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8 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JULY 2024 By Janet Boyce, Resident I've been to Mexico quite a few times, but three trips stand out in particular. The first was with my Girl Scout Troop when I was 16. I had been in Girl Scouts since the second grade, and my troop saved over the years, in order to go to the International Cabana in Mexico. We stayed in the small town of Valle de Bravo, which is southwest of Mexico City, to teach the local people how to read and write their own Spanish language. Although they spoke Spanish better than we did, they were illiterate. We used the Laubach Literacy method of teaching, and our Spanish improved as a result. My second trip to Mexico was with a professor from San Diego State University, during the summer of 1969, after my freshman year of college. We took courses at the University of Mexico. I did a paper on the Aztec Calendar. The real one is displayed in the Museum of Anthropology. We also went to Tenochtitlan, just outside Mexico City, where the Pyramids to the Sun and Moon are located. It was exciting to climb to the top of both pyramids. After completing our two courses, we had a couple of weeks before returning home, so we took an overnight train to Guadalajara. Later, we traveled to Acapulco where the cliff divers perform. They were amazing! The third trip was to show Mexico to my Japanese sister. We went to Mexico City where the world-famous Chapultepec Park is. We also explored some of the towns that are known for a specific craft or art form: Taxco for silver, Puebla for tiles, and Tlaquepaque for glass-blowing, to name a few. The Japanese are very clean people, so when we came upon a cute donkey along the side of the road, we automatically petted it, but Satsuki couldn't do it. She kept saying, "No, dirty!" I have wonderful memories of Mexico. I used to go down to Tijuana for the day, just to practice my Spanish, but I haven't done that in a long time now. Here's to safe travels. Travels to Mexico By Clare Mendez, Resident The grandkids are home from school for the summer and you want to show them the world. For now, the Grand Canyon will have to do. But, before you pull out of the garage and the safety of your home, be sure you prepared for anything that could go wrong on the six-hour drive through the desert. The desert is hot, dry and unforgiving. You need to think about as many scenarios as you can and prepare for them all. The sun will be beating in through the windows. If your windows don't have a dark tint on them, think of purchasing a shade you can attach to the window. You also need plenty of cold beverages (at least 32 ounces per person or three bottles of water or electrolytes for a one-way trip). I saw a survival show on television hosting, Bear Grylls. He said, "Very often when a person is discovered deceased in the desert due to dehydration, they have water left in their canteen." Most people, he explained, want to conserve the water they have available to them so they take sips just enough to wet their mouth and throat. Bear said, "It's better to drink down the water you have, all at once." The reason for that, he explained, "was so the water not only wets your mouth and throat but reaches our blood stream and major organs." Other things you should consider loading into your car is a first- aid kit, a snake bite kit, sunscreen, and a GMRS radio. GMRS radios are intended for personal use. A license is required, but covers an entire family for an entire decade. It offers more power, range, and versatility than lower wattage FRS radios. The radio may be able to connect with help when your cell phone is out of range. Do you think you're ready to head out now? Not quite. Is your car equipped with a good spare tire and jack? Are the engine fluids all full? Maybe even pack some jackets for colder nights and an umbrella or pop-up for added shade if it's needed. In other words, prepare for the worst and you'll be able to enjoy your vacation with the kids to the fullest. Along the way, and to pass the time, perhaps tell them some interesting facts about the formation of the canyon and the indigenous people who live there. Point out some sights along the way too. And afterwards, ask them what they liked most about the trip. Encourage them to take pictures, and if they are young and don't have access to a camera, print out some pictures for them so they remember the trip in later years. Many memories are forgotten or not as clear without the pictures to jog the memory. Of course, this is just an example of a trip that might be taken with the family, but the purpose of this article is to remind you to plan ahead and pack for the unexpected. It will make the journey so much more amazing. Wherever you go, close or far, and especially if it's an adventurous trip, be prepared. Desert Road Trip to The Grand Canyon

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