The kids had a 4-day weekend so we decided to take a little adventure. Jalen had read a book about a boy in Ecuador so we thought about going there, but it was just too far. Since he's also studying ancient cultures, we decided on Mexico City and the pyramids of Teotihuacan. The plan was to take a quick, inexpensive trip. Those plans changed!
We decided to fly out of Charlotte on Friday morning since the flights looked good. We had to get up at 3:30 a.m. in order to catch an early flight. We had originally planned on flying through Houston, but changed to fly through Chicago due to flight loads.
Things changed quickly because of the holiday weekend and flights started to look bad. We got bumped to Mexico and decided to try to fly out of Newark because things looked better from there. We were able to get to Newark without a problem.
Not sure if this is ORD or EWR.
Pretty sure this one is EWR, which was also freezing.
We got bumped all. day. long. We even tried to go to Utah and got bumped from there too. This is what $40 will buy you at the EWR airport. Yikes!
It was soooo cold, but NYC is always fun to visit. We rode the train to Penn Station and then walked to Times Square.
We went into a souvenir shop to buy gloves for the kids and a sweatshirt for me.
We walked and walked and walked until we couldn't walk anymore. The kids were exhausted and my legs were cramping in the shins, calves and the arches of my feet. It was incredibly painful and I was afriad my legs were going to quit working altogether.
M&M Statue of Liberty
The kids were exhausted, but I drug them to Grand Central Station. I hadn't been there since I was a nanny decades earlier and I wanted to see the ceilings. When I was a nannyIt was very impressive and is so iconic.
The next morning - Sunday, we were up bright and early again. I told the kids we could just go home, but they wanted to try one more time.
We were exhausted, but decided to go for it.
And we got seats!!
We were finally in Mexico City! The kids got carried away with selfies while I was in the bathroom.
My sweet friend from my Continental days, Paty Ring, picked us up at the airport and drove us to Teotihuacan. The kids were sacked out in the car.
I was amazed to see the new overhead gondolas that are used to transport people from the crowded settlements down to the valley for work. The houses are so packed in on the hillsides that it's almost impossible for regular transportation.
And we were finally at the pyramids!!
I was so excited to share this amazing place with my kids. They were overwhelmed.
Original red walls.
Aqueduct system.
Pyramid of the Sun
They weren't letting anyone climb up, which was actually a good thing because we didn't have time and we were so tired.
Pyramid of the Moon in the background
Avenue of the Dead
Jaguar painting
I love to think of what it would have been like when it was populated with thousands of people.
We climbed through the tunnels under the structures that are used for water.
We were going to eat at Las Grutas, a really cool restaurant in a cave, but we couldn't find it. We went to a different restaurant that was in the area where I used to stay when I traveled on business. There was an Andrea Bocelli concert so there was a lot of traffic.
Paty is such a gem.
The Jennings twins told the kids they needed to try Mexican Coke. It's a little better.
I had the best mole I have ever had in my life. It was AMAZING!!
The kids had tacos.
David bought himself a hat at the pyramids. He was quite proud of it.
Paty took us to the home of Gabriella Cappi's family. Gabby's dad was my mission president and she lived with my family for a short time when she went to BYU's English learning program. Her husband, Eduardo F. Ortega, is an area authority for the church. They live in a very exclusive area called Interlomas. It's like a city within the city. We felt very comfortable in their home and she made some traditional food that the kids loved.
Baylie got a bag.
We bought dad a jaguar whistle.
Their first time in Mexico!
I really wanted the kids to experience the echo of the quetzal. We finally found the right spot!
Awesome cactus!
Cool baskets on the wall.
Eduardo, Igancio , Gaby, Jalen, Baylie, me, and Lucia. They're other son, JoaquÃn is on a mission.
Me and Gaby in 1992
Me and Gaby in 2023 - 33 years later! I think we're aging well!
Her home is high in a skyscraper with floor to ceiling windows. Truly breathtaking. Every room has huge windows like this.
We were able to make the first flight, make our connection and flew into Greenville. We could have flown into Columbia, but this way we got home several hours earlier. The return flight was definitely smoother than the outbound one.
View from Lucia's bedroom where Baylie and I slept.
Living room view during the day.
The next morning Eduardo and Gaby drove us back to the airport. We were so grateful for yet another airport ride! So kind! While we waited, I was able to introduce my children to the heaven that are Glorias.
Jalen had a good snooze on the way home from the airport. We were all pretty worn out!
We got some amazing souvenirs. I got an Aztec warrior
and a sombrero. I had always wanted a sombrero for my classroom, but I was excited to get one now.
It's pretty cool!
It was a crazy, exhausting, and much more expensive than planned trip, but we had a wonderful time! And I was so grateful to see dear friends and introduce my children to Mexico - a country I love so much.
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