South Cuerna, march, Jardin Borda

For the second time, Reed and I were unlucky with our plans to find a museum.  The first one was closed early (Muros Museum), the second (Museum of Traditional Medicine/Botanical Gardens next door) wasn't where our map said it was suppose to be. However, we had a great walking tour of the south part of town which seems to be one of the wealthier sections of Cuernavaca. There were beautiful haciendas hidden behind very ornate gates and huge walls (pic).  We had another wonderful meal at a restaurant we just "happened by".  So far, all of the food we have eaten (a meal a day) has been reasonable and very tasty--even the fateful bowl of soup!  :o)

The next day, we went to the Fotografia Museum which was a Castillito (little castle-2 stories/4 rooms--pic) that had photos of the history of Cuernavaca.  It was amazing to see the rolling hills without houses on them.  Cuernavaca has grown immensely in just the past 10 years!  

While we were at the museum, a march by striking teachers went by.  Of course, this being near and dear to my heart, I rushed outside to take video and pictures.  The primaria and secondaria (elementary and middle school) teachers are on strike.  They were having 3 different marches that day in Cuernavaca and the amount of people that went by in just this area was impressive. Obviously they had parents and others in the community marching in support beside them because the march was huge!  They have been congregating in the center of the city since Monday so there has been no traffic allowed on the three major streets going into that area.  This has been an inconvenience for some--major delays in traffic--but most people just "go with the flow".  Reed says that protests and strikes are very common in Latin America.

Later, we walked to the Jardin Borda (est. 1783--pic) which are beautiful gardens designed similar to Versailles.  During their brief reign (1864-1867), the Emperor Maximilian and his wife Carlota used it for garden parties.  The next picture is of the ornamental lake that was made to water the botanic gardens.  You can rent a boat and tour the lake but unfortunately, it started raining right before we arrived at that part of the gardens!

Next:  Taxco--The former colonial silver-mining center in the northern part of the Mexican state of Guerrero. 

Cortez Plaza

Tidbits: 

*No one wears shorts here and from what I understand, most of Mexico. Long shorts (at or over the knee), Capris, dresses, skirts or pants (no sweats) are worn.

*Honking horns is VERY common here.  A driver can't even be nice to someone by letting them cross the street, a horn WILL sound! :o)