The Salto de San Anton is a large ravine with a small waterfall located within the city limits of Cuernavaca. The waterfall is 36 meters high, with its water coming from a small tributary of the Zempoala River. The vertical walls of the ravine are of basalt and broad-leafed vegetation grows in the nooks and crannies. A series of stairs and platforms have been built to access the waterfall area from the park above.

Tequesquitengo combines its accessibility and proximity with its gifted climate and exuberant nature. The lukewarm water of the lake offers good conditions for aquatic sports.

The Ex-Hacienda de Cortés

Established in the 16th century, the Hacienda of San Antonio Atlacomulco, now called the Ex-Hacienda de Cortés, was one of the most important sugar mills of the colonial era. The structure was neglected during the Mexican Revolution and changed hands through many different owners over the subsequent years. The property was acquired by Dr. Mario Gonzalez Ulloa in 1973, who then began the long process of restoration. The Hacienda was converted into a Hotel in 1981.

La Pirámide de Teopanzolco

Teopanzolco is a Nahuatl word meaning in the old or abandoned temple. The ruins stand today in the city of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. The old city is mostly covered by the new, with the very center fenced off and protected.

It is believed by many that this was once the centre of the main city of the Tlahuica people (note – this was a name given to them by their neighbours). Later, the main plaza would be moved to the centre of what is now Cuernavaca, where it was when the Spanish arrived. It’s a mystery why the original location was abandoned, but today is does give us an insight into an earlier period which we may not have understood. It also gives us a glimpse into lies and intrigue that would later come to light with a shocking discovery.

Las Estacas Cuernavaca

The aquatic park Las Estacas came out of your dreams and became reality in the tiny Mexican state of Morelos. The park is sunny, breezy, lush, fun, and relaxing, all rolled into one. The focal point of this park is a sparkling, clear, cool, artesian fed river which borders on much of the bathing and sunning areas. There is a slow, steady current that makes floating delightful and swimming upstream exercise.

Grutas de Cacahuamilpa Caves

Cacahuamilpa caves are considered one of the most amazing caves in the World, cover 1,600 hectares and 1,380 metres long holding inside endless strange figures such as faces, facial expressions, animals, places, etc. which are cause of admiration and wonder among the visitants, particularly of those scientists who are dedicated to the Speleology. The caves are distributed in 80 both artificially and naturally full illuminated rooms, at least; also, their heights ranged between 30 metres to 70 metres.

The Palace of Cortés (Spanish: Palacio de Cortés) in Cuernavaca, Mexico, is the oldest conserved colonial era civil structure on the continental Americas, being over 450 years old. The building began as a fortified residence for Hernán Cortés and his second wife Juana Zúñiga. It was built in 1526, over a Tlahuica/Aztec tribute collection center, which was destroyed by the Spanish during the Conquest and replaced by a personal residence of Cortés in order to assert authority over the newly conquered peoples.

The Cathedral of Cuernavaca

Not everyone knows that Cuernavaca Cathedral, set on a hill overlooking the city, was an important and historic Franciscan monastery. The formidable church is noted for its arcaded 16th century “open” chapel, from which the friars preached to their Indian acolytes. From here too, numerous Franciscans were trained and set out on their arduous journey to evangelize the orient and found new missions in the Philippines and Asia, a journey from which many never returned. The most famous of these intrepid friars was Philip of Jesus, the first Mexican martyr and saint. Crucified with 26 other religious by the Japanese Emperor Hideyoshi in 1596, Philip is memorialized in Cuernavaca Cathedral by a spectacular cycle of nave murals, only uncovered during renovation of the cathedral some years ago.
Elegantly drawn and richly colored in a Japanese-inspired style, possibly by an artist from the orient, these gigantic early 17th century frescoes recount in detail the story of St. Philip’s capture and his harrowing journey to the place of execution.

The Borda Garden is one of the most famous monuments in Cuernavaca, it was the residence of rich families since the colonial times, it was chosen by its location beside the Cathedral of Cuernavaca and by its main road (now Morelos Avenue); this road comes from Acapulco, crosses Cuernavaca, Mexico City.

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Robert Brady House - Museum : Cultural Center
In the shadow of the Cathedral of Cuernavaca the Casa de la Torre houses a unique collection of fine and decorative arts from all over the world. The visitor will enjoy a house-museum created in a portion of a massive adobe and stone XVI century Franciscan Monastery

Enjoy our in-depth, English guided exploration of the dramatically scenic and culturally rich highlands of central Guatemala and the tropical rainforest of Tikal. Lush forests, farmlands of rich volcanic soil, crater lakes and volcanic peaks accent a land of ancient and contemporary Mayan life. Explore beyond the main village streets to witness ancient native rituals and cultural traditions. Visit ancient Maya and Spanish colonial cities, including Antigua and the Maya site of Tikal. You will be based in Antigua, Latin America’s premier colonial city, designated as a World Heritage Site.
You will see, experience and learn through outstanding English speaking guides •
The charming colonial city of Antigua and its many historic buildings and churches.

•Lake Atitlán, described as the world’s most beautiful lake
•The Maya villages around the lake, a boat tour and overnight in San Antonio de Atitlan
•Chichicastenango’s amazing market, the church where Mayan shamans and Catholic priests coexist, where the Popul Vuh was discovered
•Visits to a weaving community and to one of the shrines of the Maya “saint”, Maximón
•An option to fly to magnificent Tikal for an overnight visit, or stay in Antigua
•The experience of a charming, colonial Bed & Breakfast Hotel (one was a 16th century cloister) with no unpacking for the week
•A daily Spanish lesson with continuing conversation with an outstanding instructor
No airfare included. You’ll arrange your own and be picked up at the Guatemala City Airport upon arrival and transported back to Guatemala City for departure. See notes on air arrangements at the end of this information.
Limited to 18 participants, as this will be a small, highly personalized group.
A full description of what is included in the cost follows at the end.
Full Itinerary
B – American Breakfast (coffee, fruit, bread, eggs) L- lunch D – Dinner
Meals included where indicated.
A daily one hour Traveler’s Spanish class which will focus on vocabulary and culture of the visits of the day, suitable for all levels. This will be scheduled depending on the day’s itinerary.

Day 1: MONDAY: ARRIVE GUATEMALA CITY, ANTIGUAYou will be warmly received by your private driver after your chosen international flight touches down in Guatemala City. There are many flights to here departing from the U.S. or Mexico City. A 45 minute drive brings you to Antigua. This former capital of Guatemala is a strikingly beautiful city, rich in history. Visitors and locals alike casually congregate in the “Parque Central” sitting and strolling, watching the world go by. You will be transferred to your Antigua B & B, a luxury level accommodation. If you arrive in time, you will attend a 7:30 pm casual get acquainted meeting where we lay out our exciting plans over courtesy drinks.

Day 2: (B) TUESDAY: ANTIGUA After breakfast at your B & B, our morning begins with a 9:30 AM Walking Tour of Antigua given by the author of many books about Antigua. Our leisurely walk will take us all around this World Heritage Site. The tour focuses on the city’s history, cultural trends and restoration efforts. Among others, we will visit the City Hall Palace, Palace of the Captain’s General, the Cathedral with its majestic ruins, and the best museums in town at “Paseo de los Museos”. At 12:30 we will join together for a lunch (not included) at one of Antigua’s charming restaurants. At 2:00 we will depart for a tour of two of Antigua’s surrounding villages. In San Antonio Aguas Calientes you will get a detailed explanation of one of Guatemala’s greatest treasures, its weavings. This tradition is rich in culture, spirituality and craftsmanship. The other village visited is San Andrés Itzapa to see the Mayan god-figure, Maximón (Laj Mam/the grand grandfather) at his temple. This Maya “personage” is a central theme for the Mayas and not allowed in Catholic or Protestant churches. Learn about the Maya people and the history behind Maximón and its importance in the Maya culture. Experience first hand ceremonies in the temple for further insight into the wooden life-like figure, followed by a tranquil drive back to Antigua, where you will have your evening at leisure.

Day 3: (B) WEDNESDAY: LAKE ATITLÁN AND SANTIAGO de ATITLÁN You will keep your things in your Antigua room, but we will head out at 10:00am for a 1.5 hour drive to Lake Atitlán. This is a caldera lake whose crystal blue waters are flanked by three spectacular volcanoes. We will have a boat tour of three of the lake villages, finally arriving at our charming hotel, the Posada de Santiago, near the Tzutujil Maya village of Santiago de Atitlán on the scenic south shore. We will have lunch (not included) at the excellent hotel restaurant and then tour the village with an expert Maya guide. Overnight at Hotel Posada de Santiago.

Day 4: (B) THURSDAY: CHICHICASTENANGO After breakfast at our hotel, we will have an early departure to visit the famous market of Chichicastenango where Kiché indigenous people gather to barter, buy and sell. Ample time will be given to stroll through the streets, browse and purchase native handicrafts. Then we will tour the Santo Tomás Church, observing ancient native rites of burning incense, spreading flower petals and burning candles . Although the rites are Mayan and not Catholic, the Catholic Church has allowed the Maya to practice religion in their own manner since the 17th century. We will have a guided tour through the church and hear the story of how the Popul Vuh (the sacred book of the Maya) was discovered here. After lunch we will return to our B & B in Antigua, a trip of two hours. Evening at your leisure.

Day 5: (B) FRIDAY COFFEE PLANTATION TOUR AT FINCA FILADELFIA, a 10 minute drive from Antigua. We will enjoy one of the oldest and most established coffee estates in Guatemala. Follow the path of the coffee bean from the nursery to your cup. Conclude with a seated educational tasting. We will return to Antigua at 12:30, and your afternoon is free to explore all the Guatemalan handicrafts available in the shops and markets of Antigua.
On Days 6 and 7, there is the option of an additional $450 two day, one night excursion to Tikal, with flight included, or you may choose to stay in Antigua. For those staying in Antigua optional day trips will be offered from Antigua such as the museums of Guatemala City.

Day 6: (B, L) SATURDAY: (TIKAL OPTION) GUATEMALA CITY-TIKALDepart by van very early in the morning for the Guatemala City Airport, where you will have a flight to Flores in Guatemala’s remote Petén region. You will have an airport transfer to the Jungle Lodge, where your lunch is included. After lunch you will have a guided tour with an expert guide of Tikal National Park. Investigate the ancient ruins of this Classic Maya site which at its height supported a population upwards of 100,000 individuals, residing over a 25-square-mile area. The guide will illuminate the nature, archaeology and ancient culture of this expansive site as you explore pyramids soaring above the jungle canopy, innumerable multi-leveled palaces, ball courts, plazas, temples,
terraces, shrines and carvings. One of the greatest cities of the Maya, Tikal is known for its vast concentration of temples and ruins surrounded by pristine rain forest. Overnight in the park at Jungle Lodge, air conditioned rooms, with dinner on your own.

Day 7: (B, D) SUNDAY: MORE TIKAL AND RETURN TO ANTIGUA Rise early in your jungle habitat, breakfast at your hotel, and observe parrots and toucans flying over the canopy and monkeys cavorting in the awakening rain forest. Use the rest of your morning to visit the excellent museum located outside the site. Return to the hotel on a very brief walk, have lunch, and be ready for your transfer back to Flores for your return flight. You will return back to Antigua about 6:00 pm.
Sunday night at 8:00pm we will have an included farewell dinner for all at a typical Antiguan restaurant. This will be an opportunity to share stories of all our marvelous adventures.

Day 8: (B) MONDAY: DEPARTURE DAY GUATEMALA CITYThis morning we will sadly say Adiós a Guatemala, as we each take our private airport transport from our Antigua B & B to the airport, at the hour required by our individual flights.

Physical requirements of this trip: Participants must be capable of a moderate amount of walking. Antigua’s climate is temperate and moderate, and all the streets are cobblestoned.
Several days there will be drives of 2-3 hours duration on mountainous roads. In Tikal it will be very hot, more humid, and you will be walking on jungle paths.

YOUR HOSTS:
Kay Godfrey, Founder and Director of Language Link, a company which has sent thousands of Spanish students of all ages to destinations throughout Latin America and Spain. Kay earned a degree from the prestigious Latin American Institute of the University of Texas at Austin and is the author of a guidebook to Cuernavaca, as well as a Cross Cultural Guide to Doing Business in Mexico. Through many years of experience, she has arranged cultural and language trips for the Humanities Institute of Boston, Lakeview Museum of Illinois, and many major universities. She contentedly lives in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where she directs Language Link’s Latin America office.
Maru Cortés Ramos, Founder and Academic Director of the Spanish Language Institute of Cuernavaca. She has widespread experience in the teaching of Spanish, from Canada to throughout this hemisphere, to students of all ages and backgrounds. She has been a foreign language consultant to many U.S. universities and colleges and has served as a presenter at several AATSP national conferences. She has developed many Spanish teaching materials for customized programs and has done extensive teacher training. With her husband Paco Ramos she happily lives in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Your fee of $950 US Dollars (based on double occupancy, single supplement of $350 US Dollars)
INCLUDES:
Daily 1 hour Spanish class, time to be arranged according to schedule
Airport transfers to hotel and hotel to Airport
Travel in vans with a capacity of 18 – 20.
Specialized English speaking guides and entrances in all the tours in itinerary
8 days, 7 nights in double room (we can assign a roommate upon request) of upper level hotels
(7 rooms available at The Cloister, 3 junior suites available at Casa de Anteaño, located very
close to each other)
7 American breakfasts included (coffee or tea, fruit, bread, eggs), 1 Farewell Dinner
In Tikal option:
RT airfare between Guatemala City and Flores, including all airport transport
1 lunch, 1 breakfast included at Tikal, overnight hotel
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airfare, International to and from Guatemala City
Meals not listed in itinerary or stated as optional
Beverages: Soft drinks, bottled water, alcoholic drinks, Taxi fares, laundry, personal items
Gratuities ($30 per person tip suggested for hotels)

*Travel Insurance, Medical Expenses, Airport Taxes, Passport Fees
Costs associated with trip interruption or modification due to weather, conditions, political/civil disputes, medical emergencies or other causes beyond our control. Travel Insurance is recommended for this purpose.

Please let me know if you are interested and I will send you the registration form, Travel Insurance and assistance or to compare prices for airfare.

Looking forward to Discover Guatemala!

Arranging Your Airfare
PLEASE DO NOT ARRANGE OR PURCHASE YOUR AIRFARE UNTIL YOU HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT THE TRIP WILL COMPLETE WITH THE MINIMUM NUMBER. WE WILL NOTIFY YOU AS SOON AS WE ARE COMPLETE. IF THE TRIP DOES NOT COMPLETE, YOU WILL RECEIVE A FULL REFUND OF YOUR DEPOSIT.

Fiesta Dia de Muertos,
Day of the Dead celebrated between October 31st and November 2nd, is a celebration in which Mexicans remember and honor their deceased loved ones. Though it may sound gloomy or morbid, it’s not.
It’s a festive and colorful holiday. Mexicans visit cemeteries, decorate the graves and spend time there – in the presence of their deceased friends and family members. They also make elaborately decorated altars (sometimes called ofrendas) in their homes.

In the past times the dead were buried close to family homes (sometimes in a tomb underneath the house) and there was great emphasis on maintaining ties with deceased ancestors, who were believed to continue to exist on a different plane. With the arrival of the Spaniards and Catholicism, All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day practices were incorporated into Prehispanic beliefs and customs and Day of the Dead came to be celebrated.

The belief behind Day of the Dead practices is that spirits return to the Earth for one day of the year to be with their families. It is said that the spirits of babies and children who have died (called angelitos, “little angels”) arrive on October 31st at midnight, spend an entire day with their families and then leave. Adults come the following day.

Day of the Dead Altars:
The spirits are greeted with offerings of food and things that the person enjoyed in life. These are laid out on a Day of the Dead altar in the family home. It is believed that the spirits consume the essence and the aroma of the foods that are offered. When the spirits depart, the living consume the food and share it with their family, friends and neighbors.
Other items that are placed on the altar include sugar skulls, often with the person’s name inscribed on the top, pan de muertos, a special bread that is made especially for the season, and cempasuchil (marigolds) which bloom at this time of year and lend a special fragrance to the altar.

José Guadalupe Posada’s work has steadily gained popularity with art lovers and Día de los Muertos celebrators alike. He is especially known for his calaveras images of whimsical skeletons.
Posada, born in 1852 in the Mexican state of Aquascalientes, began his career as a teacher of lithography. In 1887, he moved to Mexico City where he worked as an illustrator for hire.
His work reflected the times in which he lived. While a vast majority of the poverty-stricken population was illiterate, Posada’s illustrations made the stories, news articles, broadsides, advertisements and the many other items his work accompanied easy to grasp.
Truly defining the phrase “a picture speaks a thousand words,” he captured the essence of an emotion, putting it in a form that made it come to life for thousands of people.
Posada was regarded as the voice of the common man and helped to solidify art as a means to communicate the public’s unhappiness and skepticism of the government. He used the practice of caricaturizing figures as skeletons to serve as a sort of satirical obituary.

“La Catrina,” is one such image. While the illustration of the high society woman is one of Posada’s most highly regarded pieces, it’s also arguably the most recognizable image of the Día de los Muertos celebration.
In fact, many of Posada’s calaveras can be seen at Día de los Muertos festivals today. The Caretas (masks) worn at the end of the celebrations to scare the dead away from their altars are often times either reproductions of or influenced by Posada’s illustrations.
The style and sentiment in Posada’s work fueled an artistic movement in the years following his death.

The longest underground nightmare in history ended safely!

¡Bravo Chile!

2.Una niña un libro. Otra niña, otro libro: NEVER say un otro or una otra

3.DO NOT shorten ninguna.
ningún vs ninguna: Shorten ninguno to ningún before masculine singular nouns,
but Examples: Ella no tiene ningún dinero. BUT Ella no tiene ninguna idea.

4.Pluralization:
recomendación → recomendaciones: The plural of words ending on an
syllable with a written accent lose the accent when adding –es to form the
plural.

5. Gender:
el problema, el tema, el programa: Most –ma words are masculine.

6. ALL –ción and –sión
la recomendación, la television, las vacaciones.
ALWAYS feminine.
la libertad, la juventud, la bondad, la pared: Words ending en –tad, -tud,
-dad, -ed are feminine.

7. el colegio = junior high school or high school. You cannot use this for higher
education!

8. la universidad = college…You must use this for higher education, even when
the name of the institution has the English word college in it!

9. a tiempo = on time…NOT en tiempo!!!

10. Conocer vs Saber: Conocer is to know, as in acquaintance…One can be
acquainted with a person, place, or thing. Saber is to know, as in facts or
information about a person, place, or thing. It can also mean to know how.

11. Trabajar vs Funcionar: Use trabajar for the subject performing work as in toil, earning money, tasks, etc. Use funcionar for to work, as in to function. Mi padre trabaja en la oficina donde no funciona el internet.

12. Pedir vs Preguntar: Pedir is for requesting; preguntar is for questioning.

13. Salir (de) vs Dejar: Salir is used when the subject leaves a place; dejar takes a direct object and means to leave something behind. Also make sure that you use de after salir to say from where a person is leaving: Mis amigos salen de Cuernavaca.

14. Aplicar vs Solictitar: Aplicar is to apply as in applying a theory; solicitar is for applying for admisión, a job,a scholarship.

15. Decir, Hablar, Discutir: Use decir for to say or tell, use hablar for to speak or talk, and use discutir for to discuss or to argue.

16. Amar y Querer vs Encantar: Only use amar and querer for loving people, pets.
Use Me encanta, Me encantan, Te encanta, Te encantan, etc. to state that you love something. Example: Me encanta la comida mexicana.
17. Este vs Ese: “This and these have the t’s.” So: este, esta, estos, estas =
Ese, esa, esos, esas = that, those

18. El tiempo vs la Vez: Tiempo is for time in general. How much time do we
have? = ¿Cuanto tiempo tenemos? Use vez for time, as in instances: tres
veces, muchas veces, varias veces, la primera vez, la última vez, etc.

bien vs buena: Just like in English…bueno/a/os/as = adjective; bien = adverb

volver vs devolver: Use volver when the subject himself/herself returns. Use
devolver with a direct object. Ejemplos: Los profesores vuelven a la escuela.
Los profesores les devuelven los papeles a los estudiantes.
Structure and grammar:
más que vs más de: más que = more than, BUT use más de as more than before numbers. Examples: Mi hermano tiene más libros que yo. Mi hermano tiene más de cincuenta libros.

que vs quien: When you wish to say “who” as a relative pronoun, use que unless preceded by a comma, then you may use quien. Examples:
El hombre que habla francés vive en Francia.
El hombre, quien habla francés, vive en Francia.
Marta es una mujer que ayuda a la gente.
Marta, quien ayuda a mucha gente, es una mujer inteligente.

· tener interés por: In Spanish: tener interés por = to be interested in
· todo el dinero, toda la comida: NOT todo de: NEVER say all of in Spanish!
· antes de + inf.:= Before doing…Elena se pone el abrigo antes de salir de su
casa.
·

Mario Vargas Losa list of books:
Travesuras de la nina mala
La tia Julia y el escribidor
La guerra del fin del mundo
La Ciudad y los Perros
La verdad de las mentiras
La casa verde
Historia de Mayta
El hablador
Lituma en los Andes
Obra reunida
Pantaleon Y Las Visitadoras

Soon:
“El sueño del celta”

One of the most acclaimed writers in the Spanish-speaking world and a man of letters who also braved the violence and political divisions of his homeland to run for president.