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Published: June 25th 2009
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29/4/09 = A day of visiting churches
Another bad nights sleep. Took ages to drift off and even when did, woke up every hour or so. Got up at 7am; at rash on leg has gone. Is now just a scar, a bit like the remains of a jellyfish sting. Another text from a friend about Pig Flu - seems to be a much bigger deal at home than it is out here - and headed down for not so tasty toast, but very tasty cereal. Ready and out of the door at 10am. Could have been been ready early, but no point, nothing opens early in Mexico. Headed down ‘sweet street’, so named because all shops sell sweets and candy. Should have been a really cool street to walk down, but even at 10am, most of the shops were closed. Street ended in art district; came here to look for a diary. Pretty place, with a cobbled square and art studious that looked like horse stables. However, much like Sweet Street, everything was closed. What time do shops open here? It’s not even Sunday.
Decided only thing could do was go to park and waste some
time there until everything opened; supposed to be a nice park anyway. On way, came across Jesus Street. Hallelujah! Knew I had seen a Jesus statue somewhere! Wondered round the stalls surrounding him - still no diary - then headed over to park. Surprise, surprise…even the park was closed! Managed to get in through a gate, but all the sprinklers were on, making it impossible to walk around. Is everything always closed like this? Or are the closures yet another casualty of the flu? This flu is becoming very annoying! Did a Crystal Maze style journey to get to a bench untouched by the sprinklers and sat there until 11am; surely everything would be open now? Crossed over back towards town to see signs of some things opening, but no, everything not open. Sauntered casually up street and made first visit of day to the church: Iglesia de Santa Domingo de Guzman. A very different church because it looked like a Mosque from the outside with a v.prominent dome shape on top. But inside it was unlike anything have ever seen. Never, ever seen so much gold in one place. Wow…that place was gold! Can’t even imagine how much gold
paint it took to paint those walls and the poor decorator who must have been permanently blinded by the glare. A separate room that veered off to the left - that was underneath the domed roof - was gold from top to bottom; there wasn’t a single thing in that room that wasn’t gold. Pretty dazzling. Definitely not my taste in church - way too much fr me - but could appreciate the beauty of it all the same.
Left the gold church and headed for the cathedral to compare. From the outside, it couldn’t have been more different. V.grey stone, v.traditional and v.grand. My kind of Cathedral. Inside, although much less gold than the first, it was still heavily golded, more gold than you would see any church in England. A sign of importance? Power? Respect? Other than that. Have seen several churches so far in Mexico and all follow the exact same format. One clear aisle to walk down, pews on either side, columns holding the building up, arches between the columns, pictures and statues to line the walls and one big centrepiece at the end of the aisle that everybody prays towards - again, heavily
golded. Pretty, but enough churches now.
Headed out and towards the Amparo museum, an art museum. Supposed to sel amazing diaries and really needed one. Not at all surprised to find it closed, but v.annoyed. Pig Flu ruining everything. Pressed nose against window staring at possible diaries inside and contemplating breaking and entering; really fed up of searching for diaries now! Moped off to try last place on list = art district visited this morning. Few more places open now and could see some artists at work inside their stables, but still mostly closed and main museum and shop closed = rubbish! No more places to look now = no diary 😞.
Went back to Zocalo to look for something to cheer me up…food 😊. Place we ate yesterday definitely looked the best, but couldn’t eat at the same place twice when had so many options. Went to next best. Had a Spanish name, but when looked at menu, nearly cracked up to see that name translated to The Red Lion. Ha…Peter Kay is right…they do get everywhere. Had some o.k. nachos, Deb and her fruit, then strolled off and found the best food of the
holiday so far. There it was, poking out of the edge of the market, a chocolate fountain. Yuuuummmm. Couldn’t resist. Got my skewer of strawberries dipped in chocolate and that was me. BEAUTIFUL. Never had a proper skewer full before at home - too expensive at White Rose - but for 50p, was well impressed. Could have eaten 10 more. As it was, had to settle for licking the plate …and my mouth clean.
Was late afternoon then and having thoroughly walked around town - several times - and visited everything could think to visit, decided to find an internet shop; have always got work to do on the internet. Got sucked into one that was next to a restaurant full of singing and dancing. V.Mexican. Couldn’t help but watch for a while - careful not to get too close in case got pulled in - then spent an hour blogging on computer. After that, headed back to Zocalo and sat in the sunshine for a while. Puebla = such a nice place to sit. Got chatting to an American guy learning Spanish there - would love to do that - then wondered back to hostel with nothing
else to do. Was 5pm, so felt the usual tiredness that comes with that time of day, but pushed through by watching some Spanish TV (all Soap Operas = the same really) and then eating a sandwich downstairs - only so much Mexican food you can eat.
Used the internet in the hostel for a few more hours, then came off at 11pm with a good days progress. Still not tired when went to bed and still tossed and turned infected by some kind of Insomnia 😞
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UNDERWAY
Jim & Ann Blanchard
Jelly stings really bad
Was stationed in Hawaii and Guam durring war. Had and saw results of many Jelly stings. Also Needle fish. These things are BAD NEWS. Don't take them lightly. I f you are still experencing pain, soak affected part in vinigar. These tenticles can stay attached to towells, clothing for a long time and continue stinging. Use the internet to see effects of Hawaii'n Jelly's.... Some Jelly's can kill.... Be carefull... If you seem to be getting re-stung, get rid of clothing, towells etc. that you were using in Hawaii.....Jim