The best part of our weekend in Estado de Mexico was meeting and making friends with Manuel and Alejandra. When we walked down the trail in the sanctuary and arrived at the parking area on the highway, we had hoped to find a taxi to take us back to Valle de Bravo. It was apparent that that was not likely. Lois noticed a car getting ready to leave with two people in the front seat and no one in the back seat, so she went over and asked them if they were going to Valle de Bravo, and, when they said yes, asked them if they could give us a ride. Manuel and Alejandra said yes, and we were immediately grateful. But then as we rode along toward Valle de Bravo, we chatted about many things and found shared interests (for example, classical music, piano in particular: two of their three children are pianists). Before long they were offering to show us around Valle de Bravo, going to places easy to get to in their car but hard for us otherwise. The first stop, near Avándaro, was the Salto Velo de Novia (Bridal Veil Falls):

• Don, Alejandra, and Manuel at Bridal Veil Falls Don, Alejandra, and Manuel at Bridal Veil Falls
• Manuel at Bridal Veil Falls Manuel at Bridal Veil Falls
• Manuel at Bridal Veil Falls Manuel at Bridal Veil Falls
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Next we toured around Avándaro and Valle de Bravo, arriving at the Valle waterfront on the lake. I was fascinated there by the process underway in a park, preparing the giant pole that is to be used in a festival next week by the famous "Voladores de Papantla". We visited the busy waterfront, and then Manuel suggested that we drive out along the lakeshore to Colorines to try out a seafood restaurant that he had heard was recommended.

• Voladores pole preparation Voladores pole preparation
• Valle de Bravo waterfront Valle de Bravo waterfront
• Along the shore of Lake Avándaro Along the shore of Lake Avándaro
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So we arrived at the restaurant El Huarache and had a real feast. Excellent food, pleasant locale, friendly people. We were invited to check out the banquet facility on the roof of the restaurant, where we found some interesting sculptures.

• Alejandra and Manuel enjoying seafood Alejandra and Manuel enjoying seafood
• Restaurant El Huarache in Colorines Restaurant El Huarache in Colorines
• Banquet area on the roof, Don and Lois with sculpture Banquet area on the roof, Don and Lois with sculpture
• Banquet area on the roof, Manuel and Alejandra with sculpture Banquet area on the roof, Manuel and Alejandra with sculpture
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Manuel and Alejandra dropped us back in the center of Valle de Bravo near our hotel. But not before inviting us to visit them the next day (Sunday) in Toluca. They knew we planned to take a bus from Valle to Toluca, then another bus from Toluca to Querétaro. They offered to pick us up at the Toluca bus station to show us around Toluca and Metepec a bit before we needed to catch our bus to Querétaro. We were delighted. And then on Sunday, when they picked us up, we got to meet their children Victor, Alejandra, and Perla. I was invited to try out their piano, and then both Victor and Alejandra played a bit as well. Perla had to leave before we got around to taking the group photos:

• Don playing the family piano Don playing the family piano
• Alejandra, Victor, Alejandra, Lois, Manuel Alejandra, Victor, Alejandra, Lois, Manuel
• Alejandra, Victor, Don, Lois, Manuel Alejandra, Victor, Don, Lois, Manuel
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