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Published: November 16th 2010
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The zocalo in Toluca
another beautiful church in the heart of Toluca Late October and we are nicely into BBQ season, the weather is ideal, 22-24 during the day, 12-14 at night. Linda says when she arrives at school at 6:45 am it is 60 F according to the thermometer. We had 6 for supper Friday night, Megan says she has been in Mexico over 4 years and that this was her first home style BBQ. We did pork chops and pork loin, I am getting used to the charcoal thing and the supper was delicious. Then we were off at 8PM for the Aleks Synstek concert. He is a huge recording star here in Mexico and kind of reminded us of Elton John in style and talent. The concert was held in an auditorium similar to but double the size of the Centennial Auditorium in Saskatoon, lending closeness and intimacy to the evening. The auditorium was magnificent, 20 foot Roman statues and columns, in-floor lighting, it was elegant! $30 tickets, and $3 beer delivered by a tuxedoed and discreet waiter, it was a grand evening enjoyed by the six of us, Rennie, Fran, Jo Anne , Linda and I, all Canadians, and our young American, Megan. Next morning, Saturday, we met at
Toluca Sugar Festival
held every weekend leading up to Day of the Dead, Nov 2nd the Metro at 10 in the morning, and head out for Toluca, a city of 1.5 million just 45 minutes west of DF, (District Federal de Mexico). From the metro stop at Observatorio we cross the street and take a $3.50 luxury coach bus to Toluca to attend the annual sugar skull festival that they hold every weekend in October to celbrate the up coming Day of the Dead, November 2nd. A short cab ride brought us to the...........you guessed it, Zocalo, where everything always happens. Again, what an experience, the colors and sights and crowds are exciting; the pictures do a better job describing the ambiance. We enjoyed our very tasty green sausage, another local delicacy, they assured us that the green color comes solely from chili peppers they use, no food color added. Then, we visit the amazing botanical gardens in the massive stained glass building. What beauty! Then, back to the city and we we're home by 7:30 for a relaxed evening. Sunday, more relaxing, a long walk in Parque Mexico, watching families play, listening in a bit at the Movies in the Park, and strolling. We are already starting to rest up for the big celebration
Chocolate Skulls
Chocolate skulls of all colors and sizes, made of chocolate and candy are everywhere. Skeletons are also very popular that combines Halloween and Day of the Dead. Saturday night before Halloween, time to costume up and head out for drinks, Jo Anne and Fran, who live less than a block from us, invite us for a drink and then off we go. We visited 4 bars and never got more than 2 blocks from home! We had a blast! Sunday, we met Megan, Fran and Jo Anne again and head to the Zocalo to visit the ofrendas, shrines, altars, decorations and the crowds! Then, we walked back to Reforma and admired Alabrijas, floats that are made out of paper mache depicting ancient mythical creatures that are on display for about 10 days. Was the day done? No, then we caught the metro to UNAM, one of the largest of Mexico City's universities, and admired the ofrendas and altars there. Home by Metrobus, another type of public transport. We were out for 9 hours and did a lot of walking, but we had to see all we could see. Monday; Nov 1st, Mixquic is the place you have to see. Mixquic is a village within Mexico City but it's at the extreme southern edge. Mixquic has retained it's Aztec roots,
Botanical Gardens
all 4 walls are intricate stained glass and has earned the reputation of celebrating Day of the Dead, so we head out with the other people of Mexico City to celebrate. We left the school at 2:45, took the metro as far south as we could, then took a bus, (Mexico City bus, not a coach) and for 2 pesos, 18 cents, rode for 2 hours and arrived at 6 pm. There were very lively markets in the streets. The church was decorated, music was on, the crowds friendly and in costume. The micheladas, beer and pulque (a milk-colored, somewhat viscious alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant, and is a traditional native beverage of Mexico) flowing. We picked the right place to have supper, and the pork leg was unique and delicious. Just as we were paying the bill, the "procession" came by, so we were front and center in the crowd. The "procession" is a well known and popular feature of the Mixquic reputation. It is led by several men in drag playing the part of the grieving widow and women who are grieving because the husband has died, however the widow is also angry because he was a useless S
At the market in Toluca
the travellers stop for a lunch of green sausage, delicious! O B who was lazy, sat around and drank all the time, and also chased other women. There were 4 men carrying the black coffin followed by the crowd. Several times, the coffin would open, the dead man would stand up in the coffin with his beer, and dance lewdly while grabbing his crotch causing the widows to wail even louder, and the crowds jeering and cheering. They then took the coffin to the river, set it in a gondola and pushed away, returning about a half hour later while we were waiting for a bus back home. They then apparently took the coffin to the cemetery where when they lowered it, the dead guy jumps up and out and runs away hooting, hollering, and drinking his beer. Quite a show! Then the journey home. The crowds are still attempting to get into Mixquic to celebrate all night. The double lane highway in and out of Mixquic has become 4 lanes coming into town, and no lane left to get out! It took us 4 and a half hours to get home, but crawl in at 1:30 we did. By 4:30AM in the morning Linda is up with her head
green sausage
the type of spice they use makes the sausage green, we bought a kilo to enjoy in the toilet! The salad on the street was not sitting well. Food poisoning! It was a long sick morning at school, but thank goodness it was only half a day. Visiting the cemetary to party on Day of the Dead with the locals will have to wait till next year.
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Lionel and Annette
non-member comment
Nice Costumes!
Hi! Very cute costumes, especially the Paper Bag Princess! Loved all the pictures, Mexico is so colourful! Sounds like you have met nice people!