(Above: This system of tunnels was dug entirely by hand with wooden picks (stone heads) and a combination of heat via torch & water.)
Weather: A day beginning in the low 50s and warming to the mid 80s. Sunny throughout.
Morning walk & sweeping:
Breakfast at Scaffecito – Tranquil & tasty – 10/10
Visting Mina Prehispánica de Taxco: It is hard to do this archaeological site justice with mere pictures, but I did the best I could to capture the sheer richness (both historic and materialistic) of this discovery.
Ticket for admission to Mina Prehispánica de Taxco — arguably the greatest archaeological exhibition I have visited in the Americas. 
This system of tunnels was dug entirely by hand with wooden picks (stone heads) and a combination of heat via torch & water. (The Pre-hispanic people would heat the rocks and then throw relatively cool water on them. The resultant rapid change in temperature would crack the stones apart.) 
The grey sections of stone in this image are laden with silver, and the yellow sections are rich in sulfur. Due to the primitive methods used for extraction, 98% of this mine’s mineral content remains intact for the taking. In the words of the guide: “It is a big cake, but our hotel only got a small slice.” If it were not for the Mexican Government protecting the site for cultural heritage purposes, it would very likely be an operating mine. 
More mineral-laden stone. 
It is hard to do the mine justice with mere images. For example, this mine shaft goes down 40 meters. 
Meanwhile, this cavern extends almost ?180? meters past the visible opening. 
It is difficult to see in this image, but the dark stones near the top were almost black in color. It almost looked like coal, but on asking the guide (Arturo), he said it was charcoal resulting of the ancient fracking that the natives practiced. In other words, the rocks are stained by smoke from torches utilized over 600 years ago. 
The stone here was so rich in silver that the metal could be smelled. 
This red portion of stone is rich in mercury. 
After the tour, I enjoyed the complimentary beverage on the terrace of Hotel De La Misión. A fantastic view in which I could spot both the Santa Prisca Cathedral and the ficus tree of Casa Spratling.
Lunch at Tia Calla – Excellent pozole, fresh salad, and great services – 9/10
Tía Calla was recommended to me by Arturo, so that’s where I ventured. 
I arrived a tad early, but the host allowed me to sit at this table as the kitchen got prepared for the busy day ahead. 
The full spread: Pozole Verde, Ensalada Verdura, 4 tostadas, a bowl of onion and lime as condiment, and a bottle of Agua de Taxco. All of this for 138.00 pesos. 
Once again, I was somewhat put off by the bottled salad dressing. I did something about it this time, though. I simply asked “Tiene Vinagre?” To this, the waiter replied, “Sí”. He proceeded to bring back something better than vinegar: pickled peppers in their brine. Thus, instead of using the bottled dressing, I used the peppers and brine as dressing along with a squeeze of fresh lime. The avocado took care of the ‘fat’ portion of the vinaigrette, and it made for a downright excellent salad. Possibly one of the best yet. As for the Pozole, it is the restaurant’s specialty, and I could tell. It had excellent flavor and was filled with chicken and hominy. All in all, excellent ingredients and service. 
The receipt. With propina, it was 170 pesos.
Walk back to Casa Spratling & Afternoon walk:
I remembered this church, Parroquia de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, from the walk that Padre and I took from Irma Pollo to Cristo. It stands as pristine as ever in a wide courtyard hemmed by flower bushes and Italian cypresses. 
The Taxco Zócalo on Saturday at 1:30 PM. The entire center was filled with people resting, chatting, and enjoying the fine weather. 
Late-afternoon in Taxco, Mexico [4/2/2022]. 
Another visit to the Parroquia de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo. Here, I played accordion uninterrupted except for the bells which sounded every 15 minutes.
Dinner at Scaffecito – Excellent homemade food, superb wine, & great hostess and crew – 10/10
A delectable dinner at Scaffecito. To start off, they brought me a couple crostini – one with mushroom and mozzarella and other with spinach. A delectable appetizer to whet the appetite. 
For an entrée, I had a glass of excellent red wine alongside a medium pizza bearing sausage, mushroom, and spinach. The crust was thin, crusty, and almost a touch buttery, and the toppings were all freshly sautéed before being added on. The restaurant was very quiet tonight – I being the only customer at the time. I took my time, relaxed, and enjoyed.
Final Note [taken from 1-4]: As is sometimes the case when I’ve had one glass of wine on a lightly filled belly, I grew somewhat reflective as I ate at Scaffecito. The music – mostly English rock from the 70’s – was different than the usual quiet jazz that is played, but it was an entertaining addition to go with the meal. Meanwhile, the pizza – spinach, sausage, mushroom, and a little added Parmesan borne atop a crispy crust – was excellent. Satiating and delicious. I considered having dessert, but it was at this point that a minor revelation recurred to me (recurred because I’ve had a similar thought before). Want can be as much a habit as worry. Neither of them fulfill anything of their own accord, yet their nature makes both want and worry self-fulfilling prophecies of illusory goodness. For example: someone worries about something that probably won’t happen; it doesn’t happen. Worry is rewarded. Someone wants something and goes to fulfill that want; want is rewarded. Did either the worry or the want actually cause the end result? No.
Might worry and want have the same unconscious origin, that is conditioning. To break the cycle an observer’s perspective is helpful no doubt.