(click for big version with captions)
Some people think that living and working in another country is a big sacrifice. Well, I'd like to set the record straight, at least from my point of view. While I do miss Wendy's spicy chicken sandwiches, smooth highways, affordable phone calls, safe camping, and Tex-Mex food...not having those things doesn't really consititute sacrificial living. No, the biggest sacrifice is not WHAT we have left behind, but WHO we have left behind: our families and friends. As many of you know, it is hard to live far away from the ones you love. The sacrifice is not getting to watch our nephews and nieces grow up; missing Thanksgiving and Christmas and the Fourth of July and Presidents' Day (okay, maybe that last one was a bit of a stretch).

We have come to love Mexico. There are many many places, foods, traditions and people we've had the privelege of experiencing here. It has enriched our lives tremendously. But like Dorothy says, "There's no place like home."

In less than a week we leave for an important trip. We want you to know what our plans and needs are so you know how to pray for us. If you're one of our friends who prays, click here.










...if you are not into praying, at least you can enjoy the photo :-)

What to do on a rainy day off...it's a dilemma. Since our home is also our office, we feel a strong desire to get out of both on our day off. Usually the mountains and forests bordering the big industrial valley we live in are our destination (as you can see if you go back thru our blog archives). But it had been raining and was in the low 50's and we didn't relish the idea of a cold muddy hike.

Annette had seen that the $6 IMAX theatre in Mexico City was showing Coral Reefs - her favorite. We had also read an in-flight magazine article about a cool little area of Mexico City - yes, they exist - called la Condesa and thought we'd check it out. The IMAX movie was beautifully filmed, well written and was narrated by Liam Neeson - what more could you ask for. La Condesa was fun and relaxing, There's overpriced but tasty coffee sold in hip restaurants everywhere (click for photos) and it was a great place for people watching - orthodox jewish couples walking past neo-hippie artists looking at latin american television stars walking their dogs past skater punks checking out rich girls carrying Louis Vuitton bags full of makeup, knock-off Gucci sunglasses and pirated CD's sold by grandmothers out of their open doorways.

We got caffeinated, filled our tummies with lime-doused papaya, flipped through magazines and then when the sun came out we walked around till Annette got blisters from her sandals. It was a fun day off - and out - in the world's largest city.

Click here for our August '05 newsletter which includes our personal list of Things the Travel Books Don't Tell You about Mexico. And when you done with that, Annette also wrote a trip report about our time in Guatemala.