Back in the US of A

I'm now home, safe and sound. Sometimes it takes a trip outside the comfort of our own surroundings in order to realize how fortunate we really, truly are! It was so nice to come home to the comforts of showers with real water pressure, no threats of scorpions in my bedsheets, and water I can drink straight out of the facuet! It was quite the trip and I learned a lot, but mostly I learned how lucky I am to be me! Thanks for reading and keeping up with my adventure!

More Photos

While I had the chance I thought I would upload just a few more for everyone to see before coming home tomorrow!

Un Dia Mas

Things are winding down here for me...I only have one more full day in Cuernavaca. Yesterday my room mate and I went to a nice restaurant, La India Bonita. It was decorated very ornately and was in a garden setting. I ordered Enchiladas de Mole mmmm....and tried the Margarita de Nopal (cactus!) It was a nice dinner. Today we took advantage of the good weather and headed downtown to the Robert Brady Museum and the Palacio de Cortes where we saw a HUGE Diego Rivera Mural. We also hopped over to the art market one last time, and I bought a national newspaper and InStyle in Espanol before hopping back on the bus home. It downpoured while we were in the market, but by the time we left it had stopped luckily. The rain here is something else! It downpoured for about 10 minutes and then the streets were rushing with water...we spent a lot of time trying to dodge cars passing by from splashing us! Im still having a wonderful time but I am tired and am looking forward to coming come to see all of you! Thanks for keeping up with my travels...I will probably post some more photos when I get home! Adios!

Frida y Diego Photos!

Here are a few photos from our art trip to Mexico City on Saturday. The first here is a man we saw in the Saturday Bazarre...not sure if he was a vendor or just hanging out, but he sure caught my attention, so I took a photo of him. He was quite the character!

The second is of me in front of a picture of Frida and Diego at their studios in San Miguel. I was so excited to finally be there! Luckily, they did allow photos at the studios, but none of them are so riveting that I would post any here.

Here are the famous words that are etched on the Casa Azul in Coyocotan, where Frida was born and also died. Diego also lived here with her for awhile, hence, the sign.

The next is the view that Frida had from her bedroom out into the gardens below. She also died in this same spot....but they would not allow photos of her bed. On it was a mold of her face that they imprinted after she died, and her bed was equipped with the mirror above it that allowed her to paint herself autobiographically.

Lastly, this is a photo of everyone who was living at our house last week. My family is in the back, including Hortencia, the mom, Javier, the dad, and Javier Jr. and Stephanie the son and daughter. The rest are all the students that are staying with them. The one on the far right is the one I think looks like Christopher...he is the husband of another Spanish teacher, Kelly, who is just here visiting.

Hopefully I will find more time to download more photos later! Things are great...I really dont have many plans from now until I come home on Saturday, just hanging out trying to enjoy the time here!

Frida Kahlo y Diego Rivera

Hello!
Yesterday I finally went on the long awaited art trip to the southern part of Mexico City. We saw the Frida and Diego studios, as well as the famous Casa Azul that Frida was born and died in. It was different than I expected, but nonetheless I enjoyed every moment of it. It was so fascinating to see the bed where she laid when she was ill....it had the mirror attached to the top of it so she could paint herself, and the view from her death bed out onto the gardens of the property was incredible. They didnt allow photos inside the Casa Azul, but they did at the studios. I will have to post them later because I forgot the cable today. We also went to the Saturday Bazarre in D.F. which had some incredible handmade goods. Dont worry...I am bringing some back for show!!! Look for photos of this trip tomorrow or Tuesday (depending when I can get time on the computadora). Today its off to Taxco...the Silver City! Hasta!

Mas Fotos

On Wednesday we went to a small town called Tezpotlan, which is a indigenous nahuatl SP? community. Wednesday is market day in town, so we visited the market, as well as a museum and a beautiful dominican church. While we were standing outside the church we heard a group of mariachis in the distance, who were escorting a family of a little girl who had turned 3. I guess it is a big deal to turn 3 in Mexico, and you dress up the little girl and have a mass and a party and everything. Luckily for us, we were there to witness the procession, and I got some beautiful photos! Here you will see photos of the market and of the procession.

Thursday I went into the city to bum around a bit, and later all of us girls who live together, plus our senora, went to a taco place in town. The tacos were only 50 cents each, and delicious! Saturday its off to see the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo homes and museum. I have been waiting for this...cant wait!

I am a little sad to not be home for the 4th of July...you never realize how much those fireworks mean to you until you cant see them one year. Some of the girls I live with and I are going back to the beautiful restaurant, Las Mananitas for a margarita tonight. Hope all is well at home, and please continue to write me...it is so exciting to get mail!

Fotos

Here are some photos I have taken...I wont be able to post as many as I would like, because they are taking a long time to download.

Here is my room mate and I in front of a beautiful restaurant and hotel, Las Mananitas. It was truly amazing!

Then the next is of me with some of the school girls...arent they cute?!?!

This is the view from the back of the house I am staying at, just before a HUGE storm rolled in (it is the rainy season here).

This is the market downtown Cuernavaca, it was enormus!

More later!