Day 71 - Toluca - Taxco - Xochicalco

We left early this morning in the direction of Mexico City and camped at a trailer park near Toluca. I was exhausted after this 11-hour drive. Around midday, we got caught in a torrential storm. Our cars plowed their way through the flooded road. At other times, the road would wind through mountainous terrain, and we often found ourselves stuck behind a fuming Diesel truck.

Time to relax now, at least for me and Wally. Ursula was busy preparing a delicious beef goulash dinner. Of course, there will be coffee and cake with a shot of Tequila before bedtime!

July 12th
This morning we headed toward Acapulco for a detour to the silver town Taxco. Besides many shops selling silver crafts, we found Taxco charming with its narrow, hilly streets and colonial-style buildings. Ursula and Barbara negotiated for neckless and rings.

On the recommendation of a local, we took another detour to visit an Aztec temple 17 miles away. It was the only one in Mexico partially carved from a massive rock. It was unique. Next, we took a look at the sacrificial temple of Xochicalco. It was adorned with serpentine ornaments and had an adjacent Ulama playfield. The Toltec and Mayan cultures played Ulama. Two teams played each other, moving a ball (only with their hips). The goal was to pass it through a hole in protruding stone built into the side wall. It was an honor to win the game and then be sacrificed to the gods. How cruel!

Later that afternoon, we drove to Mexico City. Man! What a jumble of roads and traffic jams. But the slow driving provided an opportunity to gaze at the map and figure out where we were going. After some searching, we found the Swiss Club. Nobody seemed home until the manager, Herr Obermüller, opened the gates for us. He allowed us to park the campers inside the gate and use the bathrooms and showers. The tall walls around the property made us feel safe. Ursula spoiled us again with delicious Rösti potatoes, sausage, and mixed salad.Read more