3 shot morning and a few days around Cuernavaca...

After the amazing day with the Cuernavaca Policia.... we woke up determined to find a nice restaurant to have a decent meal, and enjoy some of Cuernavaca for a few days until we had to leave for Mexico City to catch our plane home to the states....
What we found was a sign that read:
'TEQUILA RESTAURANT...

We followed the signs directions, and found an amazing gated community of absolutely beautiful homes with very unique attributes like stone walls, little towers and alcoves sticking out..etc. It must have been a planned community for the affluent of the city, or simply people that sought the security of a gated community. I certainly would have preferred this neighborhood, due to the security and cleanliness it had.
We parked, and walked up some wide stone stairs to this beautiful restaurant. It had a magnificent view of the entire valley around Cuernavaca..and if you look hard in the background of one of the pictures, you can see the small outcropping of mountains that surround TEPOTZLAN ....
So, it was a 3 shot Tequila day. I am not even sure that those 3 shots got drunk, as the food was so good, but, I suppose after the day we had yesterday, Julie and Chuy felt something was needed to pull us all out of the dull drums that had befell us. We stayed around Cuernavaca for a few days sightseeing, going to the Robert Brady Museum (it even had Frieda Kohlo originals)and hanging out around the courtyard near Cortes Palace. We stumbled upon Aztec Dancing and drumming, some sort of street dancing.... talking to local people.... and just enjoying the atmosphere. It was a nice time...... and we enjoyed ourselves.


Outside TEQUILA RESTAURANT

Excellent Service.....

Excellent views....(in the far background are the little craggy mountains that surround TEPOTZLAN.)

Worried about who is going to drink those 3 shots? hmmm.......

Some of the houses in the gated community leading up to this restaurant.

Part of the restaurant.

This is the street view of the Robert Brady Museum. You would never guess what lays just beyond those doors.... Once you walk thru one of the doors, you enter another whole world... usually there is a courtyard.. and high ceilings, and rooms and halls, and its just unbelievable! The following pictures of the museum give you a good idea whats past the front door.....

How would you like this for the entrance to your front door?

Robert Brady Museum. He collected Art from all over the world, and lived in an old Franciscan Nunnery...

Orange and HOT PINK decor for your bedroom?........

...Frieda original...

Kitchen.

HEY MOM...CLAVOS~!!!~

Don't you just love this door!

Robert Brady Museum, inside the courtyard area.

Robert Brady Museum

Love this door also....

The walls inside the museum...














This is what a $12.00 (USD) hotel bedroom looks like. Its pretty sparse, but then, we weren't there to be wasting any time in a hotel room.... We only needed a bed and bathroom to get rested and cleaned up. You cant beat the price, and it makes the trip affordable, and your able to prolong your stay in such a wonderful city like Cuernavaca.

Mariachi pants.....

Street dancing?

Talking with Locals.....

Aztecan Dancing and drumming

Courtyard plaza near Cortes Palace.

... Cuernavaca and Mexican Policia...

DECEMBER 28th 2008
We drove the many hours from Acapulco, to Cuernavaca. Pretty road weary, but we still had to go to the Police station in Cuernavaca to finish paperwork concerning the fender bender we had......
Well, we drove to the Police Station thinking it would be a simple matter. Clear cut. Just call the delagado (lawyer) that had given us his phone number at the time of the accident, file a police report, and be on our way.

Well, we showed up.... called the delagado...and thats about as far as we got for HOURS....
First of all, the delagado didnt answer the phone..... then, as we patiently tried to proceed on our own with the police, we had to WAIT in line. So, we discovered the local coffee machine and had a seat...... and we sat. For a long time.
We were exceptionally patient. We were exceptionally polite. And, we humbly waited and waited and waited.
Finally, when it was our turn to speak to the man behind the desk, he told us we were in the wrong place......... sigh............ so we went a walking to another department, and went thru the same thing. Waited...and waited and waited, only to be told that we were again in the wrong place. We patiently returned back to the first place, and spoke again to the man behind the desk, who seemed to be trying his best to ignore us.
Of course, NO ONE speaks english, and Chuy had to do all the interpreting........... and when we finally got another chance to speak to the man behind the desk, he reiterated we needed the delagado...........
Ummm. I can only say that it was getting on our nerves by now. About 3 hours had passed, and we were no further along in the process than when we first got there~
We told the man that our delagado wasnt answering the phone..... and then he said that was because he had to call the delagado......... ON and ON it went like that. Crazy ............ and I will admit that I did question their intelligence a few times. I tried my very best to be culturally correct and all, but under my breath, I said a few words.
And, to be perfectly honest with you, I still question their intelligence.
The only good thing about that entire day, and 6 hours later...........was the reliable little coffee maker that kept pumping out .50cent cups of coffee for us!
Eventually it all worked out. And, I wont go into all the boring details, because quite frankly, I dont think I could stomach remembering it all............... it was a trial of all of our patience, integrity, and politeness that all three of us could muster.
My husband is a Mexican, and I really didnt want to offend him with what I thought of Mexicans at that moment....at least Mexican Police that is.
It all finally boiled down to Julieanna having to write out a statement that could be sent to the insurance agency. However, the clincher was, they wanted it in Spanish. Well, we all know Julieanna is not proficient in writing Spanish. We offered for Chuy to interpret for Julie, and thus the statement could be done! WELL, we were told over and over that if we did that, it wouldnt be legal. ............. So, we waited and waited and waited for the delagado to come to the station...after the Police finally called them from the main office............. and after the delagado finally came.... he said to the police, to just let Chuy interpret.
Umm... I think we mentioned that about 4 hours earlier.......
And, eventually that is what happened. Chuy interpreted the statement, Julie signed it as accurate and true........... they stamped it..............and 6 or so hours later, about sunset time, we got to leave.
We were GRUMPY and HUNGRY and TIRED! And, thus at dinner that night, at a very NICE place overlooking Cortes's Palace, we just couldnt get into the mood of all. I think it was one of the least favorite evenings of the entire trip....and the photos say it all.............................
Bottom line...just dont get into a fender bender in Mexico, whatever you do!

....6 hours later....

....TIRED AND HUNGRY....

....tired and hungry.....

....tired and hungry....

....tired and hungry....

Tired... hungry.....

~Trying to enjoy the evening...it was taking all I had!~

Cortes Palace

~ Goodbyes arent forever, so lets just say, until we meet again.

~ December 27th 2008 ~ The time had come to leave Acapulco, and that meant saying Goodbye. Chuy say's, "Never say Goodbye... Only, till we meet again." Well, however you choose to say your goodbyes, for me they are never easy.

We had enjoyed many wonderful days around Pie de la Cuesta, Acapulco, and beyond, and we needed to be back on the road headed to Cuernavaca to settle some of the unfinished business with the Policia concerning the fender bender we had earlier in the month.
As Julie and I and Chuy packed up the suitcases, and did the 'once over look around...... we approached the familia that had gathered, and gave the hugs, and kisses..... and the thousand thank you's for all the hospitality, and the questions of did we forget anything? Etc Etc.....

I realized it had been more than 6 years since Chuy had been back home, and I couldn't help but wonder, if it would be another 6 before he got to return again?
I looked up at the somber faces in the kitchen that morning, and realized that all the family was probably wondering the exact same thing........ I wondered if Carmen would make the long bus ride to the Church at Petatlan to pray for our safe journey 'North....? I wondered how many more nieces and nephews births and graduations and marriages we would miss out on? I thought about the sacrifice so many of the Mexican families have to endure, just to see one of their family find a better life in EL NORTE.... and I wondered if it was really worth it?

Julie had already taken her suitcase to the car and was waiting for us there.... Chuy had said his 'till we meet again's earlier, so it was my turn to offer the farewell hugs and kisses. I did pretty good, until I looked into the sad little face of Chuys niece Karlita. I offered a lame explanation that we had to leave today.... and her meek little reply was only...."Why?"..... and as I grabbed Carmen, kissed the top of her head, and hugged her admidst the thankyou's and "Gracious Carmen.." "Muchco Gracious..." and as I saw her bowed head, trying desperately to conceal her controlled tears and sobs...... I felt an overwhelming sadness at leaving. With tears filling my eyes, I gave one last peck on the cheek to little Karlita and forced myself to turn away, and walk down the sidewalk to the car.

I got in and put the seatbelt on as Julie started the car..... and without looking back, we drove away.
It was silent for a while. There is something about those few moments after saying a hard goodbye, that leaves one not feeling much like talking.

But, I just want to say........'Thank You to all of the wonderful people we met. the family that showed us so much love and let us experience their Christmas season with them... the open arms of hospitality that gave and gave and gave without a second thought.......
We had a wonderful time, and Thank you/Gracious just doesn't seem enough.
Chuy wont let me say Goodbye...so, until we meet again..... May God go with you.

All our Love,
Valerie, Jesus, and Julieanna

GRACIOUS CARMEN!!!

We will even remember our almost friends... the Policia of Acapulco!

To the Group at HARD ROCK CAFE that we so friendly...

...and to the stranger we met riding on the bus in Acapulco....

Little Carlos Raul...... you are so precious.

And, the Special Dreamer ...the Museum man!