Take a close look at this photo. What you see is a typical afternoon here at IDEAL. After an enriching day of language classes, our beloved Hermano Caleb, along with our wonderful maestras, took a well-deserved break to sit down, rest, and look out over the vibrant heart of Cuernavaca.

But as with everything in Mexico, look a little closer and you’ll find that every stone, every backdrop, and even the date of a photograph tells a much bigger story.

The Rebirth of a Landmark

This photo was captured a couple of years ago, back in 2023. We were celebrating a major cultural milestone for our city: the grand reopening of the historic Palacio de Cortés. Built in the 1520s, it is one of the oldest conserved colonial civilian structures in the Americas. In 2023, it was officially renamed the Museo Regional de los Pueblos de Morelos (Regional Museum of the Peoples of Morelos) to better reflect the diverse indigenous history of our state.

Of course, if you ask any local, we still call it the Palacio de Cortés. Old habits die hard, and Mexicans are notoriously resistant to changing the names of our iconic landmarks!

Here we are with Rochester HS of Indiana

Resiliency in the Face of “Septiemble”

Why was it closed before 2023? The answer lies in the ground beneath our feet. On September 19, 2017, a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck with an epicentre right between Morelos and Puebla. It was a devastating day. Structures that had proudly stood for hundreds of years—including our beloved Palacio, the Cuernavaca Cathedral, several historic monasteries, and vast areas of Mexico City—suffered severe structural damage.

If you look right into the background of this photo, you can see the cathedral’s bell tower. At the time this picture was taken, it stood unfinished and cloaked in scaffolding, still recovering from that 2017 tremor.

The date of that earthquake, September 19th, carries an almost eerie weight in Mexican culture. By pure coincidence, it took place on the exact same day as the catastrophic 1985 Mexico City earthquake. Because of this, a popular myth has cemented itself in the public imagination: that September is “earthquake season.” Scientifically, we know seismology doesn’t care about our calendar, but human nature loves a pattern.

True to the famous Mexican wit and creativity, the locals couldn’t help but use wordplay to cope with the anxiety. September has been unofficially and universally rebranded here as “Septiemble”—a clever mashup of septiembre (September) and tiemble (to shake/tremble).

Past and Present Collide

Fast forward to today, and the view has beautifully changed. The painstaking reconstruction of the Cathedral tower is finally complete, and it looks absolutely stunning. Originally built during the early colonial era, the Cathedral stands as a monumental symbol of the Catholic evangelization of Mexico, anchoring the architectural identity of Cuernavaca.

Seeing it fully restored reminds us of why we love what we do at IDEAL. This photo isn’t just about a afternoon rest. It represents a normal day for our students—stepping out of the classroom, walking through living history, and gaining a deep, authentic perspective on Mexican culture. We don’t just teach you the Spanish language; we invite you to live the stories, the resilience, and the unforgettable moments that make Mexico so unique.

Planning your own cultural journey? At IDEAL Spanish Mexico, we tailor our language programs and cultural excursions to give you an unforgettable, immersive experience. Come build your own memories with us in the “City of Eternal Spring”!