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Published: October 3rd 2010
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This week's flowers
Calla lilies from the market On Sept 15th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bells sounding the cry for Independence Mexico celebrates 200 years. Government employees and most schools were closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so a very long week-end for all. Decorations everywhere, music, live bands, and people, people, people. Linda's school, being an American school, had classes Wednesday until 12 p.m. Afterwards, six of us met and strolled down Paseo de la Reforma, the city's main central street which was closed off to all traffic. Reforma has traffic circles with huge intricate monuments at major intersections every 5-6 blocks. There are 5 lanes going each way with a central stroll area that is very wide, maybe 15 yards. Then, there are 2 more lanes on the outside with a dedicated bycicle lane and all of this was closed to traffic to allow for the crowds. There were hundreds of porta-potties and thousands of police, all in full riot gear, and usually in groups of 20 or 30 at a time. There was no sale of liquor allowed except for in restaurants on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, and this kept the crowds sober and reasonable. We walked all the way down to the Zocalo where
Reforma from the Castle
El Angel de la Indepencia, erected 100 years ago in the center of the main central street, there are 7 lanes of traffic each way under those trees the cathedral, palace and administration buildings are located. Mexico City's Zocalo is the third largest square in the world, and there were huge crowds headed there by noon for the evening celebrations. We went into the square, took some pictures, then left because we did not want to be part of the estimated 500,000 people in the square to witness the celebrations. We found a nice restaurant for drinks and an early supper, then left the Zocalo, and went up the Sears building to the 8th floor balcony coffee shop overlooking the parade route. The views were fantastic. Then it was off down Reforma, where, with big screens and loudspeakers, we were entertained all the way to El Angel de la Indepencia, the monument in the center of Reforma erected for the 100th anniversary. There, the biggest name stars were performing, and we joined the hundreds of thousands who were there. And then, at 11:00, the president of Mexico came out onto the balcony of the palace, and shouted "Viva Mexico Viva Mexico Viva Mexico" and the grandest fireworks we have ever witnessed went off all around us! Then, a magnificent light show projected onto the Zocalo buildings culminated the
Zocalo
the buildings all decorated ready for the celebrations that start at 6 pm evening, and we walked back home. We are guessing that it was a 10 mile walk from home to the Zocalo, so we got our exercise that day, especially since we had been up at 5:30 in the morning to get Linda to school. Needless to say, Thursday was a stay at home and recuperate day. We watched the 3 hour military parade on TV and rested. On Friday, we visited Chapultepic Park for the first time. Chapultepec Park covers 2,000 acres and is also known for being one of the largest urban parks in the world. The park is more than trees and grassy knolls, housing a theme park, a zoo, and two lakes. History lovers will be surprised to find over a dozen museums, restaurants, and hotels in Chapultepec Park as well! All we had time to visit was part of the Anthropology Museum, so on Saturday, back we went to visit the Castle.
Sunday, back we went to the Zocalo to view the decorations and visit some of the buildings. We met Hugo, an older guide who took us through a couple of the museums, the cathedral and also the ruins. What a pleasure to have someone
In the Zocalo
up to 500,000 people expected in here later in the day, and all have to go through metal detectors knowledgeable like Hugo to give us the history of this area, which has been inhabited for thousands of years. The present Zocalo was built over the Aztec ruins of the 1400-1500's, and these were built over the inhabitants of the 100BC-400AD year period, and they built over the previous and on and on. Mexico City is sinking due to weight of buildings and the fact that it is set on an emptying aquifer. We ended the day atop the Gran Hotel which overlooks the Zocalo, where we enjoyed a wonderful buffet and traditional Mexican drinks, of course.
Then, back to school and routines. Linda to school and Maurice taking care of shopping at the market and stores, repairs, garbage removal, laundry, and communications. It is nice to have a social network through school acquaintances. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Linda is taking a Spanish class, and to celebrate one of the participants birthdays, we enjoyed a traditional Mexican meal at the home of one of the teachers. On Tuesday we have salsa class...it's quite a work out and we must have a beer after. After school on Friday, Linda had her hair cut by an acquaintance's friend who is taking an
Riot Police
the day was very peaceful, likely because of the 3 day liquor sales ban and the police presence esthetics course for 10 only pesos, that's about 90 cents. She was very happy with the results! Then, home for shower, out for a beer, and home early. Saturday, we had a parent fun day at school where we supervised, actually that means play with the parents and students followed by a lovely lunch and done by 2. Off we went back to Chapultepic Park and a visit to the zoo. Home early supper and a movie, something we haven't done in a long time. Sunday, we went on a tour to visit the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the old cathedral there, and then on to Teotihuacan, ruins that date to 100 A.D. For only 300 pesos, or $25 each, 4 of us were picked up, driven to and back, and had a very knowledgeable guide to explain and teach us about the history of what we saw. What a fantastic day! Linda was able to buy an authentic obsidian mask that she has always wanted. They are made right on location at Teotihuacan. It is incredibly humbling to stand were people have stood for over 1800 years and look out and wonder how much change in
Porta-potties everywhere
There were lots of these, and they were incrediblyclean, they had staff regularly cleaning and disinfecting the landscape there has been. We saw paintings on the rocks that from 200 B.C. to 400 A.D. We were shown how the dye comes from insect larvae and the varnish type finish from a plant. All in all, a very informative trip, and we were tired when we got back to the city Sunday suppertime.
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joanne
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WOW
You are living the life i always dreamed of ... could I do it without alcohol? Checking out the pics are a great idea ... wonderful program you are using ... miss you ... miss you