In March of this year, I brought two students to
Cuernavaca to take supplies and buy necessities for the orphans at Casa Hogar Amor para Compartir. During our visit, we stayed at the Vitali Suites of Kukulcan. I often go to Cuernavaca--sometimes twice a year when I’m lucky. About half the time, I go alone. This trip was special, though.
On our first night, we walked to a local Super (grocery store chain) and bought a few snacks and drinks for the refrigerators in our rooms. The orphanage’s policy is to not allow outside visitors during the weekend, and as we arrived on Friday evening, we had the weekend to take various excursions.
On Saturday, we went to Tepoztlan, a small town not too far away. It was market day, and the town was crowded with shoppers and venders. While we were there, we visited the convent, climbed the mountain to the pyramid, Tepozteco, and naturally, shopped in the market. We thought of going to Taxco to buy all the silver we could, but a friend I knew from Kukulcan offered to take us to Mexico City to see Frida Kahlo’s house and then outside the city to Teotihuacán, the location of the pyramid of the Sun and Moon.
When Monday came, we were exhausted tourists, but ready to do the job we came to do. Through the generosity of Kukulcan’s director, we had a van and driver to take us to Cuernavaca’s mercado, a warehouse store similar to a Sam’s Club, and a discount chain called, “Waldo’s.” The van’s driver was indispensable while negotiating with the vendors in the mercado. We finally delivered everything Monday evening and had an interview with the orphanage’s director. Later that night, we toured the zocalo, took some very beautiful pictures, and (as we did most every night) ate at an outdoor restaurant.
Tuesday morning, we took it easy and just visited a small mercado next to the Palacio de Cortez. Then, that afternoon, we returned to the orphanage one last time to play games with the children. That evening, we packed and prepared for our return home. I should emphasize that the director, staff, and facilities of Kukulcan made our trip easier, if not possible. Kukulcan became our headquarters. While we enjoyed complete autonomy, the staff members always had an answer or suggestion. Of course, Cuernavaca has the same beauty as any major cosmopolitan city. It draws me back every year.
On our first night, we walked to a local Super (grocery store chain) and bought a few snacks and drinks for the refrigerators in our rooms. The orphanage’s policy is to not allow outside visitors during the weekend, and as we arrived on Friday evening, we had the weekend to take various excursions.
On Saturday, we went to Tepoztlan, a small town not too far away. It was market day, and the town was crowded with shoppers and venders. While we were there, we visited the convent, climbed the mountain to the pyramid, Tepozteco, and naturally, shopped in the market. We thought of going to Taxco to buy all the silver we could, but a friend I knew from Kukulcan offered to take us to Mexico City to see Frida Kahlo’s house and then outside the city to Teotihuacán, the location of the pyramid of the Sun and Moon.
When Monday came, we were exhausted tourists, but ready to do the job we came to do. Through the generosity of Kukulcan’s director, we had a van and driver to take us to Cuernavaca’s mercado, a warehouse store similar to a Sam’s Club, and a discount chain called, “Waldo’s.” The van’s driver was indispensable while negotiating with the vendors in the mercado. We finally delivered everything Monday evening and had an interview with the orphanage’s director. Later that night, we toured the zocalo, took some very beautiful pictures, and (as we did most every night) ate at an outdoor restaurant.
Tuesday morning, we took it easy and just visited a small mercado next to the Palacio de Cortez. Then, that afternoon, we returned to the orphanage one last time to play games with the children. That evening, we packed and prepared for our return home. I should emphasize that the director, staff, and facilities of Kukulcan made our trip easier, if not possible. Kukulcan became our headquarters. While we enjoyed complete autonomy, the staff members always had an answer or suggestion. Of course, Cuernavaca has the same beauty as any major cosmopolitan city. It draws me back every year.
