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Published: February 7th 2007
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Saturday, February 3, 2007
Our last weeks in Guanajuato have been great. Highlights were visiting the Guanajuato state fair, joining one last fiesta with Hector and Ana and graduating from the Escuela Mexicana!
Last Saturday, we navigated the Guanajuato bus system and made it to la feria in Leon. Despite the fact that the cock fights were sold out and we couldn’t find the circus, we had a great time. Following the proud tradition of State Fairs everywhere, we gorged ourselves on food (in this case, Huaraches, which are shoe-sized tortillas stuffed with beans and topped with salsa, cheese and carne) and then hit the rides. You definitely get more nausea for your money on these rides - they seem to go on forever! Dave also made an impressive showing on the mechanical bull (video link in the upper left).
Our last fiesta with Hector, Ana and their friends was hosted by Vicki and Goya. Hector told us that Vicki loves traditional Mexican culture and her food, house and music reflected this love. The house, all colorful tile and bright stone walls, is atop one of the hills of Guanajuato and has an amazing view
of the town and surrounding bluffs. After we feasted on pozole (a traditional Mexican soup), the music started. Goya, Gaucho and Jamie used to have an official band, playing at restaurants, bars and events. This was about 20 years ago and now they just play for fun, but still sound professional. Literally dozens of instruments moved through their hands as they serenaded us with Latin American traditional music, stopping only to refill glasses of coke and tequila and tell us a bit about the songs. They also recruited Dave to play drums on a few songs. The party went into the early morning and we were overwhelmed with everyone’s inclusiveness.
After one more week in Guanajuato, we said our farewells to our teachers, classmates and familia Mexicana, took a few photos and were off! If you look closely at our picture with Ana and Hector, you will notice the kick-ass Guanajuato/Lucha Libre t-shirts they gave us. We’ll miss them!
The 5 hour plus bus ride to Mexico City was a treat (seriously). The extra-large, comfy seats have leg rests and recline to a perfect snoozing position. While we were armed with our own entertainment (pirated DVDs
and our trusty laptop), I ended up watching all three movies the bus provided: Mannequin on the Move, Bandidas and Walk The Line. All were dubbed in Spanish, but I was able to understand almost everything - even the intense dialog and complex plot twists of Mannequin on the Move. Kudos to Escuela Mexicana!
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
With a population of more than 22 million people, La Ciudad de Mexico, or D.F. as the locals call it (we are so local) is the largest city in the world. Despite a reputation for crowds, pollution and crime, we have found a city that is beautiful, clean and accessible. What is overwhelming is the list of things to see and do.
We are staying in the Centro Historico, a neighborhood filled with colonial buildings, parks and Aztec ruins. The Zocalo, a large plaza and the former center of the Aztec empire, is a stone’s throw from our hotel. The plaza is framed by the Catedral Metropolitana, the oldest and largest cathedral in Latin America, the Palacio National, once the site of Montezuma’s home and now the seat of Mexican government, and the Templo Mayor, where captured
enemy soldiers were sacrificed to the Aztec god of war.
Our first destination was to La Villa de Guadalupe. La Virgin de Guadalupe is the most important religious figure in Mexico. For those unfamiliar with the legend (as I was) here is a quick summary: in the mid-1500s, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec peasant, and asked him to build a cathedral in her honor. She gave him a cloak emblazoned with her image to prove his story to church authorities. They did build a church on that site, several actually, and Saint Juan Diego’s cloak now hangs above the altar in the Nueva Basilica.
Dave has wanted to see the miraculous cloak since his Catholic school boy days and it topped his list of sites in Mexico City. Our visit did not disappoint. Despite seeing the image countless times before on t-shirts, key-chains and medallions, the actual cloak is stunning. It would be hard not to be moved, especially considering the context: we were packed into the basilica among thousands of pilgrims, some of whom made the journey on their knees. The pure devotion and belief was palpable.
We ended
the day by strolling through the Zona Rosa, a neighborhood of upscale shops, restaurants, clubs and the first Starbuck’s we’ve seen in Mexico. Walking along lush, manicured boulevards, it was hard to reconcile this reality with our preconceptions of Mexico City.
Another highlight of our visit so far has been the Metro, Mexico’s subway system. It is clean, efficient and fool-proof. There are ample signs, symbols and helpful locals to make sure you don’t get lost. To top things off, you can get anywhere in the city for 2 pesos (less than 20 cents).
Up next: pyramids of Teotihuacan, casa of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, the Ballet Folklorico, the canals of Xochimilco and dozens of museums and murals, all before we leave on Saturday. Viva Mexico!
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Amy C.
non-member comment
Hola
We found our way to your blog! The cities appear rich in culture and history. It's always a bonus when cities exceed expectations in terms of friendliness, cleanliness, etc.. Well, our exciting news is that it was 70 degrees in Denver today! And just in case you didn't hear, the COLTS, yes, the COLTS won the Super bowl. Take care, Amy (Justin, Addy and baby boy)