Veracruz

After not returning home from our Thanksgiving celebration until 4:30, I quickly packed for my next trip, slept for an hour, got up to shower, and took the very crowded bus to CAPU to meet Miki at 8. We bought our tickets and took the 8:30 bus to Veracruz. It was only a 4-hour trip, which after a couple of 13-hour rides, and a night with little sleep, passed very quickly. We arrived in Veracruz around 12:30, and took a taxi to our hotel, which was right across from the beach, and offered a great view of the city. We were both hungry, so we had an early lunch at VIPS, comparable to Applebee’s in the States, and I had a great batch of french toast. It was kind of cloudy, and looked like it might rain, so we decided to go to the famous aquarium, supposedly the largest and most impressive in Latin America. If you had never been to an aquarium before, or maybe not one in the United States, it probably would have been impressive. But, it wasn’t all that large, and I just kept asking myself “where are the sharks?” and “when is their going to be a show with Shamu and Flipper like Sea World?” There were a lot of large and odd fish, and some interesting displays, but nothing to write home about.

The aquarium is in this large plaza that has areas to shop, other museums, and a simulation ride. Since Miki had never been on one, I knew it was something she had to experience, and we went on a “rollercoaster ride”. Her reactions and expressions were more enjoyable than the ride itself! After this adventure, we walked and walked looking for the Zocalo area, which was no easy task with gale force winds. There was still evidence of the hurricane that hit the city back in September, and after walking in that crazy wind, I can only imagine how intense and damaging the hurricane had to be. We spent a little time in the Zocalo, and then took a taxi back to our hotel to rest and relax. We ended up falling asleep and woke up around 9. Neither of us really felt like going out, and just decided to walk down the street to Subway for dinner, and then call it an early night.

Saturday morning we got up and walked to McDonald’s for a great pancake breakfast. I obviously have taken full advantage of the Mexican cuisine and seafood on recent vacations…not. We wanted to spend some time on the beach, so we walked to the beach, and laid out for a bit. But, it didn’t last long, as it was just as windy as it was the day before, and we got tired of rubbing sand out of our eyes and spitting sand out of our mouths. However, the warmth and the sun were greatly appreciated. We went back to the hotel to shower and change, and then Miki wanted some seafood, so we went to a restaurant on the beach where she got her fix, and after went back to Subway for me. Then, we met Bryce, who had arrived that afternoon, near the aquarium, and took a taxi to the Fort of San Ulua. San Juan de Ulua is a grouping of prisons, fortresses, and a palace that overlooks Veracruz, and it was very large and impressive. There were many locations for photo-ops, and a lot of history and information to take in. We spent a couple of hours there, and then returned to the aquarium plaza so Bryce could go to the aquarium, and Miki and I went to Aunque Ud. No Lo Crea (Ripley’s Believe it or Not). Of course all the abnormalities and oddities at Ripley’s are always amusing, but there was one exhibit that was especially entertaining.

At the beginning of the museum, there are some statistics and a couple of pictures of people making strange shapes and doing strange things with their tongues. Behind these displays is a large mirror where people can try to copy these odd movements. Of course, being so talented, I took the opportunity to show Miki that I can indeed roll my tongue, and I can also make the 3-leaf clover. After attempting these shapes, you continue through the museum until you reach the last room, where there is a sign that says, “Do you remember this?” Here, you learn that the mirror for the tongue movements is a two-way mirror and everyone can see you attempting to make these shapes. It was absolutely hysterical to watch people think about: 1) should they even try it or are they two composed and mannered for that and 2) how in the world do people actually do these things with their tongues. We stayed in this room for at least 20 minutes, enjoying the ridiculous faces and attempts of others. However, I am sure I put on quite the show for others early in the afternoon.

That evening we returned to the hotel to relax for a bit, and then went to a restaurant/bar down the street, named Rumbumba. Once again taking advantage of the food, I ordered chicken nuggets and fries to go along with my pina colada. However, Bryce and Miki both ordered seafood dishes and said they were great. We enjoyed eating out on the deck, hearing the waves crash below us, and listening to a decent band. Not knowing where else to go and not feeling like walking all the way to the Zocala area, we called it a night around 11.

Sunday morning we pressed snooze three or four times before finally getting up and heading back to the beach. It was a much nicer day, with little wind, less clouds, and a higher temperature. The weather made such a difference, so we spent our last couple of hours on the beach, and then went back to quickly shower and change. Then, we went back to the bus station and made the 4-hour journey back to Puebla. I am sure Veracruz had a lot more to offer, and a few more days on the beach would have been wonderful, but for a short weekend, and our last weekend of travel for the semester, it was fun and relaxing. 

Pictures from Veracruz:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=254060&id=648162615

Thanksgiving

While all of you were feasting on turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, and taking your post-feast naps, we were taking an exam for one of our classes. It was strange that no body was at work or school in the States, and everyone had statuses relating to Thanksgiving day, while we continued with everyday life. It’s obvious that Mexico does not celebrate Thanksgiving, as the Pilgrims did not first settle in Mexico, but it was odd to miss a major holiday nonetheless. We knew that we wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving and have our own feast, but since it is near impossible to find a turkey in Mexico, and since the preparation seemed like more than we really wanted to take on, we decided we would have an Italian Thanksgiving dinner.

So, after dance class, we attempted to take a taxi to an Italian restaurant in Cholula that our cooking teacher had recommended to us. However, there are two different parts of Cholula, and we told the taxi driver the wrong one, so after a 45 minute taxi ride, which is really about a 10 minute ride, we arrived at the restaurant to find a sign on the door that said they owners were on vacation and wouldn’t return until December 2^nd. So, back to the other part of Cholula we went and found another Italian restaurant in the Zocalo area. We all ate way too much pizza, salad, and pasta, but it was excused since we were celebrating Thanksgiving. After spending far too long at the restaurant, we went to the bar/club area of Cholula and went to a club called Ming. We had a great time dancing and making new friends, but not exactly your typical Thanksgiving evening! 

Pictures from our Thanksgiving dinner are at the end of this album:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236420&id=648162615

A Weekend in Paradise: Huatulco

Thursday after dance class, we rushed off to CAPU bus station to begin our next little journey. We would be heading back to the beaches of Oaxaca, but this time to a town called Huatulco, and we would have four full days there. We loaded the bus around 8 that night, and with extra seats so we were able to spread out in our own seats and without a medical episode, the 13-hour bus ride passed quickly.

We arrived in Huatulco around 9 in the morning on Friday, and since we had not made reservations at a hotel and there are no hostels in Huatulco, we asked the taxi driver to take us to a nice, but cheap hotel somewhere near the beach. And that he did. Our hotel was a two to three minute walk across the street from the beach, and located in the Bay of Chahue. Huatulco is made up of 9 different bays, each with its own unique qualities, and while we were there, we were able to visit 5 of the 9. We checked into the hotel, changed our clothes, and rushed off to the beach to soak up the sun. It was absolutely gorgeous, and after an unusually cold week in Puebla, the beach was perfect. The waves were strong, but not nearly as intense as those in Puerto Escondido. We spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon on the beach, before walking into the center area to have a seafood lunch. After, we returned to the hotel to shower and relax for a bit. We were all tired, so decided to take a short power nap, and intended to get up to watch the sunset. Three hours later we woke up to the darkness of night. That night we walked back to the center area to the cinema, and they somehow convinced me to see Harry Potter, which had come out two days earlier. The movie was in Spanish, which was fine, but I wouldn’t have known what was going on in the English version either, so I took the time to have a few more power naps. Once the movie was over, we wandered around the center area, before finding a small, hole-in-the-wall bar where a lot of locals were drinking and dancing Cumbia and Salsa. It was nice to be in a quaint little bar like that, so we stayed there for a couple of hours, and finally returned to the hotel around 3.

Saturday morning we got up, had a quick breakfast, and returned to the beach in front of our hotel. We spent the morning there, and then took a taxi to the Bay of Santa Cruz, which is just a 5-minute drive up the coast from the Bay of Chahue. Santa Cruz was the original town in the area, and for this, the entire name of Huatulco is Santa Cruz Huatulco. This bay was much calmer than the Bay of Chahue, the water was a different shade of blue, and the sand a completely different texture. Also, there were not a lot of tourists on the beach, so we were surrounded by a lot of native families that were enjoying their Saturday afternoon on the beach. Soon after we laid down on the beach, a little girl, who was probably a year-and-a-half, came up to us, and of course me loving the little ones, started talking and playing with her. We made sand castles and she played with my sunglasses for 20-30 minutes. But, in all this time, we didn’t have a clue as to who her parents were, which was really strange. Finally, after 30 minutes or so, a man with dreadlocks, who had first been sitting on the rocks near us and then swimming, came up and said in perfect English, “Her name’s Ocean, let me know if she is bothering you.” We played with Ocean for a little longer, now speaking in English, and then she decided to go into the water with her Dad. We spent the rest of the day analyzing the family, and finally decided that the Dad was Australian and the Mom Italian. It’s always nice to have a little entertainment and time for people watching on the beach.

That afternoon we went to a café in Santa Cruz, and I had a delicious cheeseburger. We returned to the beach for another hour or so to take a nap and watch the sunset. Because all of the beaches are nestled in little bays, you cannot actually see the sunset into the water, like in Puerto Escondido, but the colors in the sky were still beautiful. After, we went to the center area of Santa Cruz and enjoyed a coffee, before going back to the hotel to shower and change. That night we walked back to the downtown area to eat and have a drink. I don’t know what my drink was called, but it tasted like a marshmallow and was delicious! Near our hotel was a club called Papaya, so we walked back there and spent the night dancing. One of the features of the club is that there is a large water-tank, the length of one of the walls, and every couple of hours a “mermaid” swims around the tank for 5-10 minutes. It was quite amusing, and I decided maybe that could be my future job…spend my days on the beaches and my evenings in the tank as a mermaid, sounds perfect! ; ) At Club Papaya, there was a mix of Mexican vacationers, locals, and tourists. At one point, I met a nice Canadian guy, but after the last 3 months, it was weird to speak to a guy in English in a club/bar setting. We eventually returned to the hotel around 3:30.

Sunday morning we got up and were ready to go on our ATV tour by 9. The company picked us up from our hotel, and took us to the starting location of the tour. We signed our lives away, and had a little orientation of how to use the ATV’s, although I was already an expert from my experiences of speeding through the fields of Arkansas when I was 14, haha. We were about two minutes into the jungle, when we suddenly stopped because a truck was blocking the path, and would not allow us to pass. Our tour guide argued with the men for 10 minutes or so, and it was finally decided that they would move the truck and we could pass, as long as one of the other guides took his ATV to the store and returned with large bottles of pop and snacks. Only in Mexico. After that little debacle, we continued on our way through the jungle, where I sped through the open areas, ducked out of the way of branches in the dense areas, and splashed through the water in the riverbed. It was an absolute blast, and probably one of the favorite things I’ve done in Mexico! After 45 minutes or so, we arrived at Tangolundo Bay, which was absolutely beautiful. Many Corona beer commercials have been shot on that beach, and the area is also famously known as Boca del Cielo in a recent Latinamerican movie, Y Tu Mama Tambien. We took some pictures there, and then got back on the ATV and headed to Maguey Bay, where we had an hour or so to swim and relax. Once again, this bay was completely different from the others, with the water more teal/greenish and see-through, and the sand different. Then, we drove the ATV’s back to the starting point, and the company returned us to our hotel.

We decided to have lunch at one of the beach clubs on our beach, and then we all napped the afternoon away under the umbrellas. Around 5, we went back to the hotel to shower and change, and then walked Bryce to the bus station, as he was leaving that night, while the 3 of us girls would spend another day in Huatulco. So, the three of us took a taxi from the bus station back to Santa Cruz Bay, where we ate dinner at a restaurant on the beach. The evening was wonderful, but quite odd. First off, we had a wonderful and genuine, but over zealous waiter who literally ran from the restaurant to the beach anytime we needed anything. Then, as we were finishing dinner, we had a group of people setting up tents behind us on the beach, as well as a large tour group of intoxicated kayakers coming out of the water like creatures from the black lagoon. We enjoyed the little comedy show, and finally once all 15 or so kayaks returned, we beckoned over our waiter, who came sprinting like his life depended on it with our check. After this odd evening, we returned to the coffee shop in the center to have coffee and chocolate cake, and after a couple of late nights and lazy days on the beach, we returned to the hotel before midnight.

On Monday morning, we got up and ready, and checked out of the hotel, but left our bags behind the desk. We took a taxi to Tangolundo Bay, which is the ritziest bay of the 9, and where the majority of the all-inclusive resorts are located. The taxi dropped us off in a drive-way/parking lot area, and then we had a short little hike through the forest to arrive at the beach. But, it was well work the walk, as the bay was gorgeous! We spent most of the morning swimming, tanning, and looking for shells. Then, we went back to downtown Huatulco for a delicious lunch, where I had chicken tacos. We made a stop at OXXO, the 7-11 of Mexico, and loaded up on snacks for bus ride that night. That afternoon, we spent a couple of more hours on the beach, swimming, napping, and enjoying our last little bit of paradise. We then returned to the hotel to shower in the outside shower by the pool, which turned out to be a great show for two little children, no older than 5, probably thinking “crazy tourists”. Around 6 that evening, we returned to the bus station and prepared for the 13-hour ride back to Puebla. Once again, there were extra seats, so we were able to layout and sleep. We arrived back in Puebla around 7:30 on Tuesday morning and took a taxi back to the Ibero for our 8 AM class. A long day on Tuesday, but completely worth it for a weekend in paradise!

Photos from Huatulco:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=648162615&aid=254024

Mexico City Round 2

So after an easy week with only two days of classes, we were leaving once again for another adventure. Friday morning I met Bryce at the main bus station at 9. We bought bus tickets for Mexico City and were on our way by 9:10. After a two-hour bus ride, we arrived in Mexico City, unloaded the bus, and found our way to the local Metro station. We took the Metro to the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace Fine Arts). The palace was a little disappointing in that the building itself was under construction, and many of the exhibition rooms were not open to the public at the time. However, we saw an impressive and extensive exhibit from the famous Mexican painter, Saturnino Herrán. Also, there was an interactive portion of the museum where we were able to create our own “masterpieces”, complete puzzles of famous works, and dress up and enter the foreground of one of Herrán’s famous paintings. After spending an hour or two at the Palace, we walked around the park across the street from the museum, where hundreds of vendors were selling food, clothes, souvenirs, etc.

Feeling as if we had mastered the Metro system, we hopped on once again and got off at the Chapultepec stop. We entered Chapultepec Park and walked to the Castle of Chapultepec, where we took advantage of being national students yet again and entered for free. The castle offers amazing views of Mexico City, and also hosts the National History Museum. We spent a couple of hours walking around the outside of the castle, exploring the various sections and rooms within the castle, and soaked up all of the history and information surrounding Mexico City and the castle itself.

Between 3 and 4, we left the castle and took the subway to the stop of our hostel. The location of the hostel was excellent, only a minute or two from the subway. However, this was just about the only thing the hostel had going for it. Our room, or little shack, was on the roof of the building, and the bathroom was a 4 X 4 shack with a toilet and shower, all on cement. The thought of showering in this hut was as appealing as spending an entire week at Casa del Sol, but being as how I had not showered since Wednesday, I endured a quick and ice-cold shower. I got ready, we made our way down the death-threatening stairs, and started out on a search for the neighborhood Condensa, an area of Mexico City that we stumbled upon the first time we were there and really enjoyed. Once we reached the neighborhood, we began to look for the cute and quiet Italian bar and restaurant where we had eaten last time. Just as we were about to give up and settle for another small restaurant, we looked across the street and were thrilled to see The Flora Lounge. We ordered tasty pizza and a couple of drinks, before taking advantage of the delectable desserts (flan and some sort of banana cream pie cake) and free mixed drinks that the bartender had made. Filled with delicious food and excitement for Norah Jones, we took a cab to the National Auditorium, where several vendors were selling Norah Jones t-shirts, CDs, etc. at ridiculously low prices. So, of course, I couldn’t resist the bargains and bought two t-shirts before entering the National Auditorium.

The inside of the auditorium/theatre is quite impressive, and the building seats just under 10,000 people. We made our way down to our seats in the “preferred seating” section, which were to the left of center stage in Row D. From this point, we had a view of Norah when she was on center stage. However, her piano was positioned oddly on the right hand of the stage, almost facing the audience, so that even if you were in the first row on the right hand side, you wouldn’t have been able to see her. But, she sounded amazing, and the acoustics in the National Auditorium were very impressive. The majority of concerts that I have attended, I have left feeling disappointed with the quality of acoustics, but Norah sounded just as good as her CDs, if not better. She performed several songs from her newest album, The Fall, before singing some of her classics. She was not all that interactive with the crowd, and did not share information regarding the significance behind her songs, which to me really makes a concert. But, I think a lot of this was due to the fact that we were in Mexico, and she probably didn’t know how exactly to relate and interact with the crowd. She only performed for an hour, before leaving the stage and returning to perform 3 more songs. So, the concert was quite short, and we didn’t feel like we quite got our money’s worth, but she did sound amazing, and it is pretty cool to be able to say that we saw Norah Jones in Mexico City at the National Auditorium.

Pictures from Norah Jones:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=248236&id=648162615

Since we weren’t familiar with the area of our hostel and had to get up early the next morning to meet the rest of the group, we just decided to head back to our “campsite” and call it an early night once we left the concert.

Saturday morning we climbed down from our igloo and took the metro to the Zocalo, where we met the rest of the USAC group for the Mexico City field trip. We started the morning with a tour of the National Palace, which was very informative and fascinating. We did not actually visit the presidential quarters or offices, but did walk around a portion of the palace that features several Diego Rivera murals. We had a fabulous tour guide who has been giving tours for 50+ years, has connections throughout the palace, and actually saw Diego Rivera paint. The history and stories illustrated through Rivera’s work are incredible, not to mention the perspectives and talent that all of his works contain. (See pictures)

After the tour at the National Palace, we took the van to the Anthropology Museum. There we had an hour and a half to enjoy the museum. I am so glad that we decided to visit the museum the first time we were in Mexico City, because it has so much to offer, an you need at least a day to go through the majority of the museum, not a measly hour and a half. I visited two more exhibition rooms, before we all gathered again for lunch in the museum’s cafeteria. We had access to the buffet, and I took full advantage of it. Thankfully after lunch, we had an hour or so drive to Teotihuacan, so I was able to enter into my food coma and sleep for a bit. Since we have seen so many sets of ruins and pyramids in our short time in Mexico, I was not exactly looking forward to seeing yet another set. However, I had completely underestimated the size and extent of the town and pyramids. The area was absolutely massive, and it took us 2-3 hours to walk through the ruins and the famous Avenue of the Dead, as well as climb several of the pyramids including the famous Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon. The views from the top of Pyramid of the Sun, the larger of the two main pyramids, were breathtaking, and it also felt like quite an accomplishment to make it to the top. Once we had made our way through all of Teotihuacan, we did a little shopping, before loading into the van and making the two-hour drive back to Puebla.

Pictures from Palacio de Bellas Artes, Castillo de Chapuletepc, Palacio Nacional, and Museo de Antropologia:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=248229&id=648162615

Pictures from Teotihuacan:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=248237&id=648162615

Cuisine Course

Last week, I had my last of the seven cooking courses. Since I have last written, we have made chilaquiles verdes, tacos dorados, guacamole, sopa poblana y sopa de frijol, esquites, enfrijoladas, arroz rojo, tortillas, and the famous mole poblano. Throughout the course, my favorite dishes were probably chilaquiles verdes and sopa poblana, followed by the churros, as I am sucker for anything with cinnamon and sugar! Chilaquiles verdes are basically nachos, but the green salsa that we made and the chicken, cheese, cream, and union that we added to them, created a scrumptious combination. Sopa poblana (soup originating in Puebla), contains chile, onion, garlic, bacon, mushrooms, pumpkin, corn, pumpkin flower, cheese, cream, and chicken. It has a very distinct flavor, but one that I have grown to love!

Although I don’t think I have mastered Mexican cooking at all, I believe that with the right kitchen utensils and Mexican foods and flavors, I can certainly whip up a few of the above dishes. : )

Pictures from the last few cooking classes are towards the end of this album:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236402&id=648162615

Oaxaca for Halloween and Day of the Dead

With the time change, which is observed a week earlier in Mexico, and no “medical episode”, we made great time and arrived back in Oaxaca around 6 am Sunday morning. We went to our hostel to drop our bags off, and then went out into the city to find something to eat. Not many places were open, but we managed to find a little breakfast/lunch restaurant where I had some tasty pancakes and a strawberry-banana smoothie. For Day of the Dead, the streets of Oaxaca were lined with giant skulls that were painted and decorated by various artists. Also, in the Zocalo, there were large displays of sand skeletons and designs to admire. It was nice to be able to take photos early in the morning with few people out and about. We walked around the city for a bit longer, and then returned to the hostel to shower and get ready.

We decided to go on a tour to Monte Albán, which was the ancient capital of the Zapotecs and one of the first cities in Mesoamerica. I had not heard of Monte Albán until I arrived in Mexico, but it was quite impressive and much larger than I had expected. We were able to see several pyramids, the ball court, and great views of the city of Oaxaca. We spent a couple of hours walking around the area, and then took the bus back to the city. We ate lunch, and then met up with Lily, before wandering the city in search of cemeteries. We were not successful in our search of cemeteries, but did stumble upon the plaza of the dances, next to the famous Soledad church. In this area, there were thousands of marigolds, the flower of Day of the Dead, and candles displayed, and we were told that at 8 pm that night there would be a large dance ceremony in the plaza.

So, we went back to the hostel to relax for a bit, and then around 7:30, we headed back to this dance plaza. We found great seats and had wonderful views of the performances. Five different groups performed, each with a different story and significance. The last of the five groups, featured men and young boys dressed as devils and cracking whips. They had a 10+ minute dance performance, and then they chose a few people from the audience to dance with them. And who exactly was chosen? Me! When you are sitting there watching the dance, the rhythms and patterns seem quite simple, but when you actually have to do them, it isn’t quite as easy. Even if I looked like a nut, I had fun and it was an amazing honor to witness and be part of such a cultural event. After the dance ceremony, we were all hungry and not much was open, so we decided to go to Domino’s, which turned out to be delicious. As our day had started at 6 am, we were all pretty tired and ended up going back to the hostel around 11:30, talking with other guests for a bit, and calling it a night.

Monday morning I got up around 8:30, beat the rush to the shower, and spent a little time on the computer trying to figure out my schedule at Adrian for the spring semester. We had a decent breakfast at the hostel, and then headed out to wander the city once again. We went on a tour of the Ethnobotanical Garden, which was very pretty and interesting, but I probably could have done without the guided tour that lasted an hour and a half. However, I think one of the highlights of my trip happened on this tour…There was a little pool/fountain area in one of the pathways and apparently this outwardly gay Frenchman didn’t realize quite how close he was, and took a little dip into the pool. Being as how I can’t quite keep myself together when people fall or are scared, both of which this gentleman was, I had to walk away from the group with tears streaming down my face from laughter. After this little episode, we finished up the tour and walked to a restaurant and I had a great batch of quesillo fundido. We went back to the Zocalo area to do a little shopping, and I enjoyed a much-awaited cinnabon. Then, we headed back to the hostel to drop off our purchases and relax for a bit.

Around 8 that night, we walked to San Miguel Cemetery, which is one of the main and largest cemeteries in Oaxaca. Outside of the cemetery there were all sorts of food and treat stands and a carnival type area complete with rides and creepy carnies. Before entering the cemetery, we bought a bouquet of the traditional Day of the Dead flowers, marigolds and celosias, so we could later lay it on a grave. When you first enter the cemetery, there is a large square shaped area that has candles lighting up niches, and huge and detailed ofrendas, or altars. In Mexico, Day of the Dead is celebrated to pray for, remember, and reconnect with friends and family members who have died. To do so, Mexicans often build ofrendas that contain the favorite items of the deceased, such as food, drinks, clothes, toys for children, etc. The ofrendas in San Miguel were enormous, and it was impossible to capture an entire altar in a picture. Once we had made the complete trip around this portion of the cemetery, we entered the endless mass of graves and tombstones. The majority of grave areas were decorated with flowers and mini-ofrendas, and many families were gathered around the graves of loved-ones eating, talking, singing, and celebrating. It was quite a sight to see, and another cultural event that I was glad to experience. We walked through a good portion of the cemetery, spooking ourselves every once in a while, and then decided we had had enough for the night. Although parties and celebrations would continue inside and outside the cemeteries throughout the city into the wee hours of the morning, we were tired and just decided around midnight to go back to the hostel and get some sleep.

Bryce and I had originally planned to return back to Puebla at 8:30 Tuesday night, but we didn’t want to arrive back after midnight, so we changed our tickets to 4:30 that afternoon, which still gave us time to enjoy another day in Oaxaca. We decided to go on another tour, and the first stop was in a town called Tule, which hosts the world’s widest tree. It was indeed quite wide. Then, we drove to the town of Teotitlan, where we went to a rug making house/factory and learned all about the Zapotec rug-making process. The making and combining of colors, the weaving process, and the time that can be spent on a single rug depending on the complexity of the design were all fascinating. I really would have liked to buy a rug, but one they were expensive, and two, I don’t know how exactly I would have gotten it back home. But, one day, when I marry my rich husband, we will have these beautiful rugs shipped in from Teotitlan.

Next, we went to a Mezcal factory and learned all about the making of this famous alcohol, which is different from tequila in that Mezcal is obtained from a variety of agave (cacti), and tequila only uses the blue agave. Additionally, the process of production and the final tastes are distinct as well. The tour finished up with a sampling of the four types of mezcal (from the oldest and smoothest to the youngest and strongest) and mezcal creams. I bought the famous mezcal with the worm in the bottom, and a passion fruit and piña colada cream. However, only the worm and passion fruit cream will accompany me back to Michigan, as the piña colada cream fell on the bus trip back to Puebla, which created a very sticky and embarrassing mess, especially when I walked off the bus smelling like an alcoholic and with alcohol dripping from my bag. Oh well.

After the Mezcal factory, we drove to Mitla, where we saw another set of ruins. They did not cover as much area as other ruins we have seen, but there were two tomb areas that we were able to walk down and into, which was kind of cool. We spent an hour or so in Mitla before the tour driver took us back to our hostel so we could pick up our bags and take a cab to the bus station. We had just enough time to grab a sandwich and chips for the road, and then loaded onto the bus for an uneventful ride back. We arrived in Puebla around 9:30 that night, and I took a cab back home.

It was an exhausting weekend, but worth every second of it! And, I was already looking forward to the next adventure in Mexico City on Friday! : )

Pictures from Oaxaca:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=245157&id=648162615

Puerto Escondido

Filled with excitement for our upcoming trip, I was wide-awake at 6:30 on Thursday morning. I forced myself to doze for a little longer, before getting up and heading to classes. After classes, I walked home, grabbed my bags, and we all headed to CAPU, the main bus station in Puebla. We had a 4-5 hour bus ride to Oaxaca, Oaxaca. We arrived to a steady rainfall, which was foreign to us after an absolutely beautiful and dry month of October in Puebla. Kendra, Bryce, and I would travel onto Puerto Escondido, the beach!, but Megan had decided to stay in Oaxaca for the entire break, so we took her to the hostel, before finding a delicious restaurant to grab a bite to eat. We walked the city for a bit, took Megan back to the hostel, and went back to the bus station. We loved what we saw in the hour or two that we were in Oaxaca, and we were excited to return after a couple of days of soaking up the sun in Puerto Escondido. 


We got on the bus to Puerto Escondido around 9:00 and prepared ourselves for the 10-hour ride ahead. We were about two hours outside of Oaxaca, when the bus suddenly stopped at a military operated checkpoint. After an hour of sitting on the dark, hot, and stuffy bus, we were told that there was a “medical emergency” and a young lady on the bus was not well. So, we watched the mother fan the daughter with a towel for another hour, before an ambulance finally showed up to take the girl. Why on earth the family didn’t get off the bus and wait at the checkpoint, but chose to stay on the sweltering bus and hold up the trek, is beyond us, but I think this is a prime example of the difference in attitude regarding time between Americans and Mexicans. Also, in the United States it would never take two hours for an ambulance to arrive. Following this little medical episode, we were once again on our way to Puerto Escondido. I managed to doze on and off again for the next 7 or so hours, and when I woke up around 6:30, I saw a beautiful sunrise as we drove down the Pacific coast.

We arrived at the bus terminal in Puerto Escondido around 9, and I called the hostel to see if there was a possibility of getting into our room early. Luck was with us, and we went straight to our hostel, changed our clothes, and headed to the beach. The hostel was more like a hotel, in that we had our own bathroom and two twin beds, opposed to shared bathrooms and bunk beds. It was a nice change, and the hostel was a minute walk to the beach. In Puebla, we are so highly elevated that there is little humidity, so with the high humidity and rising temperatures, it didn’t take long for us to go running into the Pacific Ocean. We were staying on Zicatela Beach, which is supposedly one of the best surfing beaches in the world, and for this reason the waves were really rough! We were all taken out by the waves at least once, and I think we all left with scratches and minor injuries of sorts. But, it was definitely worth it, and the temperature of the water was that perfect temperature that refreshingly chills you at first, but allows you to adjust quickly. We laid out on the beach, reading and relaxing, until 1:30 or so, before eating lunch at a restaurant on the beach and heading back to the hostel. We had a little down time before our scheduled lagoon tour, so I took the time to read in a hammock for a bit, until Martin, the owner of the hostel, came and talked with me for a while. We discussed things to do and places to see in the area, and then just chatted. It is nice to be at the point where I feel confident enough to carry on a conversation in Spanish for a period of time.

Around 3:30, the lagoon tour guides picked us up from the hostel and we made the 30-minute drive to Manialtepec Lagoon. We then got on a small boat and took a tour of the lagoon, observing the trees, birds, and diverse surroundings. After an hour or so, we reached a beautiful point where Manialtepec Lagoon, Manialtepec River, and the Pacific Ocean all come together. We were able to get out of the boat, walk around this breathtaking area, and, of course, take a lot of photos. We took the boat back to the starting point, made the trip back to the hostel, and rushed to the beach to see an amazing sunset. I have been blessed to see sunsets in many unique settings in my lifetime (Uluru in Australia, boat ride in Jamaica, Upper Peninsula, etc.), but this was by the far the prettiest sunset that I have seen. The colors and clouds in the sky with the reflection off the ocean were picture perfect.

After the remarkable sunset, we went back to the hostel to shower and get ready for a night out on the town. I had read some positive reviews about a restaurant, Guadua, near our hostel, so we decided to give it a try. Best decision we could have made for dinner! The restaurant was located right on the beach, so with the sound of crashing waves in the background and candlelight over the table, we all enjoyed our delicious meals. I had chicken, potatoes, and salad, which does not sound like anything all that exciting, but it was one of the best meals I’ve had in Mexico. We all shared a white chocolate moose with almonds for dessert….mmm mmm good! Then, we took a taxi to the downtown area of Zicatela beach, where there are several bars, clubs, etc. right on the beach. I absolutely loved the relaxed and fun atmosphere that enveloped the area! First we went to a bar where we were able to sit out on cushions on the beach and enjoy a drink and a band playing some American classics. Then, we headed to a club that was having a toga party, and although we were not dressed accordingly, we were allowed to enter. We danced the night away until 3:30 or so, when we finally headed back to the hostel to catch a couple hours of sleep.

Not wanting to waste any sacred beach time, we got up around 8:30 on Saturday morning and were out on the beach again by 9. We had breakfast brought out to us on the beach and enjoyed the quite morning by napping, reading, taking in the sun, and tackling the waves. Bryce and I walked down to the far end of beach to climb the rocks and take pictures. Then, we went back to the hostel to shower and change before going to the downtown area again to eat lunch and do some shopping. A few girls from school that we know were also spending the long break in Puerto Escondido, and their hostel was actually right next to ours. So, we had dinner with them at a restaurant on the beach and watched another perfect sunset before going back to the hostel real quick to grab our bags and take a taxi to the bus station. We had spent 2 days in paradise, and we were definitely not ready to leave. But, at the same time, we were excited to celebrate Halloween and Day of the Dead in Oaxaca. So, we loaded the bus back to Oaxaca around 8:30 and started the 10-hour journey back to Oaxaca. Having not slept well/much the past two nights, I passed out almost immediately and sleep soundly the majority of the trip. 

Pictures from the beach:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=245073&id=648162615

Baptism of Jesús Alejandro

On Sunday, October 7^th, I had the opportunity to see and celebrate the baptism of Jesús Alejandro with Margarita and the rest of her family. Eight days before I arrived in Puebla, Margarita’s son, Alejandro, and his wife, Flor, had a baby boy named Jesús Alejandro. Since  then, the planning and necessary preparations had been in motion for the baptism. Margarita, Lupita, and I spent several nights making and addressing all of the invitations, followed by nights spent making decorations that the families in attendance could take with them to remember the special occasion. With all of Margarita’s family, her husband’s family, and the family of Flor, there would be close to 150 people at the baptism and party afterwards, and Margarita would prepare ALL the food. So, the week before the baptism, Margarita spent major portions of the day in the kitchen, and the day before, her and her sister were up until 4 in the morning finishing the last of the food.

On Sunday morning, some of the family came over to get ready and relax before the mass and baptism. Around 12:50, we walked across the street to the church, and around 1, mass started. After an hour mass, we all gathered around a little fountain, where Alejandro and Flor handed baby Jesús Alejandro over to his godparents (Lupita and the brother of Flor), and the father baptized him. The ceremony was very short, and different than what I had expected, but it was a ritual that I am glad I was part of. After, there was a lot of picture taking with baby Jesús, who behaved wonderfully throughout everything. Then, we walked back to the house and loaded up the cars with all the food, gifts, and other necessities. We drove to a banquet center, 15 minutes or so from my house, and took all the food to the kitchen so Margarita and her sister, Rosa, could warm it all. I sat with the rest of Margarita’s family during this time, the majority of which I had met before, and enjoyed their company. I also think I met the crazy uncle, the husband of Margarita’s sister, as every family has to have the crazy uncle. Then, we all ate, before more picture taking and conversing. Of course there was cake and a couple of games, and before leaving, I helped clean up some of the tables. Around 6 or so, I left with Margarita’s niece, Rosy, and her daughter, and they dropped me off at my house so I could finish up some homework. Margarita and Lupita were at the banquet center until almost 11, talking with family and friends, and cleaning up the hall. The day was very special for the family, and almost everything went without a hitch. I am glad I was able to spend the day with the family and be part of the festivities.

Pictures from the baptism are towards the end of this album:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236546&id=648162615

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

Uploading photos has probably been the most frustrating part of this semester for me. So, I am now just uploading my photos into Facebook albums, but I will continue to post my updates and links to photos on the blog. If you don’t have Facebook and are unable to view the photos, find someone who does. A lot of my albums have pictures from the past, as well as recent photos. So, make sure to check out all of the album again. Thanks for following! Enjoy! J

Mexico City Weekend:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236539&id=648162615

Independence Day Weekend:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236397&id=648162615

Puebla Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236546&id=648162615

Out and About Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236420&id=648162615

Cuisine Course Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236402&id=648162615

Past and Recent Cholula Trips:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236388&id=648162615

A Beautiful and Relaxing Weekend

Friday I spent a wonderful afternoon and evening with friends. I met Bryce and Lily in the Zocalo around 5:30 and we walked to a building that was hosting a film festival. We watched the last 30 minutes or so of a Mexican documentary that was quite bad. But, it gave us something to talk and laugh about the rest of the night. We walked around for a while before Megan met up with us and we headed to a restaurant a few blocks from the Zocalo. I had queso fundido and it was delicious. After dinner, we walked to a bar named Ago Go. It is kind of small but very cute and comfortable. Instead of chairs, some of the tables have beanbags to sit in. I ordered a great mojito. We stayed in the bar talking and laughing for a few hours before finally heading home around 12:30 or 1. It was an extremely relaxing and fun night.

Saturday morning I slept in until 11 or so. I had planned to do something with Pamela and her family this weekend, so I called her father a call to see what their plans were for the weekend and found out that they were attending someone’s birthday party on Saturday. They invited me to go with them, but I did not feel like going to a child’s birthday party, so we arranged that I would go with them to Alecia’s (Pamela’s mother) brother’s house with them today for dinner. However, Fermin called me this morning and as it turns out, they ended up spending the night wherever this birthday party took place and they would not be able to make it. So, I am glad I decided against the birthday party, but am bummed I did not get to spend some time with the family. It has been hard to work around my traveling schedule and fit them in, but hopefully, in the next couple of weeks I will be able to do something with them.

So with a free Saturday, I spent some time uploading all of my pictures to Facebook (link to follow) before having a relaxing lunch with Margarita and Lupita. Then, I met Lily and Bryce at the Ibero around 3:30 and we took a bus to Cholula. It was yet another gorgeous day in Puebla, and the church and pyramid looked so pretty. We  walked half way up the path to the church and decided to lay in the grass for a while and enjoy the beautiful weather and views. After an hour or so in the sun, we walked the rest of the way up to the Church of Our Lady of Remedies. It was definitely much easier this time, so I think I have finally adapted to the altitude. We took more pictures and then walked back down to the market area. We walked around Cholula for a couple of hours, and then went to a few bars, before grabbing a bite to eat and heading home for the night. Once again, a relaxing afternoon and evening with friends! 

A Slow Start to a Great Week

This week started out with a long and rainy Monday. I think we were all still exhausted and recovering from an exciting and non-stop weekend in Mexico City, so when it was cold and rainy on Monday we did not want to do anything but crawl back into bed. So, after classes on Monday I opted out of spending a few hours at Casa del Sol and came home to take a little catnap before lunch. Typically, I give English lessons on Monday afternoons from 5-6 pm, but the thought of walking to the bus station, taking 2 buses, and walking to the grandmother’s house in heavy rain and strong winds was quite unappealing. So, I called the Fermin (Pamela’s father) and said I would see them on Wednesday. I slept for a while longer before waking up to finish some homework, and watch Brothers and Sisters and Desperate Housewives. Oh how I had missed my Sunday evening shows, and I was so excited to find a website that would allow me to watch them! Most websites (ABC, Hulu, etc.) will not let you access the video players from countries outside of the U.S.

Tuesday I had my morning classes, and then I took the bus down to the Zocalo area so I could finally get my cell phone working. Finally, I have a phone that functions and allows me to talk with friends and people within the country. I had some time before I had to be back home for lunch, so I sat on a bench in the sun and completed most of my homework for my Track 3 course. Then, I decided to finish writing some postcards and buy stamps to send them. Some of you may be lucky enough to receive one in the next week or so. : ) After, I took the bus back home for lunch before taking a power nap and heading to dance class. I feel like we are all really improving and at times it actually feels like we are dancing now, not just walking through all the basics. That night, our professor told us that at the end of the semester we are all going to have to perform in front of some faculty and students. That should be interesting, but I am actually looking forward to it, and think it will be a great opportunity for all of us to show how much we have learned. After dance, Bryce and I walked to a bookstore to buy a book that we needed for a class, and while we were there we noticed that there was a Ticketmaster center in the bookstore. When we were in Mexico City, we found out that Norah Jones is coming to the National Auditorium in early November. So, we decided to check into tickets and ended up splurging to have amazing seats to see her on November 5^th. Not only will it be great to see Norah Jones, but to be able to say that we’ve seen a concert in the National Auditorium will be pretty cool as well.

Wednesday and Thursday were normal days with classes, tutoring, and relaxing. Wednesday afternoon I had my English lesson with Pamela. I don’t know how much she is truly getting from the lessons, but I come with a theme for every lesson, and by the end I do feel like she can somewhat use the material. But, how much she retains or truly understands I am not sure. Either way, I know that it has been beneficial for my Spanish skills, and I truly have enjoyed working with Pamela. Thursday I had a free afternoon, so I took advantage of the beautiful weather and laid out for an hour or so. The end of the rainy season is finally approaching here in Puebla, and aside from Monday, this week has been absolutely gorgeous. It has been the clearest and nicest week since I have been here. While normally I have been able to see the mountain ranges and the volcano, I had not been able to see the they were all connected until this week. The blue sky, with a single cloud, just adds to the beauty of my surroundings. Thursday night I had dance, came home and Skyped with my parents, and called it an early night after watching a movie. 

Mexico City

After dance class, 7 of us (Megan, Lily, Bryce, Kendra, Miki, Nishelle, and I) walked to a shopping area parking lot where we were able to catch a bus to Mexico City. It was a 2-hour bus ride into the city, and we arrived around 10:00 that night. Once arriving at a huge bus terminal that is bigger than some airports in the United States, we took two taxis to our hostel, where we checked in and got settled before wandering the city for a while. Our hostel, Mexico City Hostel, was in a perfect location, just a block from the Zocalo. We walked around the Zocalo for an hour or so, taking in the Cathedral, the National Palace, and all of the decorations that still remained from the Bicentennial. We were all hungry at this point and decided to grab a bite to eat at a diner-type restaurant a few blocks from the Zocalo, before calling it a night between 12 and 1.

Friday morning I got up around 7:45, showered, and had breakfast at the hostel, which consisted of fruit, eggs, and toast. I decided that wasn’t quite enough and ran to the 7-11 down the street for a donut. We were all ready to go and walked down to the Zocalo around 9:30. Kendra, Miki, and I decided that we wanted to take a bus tour to see all that the city has to offer, and decide what we really wanted to see and do that weekend. The tour was very informative and I am glad that we had the opportunity to see many statues, buildings, and important areas of the city. However, the tour ended up being 4 hours long, which was a little longer than necessary. So, after being dropped off in the Zocalo again, we grabbed lunch at a nice restaurant in between the Zocalo and our hostel. I had a delicious salad, and we all split Queso Fundido with ham, and that was wonderful as well. After that, we walked around the Zocalo some more buying souvenirs from the street vendors and watching authentic Aztec dancers, as well as street break-dancers that we made friends with. After making a few purchases, it started to rain, so we decided to head back to the hostel to relax for a bit. The rest of the group returned and we all ventured out into the rain for a night out in Mexico City. We went to three small, but comfortable and lively bars. Most of the others ordered beers at the first two bars, but since I don’t like beer and don’t really have a desire to try the wide variety of Mexican beers, I settled for a Coke. At the third bar, we all did a round of shots. I had a shot with Tequila in it that was mixed with something that supposed to taste like chocolate….I might as well have just taken the shot straight up, as it was pretty bad. We had wanted to find a place to dance, but there were no places in the neighborhood that we were in, so we just headed back to the hostel between 1 and 2.

Saturday morning I got up once again around 7:45 to shower, have breakfast, and get on the computer before most others got up. Once everyone else was up and ready to go around 10, we left the hostel for another day of fun and exploration. We took the city’s Metro to an area of the city known as Chapultepec. In this area, there is a castle, a large and beautiful park, and several museums. First, we visited the Museum of Modern Art. It was nice and had a lot of artwork, but art isn’t necessarily my thing. However, there were 4 or 5 Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera paintings that were pretty cool. After, we walked through the park for an hour or so, admiring the fountains, the river that runs through the park, views of the castle, and enjoying some cotton candy. We did not end of going to the Castle of Chapultepec this time, but it is definitely something I would like to do next time we are in Mexico City, as the castle looks beautiful and it is supposed to offer amazing views of the city.

Next, we headed to the Anthropology Museum where we enjoyed a quick meal in the cafeteria before visiting two of the twelve display areas. The museum is huge and has so much to offer. You would need at least a day to go through all of the displays. I thoroughly walked through the Mayan display area, and briefly looked at Coastal and Western culture displays. We left the museum around 6, and decided to just start walking through different neighborhoods and areas of the city. We walked through Colonia Roma, where we stopped to have some coffee and delicious ice-ream. Then, we kept walking to Colonia Condesa, which offered many cute and relaxed restaurants and bars. We stopped at an Italian bar to have a drink, and Megan and I split a pizza. All of the little neighborhoods throughout Mexico City have charming characteristics, and I would like to explore more of these neighborhoods in the future. Around 10, we took the Metro back to the Zocalo area, where we took pictures and walked around before heading back to the hostel around 11 or 11:30. Some of the group decided to go out again that night, but it had been a long day, and I was just ready to call it a night.

Sunday morning I got up early once again, had my Mexico City breakfast of fruit, eggs, toast, and a 7-11 donut, and read for a while before others got up. Kendra and Miki were up at a decent hour, so we went to walk around the Zocalo area and do a little shopping. We found a Nike outlet store, and I bought a running shirt for $8…can’t beat it with a stick. J Then, we walked back to the hostel to meet up with the rest of the group. Megan, who had been to Mexico City before, recommended that we go to a restaurant called El Cardinal for brunch, so she and I walked to the restaurant to make a reservation, before heading back to pack up and check out. We were told 30-40 minutes, and of course that would be in Mexico time. So, finally, and hour and a half later we were seated. The restaurant was quite nice and up-scale, and they served us delicious hot chocolate to start. I ate way too much over the course of the weekend, so I just ordered a plate of fruit that would be much nicer for the waistline and the wallet. After brunch, we took taxis to the bus station, bought bus tickets for our return to Puebla, and made the two-hour bus ride back, on which all of us slept the entire way. Overall, it was a fun and exciting weekend! Once again, Mexico City has so much to see and do, and I hope that over the course of the next two months, I have the opportunity to return a couple of times to do more exploring. 

Independence Day Weekend

Wednesday morning I took advantage of my extra day off and slept-in until 11 or so. Then, I met up with Lily and Bryce in Puebla’s Zocalo to walk around and look at all of the decorations of Independence Day. I think that Puebla’s downtown area is very cute and welcoming as it is, but with the excitement and change in atmosphere for the bicentennial, you couldn’t help but smile and join in the excitement. We walked around the market area that was set up, which contained hundreds of food and souvenir stands. Around 7, I took the bus back to my house and had a little bit of down time before some of Margarita’s family started to arrive around 9. One of Margarita’s cousins had friends that were from Portugal, and they had a little boy, Mateo, who was 3 and very cute and energetic. I had fun playing with him for a while and interacting with other members of the family.

At 11 pm, the Grito de Delores took place, and does so every September 15^th at 11. The President of Mexico rings the bell of the National Palace and repeats a cry of patriotism that names many of the heroes form the Mexican War of Independence. He ends with several rounds of “Viva Mexico!”. This Grito de Delores takes place in towns all throughout Mexico, and it would have been cool to be in Puebla’s Zocalo to witness the Grito in Puebla, but at the same time, it was nice to be able to see everything in Mexico City and experience it with my home-stay family. After, we ate lots of food (tostados, chalupas, etc.) while watching the fireworks and performances in Mexico City. Some people left around 1, but 6 of us that were still here decided to play Monopoly. I don’t think that I have actually ever finished a game of Monopoly in my life. I remember when Grandpa and I used to play all the time, and after an hour or so we would just count our money. They do not believe in this method in Mexico, so 4.5 hours later we finished the game. After this exhausting game, we did the only thing to do at 5:30 in the morning, and ate again. We talked and laughed while looking at pictures for a little longer, and finally around 7 am Thursday I crawled into bed.

Thursday and Friday I did not do much at all, but it was really nice to have time to fully relax, read a book, and watch movies. Saturday evening, we went over to Margarita’s mother’s house. Most of the same people that were at Margarita’s on Wednesday were there, as well as her son Paco, his wife, and two kids, who I had yet to met. We ate, talked, and played Bingo, before heading back home around midnight. Sunday morning I slept in once again before getting up to do a little homework. Around 1, Lupita, Margarita, her sister, and her sister’s daughter drove to the cute little town of Atlixco, which is about 30 minutes from here. We had lunch in a small restaurant, and I had a delicious torta. Then, we walked around Atlixco’s Zocalo area, and Margarita and her sister bought some plants and pots. On the way back we stopped at a great ice cream and coffee place called Topolinos. This is a chain at least in the Puebla area, and there is actually a small Topolinos on my walk to school. I had a yummy blueberry covered ice-cream bowl. We drove back home and I completed my homework and talked with my parents. It was a nice and relaxing Independence Day weekend, and I am glad that I got to spend so much time with Margarita and the rest of her family!

Week 4

Sunday was a nice and relaxing day to myself. I did not make plans with any of my friends, and I did not have plans with Pamela and her family or Margarita and Lupita. So, I took advantage of the personal time and slept-in until 10 or so. Margarita had left me a tamale for breakfast. Apparently there are four different kinds of breakfast tamales: salsa verde, salsa roja, con mole poblano, o dolce. I think I would probably like the mole poblano or dolce ones, but they didn’t have any left at the market when she went, so I was stuck with a salsa verde tamale. Definitely way too much spice and flavor for breakfast. A week or so ago, we also had some sort of tamale for lunch, and I think that was probably my least favorite meal so far. So, I think I am going to steer clear of the tamales in the future.

After breakfast, I showered and got ready before heading back to the huge market area that I had visited with Margarita and Lupita two weeks earlier. I did a lot of looking and some bargaining with the vendors, but only ended up buying some red, white, and green beads for Independence Day. While I was walking around I ended up running into Bryce, Lily, and Megan, which is weird because we all feel like the town is so big and the odds of seeing someone you know should be small. It looked like it was going to rain, so I walked back to the bus stop and took the bus to the Wal-mart closest to my house. I had been craving baked goods, so I stopped and got a donut and muffin, as well as a shirt for Independence day. Then, I walked back to my house to work on a little homework before Skyping with my parents.

Monday we found out that we did not have classes on Wednesday that week either, so with an upcoming 5-day weekend, Monday and Tuesday went by pretty quickly. Monday I had a normal day of classes, followed by an English lesson with Pamela, where we focused on feelings, emotions, and descriptions. After the lesson, I stopped at a department-type store called Suburbia, where I bought a t-shirt that advertises the country’s bicentennial, as well as another red tank-top that I could wear out at some point that weekend. Tuesday was another normal day of classes, including my dance class at night. After, Lily, Bryce, Megan, and I went with Mario, a boy in our dance class to a mall area known as Angelopolis. There, we grabbed a bite to eat, before driving to Cholula and having a few drinks at Tiki. I had a delicious strawberry daiquiri. From there, we walked around for a while with the intention of finding a club to dance at, but there were long lines to get in, and we did not feel like waiting. So, after admiring the great views of the Church of our Lady of Remedies at night, we took taxis back to our houses around 2. 

Photos from Cuisine Course, Tepoztlan, and More!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53451713@N05/sets/72157624812164695/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53451713@N05/sets/72157624936867572/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53451713@N05/sets/72157624812225849/

Excursion to Morelos & Tepoztlan

Today we had our first of two excursions, and we traveled to a state just west of Puebla, Morelos, where we visited the town of Tepoztlan and Tepozteco National Park. We all met at the school bright and early and made the two-hour drive to Morelos. Along the way we made a couple of bathroom stops, and we were closer to the active volcano than we are in Puebla, so we also stopped to take some pictures of Popocatepetl. We arrived in Tepoztlan around 10 and started to make the steep and treacherous trek up the Cerro el Tepozteco (hill of Tepozteco, but definitely more mountain than hill). The hike was quite demanding and took a little over an hour to reach the top. I have adjusted pretty well to the altitude here and I have been running a few times a week, but I was still struggling and had to stop every so often.  Bryce and I stuck together and went off the beaten path a couple of times to climb waterfalls and take advantage of photo-ops. When we finally reached the top, we were able to see and climb the Prehispanic Pyramid and take advantage of the amazing views. We hung out at the top for a while, fought off the crazy badgers, and prepared ourselves for the decent. Although the way down was not as physically enduring as the climb up, I was certainly aware of how high up I was and made sure to step cautiously. When we reached the bottom again, my legs were quite shaky. But, I loved the breathtaking views and physical and outdoor aspects of the climb, and I would definitely return to do it again!

When everyone made it back to the bottom, we walked to a restaurant near the city’s Zocalo, where we rehydrated and had delicious chicken enchiladas. After lunch, we walked to the Ex-convent and had the opportunity to walk around and explore for a bit. The entrance for the convent had an amazing design for the bicentennial that will be celebrated this upcoming week. It was a huge arch/entrance-way that was made completely from corn and beans, and then glazed to hold it all together. Make sure to check out pictures of this…it’s something you can’t exactly explain, but is definitely amazing! Once we were finished at the ex-convent, we had some free time to visit and shop in the street markets. Around 4, before the rain could move in, we met up and loaded into the bus to return home. When we arrived back at the Ibero, it was pouring, so Megan, Kendra, and I took a taxi home. I grabbed something to eat and have been working on homework, the blog, and uploading photos since I’ve been back. It was an exhausting day, but definitely fun and worth it. Make sure to check out pictures from this last week. : ) 

Shopping & Socializing

Yesterday, I woke up around 9, ate breakfast, and decided that since I didn’t have to be anywhere until noon, I would go back to sleep for a while. It was a great decision and much needed! J At 12 I met Miki and Kendra at the Ibero and we made the 10-15 minute walk to the mall. This mall was nothing like what I expected, and was  upscale and American. There was a Lacoste, Zara, Puma, Apple store, etc. . So, while it was nice to be in a mall that was quite developed, I did not find the bargains that I was hoping to. But, I still ended up buying a dress that was on sale for 99 pesos ($7-8), a pair of jeans, and a skirt. After going into the majority of the stores, we walked over to California Kitchen, which was like a deli, but also had a buffet bar and quite a large menu. I ordered the California Club Sandwich. While I have been enjoying the food here and really like the majority of what I try, it was nice to have a sandwich and fries! After a great lunch, I walked back home and got myself organized for the night ahead and the excursion tomorrow. Then, I Skyped with my parents for a while, before taking a shower and getting ready.

We were all to meet at the Ibero at 7:30 to take a taxi to the location of this house party. However, at 7:30, it was down pouring and extremely windy. We all waited for it to calm down a little bit, and met up a little later. Margarita was wonderful and drove me to the Ibero so I didn’t have to walk in the rain and in heels. It was just Bryce, Megan, Miki, and I, so we grabbed a taxi and headed to the house. The house numbers were not marked, so we had to do some investigating to find the house, but eventually did so. The party was supposed to start at 8, and of course when we walked in around 8:30, we were the first ones there. We have learned our lesson, and in the future will go by Mexican time…if it starts at 8, show up at 10. The party was for most of the international students, but a lot of other students and their friends ended up coming, and it was a nice group of people. The party was outside under a large tent, but it was very nicely decorated and arranged, and the house itself was a mansion. There was also a separate tent area where they had hired someone to make food: chalupas, Mexican corn on the cob, etc. So, for 50 pesos, we received coupons for different foods, drinks, and Jell-O shots. We had a great time talking, interacting, and dancing with our small group, as well as many others at the party. Knowing that we had to get up early in the morning, we called for a taxi around 12:30, and I arrived home around 1. Parties here in Mexico have definitely surprised me so far, but in a great way! 

English Lessons & First Cuisine Course

Since I had to go to Casa del Sol on Monday, my first English lesson with Pamela was on Wednesday afternoon from 4-5. After classes in the morning, I came home and ate lunch before walking to the bus stop to take the first bus en route to the grandmother’s house. At this point, I can either walk four long blocks to the street of the house, or I can take a bus. Since it was a beautiful, sunny day and I was early, I decided to walk. I still arrived a couple of minutes early, but Pamela and I got started right away. We just talked for the first 10-15 minutes, exchanging and translating ideas from Spanish to English. Then, she had an English workbook from school, so we did a few pages from the book, before I made a memory-type game with compound words. I don’t now what exactly I need to be focusing on with her, but I am sure that any chance that she has to improve and use English, it is beneficial. In future lessons, I will try to come with a theme of the day and some sort of game to play or song to sing, in addition to working on pages from her workbook. I left around 5, and told her that I would see her the following Monday. I knew that this weekend with the excursion and homework, I would want some free time on Sunday, and did not necessarily want to commit to spending the day with the family again. So, maybe we will do something next weekend over the long holiday weekend.

After the lesson with Pamela, I was in a bit of a hurry, since I had my first cuisine class at 6, and we had to be at the school at 5:45. So, I took the bus for the four long blocks, and then waited for the next bus that would take me back to the stop near my house. On the way back, the bus stalled out, so we had to wait for another bus to come up behind us and everyone hustled onto the alternative bus. This seems to be a common occurrence with the busses in Puebla. I quickly made the 15-20 minute walk to the Ibero from the bus stop. Thankfully, I got there with a little time to spare, and I was not the last one there. A few minutes later, Chef Maricielo Arellano picked us up in a van and we went to her large kitchen/catering area. It is about a 10-minute car ride from campus, but it is nice that we will be allowed to use her facilities. She is apparently a famous caterer in the Puebla area and you can often see her face on vans or billboards advertising the company. So, it should be great working with her. This first night we talked a little bit about Prehispanic utensils, many of which we still use today, and had the opportunity to use that evening. That night we made panuchos, which are typical of the Yucatan area of Mexico, tostados, and salsa roja. We all split up the duties and cooking, and Kendra and I were in charge of making the salsa. Although this sounds quite simply, it was actually quite a process that included frying/grilling the onions, chilies, cilantro, and tomatoes, slicing all into extremely small pieces, using an ancient bowl and stone to smash the salsa more so, and finally adding some final ingredients and stirring. After we were all done with our individual tasks, we had a delicious looking meal in front of us! Everything was very good, and I am definitely looking forward to future courses this fall. 

First Week at Casa del Sol

Monday, I returned home after my two classes in the morning, completed some homework, and ate with Margarita, before I had to walk back to Casa del Sol to start my volunteer hours. I was there for 2.5 hours and the majority of this time I spent playing with pre-school aged children in a gymnastic and fun room type area. The majority of children immediately run up to you and give you big hugs, and they fight over you for your attention. It is nice to be in such high demand and to be able to interact with the kids, but it is a sad reality that most of the children want all of the attention because they don’t have parents and don’t receive as much attention as most children do. The time on Monday went by relatively fast, although we were all definitely tired after playing for that long.

Tuesday, I had class from 8:00-11:10, and after class headed back to Casa del Sol to complete 3 hours of volunteer work before going home to eat and then to dance class. During this shift of volunteering, I was assigned to help in the baby/toddler section, which I was initially thrilled about. However, the children were sleeping when I first got there, so I had to label, fold, and organize the laundry. This would have been completely fine, except that the lady in charge of this area was the most anal lady I’ve ever met. I understand that they have hectic schedules and organization is key, but this lady was just over the top. So, after an hour or so of doing everything wrong, I was finally done with the clothes. The children were up and needed to be changed before lunch. There were already too many volunteers in the area, so I was asked to make cotton balls. The cotton comes in a large section (4-5 ft) and then I had to break it into smaller sections before separating it into even smaller sections. Then, I had to form the cotton around my finger and make sure it was firm enough so it would not break in the water. Two hours of cotton ball making later, I was more than ready to leave. I do not mean to bash the program or the people associated with it, because all they do for these kids is absolutely amazing and a blessing, but I would like to interact more with the children.

On Wednesday, I decided I was not necessarily willing to commit to 8-10 hours of volunteering, on top of courses, English lessons, and time to explore, a week, so I went to talk to Ignacio. I expressed how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with children and volunteer at the Casa del Sol, but my original commitment had been for 25 hours, and the jump to 8-10 hours a week seemed a bit extreme. He didn’t recall ever seeing that we had only agreed to 25 hours, but once I pulled up the e-mail indicating this, he agreed that it was quite a bit different. So, he has lowered it for me, and I now only have to complete 6 hours a week. This is still much more than the initial 25 hours, but something that I am willing to do, at least for now. I have now figured out my schedule and I will spend 2.5 hours on Monday afternoons and 3.5 hours on Tuesday afternoons at the Casa del Sol. I just hope that future time there allows for continued interaction with the children!

My 2nd Week in Puebla

Last week, my second week in Puebla, was kind of a boring week, and a week of adjustment. Monday afternoon I had a meeting with the father of Pamella, the 7 year-old girl that I will be giving English lessons to twice a week. We discussed what he was looking for from me, compared our schedules, and decided that Sunday I would spend some time with the family to get to know everyone and help the family as a whole with their English skills.

Tuesday, I had my second dance class in the evening. We continued working on the dances we started the previous week (Cumbia, Salsa, and one other?). While I definitely don’t think that I am a great dancer, I feel confident that I have mastered the basic steps for each of these dances. We will see how it goes as the class and moves progress. The teacher, a very attractive young Mexican man, is wonderful. : ) Most of the men in the class can do the basic footwork without a problem, but these dances require the man to lead with his hands by pushing and pulling the woman at the appropriate time. The men in the class haven’t quite gotten this down, so when we change partners and I have the opportunity to dance with the teacher, it is like a completely different dance.

Wednesday was just a normal day that consisted of classes, eating, running, and napping. It was very nice to have so much free time in the afternoon after classes. Classes have continued to go well. My grammar and language class has pretty much all been review, but it is good to reiterate major concepts in the Spanish language. There is a lot of writing for this course, but it is not difficult, and for the most part I do not mind it. The Latin American Literature course will probably be the most difficult class this semester. Thus far, we have been reading literature from Aztec and Mayan cultures. Because their languages were so much different from ours, some of the translations and concepts have been difficult, but I think once we move into conquest, colonial, and independence literature, the readings and ideas will be easier to grasp. I really like my conversation class, other than the fact that it is at 8 in the morning. It is really relaxed and we usually spend have of the class talking about our lives or activities that we’ve participated in recently, and the other half of the class we focus on a theme such as descriptions of people, Frida Kahlo/Diego Rivera, or words associated with news and television. I have my first exam tomorrow in my grammar and language class, but I am not too anxious about it and think I will do well.

Thursday morning I woke up around 5 in the morning and was extremely sick. After a week and a half, Montezuma’s revenge hit me, and hit me hard! Let’s just say that I spent the majority of the day in the bathroom, and when not there I was trying to sleep. Unfortunately, we still cannot figure out what I ate or drank that made me sick, but hopefully it is a one-time deal and my body is adjusted to everything now. I was irritated that I had to miss my two courses and dance class Thursday day, but there is no way that I could have gone anywhere.

Friday morning I was feeling a little better, but I still had not eaten anything and I had no energy. I had a meeting at Casa del Sol, the foster home where I will complete my volunteer hours. So, I did my best to eat some frosted flakes and get myself up and moving. By accepting the scholarship through the USAC program, I committed myself to 25 hours of volunteer work. However, when I arrived on Friday I was told that I would have to complete 8-10 a week, which is a huge difference. I decided I would give it a week and see how it went. Despite the time commitment issue, Casa del Sol is a wonderful, non-profit organization that offers a safe and loving place for children who need it the most, and I am glad I will have the opportunity to spend some time working with adults from the organization and the adorable children. Before leaving, we were told to report back Monday afternoon at 4 to complete a few hours. After the meeting, it was raining, so Bryce and Lily came back to my house, which is the closest to the university and Casa del Sol, for a little bit. They decided to go see and movie, but I still did not have much energy and just wanted to lay low for the night. So, I ended up watching the Notebook, doing a little homework, and calling it an early night.

I was supposed to have paid Margarita my first installment of the home-stay fees on Friday, but since I was sick Thursday and did not have the energy to make the walk to the bank on Friday, I knew I would have to give up on Saturday and go. Thankfully, Margarita and Lupita were wonderful during the time that I was sick, and Margarita told me that my payment was the last thing on her mind, she just wanted me to feel better. So, Saturday morning, I made the trek to the bank and withdrew 6000 pesos, which is only like $450, but it was pretty sweet when the money just kept coming…like winning the jackpot, haha. I also went to Wal-mart and stocked up on shampoo, lotion, etc, and snacks, so hopefully I should be set for a while. When I was in the Wal-mart, they were giving out all sorts of free snacks and samples. I didn’t try any since I was still not eating much, but I think I could have had a meal there if necessary. One of the taste-test stations that they had set up was for Baileys Irish Whiskey. They had mini cups and you were to sample it by taking a shot…only in Mexico! It rained pretty much all afternoon on Saturday, so I decided to take it easy again and just have another relaxing movie night.

Sunday morning, the family that I will be providing English lessons for picked me up at 11. The family is just a couple and their daughter, but their nephew, Fernando, was spending the weekend with them. It was still raining, so we drove the bus route that I would take to get to the father’s mother’s house for the lessons. We have arranged that on Monday afternoons from 5-6 and Wednesday afternoons from 4-5, I will go to the grandma’s house, as this is where Pamella goes after school while her parents are still working. Then, on weekends that I do not have field trips through the USAC program, or trips planned with friends, I will spend a morning or an afternoon with all the family. One weekend we will talk completely in Spanish, and the next completely in English. It sounds like the family likes to go out and do things and see places on the weekends, so hopefully I will have some fun experiences with them.

Once showing me the route for lessons during the week, we returned to the family’s house. Pamella had a little homework to complete, so we all worked on that before playing chess, card games, and a game from a magazine that Pamella had. Then, we all sat down to eat a delicious chicken salad with an assortment of fruits in it. I was finally starting to get my appetite back at this point. : ) After comida, we watched some old home videos for a little bit. Then, they took me back to my house around 5. It was a fun and interesting afternoon, but I had not really planned to spend the entire afternoon with them. At least now I will know that I should allot the majority of the day to the family. I think this will be a great experience, and I think that my Spanish will improve just as much from lessons as the family’s English. That evening before going to bed, I finished up my homework, skyped with my parents, and spent some time talking with Margarita and Lupita.