THOUGHT: "WE DON'T NEED TO BE 'MORE' OF ANYTHING TO START TO BECOME THE
PERSON GOD INTENDED US TO BECOME"
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Monday, Nov 16th
Today is a Mexican holiday - something about the Revolution. All of the church offices are closed so we invited the Toblers to with us to Taxco. We love going to this great little town. We left about 9 am and drove to Cuernavaca to see a palace of Cortez. We had been there before, but the Toblers loved going there so it worked out well. We ended up having brunch buffet at the palace. We loved walking around and enjoying the grounds. We jumped back in the car and drove for another hour to Taxco. The parking is crazy there. We placed under some building that was down a steep driveway. We walked to the town square and did a little silver shopping. It is fun to be there and watch the people and the hubbub! We even took a ride on a gondola up to the top of the mountain to see the great view of the city. My favorite part of this city is the steep, narrow cobblestone streets. This city is built on the side of mountains. We had lunch at the restaurant we ate at last time we were there. It was good Mexican food and we had a fabulous view! We left Taxco about 5 pm and got home at 8:15. The traffic wasn't as horrible as we expected so fun was had by all!!
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| Taxis in Xoxocotl |
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| Grazing near the highway |
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| At Cortes' palace |
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| Covered well |
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| Old trees near an old palace |
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| Cortes' palace |
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| The lobby |
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| More Lobby |
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| The grounds were beautiful |
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| Framed by an old tree |
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| This tree was growing in the wall |
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| Another well |
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| The other side of the tree growing in the wall |
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| Small chapel on the property |
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| Graven image in the chapel |
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| The chapel |
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| Not sure what this is |
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| The grounds near the smoke stake used to refine sugar |
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| Taxco |
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| The streets of Taxco |
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| Church in Taxco - silver mining town |
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| Close up of catholic church in Taxco |
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| Ornate front of church |
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| Inside of the church |
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| Lots of shops and alley ways |
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| View of town from our restaurant |
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| Christus on the hill |
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| Closer view of Christus |
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| Taxco is designated as a magical city and there are now strict building codes -it must keep its colonial ambience |
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| Panorama of Taxco from our restaurant |
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| Eating on the roof of "Inn del Angel" restaurant |
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| We were serenaded |
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| There was a cable car that went to the top of a neighboring hill where there is a hotel |
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| View from cable car |
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| More of the city of Taxco |
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| Hotel at the top of the tram |
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| Statues at the top of the hill |
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| Here are the Toblers and our cable car |
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| View of Taxco from above in the cable car. |
Tuesday, Nov 17th
Since Spencer came last Thursday we had to cut out trip to Torreon short by a day so today we got to get back on a plane and fly to Durango to meet the Ramos again and do the zone conference there. We flew in around 7 pm and they picked us up. Poor President Ramos can't see very well and it is hard for him to drive at night so we were happy to make it to our hotel. We dropped our stuff off and went back out to drive downtown Durango to see the many beautiful buildings and the Cathedral. We went to Sanborns for dinner and had a nice walk around afterwards. The air temp was quite cool and we haven't felt this for about a year! I actually had goosebumps which was very unusual.
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| Sunset out the plane window |
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| Cathedral in downtown Torreon |
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Downtown Torreon at night |
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| Cathedral again |
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| The downtown square is really lit up |
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| More of the downtown square |
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| Businesses lining the square |
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| Pancho Villa museum lit up at night |
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| Relief sculptures of the Spanish founders of Torreon |
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| Downtown Torreon |
Wednesday, Nov 18th
We were up and at it early. We met the Ramos in the hotel for breakfast, We packed up and headed to our zone conference. We got there a little early and had time to visit with the missionaries. They are all so cute and happy as far as I can tell. The zone conference went well and the sisters didn't have many questions. They are all so beautiful. We were done mid afternoon. The Ramos took us to lunch at a Mexican place and then we went to a museum called Villa - after Poncho Villa. It was the typical Mexican museum and I will just leave it at that!😬 We were driven to the airport after that for our 7:15 pm flight back home. We got to wait an extra hour for our flight but we finally made it back
to the city around 10 pm. The Smiths picked us up for the very last time!! The traffic was much better this late at night so we were home before 11.
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| One thing we have noticed - the great majority of the latin missionaries have beautiful teeth - fortunate because none of them can afford braces |
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| One of the sisters - we like to take pictures and email them to their families - kind of proof of life in the mission field |
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| Tourist area in downtown Torreon |
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| Sidewalk shops near where we had lunch |
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| Taking a ride with Pancho Villa and his army called the Division del Norte |
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| Paintings in the museum |
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| I found my old typewriter |
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| saddles from the revolution |
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| Main cathedral in Torreon |
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| Selfies in the airport |
Thursday, Nov 19th
Today we have both been catching up on errands and projects. Greg had to go find some medical supplies for the clinic so we kept busy today doing little things! We grabbed the Griffins and went to lunch at a new place because Reubins was too crowded. We won't be going back to that new place!
We needed to get out so we went with the Griffins to see the movie "Bridge of Spys" early evening.
We ended the day with a shopping spree at Chedraui for butter and peanut M&M's
Friday, Nov 20th
Up and at it this morning to the Temple clinic. On the way we hunted down a medical supply store. Some of the supplies we need for the clinic have been hard to find. We got to the Temple and I ran to do a session. I had 3 min to get ready and I made it to the session. Whew! Greg wasn't too busy today. Good to hear that the missionaries are healthy this week! We had planned a nice farewell dinner with the Smiths for tonight. We got together with the Smiths, Zapatas, Anthonys and went to Fishers for dinner. Those that got Salmon loved it. The clam chowder and shrimp salad were just so so! We did have a yummy dessert and Greg's had a birthday candle in it. All the waiters sang the Mexican happy birthday song to him! Poor Elder Zapata is not doing very well after his heart issue
last week. He gets very tired very fast. We are fairly sure the Zapatas will be sent home to Arizona for cardiac rehab! He will be so sad, but his wife Bonnie won't feel so sad! They started their mission the same day as us so they have 5 1/2 months left. He may not make it back! 😥
Amazingly the traffic wasn't too bad so we made it home in good time! Yay!
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| Brother and Sister Smith at a restaurant in Linda Vista |
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| The Anthonys from Utah county - office couple in the East mission - came to the dinner to honor the Smiths |
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| Our good friends the Zapatas - he went home to do cardiac rehab from his recent heart attack |
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| Cute couple on a mission in Mexico city |
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| Happy Birthday Greg! |
