Mountains and Caves in Central Mexico

It's not all condos and tacos!  Thank goodness for that!

It seems we really should have spent a few days in Mexico City before coming to Acapulco.  There's not that much to do here apart from play by the beach and eat tacos.  The things we were more interested in seeing are a 4 hour drive away close to Mexico City.  So rather than do 2 one day tours, a local guide has cobbled the 2 together with an overnight stay.  Have to say we felt a little uncomfortable with the arrangements because it was all done "under the counter" so to speak through our little man at the desk: Ellied (pronounced Elliott).  He gets commission of course from this "off site" operator, and it seems this is the way the economy works here!  We had to meet the guide in the local Farmacia car park with cash up front!  Mm mm .. Wouldn't have surprised us if we never saw them again.  But no, everything was ok.

We were picked up at 6.30am in a latish model Toyota Camry by 2 very charming friendly drivers/guides (they took in turns driving).  Their command of English was basic - which was a darn sight better than our Spanish!  And off we set on our 4 hour drive towards Mexico City on a fairly new expressway - a tolled road, considered to be one of the most expensive in the world!  

Wow!  The scenery is amazing!  Alex and David obviously do the drive many times as they were oblivious to the scenery and jabbered away heatedly the whole way: what is it about these Mexicans - everything has to be accompanied by very loud dance music so they need to almost shout to each other!  Music, music everywhere!  Especially outside our bedroom until past midnight every night!  Thank goodness I remembered to pack my ear plugs!

Anyway, back to the scenery: all mountains and clouds with very little in the way of towns.

The final 50 km or so was off the highway threading our way through small farming communities where the land was lush and the hedgerows high - we could almost have been in the English countryside, though the sugar cane and maize told you otherwise!  We were headed for the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa. The Caves of Cacahuamilpa.  

Having been to many caves across the world, we we're expecting to be overly impressed - but we were.  Not overly commercialized with gaudy lights as many can be, instead their sheer size spoke for themselves.  Truly cavernous, in places 250 meters high and 800 meters diameter.  The walk through took 2 hours, extending 2 km.  Truly amazing.

During the 2 hours in the cool clamminess of the caves the temperature outside had soared and we couldn't resist splashing ourselves in the cool waterfalls.

 By now it was 2.30pm and we were starving - but we had another one hour drive ahead before lunch.  And what a treat was ahead - the city of Taxco.  Built from the riches of their silver mines, that still operate, but is now a major heritage tourist attraction.  One of those cities who's architecture and decor is prescribed.  No gaudy Mac signage here!  

(Nowhere near enough time to explore all the silver artisan outlets - Alan was happy about that)

Little white houses blanket the steep hillsides, the cobbled laneways narrow and treacherous for cars and pedestrians alike.  There's nowhere to park, and after we were dropped at our hotel the car had to be parked a 15 minute walk away at the bottom of the hill!

Our late lunchtime meant we had prime seating to ourselves on this balcony.

This was named a "magic city" in 1967 (the year we were married) - the highest accolade for a pristine heritage tourist location.

The camera has worked overtime here and was running red hot during dinner later in the evening as afternoon turned into night on this rooftop restaurant next to the town square and cathedral.

Thank goodness we were staying here overnight - it's too beautiful for anything less.