| DAY 19: MAY 24, 2002 11:30 PM CHOLULA, MEXICO |
| Hi! I write you today from Cholula, Mexico! :) And, in the Mexico colors: green white and red. Mucho pero mucho ha pasado por los ultimos tres dias, y quiero compartir con Uds. :) ...DAY 17, May 22: After signing off on Wednesday I really ran around, going to Carrefour in search of game "Parques" but only found a cheap one, I wanted one with glass. Back to 8th Avenue, picked up a bunch of music, then got the clothes from the lavanderia (that was a positive experience), a quick trip to the Artesania for some things there, then home to get ready for going out. Went to a restaurant with Tania and her family, the restaurant called "Aqui en Santafe", which serves all kinds of arepas, I had one with chicken and veggies, really yummy. It was a nice time. After that off to another place, a cafe called "Cafe de la Monta�a" to meet with friends. There, were Tania and myself, Sandra, her friend Giovani, Andres... and Liliana dropped in for a few minutes. I had a dessert crepe with three toppings __ can you guess?? (three faves).. chocolate, arequipe, and fresas (strawberries). Had a really nice time with them, a lotta laughs.. actually in the moments of that evening I really began to see certain characteristics of Colombian people, things I will miss... Upon arrival home, continuing with packing up, and slept from 3-4am. DAY 18, May 23: Picked up around 4:30am, Tania, her MOm and I headed out to the airport. A rainy night it was. I tell you the process at the airport was an interesting one. My suitcase was checked through rather thoroughly, go to this desk, go to that desk, return to the other (had to pay an airport tax... yikes! i was almost outa Colombian pesos, and my American money was not on me, thankfully I was able to use my Traveler checks -- they came in handy)... Once all that through, we sat for a coffee (well I ate a yogurt) and talked for a half hour before goodbyes. Flew to Miami, a great flight, went thru customs and all that, bathroom (back in a land where you can put the TP in the toilet!!!! (haha)), called Dad, and sat down to a pepperonif pizza from PIzza Hut there, which was most delicious. Then hopped the next one to Mexico City, and here I am!!! It also was a great flight, clear skies and all, looking down Im pretty sure over the Gulf of Mexico, it was like there was blue skies above the few slender rows of white cloud, and blue skies the same below. Actually I had a few much-needed catnaps along the way. SI, UNA CIUDAD GRANDISISIMA! Mariana, her Dad, brother-in-law, brother-in-laws friend and son picked me up at the airport. From the airport off to EL ESTADIO AZTECA to watch the first game of the National League Futbol (Soccer) final, the teams America and Necaxa playing. Nice and hot weather :) Taxi cabs here are green and white bugs, all kinds of excitement in the streets for the game... I think about 80% or more of the stadium (which Im told seats 120,000 and probably was over 90% full at the game) was cheering for team called America and one end of the field was the "parro" (cheering section) for the Necaxa team. America fans were donning the team colors, predominantely YELLOW, and Necaxa fans in red and white with flags, drummers who played from before the game and through each of both halves, cheerleaders... All kinds of noise in that stadium, a huge share of colorful language, enough cerveza and all, way more than enough second-hand smoke, all kindsd: here was a scene of latin peoples passion for the sport. Details aside, it was a sad night for the majority of the stadium (fans) as America lost 2-0. After, a good wait and praticando (talking) in the parking lot waiting for most to clear out for ease of driving in the streets. More cerveza for sale there too... I was thinking about how many would be out there driving under the influence.. Can I say it???: this is Latin America. Really truly, the air quality of the city is NOT agradable. I already began to feel this is not a city I may ever be able to spend a lengthy amount of time in. Went to place for a bite, well I had a Sprite (hey, it rhymes - im a poet and didnt know it (ha)). From there I slept a good way of the drive to Puebla/Cholula, Cholula is where Mariana lives. I had an excellent nights rest in a very comfortable bed in a room that is my own for my stay. Getting tired here... DAY 19, May 24: A shower in the morning felt great, and a yummy breakfast of a cheese tortilla and Special-K cereal. Mariana needed to pay the last bit for her summer course, so off we went to the Universidad de Las Americas (in Puebla). She gave me a bit of a tour around the campus. It was a really nice campus, very nicely landscaped, trees, bushes, flower gardens (and a few rose gardens! Mom, I would bring one home for you if I could!), a small manmade pond-lake with birds, some fountains... Some buildings on the campus used to be haciendas. A walk-about in downtown Cholula, a few churches and artesania stores, and off to the Pyramids of Cholula, just a few blocks away. WOW. This was SO neat! Lunch at home, then off we went to a mall in Puebla to develop a few of my films, on the way a drive thru a part of Cholula with mansions and boy some of these are nice places with great landscaped yards (you'd love it Mom and Dad); a walk-about in central Puebla including a few of the largest cathedrals, one with legend or story supposedly that its bells had been so heavy that angels lifted them up. Very huge, ornate, of Barroque style... Is very dim and dark inside.... seems more like a museum than a cathedral... Then two blocks away or so to the Capilla del Rosario, in which all is in pure gold. Mariana and I landed up having a really good talk. From there, begg to rain, drove to pick up the pics and later to Walmart, as it is distinct here from those found in Canada/U.S. I picked up a number of yogurts to try (they have extensive amounts of yogurts here compared to back home), some things from the bakery, dadadadada... Ive run out of room for today, and its time for some rest. Tomorrow is off to Mexico City to some great sites including Teotihuacan. Looking forward to it. :) Hugs, Laters. Am. |