Mexican Moments with Greg and Peg: Time to start winding down! Fun trip to San Miguel de Allende

THOUGHT: "WE CAN'T HELP EVERYONE, BUT EVERYONE CAN HELP SOMEONE.
Ronald Reagan

Monday, Feb 29th HAPPY LEAP YEAR DAY!!

Today was a sad day. It always is sad when the kids go home for a day or two! We miss them here. Greg is still trying to get over this horrible cold and cough he has had so I have been trying to make him rest today. He would much rather keep going crazy and cough and complain than take time to rest! We were in charge of FHE tonight - both the lesson and treats. We ended up trading with different people and had both things to do which I was OK with getting it all done in one swoop! I made Cinnabon cinnamon rolls all afternoon and Greg worked on his lesson which was a little history of 3 different pyramids - El Tajin, Ek Balam, and Monte Alban. He had histories for each one of these and pictures. We have been to all 3 and I am sure the other couples are jealous because they really are cool pyramids. I served the cinnamon rolls and milk and everyone loved them. I thought I was all done, but Sister Munoz came up and told me no- I was not done. She had just assigned me the last Monday I would be on the mission to make treats again because she loves the things I make! UGH! I don't want to think of anything else to make so I told her I will make whatever she wants to have! We'll see what happens. I may flake out of the treat deal. It's really not fair to ask someone to do that since most all of my stuff will be either used up or given away by then. Oh well! On it goes!

Elder Longhurst playing his saw.

Our cute musician - Nick Day hanging out with us!

Nick trying to play the saw!

Tuesday, Mar. 1st

We had to be up and going by 7:15 this morning to a zone conference in the Southeast mission with President Stutznegger. I think Pres. & Sister Stutz are some of my favorite people here in the mission. We had to drive a long way and no matter when we leave home, the traffic is always an issue! We made it even with a few minutes to spare. We also got to meet the Nebekkers who are the new couple helping in the mission. They are very sweet and happy people. Greg did his schpeel and saw some of the missionaries that had questions. We ate a muffin and juice with the missionaries and then we were off! It took us forever to get home. We were almost home and the Zapatas called and needed our help to get the mail for the West mission and some heavy boxes from their old place. The mission office moved about 2 weeks ago, so we stopped there to help them by driving them back to the old office. We love the Zapatas and enjoy being with them as well! We didn't get home until late afternoon. The Griffins stopped by for a visit and we always love visiting with them. We ended up going over to their place for enchiladas casserole and a movie - Interstellar which was a very long movie - almost 3 hours and quite slow moving! I could hardly stay awake. Good times!!

A pic of the neighborhood in Ixtapaluca

People have these bicycle carts to sell their wares.

Wednesday, Mar 2nd

Up and at it early again - but not quite as early as yesterday. We only had to drive for an hour to get to the zone conference. We ended up being about 3 minutes late because we didn't estimate the traffic very well. Pres. Stutz wasn't even there today because he is very sick and coming down with pneumonia. Elder Nebekker took over for him to do the missionary training and Greg did his normal schpeel. We miss President. He is fun to be around. We ate 1/2 a muffin today and headed back home. On the way back home Greg got a call from a sister in the West Mission that needed to be seen at the office so we went back up there to check on her. We talked the Zapatas into going to lunch with us. They put their beans away they were starting to eat and we took them up to Olive Garden in Santa Fe. That is a very ritzy place and they loved seeing a new area! It has been a cold and rainy day so we were searching for warm soup. We found it at Olive Garden and had a nice visit and lunch. They are so happy to go anywhere and see anything because they don't have a car and don't get out much! We dropped them back off at the office and got home in time to pick up the Griffins to take them shopping at Costco. We promised them we would take them so we drove to Interlomas and went to Walmart and the yarn store first. I am starting a new - my 9th - afghan today.
We then stopped over at Costco and loaded up on groceries. When we got home I made some really good guacamole with the avocados I had had for a week or so. We invited the Griffins back down and enjoyed chips and guacamole for dinner! Whatever right????

The church in the Southeast mission
where we held zone conference.

It was raining and the little bicycle taxis are all covered up
I love watching the little neighborhoods!

Another fruit bicycle stand!

We took the Zapatas to Olive Garden for lunch!

It's always so fun going out with Greg and his phone!!!

Thursday, Mar 3rd

Pres. Stutz called last night and cancelled the zone conference for today. He was too sick and I guess it didn't work out with Elder Nebekker doing it. We had nothing to do today. I spent the day working on the new afghan, blog, the treadmill and sending birthday cards. Greg kept getting bored so he would leave and go do something - like getting his shoes shined and stopping at the store, getting his suit at the cleaners, etc. I don't mind hanging around the home all day any more. I made a leftover dinner of turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, rolls, veggies and a salad and invited the Griffins down. Dinner turned out great and then we ended up at their place watching another movie - 90 minutes in heaven. It was not quite as slow moving and I liked it alright! We watched the results of the Republican debate when we got back to our place and called it a night. We had to pack tonight as well because we are going on a little trip with the Andersons tomorrow to San Miguel de Allende - a nice little tourist town up in the middle of nowhere!

Friday, Mar 4th

Fun! Fun! Fun! We planned a fun little getaway with the Andersons for this weekend. We were up and ready for the taxi by 8:45. We rode out to the North Bus Station (which was very cool - like an airport) in plenty of time. At 10:30 we got on a huge double decker bus and off we went to San Miguel de Allende. It is a fancy little tourist, artist, crazy town up past Queretaro. It took us 4 hours on the big bus to get there. I loved riding and looking. I don't get to enjoy the scenery when I am driving because I always have to watch the cars around me. They are all so crazy! We got there about 3 pm and got a taxi to our hotel - Monteverde. It was a very old place, I think an old sugar mill they turned into a hotel. It had cool arches, beautiful plants all around, little chairs by the hotel room doors. We dumped out stuff on the bed and headed off to explore the city. We had to walk about 6 blocks to the zocolo where there is a huge cathedral. We found out this cathedral had german influence when it was being built and that is why it looks like Cinderellas castle. It looks out of place in Mexico! The inside was interesting as well.
We planned this trip at a great time because the whole zocolo was full of different groups of people in Indian dress with the fancy headdresses and the whole costume. People all around were beating big drums that made it impossible to think! It was very fun to watch them do their dances and see their costumes. We finally worked our way through the crowd to a little restaurant called Mama Mia where we had dinner. It probably was the best dinner I have had in Mexico at a Mexican restaurant. I had chicken cordon blue with a baked potato. Everyone liked their dinner and we had a good time. We got back out in the crowd for the last of the Indian dances since it was getting dark. We hunted down some churros we were told to buy. They are good here. We walked back to our hotel - looking in all the little shops along the way. We got hot chocolate at the restaurant and sat in the courtyard to eat our churros and hot chocolate. The weather and town are both wonderful! Good times!!!

The bus station in north Mexico City -on our way to San Miguel de Allende

Looks more like an airport

Our fancy double decker bus

Every seat had a TV monitor

Traveling in luxury

View from the bus

Sights of colorful houses along the way!

Coming into San Miguel de Allende

There is Cinderella's Mexican castle!

I don't know what this huge swan represents sitting on that building!!

The iron chicken family!

Our hotel in San Miguel de Allende
the inner courtyard.

Peg loves having her own bed

interesting bathroom

Not much room for toilet and shower.

Always on my computer for messages

I have to duck to get into the bathroom

The grounds are beautiful

Nice weather here so halls are outside.

Halls off of the lobby

Glad we didn't stay here

Quaint colonial architecture

The main catholic church is inspired by German Architecture

They were having traditional indigenous dancers all around the main square - lots of drums

Beautiful costumes

I don't know where they found those feathers

Lots of skin

Wonderful restaurant we found just off the main square.

Fountain at the restaurant

Love those big limonadas

Eating with the Andersons

more dancers - they would go right up to in front of the catholic church and dance to their loud drums

Colorful attire of these cross dressers!

They have many rituals here that I don't understand.
After carrying Jesus on the cross to the church these guys
followed with a board full of food - mostly breads
and decorated with tissue paper flowers.