Hola de Mexico

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Hola familia and amigos,
I sent my friends shopping and I am going to try once again to load some photos from Cuernavaca. Yesterday we traveled 70 miles south of Cuernavaca to Buena Vista de Cuella, a pueblo of about 15,000 people. (much smaller than Cuernavaca) They are know for their leather goods and dairy products. We visited a leather shop where the hermano showed us how he prepared and worked the leather. He gave us a chance to try our hand at his craft. The ride through the country was beautiful, green rolling hills, farmland and small communities. Today we visited an elementary school. The one word that would describe it was chaos. In fairness, they are preparing for their end of the year program on Friday but in the classes we visited very few students were on task. The classes each had about 40 students - that is a lot of kids in an elementary school class! Especially when the majority of them are flying paper airplanes, rolling on the floor, talking in groups, leaving the class..... It made Del Sol look like a cake walk. Tomorrow we will visit Taxco, a community known for its silver. Hope this finds you all well - will try now to load some pictures. Hasta Luega - Patty

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Photos

Cathedral in Buena Vista de Cuella
This town proudly boasts of its own saint - St. David recieved Sainthood in the 1990s for being a martyr for the church.

Palace of Cortes in Cuernavaca
Cortes built this palace in Cuernavaca where it is cooler in the summer than in Mexico city

Pre Aztec Carving
Three large rocks in front of Cortes´' palace had carvings that predate Aztec carvings.

Making Taquitos
Monday we visited a home where we all pitched in and made taquitos - very yummy!

Leather Shop
We had to climb some steep hills to get to this shop. It felt like I was in China again. He was very gracious and showed us how he made his living.

5th Grade Class
Pobre Maestra!!!