We arrive at Cuernavaca in the early morning after a sleepy two hour bus ride from
Mexico City. Our “families” await us at Cuahunauac school. Estefanía, one of the
teachers , quickly sorts out the students and hands them off to the
families they will be staying with. After introductory hugs all around, we head
to our new homes in Colonia Quintana Roo directly across from the school where
the streets have names like Cancun, Cozumel and Xel-ha
We catch up on our sleep and by 1 o’clock in the afternoon, we reconvene at
the school. Everyone looks rested and ready for our Mexican adventure to begin,
to enter this world of warm sun, gentle breezes, and flowers of all shapes and
colors. After a brief orientation by David Cano Jr the director of the school, we
board the bus for our first excursion, the nearby town of Tepoztlan.
Tepoztlan is a historic town with all the classic elements of the towns founded by
the Spanish in the new world : a cobblestone main street lined with colorful shops
selling handmade crafts, and practical things. It has an impressive stone church,
with a shady front yard across the street from the town market where piles of
chiles, mountains of fruit compete for space with cooking utensils, and
tables piled high with music cds from all over the Spanish speaking world.
We break into two groups – a smaller one who wants to explore the town
and a larger one that wants to climb El Tepozteco, a big hill at the end of the main
street that offers a 45 minute hike (for people in good shape) to the top where
there is a multilayer pyramid to the Aztec god of pulque, Tepoztecatl.
It’s a challenging climb for my 56 year old legs but the hike is worth it. We leave the
bustling world of Tepoztlan and enter a beautiful natural world of tall trees and
song birds and lots of people of all shapes and sizes, many of whom (including
myself) huffing and puffing their way up to the top. El Tepozteco does not
disappoint. The pyramid is perfectly symmetrical and has weathered the centuries
intact. The view of the Tepoztlan valley is breath taking.
We walk back with wobbly legs but satisfied having conquered the mountain.
It’s almost dark by the time we get back to our bus. We’re tired, but happy with how
our first day in Mexico has gone.
Mexico City. Our “families” await us at Cuahunauac school. Estefanía, one of the
teachers , quickly sorts out the students and hands them off to the
families they will be staying with. After introductory hugs all around, we head
to our new homes in Colonia Quintana Roo directly across from the school where
the streets have names like Cancun, Cozumel and Xel-ha
We catch up on our sleep and by 1 o’clock in the afternoon, we reconvene at
the school. Everyone looks rested and ready for our Mexican adventure to begin,
to enter this world of warm sun, gentle breezes, and flowers of all shapes and
colors. After a brief orientation by David Cano Jr the director of the school, we
board the bus for our first excursion, the nearby town of Tepoztlan.
Tepoztlan is a historic town with all the classic elements of the towns founded by
the Spanish in the new world : a cobblestone main street lined with colorful shops
selling handmade crafts, and practical things. It has an impressive stone church,
with a shady front yard across the street from the town market where piles of
chiles, mountains of fruit compete for space with cooking utensils, and
tables piled high with music cds from all over the Spanish speaking world.
We break into two groups – a smaller one who wants to explore the town
and a larger one that wants to climb El Tepozteco, a big hill at the end of the main
street that offers a 45 minute hike (for people in good shape) to the top where
there is a multilayer pyramid to the Aztec god of pulque, Tepoztecatl.
It’s a challenging climb for my 56 year old legs but the hike is worth it. We leave the
bustling world of Tepoztlan and enter a beautiful natural world of tall trees and
song birds and lots of people of all shapes and sizes, many of whom (including
myself) huffing and puffing their way up to the top. El Tepozteco does not
disappoint. The pyramid is perfectly symmetrical and has weathered the centuries
intact. The view of the Tepoztlan valley is breath taking.
We walk back with wobbly legs but satisfied having conquered the mountain.
It’s almost dark by the time we get back to our bus. We’re tired, but happy with how
our first day in Mexico has gone.
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