La Lucha Libre

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So last night our little group had quite possibly one of the most cultural experiences of the whole trip. We went to La Lucha Libre. A rough Spanish translation = free fight. These are very popular in Mexico, sometimes underground. In my Spanish Civilization class we actually watched a little excerpt on the fights that tied them to indigenous roots. The theory is that the fights give the people a chance to escape reality and live in the fantastic realm that was so prevelant in the indigenous culture. I can see it to, the wrestlers as well as the audience seem to lose themselves in the heat of the moment...

The arena is actually just three blocks away from Meghan and I´s house! Our host mother laughed at us when we told her our plans for the evening. I guess we don´t strike her as girls who would be interested in watching a fight.

The closest thing to them in the US is probably WWF or the Hulk Hogan style things (excuse my spelling, I´m not big on them in the states...). We found the arena pretty easily granted the shouts coming from inside. It cost $60 pesos (about $5.50) to get in. The arena was dark except for a lit ring in center. Our tickets only allowed is to sit in the upper section behind a barbed wire fence, which was quite alright with me! I was grateful that there were a couple guys in our group so stand on the ends while we watched the fight.

When we showed up, there was actually a fight between two women going on, one from China and one from Mexico. The Mexican woman had a tradition costume on that consisted of a mask and a two piece bathing suit type thing. Most of the Mexican wrestlers were some sort of tight fitting mask along with a brightly colored uniform. One guy even came out in a cape.

As always, there were people walking the crowd selling things. This time it reminded me of a Royals game because they were selling potatoe chips, churros, and other snacks. They also sold T-Shirts, replicas of certain wrestlers´masks, and little action figures of the wrestlers.

I have decided that wrestling is sort of like soap operas but for men. There was dialogue between fights to get rile the other people up. Every once in awhile they would stop and flex their muscles at each other and at the crowd to get some cheers. Some of the wrestlers also have women who come out with them, although Meghan and I couldn´t figure out why. They just come out in little more than their birthday suits and stand in the ring and the guys circle each other and stir up the crowd. When the fight gets going, they leave. It was sort of cool to see the flips and jumps that the wrestlers had concocted to entertain the audience. Sometimes the stunts even engaged the refs! During the last fight, the ¨best¨wrestler, a silver pants guy, took on three others in a fight for the trophy. I´m not really sure who won, silver pants guy was escorted out by the ref and the other three followed in a mob of people, still trying to get at him.

As we left the arena, there were more masks and memorabilia being sold outside. The masks ran around 300 pesos! We decided to spend our money on food instead and headed for Meghan and I´s favorite taco stand, the one that inspired the piñata! I think the guys were overwhelmed by all of us gringos trying to order, but I´m sure they enjoyed the rush! It´s such a bargain two, I had two taquitos de pastor and a bottle of water for 15 pesos! That´s less than $1.50!

Some of the group are planning to go back next Tuesday. I will regretfully be on a plane back to Kansas at the time and will be unable to join them...

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Photos

Luchador
a good look at a typical costume

In action
My camera didn´t quite capture the action, but, the red streak on the left is actually the ref being catipulted onto the guy being stretched out on the far right. All´s fair in true love and lucha...

Carne de Pastor
Our beloved taquito friend and his spicket of meat. One night, Meghan and I talked to him and his co-worker for a good half hour because the stand was empty. (Uncle Travis: he says that Querétaro is in the Sierra Madre range of mountians)