Mexican Moments with Greg and Peg: Another exciting week

THOUGHT: "LOVE YOUR FAMILY. SPEND TIME, BE KIND AND SERVE ONE
ANOTHER. MAKE NO ROOM FOR REGRETS.
TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED AND TODAY IS SHORT! Unknown

Monday, Feb 22nd

Today has been a quiet day since the dear Dr is sick and can't function very well! He has a fever and terrible cough. It's entertaining to hear him give the sick missionaries good advice on what to do when they are sick but then doesn't ever do the same for himself! We stayed in so he could rest. He isn't a very good rester though! FHE was given by the Griffins. They showed the new Easter presentation that is going out to the public in a few weeks on Facebook. The Griffins also showed lots of pics from their adventure with Elder Oaks and his wife that they had just had. They took thousands of pic with a lot of them being with children. Elder Griffin also told a story about a kid who decided to live a wild and crazy life. He left home where he lived with his family in Pocatello Idaho when he was 18 and went to California and got into drugs, alcohol and who knows what else. He joined the Hells Angels and did all kinds of things with that gang. One day he woke up in New York and didn't even know how he got there. He made his way back to LA and to the gang house where he had been staying. One day he was sitting on the balcony of the house and saw two missionaries walking down the street. He tried to ignore them. They walked on by without speaking to him but stopped down the street a bit. They turned around and came back and started talking to this guy. One of the missionaries asked this guy where he was from - he responded Pocatello Idaho. This missionary asked if he knew this couple that lived there. The guy answered that they were his parents that he had not talked to in years. The missionary then said - yes! They are my parents too! This guy didn't even know he had a brother. What a reunion that was. The missionary talked the guy into going home and getting back together with his family. This guy is now married and ready to be sealed in the Temple. What a great story huh???

My beautiful bouquet of roses for the 22nd.
They are a dark coral color and smell heavenly!
Not all the roses smell so these are a special treat!

Tuesday, Feb 23rd

Greg is feeling a little better today, but we still stayed pretty close to home for the day. We cleaned up our place and did some shopping for our guest. The kids come tomorrow and we are very excited!
We first went to Colonia Escudron and looked for the 4 families we baptized 44 years ago there - struck out at all 4 houses - things have really changed. We then went to Santa Cruz Meyehualco to find the 3 families I baptized there - struck gold the first time - Jose Luis Sanchez Vasquez was home. He has been to the temple. His brother who I also baptized has moved to Toluca. He told about some of the friends that were baptized about the same time and some have been bishops and stake presidents. It was great to see him. He told me that he had seriously contemplated calling Salt Lake to find out my name - he could remember Eldet Wetzel's name (senior companion who had spent more time with him) but couldn't remember my name. We took some pictures and he really felt his prayers had been answered. Other two families had moved.

It's hard to see this intersection, but the cars on the left
are crossing over 2 different lanes on the other side to pass,
also the cars on the right are going exactly opposite and
I want to go in-between all that mess! YIKES!

Greg looking for a lady he baptized 43 years ago.
This young woman answered her door by yelling
over the edge of her rooftop!
The lady no longer lived there!

The barren neighborhood park!

Parents waiting for kids to get out of school.

A street of tienguis

I don't think we are suppose to be driving down this street
full of shops and people! Oh well!

Shrines everywhere!

Traffic everywhere too!

I like all the guys with their carts they are pushing around
with fruit, food or snack foods on them. I don't
know how they survive.

A sign of spring. Beautiful yellow flowers blooming all over this bush!

That's a colorful wall!

Greg is looking for another lady at this address.
He is talking to a lady sitting down in the corner there.
You can just see the top of her head.
That lady has moved also!

How do you like the neighborhood??

Or this neighborhood?

Another beautiful red blossom tree
coming out for Spring.

People lay out their stuff to sell just about anywhere
in the street they feel like it in this area.

I love this dog trying to look in the window!
She lives there and is hoping mom lets her in!!

We were stuck in traffic and needed to turn around so we picked
this space between the trees to do just that!
We aren't the first ones to do this - just so you know!!

Here is the home of a man Greg found who he baptized.
The Sanchez home

I love taking pics of peoples homes.
Look at this tiny kitchen with the rotting floor.
Poor people

The living room. There are 2 little bedrooms
right behind Greg. The kitchen is to the left through
those orange curtains and the bathroom must
be next to where I am standing at the end of the
living room. The area by the front door
is a computer/study area, then the kitchen table
to the right of Greg! I think about 5-6 people
live here!

Who knows? But I like the decorating!

The study area!

These people can't quite give up Guadaloupe as
a member of their home! UGH!

Jose Louis Sanchez and Greg!

A shrine outside their home.

Want something to drink?? I'm sure it's all clean!

People enjoying each other while having a sip of something!

The home on the end in orange (kind of) was another
home of someone Greg baptized! She has moved also!

This tiny medical center was across the street from the home.

Wednesday, Feb 24th

Today is the day! We spent the morning getting all ready for the kids and then left a little early to pick them up. They were suppose to fly in about 3 pm but got in a little early and we were still driving through the mess of traffic that has become our lifestyle here. By the time we pulled up to the airport Jeff and Rachel were standing out on the curb waiting for us! It was very fun to see some family in real life!! It makes me miss all of my kids even more!!!!! We loaded them in the car and started off on our extreme ADHD Mexican tour! They only have until Sunday so we are going to go like crazy so they can see as much as possible!
We started out by stopping at Burger King for a Mexican hamburger! Yum! We drove down the street to the Temple grounds. We showed them where dad works in his little clinic. We walked around the Temple and through the Visitors Center. I think the Visitors Center here in Mexico is the very best in the world! We jumped in the car and drove across town to the Anthropology Museum. We were able to spend about 1 1/2 hours at the museum. Greg had gone last Saturday to learn some facts so he was able to pass those things along to us. You really could spend 3 days in that huge museum. I am not sure what part was the kids favorite. I like the big stellas which are carved with little pics that tell a story. So much work went into these things. But what else did those people have to do with their time???
We headed over to La Onda for some real live Mexican tacos al Pastor! Rachel and Jeff are set on eating all the Mexican food they can! Diarrhea here they come!!!! We finally got home where we got the same comments from them as we did from Sara. Wow this place is a lot smaller than it looks on FaceTime! We are very used to our little place now. I don't know what we will do with all the space when we get home!!! We made Mexican hot chocolate and played Phase 10. This is so fun having the kids here!!!

YAY! We picked up our kids!

We took them to a fancy restaurant for lunch - Burger King!

The anthropology museum

Relief map of Mexico with ruins - I am just pointing out where Zarahemla may have been

There are 13 statues on top- Christ and the 12 apostles?

This is a copy of ruins in Ek Balam (we have been there)

Not sure - picture in relief

Oriental looking guy

Peg liked this one

Different spear heads made by the natives

A pictogram of how market day might have been

Aztec Calendar stone

Rachel crowned with Quetzal feathers

Stone statues

Outside again with the interesting fountain/roof

A stella with Mayan weighting

The Mayan writing close up

Thursday, Feb 25th

We were up and at it early this morning because we went to the pyramids - Teotihuacan. We didn't want to get there at mid day because it is a warm sunny day and that makes it hot at the pyramids.
Jeff and Rachel loved the tour we gave them. They climbed the Temple of Quetzacoatl , the Sun Pyramid and the Moon Pyramid. ( They are going to be tired and worn out by the time they go home!) They also walked all the way down the path to the Sun Pyramid and also went through the museum. They bought some jaguar whistles for the boys. I have wanted to buy some for the boys but didn't dare because they are noise makers. I was happy to see that the parents bought some for their own kids!! Ha! We had such a good time today. One problem - I put suntan lotion in the backpack and both Rachel and Jeff watched me do it. Off we all went on our pyramid tour and now at the end of the day - I have a cooked daughter. Her neck and arms are very burned but that suntan lotion is safely sitting in the backpack!!! The weather is perfect here - not too hot or cold, but then you can't feel when you are cooking in the sun!! Somehow this will be my fault!!
After the pyramids we couldn't decide where to go to lunch. We usually go to this place called the Jaguar for a buffet lunch. But the last few times we have gone to the pyramids we have gone to La Gruta which is a huge cave down underground that is a restaurant. That is where we took Sara, but we didn't like the food as well so we took Rachel & Jeff to the Jaguar for the buffet. The place had changed a little and the food was 1/2 step up from La Gruta. It was OK! - just not Chuck o Rama!
We were driving home and wanted to go show them the MTC in Mexico, but there was road construction and somehow😔 we missed the turnoff! They will have to miss out on that little trip! We drove on to the Basilica of Guadaloupe. This whole place is amazing. We saw the shroud of Juan Diego where Guadaloupe appeared to him. That supposedly happened in 1531 so that is one old shroud! They have built a new church next to the old one because the old one is sinking badly. It is an optical illusion walking in that building. It looks like it will tumble down at the hint of an earthquake. I hope I am no where around. It is a big beautiful cathedral. I don't know how it is still standing! We enjoyed our time wandering all around the grounds and churches there. We were pooped and came home to have a fancy dinner of tomato soup and cheese quesadillas. We played dominos and I won!! Rachel is going to have a good nights sleep with her purple neck and arms!!

Quetzalcoatl's temple - Rachel and Jeff between Quetzalcoatl (Christ) and Tlaloc (?God the Father?)

The big courtyard used for teaching. You can be anywhere in the courtyard and if someone is speaking on the raised platform you can hear them perfectly.

Quetzalcoatl temple

Looking down Calzada de los muertos

Looking up the Sun Pyramid

View from the top

Pretty steep

View west from the Sun pyramid

Pretty steep

To climb the steep narrow stairs you had to incline yourself forward in a humble fashion, showing respect for the gods

We all made it on top

Cute couple we found - Rachel is photo bombing

Steep steps down

We made it

Doesn't even show a hint of how steep it is.

Pyramid of the Moon

Pyramid of the moon

Moon pyramid in the background

Eating at El Jaguar

These guys serenaded us.

Moving day - has his mattresses and his donkey cart

Guadalupe shrine

They always have nice flowers at the shrine

The new shrine (1990 something) is very large

Statue to John Paul II

Inside the 500 year old church - it is tilting but you can't see it

Everything is leaning

The far corner is about 30 feet lower that the near corner.

Cleaning up

Not sure what this represents - actually looks like the representation of Tlaloc

Back of the cathedral

Look down at the new building (one that looks like a space ship)

Chapel of the well - first building built here

Chapel of the well.

More homages to saints

Top of the church

Lazy day for beggars

Depiction of Juan Diego appearing before the Priest

These kids wanted their pictures taken so bad

They were having some sort of celebration and came with their trucks all fancied up.

Fingers and faces looking out the back of this truck

More pilgrams

Trying to outdo each other in fancy decorations

The Ciudadela - fancy tourist market

Finding treasures at the Ciudadella

Friday, Feb 26th

Rachel had a coughing fit in the night and woke up the neighborhood! Not really! But she scared me to death with her choking! She needs to learn to swallow at night! We were up and at it early again today. We jumped in the car and off we went to Taxco. It was a beautiful day although a little cloudy and/or smoggy. The kids were not able to see dad's favorite volcano - Popo because of the smog. We had a nice drive. We first went to Cuernavaca to see the Hacienda Vista Hermosa. This is Cortez summer palace. It is a wonderful and beautiful place. We love going there. We had breakfast and had a great time wandering around the grounds and also wandering through the underground tunnels where the prison was for Cortez enemies! Jeff really wanted to play a round of miniature golf they found on the grounds, but we wouldn't let him!! We were back in the car and off to Taxco which was about an hour drive further. We love Taxco which is the silver capital of the country. We stopped in this town on our honeymoon on our way to Acapulco so it has a special place in our hearts!! All the houses are built on the sides of the mountains with all white buildings and red roofs - as opposed to Santorini in Greece where all the buildings are white with blue roofs! We love this fun little town!
We all had lots of fun shopping. I bought a beautiful pearl and silver necklace. Rachel got some things for Kaylee and herself. Good times. We walked through the cathedral in the zocolo which I don't like because it is very dusty and dirty! They need to shine all that gold up and the place will look so much better and feel better. It also smells like your grandmas basement - musty and dusty!
We went to our favorite restaurant to get a bite to eat while we enjoyed the scenery of the city.
The weather was warm and calm and it was a prefect day! Almost except for the smog! We didn't get to spend a lot of time taking pics because we had to hurry along to get back to the grutas (caves)
so the kids can see them. We had to hurry along and the road was very windy. We were zooming along passing on double yellow lines and all when we came across a car that had flipped over on its top. the guy was stuck in the car, but people were there trying to help him so we didn't stop. I hope he survived! We made it to the grutas with about 10 minutes to spare. We had to be there before 5 pm. My back couldn't face standing in those caves for another 3 hours so I sat in the car and read my scriptures and took a small nap. Greg, Rachel and Jeff took the tour and it was a million times better than when I took the tour. There were only about 6 people compared to about 80 people on the tour I went on. They hurried through the 2 kilometer long caves and got back out around 6:30. We hurried to get back on the road because I don't like driving at night out in the middle of Mexico. We got back to Santa Fe around 9 pm where we stopped off at Cheesecake Factory to pick up a bite to eat and a piece of cheesecake! Yum!! We wandered around the large mall where you forget you are in Mexico. The mall is so big and fancy. You would be surprised to see such a thing!! We brought our cheesecake home and played Five Crowns. Greg won! We are all tired! Good night!