Why is Toluca so important?

Yesterday, I traveled 1 hour north of Mexico City to the city of Toluca, which is the capital of the State of Mexico and the seat of the state government.  Toluca is a hot spot at the moment as prospective 2012 presidential candidates prepare to announce their campaigns.  One such candidate is the darling of the PRI (the oldest political party in Mexico) and governor of the State of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto.

I accompanyed Rotarian Maricarmen to a luncheon and health workshop in a small pueblo (town) in Toluca, home to may Otomi indigenous people.  I learned some key Otomi phrases:

Tonda Pa (Buenas Tardes / Good day)

Tzengua (Hasta Luego / Goodbye)

Mago (Ya me voy / I'm leaving)

The lunch was officially Mexican: we ate chicken with mole (delicious) with rice and beans...and it would not have been complete without an after-lunch drink of tequila!  (I had mine with Squirt, a grapefruit flavored soda..commonly served on ice with lime and salt...known as a Paloma).

On our way back, we drove through downtown Toluca and then stopped in La Marquesa, a fun area of rows and rows of little restaurants serving local delicacies of ant eggs and trout..all along the highway. I am told that this is a very popular stop on the weekends. It is very colorful with bright pink and yellow tablecloths and signs in bold green and blue and purple.

Local delegation members and Rotarians

A Paloma makes the event truly Mexicana!

town center of little pueblo

Myself with Rotarian Maricarmen in downtown Toluca

Restaurant in La Marquesa

La Marquesa

Celebrating Intl Women's Day in March

On March 30th, I joined 50 others to celebrate International Women's Day (March 8th) and honor six amazing Mexican women.  The very elegant breakfast event, held outside on the second floor terrace of the Club France, was hosted by the Jardines de Pedregal Rotary Club (the one women-only rotary club in Mexico, all other clubs are integrated but mainly consist of male members who occasionally bring their wives along.)

The event honored six extraordinary women Silvia Pinal, actress, Yoloxochitl Bustamante, director of the National Polytechnic Institute, Marta Chapa, Gloria Guevara Manzo, Tourism Secretary, Gaby Vargas, Entrepreneur, and Beatriz Pages Rebollar, journalist and director of the magazine, Siempre, and Isabel Miranda de Wallace.

Yoloxochitl Bustamante, director of the National Polytechnic Institute accepting her award

Award Honorees with Rotarians Maricarmen and Silvia

Myself with Honoree Beatriz Pages, and fellow Ambassadorial Scholar Rebecca Watts (NC)

Shakira Concert!

Here are some pics from the Shakira concert April 3rd. sorry we sat so far back, we have none of Shakira herself.  But wow can she belly dance! must be those middle eastern roots!

Reading campaign "Leer" (to read)

Art installation outside of concert venue

Jeremy winning the male Shakira dancing contest!

Enjoying the city with friends

Enjoying Mexico City...

Dinner at Centenario 107 in Coyoacan with neighbors, Rochelle and Emily

Dinner at our apt in celebration of Arturo and Mariana's recent wedding

With Jeremy in the central garden of Coyoacan

Coyoacan

Rotaract of Mexico City Meeting

Out with friends at Juan Soldado in San Angel

Friends Edgar, Catrina and Emily

With Catrina

Super Bowl Sunday at Vero's place

Super Bowl Sunday with amigas and classmates Veronica and Sandra

Finally - a little R&R...to a tropical oasis 1 hr outside of DF

Jeremy and I spent Saturday and Sunday is the breathtaking La Buena Vibra Spa and Retreat Center...and boy did I need it! After a stressful quarter of classes and being sick for a while...I needed to re-energize and relax.

The pictures speak for themselves - we were surrounded by mountains, trees, gardens, fountains, statues...the works. We laid out by the pool, rested in the grass, went in the steam room and the gym, and - best of all- participated in a Temezcal - a pre-hispanic spiritual ritual cleansing. It is like being in a medicinal, pitch black sauna but with a focus on blessings, wishes, forgiveness and the chakras (7 energy centers of the body). Afterward, you feel amazing and revitalized! Highly recommend it!

So...who wants to come visit?

Mountain view from our room

Spa Center

Temezcal

Pics of our beloved Gata Mexicana, Mafalda

Here are some pics of our beloved Mafalda! ( in order from when we first got her in November to now)

Celebrating Spring with good friends Arturo and Patrick

Sunday, March 20th, we enjoyed the first day of Spring with our dear friends, Arturo and Patrick (whom we met in DC many many years ago...we are all alumni of the UT Archer Fellowship Program) at the Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico. The hotel boasts an amazing view of the Zoloco, the central plaza of the city, which includes the Cathedral and National Palace.