Living the retirement dream

We are sharing our ideal retirement experiences.

After the Celebration

We have been celebrating Sandy’s 80th year for over twelve months now and on March 15 2026 the celebration is almost over and we can return to normal life.

On Sunday March 15 we said goodbye to Jennifer and family as they head back to Newport Rhode Island.

Jason and family took a Hot air Balloon Ride on their last day here.

We had a lovely lunch together at a Portuguese Restaurant in our neighborhood.before they departed early the next morning to return to their home in Florida.

After all our guests left we took a walk by ourselves and went to the Botanical Garden in Chapultepec Park. We had visited this garden in 2018 and did not spend much time here today.

We then continued on to the Museum of Modern Art which we had not been to previously.

We enjoyed the paintings of Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera.

Frida, as usual focusing on her womb and inability to have children.

Unfortunately only one of four rooms were open for viewing so it was a short visit.

We took in the Sculpture Garden at the Museum which is quite large and interesting.

Soon after arriving in Mexico City our friends Ivonne and Miguel suggested taking a new train for a day trip to Toluca. After many starts and stops due to one or another of us being ill and friends visiting we finally came up with a date two weeks before our departure. We took a taxi to this airbus/gondola which we have taken a number of times before. This was Ivonne and Miguel’s first trip on this means of Mexico City transportation.

We looked down on the city below which included an equestrian center.

We got off of the gondola at its last stop and then walked about a half mile up hill to a train station. Jim and Miguel stopped for a street food tamale.

This is the new all electric El Insurgente train line running from Mexico City to Toluca. Toluca is the Capital of the State of Mexico. It is known for its high altitude and colonial architecture. Key attractions include the Cosmovitral Botanical Garden and the Cathedral of San Jose.

Miguel and Ivonne both love speaking to anyone and Miguel likes to ask directions of everyone.

Boarding the train at its first stop out of Mexico City at Vasco de Quiroga.

Very clean, modern and comfortable.

There were 4-5 cars with no dividers between cars.

On arrival in Toluca we took a 20 minute taxi ride to the city center.

A hill, just outside the main square. The altitude of Toluca is 8,700 feet leading to cooler temperatures and potential altitude sickness.

We had a lovely lunch at a restaurant in Toluca

First glimpse of the Cathedral.

Formerly known as St Joseph of Nazareth. This Catholic place of worship began in 1867 but was not completed until 1978.

The entrance to the cathedral has one of the most beautiful leaded glass windows.

The main city square in front of the Cathedral.

Iglesia de la Santa Cruz Church is a pretty, much smaller church.

Our final stop was to Cosmovitral which is a unique botanical garden.

It is housed in a former market building and famous for its massive, vibrant stained glass murals by artist Leopoldo Flores. The centerpiece is the “Hombre Sol” (Sun Man) mural which aligns with the sun during spring equinox creating a spectacular light show.

The artist Leopoldo Flores.

The garden features over 400 plant species from around the world including a Japenese garden.

There are 71 modules of stained glass using 500,000 pieces of glass in 28 colors.

We attended a performance of Carmina Burana presented by the Mexican Pops Orchestra. Sandy just happened to see this advertisement on the street in front of the venue. Jim went home and booked four tickets.

The sold out performance was held in Parque Lincoln at the Angela Peralta Theater just a few blocks from our home in Polanco.

The venue was reminiscent of the Hatch Shell in Boston that was around the corner from our home when we lived there.

It featured over 200 musicians including a choir and orchestra.

It also included a performance from baritone Josue Caron.

Listen to this short video of Carmina Burana which is a timeless masterpiece with themes of love and fate from medieval origins.

So concludes our little break between houseguests. We have four more good friends showing up soon.

Living our retirement dream

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