Mexico 2006 - My Cultural Immersion Experiment

I had been to Mexico twice before, once many years90 km south of Mexico City, on the main highway to
ago in Manzanillo, and more recently in 2003 in PuertoAcapulco. Cuernavaca is also one of the world's
Vallarta. Essentially both of these vacations werelargest centres for Spanish language learning - an
typical tourist experiences and ever since I got theattractive proposition. Something struck a chord and I
taste for real discovery, starting with my Cuba tripdecided to make Cuernavaca the main destination of
last year, I have wanted to discover new places bymy 18-day stay.La Catedral Metropolitana, Mexico
immersing myself, getting to know the locals, evenCityMy friend and co-worker Vanessa is originally
studying the language to really get a good feel forfrom Mexico City and she was planning to spend a
the country and its people. Early this year I read anweek with her family anyway, so the two of us
article in the Toronto Star's Travel Section aboutarranged that I would join her and her family for
Cuernavaca - "The City of Eternal Spring", a city justthree days to explore the Mexican capital.