here is another view of the historical part of the city as we were leaving.

It took about an hour and a half to get to Cuernavaca.  Cuernavaca is known as the city of eternal spring.  I had never heard of Cuernavaca before, and if it weren't for our tour, we would never had gone there.  It turns out to be one of the oldest cities in Mexico.  It was a thriving city before the Spaniards arrived.

This photo is of a temple, from the mid 1400s, dedicated to the god of the sun.  Fortunately, it was overlooked by the Spaniards as they plundered Xochicalco, a much bigger sight.  It is in pristine condition.

We toured the cathedral, which turned out to be a cathedral complex.  Here are some photos of the vendors outside the wall of the complex.

Here is the main cathedral known as the Cathedral of Cuernavaca.  Besides the mega cathedral it is surrounded by four chapels.  The cathedral was founded by the first Friar Monks to ever come to Mexico.  The cathedral was built between 1529 and 1552.

One of the chapels in the complex.

The grounds were covered by beautiful gardens.  I was intrigued by this unusual plant.

These marigolds are probably replaced by now with poinsettias.  We were there not too long after the day of the dead celebration and marigolds are a big part of this holiday.

Here is Chuck in front of the oldest parts of the cathedral.

After visiting the cathedral we walked to lunch at India Bonita.  This is an old traditional restaurant that has been in the family since the mid 1930s.  

 

The inside is gardens.  Just beautiful.

Here are some of our travel companions.

Such a lovely town.  So glad this stop was included in our tour of Mexico.

On our way to our next stop, Atlixco, we passed beautiful scenery.

Our second stop was Atlixco.  This city is known for its production of flowers.

A travel companion posing in front of this beautifully decorated doorway.

The main square is surrounded by Colonial buildings and fun eye candy.

Can you find Chuck posing with the name of the city?  It is also known as a magic city.

Right in the middle of the square is this yellow coffee house.  We did not have time to partake, but the Italian Coffee Co. is a rival to Starbucks in Mexico.

Christmas decorations are starting to appear.

And yes, any city that can turn Chuck into an angel is magical!

Our next stop is Puebla where we experienced the highlight of our trip.

Love you,

Nancy

Mexico City Tour

Dear Family and Friends,

We started our Gate 1 tour this morning by meeting in the lobby of our hotel.  We are very fortunate to have a wonderful tour guide, Ivan, and a bunch of wonderful folks (and quickly to be friends) to be traveling with.  

Today we are touring Mexico City.  Our first stop is the Anthropology Museum.  We are traveling in a comfortable motor coach.  Below is a couple of happy old folks to be on this tour.

The center of Mexico City is very modern.  Many tall beautiful buildings and public areas.  Below are some of the photos I could make from the window of our bus.

Many statues and works of art line the tree canopied avenues.

This bench intrigued me.  It looks like four "electric chairs".  Not sure what the meaning is.

I noticed that people here que at the bus stop.  The first time I saw this was when we were in Japan.  Everyone waits in a long line, not crowding the side walk, and loading the bus on a first come, first board basis.  So civilized.

We finally arrived at the Museum of Anthropology.  We were greeted outside by this tall statue of the Aztec "rain god."

This is the inner courtyard of the museum.

I have posted many photos from inside this museum from our last visit.  I encourage you to click this link to see the inside.  Photos inside Museum

After touring the museum, we walked along the oldest street in Mexico City, which is now a pedestrian only street.

Since we are here in the first part of November, there are many decorations from the "Day of the Dead" celebration.  These skeletons on a bench were popular with tourists for photos.

This is the gold gilded "Angel of Independence Statue."

I was surprised to learn that Mexico City even has a small China Town.  

The photo below is the Bella Arts theater.  A national theater much like the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C   but much older and definitely more ornate.

Many organ grinders in the tourist areas.  

Oldest cathedral in Mexico City.

A view of the tourist street.

A couple greeting us pedestrians from the balcony above.

Below are a couple of street entertainers.

Enough for today, tomorrow we leave Mexico City and travel to Puebla.  I hope you will be joining us.

Love you,

Nancy