Home again, jiggity jig.

So, we're back stateside. I can't speak for Jake, but I feel bewildered, wandering familiar streets that now seem like another planet.

Our last day in Tepoztlan was lovely. We hiked the 2.5km up to the pyramid, huffing and puffing on the 45 degree incline and stepping nimbly over shallow stone steps before finally arriving at the summit. The pyramid is tiny compared to the grandeur of Monte Alban, but we were rewarded with a view of the town below and a gloriously cool breeze. After our hike, we returned to the valley floor and spent our afternoon wandering the market for trinkets to take back home. Tepoztlan is relatively quiet throughout the week, but on the weekends, the city is flooded with Mexico City residents that come to escape the hubbub of the metropolis. We walked to the small zocalo in the center of town and were treated to an evening concert and an entertaining display of dancing and singing from the crowd. Having eaten mostly streetfood and small meals during the entire trip, we decided to splurge on dinner and made our way to La Luna Mexli, a bourgeois fine-dining restaurant just down the street from the zocalo. Jake treated us to an incredible meal and we spent the better part of two hours just recounting our trip, lamenting the end, and enjoying the mild and breezy evening. I had a spinach salad with smoked trout - some of the best trout I've ever, ever had - and Jake tucked in to a huge iron skillet piled high with skirt steak, chorizo, and grilled veggies. Stuffed and content, we headed back to the Hospedaje Mahe, and set our alarm clocks for 7AM the next day. Earlier in the afternoon, we had befriended an older guy who splits his time between California and Mexico each year as a strawberry salesman. Oscar is a character, and spent the better part of 45 minutes telling us all about his strawberry variety and how it was going to change the way berry farming is done in Mexico. As a reward for our attentiveness, Oscar offered to drive us into Mexico City the following day, saving us hours of bus time and a good bit of money. At 7:30AM the next day, bags packed and lips pouting, we piled into Oscar's car and drove to DF, to catch our flight home. The flight itself was relatively painless, and we got back to Charlotte at about 6:30pm, slightly culture shocked and most certainly delighted with our sixteen day adventure. Thank you to all of you for keeping in touch, and we're so glad you could share the trip with us, via blog!

Love to all and buena honda.

-Suz & Jake