dia de accion de gracias

Though the school didn't give us the day off, it would be a travesty to have a year without Thanksgiving dinner. So, Mexicans, Britons and Americans alike gathered under the sun with a bounty of food and wine for a truly unique experience.

It showed that you don't always have to be with family to make a good Thanksgiving, and thank you to the Grubmans for welcoming all of us with open arms, as well as renting a house with a hot tub.

tepotzlan II

I visited Tepotzlan for the second time on Sunday -- this time to do a bit more shopping, but mainly to climb the mountain and the pyramid located at the top. I knew I was out of shape, but had no idea until I first attacked the jagged path. Still, after struggling for about an hour, I reached the top, though it was a bit behind the others.

At the top, a local operated a small counter with water and snacks, all of which had to be carried by hand. The tourists were greeted by 'kawalis' (spelling unchecked) that bombarded us looking for a snack. I'd relate them to grown-up versions of Richard's animal friends in Stone City, mainly because their paws were identical to those of his young raccoons.

pie de la puesta

We returned yesterday from Pie de la Puesta, a secluded and turbulent beach about 15 km north of Acapulco. After arriving Friday evening and staying in a dumpy hotel room, we found a perfect set of beachside bungalows. Though they had no air conditioning, limited hot water and only a stovetop for cooking inside, they were just what we were looking for.

For some reason, the 20th of November is a holiday here…I think it has something to do with independence, but is not the official Independence Day, which happens on Sept. 15.

Though I slept most of the long weekend – via hammock or bed – the break was timed perfectly. The waves in the ocean were consistently larger than any I’d seen on the Pacific before, though unlike Zihuatanejo and Acapulco, Pie de la Puesta isn’t a lagoon. When we ate, most plates at the family-operated restaurants cost only 20 pesos each – a welcomed surprise for this price-weary student traveler.

Our only trip into Acapulco occurred on Sunday night, when we caught the last show of the famed cliff divers around 10:30. Amazingly, they climbed the cliffs and leapt hundreds of feet into the ocean below.

Sometime into the show, toward the end, an electrical fire broke in a shelter seated atop the cliff. I only knew it was electrical thanks to the unique stench. One of the divers was so startled it looked as though he was going to fall over the cliff. Nonetheless, the show ended as planned, when the diver leapt with torches in each hand.

Though the sun didn’t show up for most of the weekend, Pie de la Puesta provided a welcomed break and one last chance to bond at the beach with the friends I’ve met here who I already miss.

lucha libre

Last Thursday, I went to "Lucha Libre," the local Mexican professional wrestling matches that happen every Thursday night. The arena, which felt more like a converted roller rink, was only about half full and entirely filthy.

It got rowdy at times. A few times, wrestlers flew into the crowd and continued to 'fight.' The crowd tossed boiled chicken feet - which have a snotty texture - at the wrestlers whenever something dirty happened.

Sorry, again, to the guy leaning against the rail at the bottom of the balcony. I'll try to aim better next time.

puebla

We went to Puebla last weekend, the fourth-largest city in Mexico, which is located about two hours down the road from Cuernavaca Our trip took about three, thanks to the traffic.


Home to extensive colonial architecture and supposedly 365 churches (one for each day of the year), Puebla was one of the most unique Mexican cities I've visited, mainly because the streets followed a square grid and there were fewer dogs and pieces of garbage in the streets.



Puebla is also home to Chotula, which is the "largest pyramid of the Ancient World." Honestly, it looks like a hill, and most people must have thought the same, because it was discovered there are more than five miles of underground tunnels inside. Because of the church on top, it hasn't been restored to the same extent as those at Teothuiacan. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen, figuratively and literally, as it was hot outside that day.

tepoztlan

Yesterday, I visited Tepoztlan, a small town about 25 minutes down the road from Cuernavaca. Home to a vibrant market, many visitors, and apparantly pigs in the streets, and a pyramid up the mountain, though we weren't up for it yesterday. I bought many gifts and tried a locally-made alcohol. Though I cannot remember the name, its flavor wasn't one that would draw me back.

When the round-trip bus ride costs all of 22 pesos, I have a feeling I'll have to go back at least once more to climb the mountain. On the ride back, we were serenaded by Bolivian pan flutes and guitar...made me think of Mak Dervo's work.

el estadio azteca y futból real

Went to Ciudad México on a sprinkling Saturday afternoon to catch my first football (what the rest of the world considers football) game in the second largest stadium in the world. It seemed like hardly anybody was there, but there probably was more people there than at any given Iowa State (U.S.)football game. The clubs, America and Atlante, tied 0-0. How exciting was that? Not very.

The primary concessions included beer (Victoria or Corona), cup of soup instant lunch (Maruchan), pizza (cheese, pepperoni or hawaiian from Domino's), chicken (fried), Cheetos, plus some others that I didn't recognize or try. Riding the metro in D.F. costs only 2 pesos -- truly the chariot of the people, well, that and the ruta.

el día de los muertos

This week has been the week of "Día de los Muertos," or "Day of the Dead." Families welcome members of the community to view their offerings for family members who died in the past year. Common items include flowers, tissue paper, salt, water, pan de muertos (bread), tequila, beer, and anything else that the deceased person enjoyed during their lives.

It's a national holiday here, and despite it's somewhat morbid theme, it is hardly considered sad. People believe the offerings allow the deceased to return for the night to be with their families. Visitors bring candles in exchange for pan de muertos, tamales, tea, cigarettes and other refreshments.