finally

We've been off-line for weeks! We took our computer in to have it fixed, but my Spanish doesn't include computer phrases and they didn't speak any English. They kept our computer for a week and found nothing wrong. We finally found a Canadian computer whiz who for $20.US has us surfing again.

In the meantime, we've been back to Taxco, and to Mexico City half a dozen times. We've seen Frida Kahlo's house; Casa Azul, spent 2 days at the Anthropology Museum, seen murals by Diego Rivera, found a great antique mall, watched the daily protestors one group marching in their shoes and underwear, taken crazy scary cab rides, and eaten some great food.

It feels good to be back on-line.

silver city

I spent an entire day in Taxco and didn't buy myself a single piece of silver. It was too much, I was completely overwhelmed. Every doorway led to a shop that sold silver. Even the restaurants and mini markets sold anything you could wish for in highly polished shimmering silver.

We had lunch at an open air, 2nd floor restaurant across from the church, overlooking the zocalo. The streets are narrow, one way, all hand-carved and hand-laid stone so steep goats would be a better choice than cars. Throughout Taxco the buildings are either mellow stone or white adobe with red roofs. In the center of town the church is an ultra Baroque beauty in gorgeous soft red clay. We had margaritas and watched traffic wind through town.

School let out at 1:00 and the zocalo filled with kids hanging out. We counted 9 different school uniforms. At their arrival the kids selling chiclets and handcrafts drifted away.

Random picture of the day

Xochicalco

We went to the pre-Columbian pyramids at Xochicalco (so-shee- cal-co) last week and saw another great museum. Xochicalco is on a hilltop with grand views of nearby mountains, lake and towns. The center of the museum is a scale model of the pyramids and a panoramic view of the pyramids on the next hill.

The pyramids are a hike and the day was hot and clear so I took Tommy's cane and a bottle of water and went by myself. I was able to climb a couple of the structures and sit and enjoy the quiet and the amazing views. I was all alone for quite a while. However, after having my fill of looking around I realized the steps are insanely steep and the steps themselves are about half the size of my foot. The trip down was unnerving. The cane came in handy.

Ciudad de Mexico

Mexico City does not disapoint. Grand buildings, street vendors that take over endless blocks, protestors and police in riot gear in the zocalo, noise, crowds; it was wonderful.

There is so much to see and do, we plan to take the bus in once a week.