This and That for August

During the temple closure in August, they installed security measures and that included moving the taller shrubs that lined the sidewalk to the temple.  They put shorter grass and plants and it looks nice but it isn't nearly as colorful as it was..

We were looking for a "before" photo of the shrubs that were removed and these are what we found though they are not an exact match.

This permanent security camera resides on the front lawn where the annual Nativity Set usually sets.

We aren't exactly sure how this big truck ended up where it is but there is a new mall going up not far from the H.E.B.

Paul was discussing the water leak in the street with the two guys who were there to fix it.  

A not-so-simple way to fix a leak.

We aren't sure if we will still be here when our bananas ripen.  

When it rains....it pours!  We began walking to church in the rain but were happy when a taxi came by.

 Out the taxi window but the water is a few inches deep in the street.

At one point we heard that the church was going to buy this lot behind the temple and the stake center.  The idea was that they would build apartments for the temple president plus the missionaries and remodel the stake center.  Looks like someone is going to build on the lot but we have heard that it is not the church. 

Tampico Temple with Distant Storm Clouds

The Cars are Gone

Of course we don't have a photo of all of the abandoned cars that lined the temple sidewalk.  Why would we take photos of those?  We had no idea that we would want to have it but it would have made a great "before" photo.  Now we have the "after" photos--after the abandoned cars had been removed.

First, the officials informed the owners that they had 48 hours to removed the abandoned cars or they would be towed!

 We are totally amazed that the police would clear this street because we see abandoned cars all over the city..

The police might have hauled off the cars from the street but at least one car owner moved his car into a nearby vacant lot to avoid having it towed.

One Day in Mexico City

We decided to start our day by going to the Castle of Chapultepec that "has served many purposes during its history including that of Military Academy, Imperial residence, Presidential home, observatory and presently, the National Museum of History."  (wikipedia)

The Six Heroes Monument

We remembered how much Andy and Heidi's kids loved the squirrels here.

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 We walked the path to the castle

The eagle on a cactus with a snake in its beak is the symbol of Mexico.  

Most Mexicans worship the Virgin Guadelupe

We visited the Historical Museum in the Castle that we hadn't seen before.

Emperor Maximilian's carriage

View from the castle walls.

The beautiful castle gardens.

We went to the Gallery of History and spent a lot of time reading of the history of Mexico as told on panels and looking at the ceramic characters depicting those involved on Mexico's road to Independence.  What we learned at this museum helped solidify the information that we had gained by our travels to the cities of Queretero, Guanajuato, Atotonilco, Dolores Hidalgo, San Miguel de Allende, and Mexico City so we thought it was worth the time we spent there.  

From there we went to the Archeological Museum and were happy to see that the Papantla Voladores were ready to fly again.  

We arrived at the museum rather late in the day but weren't in a hurry to leave since our entrance was free and the clouds burst open outside.

 We walked to the metro station under our umbrella and headed back to our hotel and our gadgets

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