Blogs from Estado de Mexico, Mexico, North America

Sorry folks, been awhile. Just getting some time to upload the photos, edit the video and reflect on our adventure in Mexico. Rather than try to catch you all up at once, I intend to complete a series of separate blogs on various individual topics. Some of the richest experiences have been with our everyday life here in San Pancho. Before I go there, I must take you to one of the wonders of the world, the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries in Central Mexico, where we traveled for my birthday in early Feb. We intented to drive deep into Michoacan, the state with the most Monarch sanctuaries. After factoring in the 2,000 speed bumps and the 78 detours around failed highways, my best estimates put the journey at about 10 hours - nothing after the Dietz Family's ... read more

Eigentlich wollte ich heute, am Samstag, nochmals zum Zocalo nach Mexico City und Großstadtluft schnuppern. Hans hatte aber verständlicherweise die Nase voll von 2-3 Stunden Anreise mit den Öffis (und wir wissen ja auch, dass er an einer Großstadtallergie leidet…). Also planten wir um. Schließlich hat Topotzotlan auch so Einiges zu bieten. Nach ausgiebigem Duschen und Wäschewaschen verließen wir unsere Garderobe an der Wäscheleine und machten uns Richtung Innenstadt auf. Und Hans hatte wieder einmal den richtigen Riecher gehabt. Nicht nur, dass das Virreinato Museum lockte (Tepotzotlan war ein wichtiges Kultur- und Studienzentrum während der Kolonialzeit), sondern es war auch Markt! Natürlich begeisterte das meine Frauenseele, die ja immer auf Jagd nach Souvenirs ist. Zuerst war einmal Kulturschnuppern Pflicht. Die kühlen Gänge und Säle des Virreinato-Museums, einst ein b... read more

I left Colima late at night, at 10pm and sat there contemplating what I will do for the next 10 hours of this non-stop bus drive. I had chosen the cheapest ride (ca 700 pesos) that does not provide you with food, your own TV screen or the extra wide seats. It was still very comfortable, the seats reclining almost to a horizontal level, jamming my right leg firmly into place. I should not have worried about entertainment. The TV programm was so aweful that I instantly passed out and only sporadically woke up and stared into the darkness, here and there some lights. By sunrise we were in Mexcio City already, houses passing by. About an hour later at 7 am (fast trip after all) I arrived in Mexcio City. And it was FREEEEZING. I ... read more

Classical Period Pyramids. I had to go! Probably the first pyramids in the Americas, built sometime around 200BC, these ruins were interesting. Having seen Macchu Pichu, Angkor Wat, Chichen Itza, the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army, I was not expecting to be wowed at all by these Central Mexican pyramids. I was mistaken, they were awesome and impressive! The Pyramid of the Sun was huge, and symmetric layout of the area was incredible, but even more incredible was the views from the tops of the pyramids (though the proximity to Mexico City meant smog was one of the things to view). I went with two of my new friends and we sat in the super powerful and hot sun and I talked way too much about what I knew about the Aztecs and ... read more

Hoy nos fuimos de excursión al Nevado de Toluca, también llamado volcán Xinantécatl. La visita la organizó mi hermana Betsy, y fuimos ella, mi sobrino Diego, su amigo Julio, Aline, Ralph, Patrick, mi mamá, Sandra y yo. Quedamos de vernos a las 8 AM en casa de Betsy, pero hasta como a las 9 empezamos a dirigirnos hacia el Nevado. Para llegar al nevado de Toluca es necesario tomar desde Toluca la carretera 134 que va a Temascaltepec. En el km. 18 de dicha carretera hay una desviación hacia la izquierda que conduce hacía el poblado de Las Raíces. Mas adelante el camino se divide en dos: Hacía la derecha a Sultepec, y a la izquierda al Nevado de Toluca. A partir de este punto el camino hacía el volcán es de terracería. Unos 10 kms. ... read more