| DAY 22: MAY 27, 2002 Late evg. VERACRUZ, MEXICO |
| Recap of the last few days, es decir, sharing a few things here :) DAY 20, May 25: Marianas sister and brother-in-law picked us up in mid-to-late morning to head to Mexico City, to TEOTIHUACAN. We took highways to east of DF since Teotihuacan is to NE corner of D.F. Went through many little pueblos and a couple of hours later (early afternoon) we arrived at Teotihuacan. Also, on the way there, could see well the Volcano Popocatepatl. One does not see here big John Deere tractors, combines, or other such modern farm machinery. Rather, you see a farmer in his field with donkey or horses and plows, or, a group of farmers tending to their field. The Aztecs, or their predecessors, before building their city, according to their legend, were to build their city on the spot where they would find an eagle perched on a nopal (kind of cactus) banch eating a serpent. They moved southwardly from the north (hope I have that correct) and eventually did find this, and, on a small island of a lake called Texcoco. There they built their city, right on the lake, it was called Tenochtitlan. (I really hope I have these names right)... And today, in this very location, is Mexico City. And FYI, over time it has been sinking, little by little. ... Well on the way to Teotihuacan, I saw so so so many nopal cactus!!!!! I began to think that this could not have been so easy for them to find this eagle... I was told that the nopal is a food leaves (does one call them leaves??) OK: The Pyramids of TEOTIHUACAN: incredible to say the least! We got a guide, so that we could have everything explained well to us. It is a very large site, the dimensions evade me right now... It was a full afternoon there; we climbed the Pyramid of the Sun, and also that of the Moon. Apparently when one climbs the Pyramid of the Sun, his or her age goes back by three years (gains three years more of youth, also asi). Great panoramic views from their tops. Actually our guide allowed us to see some things and walk some parts of the way that no other visitors have had the chance too. He was a really good guide. He had been the guide for many many famous people visiting the pyramids including U2, Backstreet Boys, Elton John, Claudia Schiffer, and who knows who else. In the evening we were off to one of Marianas Aunties in Mexico City for a baby shower for her cousin. There I got to meet the women from her Dads side of the family :) She and I stayed the night there... DAY 21, May 26: ...and her Dad picked us up this morning for sightseeing in Mexico City. First we went for breakfast at a GRRRRRReat restaurant called Meridien which is right on the Lake of Chapultepec in Chapultepec Park. YUMMA. I ate a lot there, and tried some new things like: NOPAL!, chilaquiles (taco chips with onion salsa creme and cheese), and I enjoyed enough CAJETA on some pastries with icing and nuts, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!! This lake was made by the Aztec (?) emperor Maximillion for his wife, way back when. It is a wonderful spot, and many people and their dogs are there running, walking, jogging, whatever, feeding the birds or the fish in the water... Mariana & I bought some bubble-making stuff and had some fun with that. From there her Dad wanted to take us to the Castillo (Castle) of Chapultepec, but, there were too many people in there and we could not get in. This Chapultepec Park in Mexico City is IMMMMMEEENNNSE. There is a zoo, and park area, and all kinds. From the Park we drove down Calle de la Reforma and stopped by a number of the monuments of the Revolution to take pics. Also went to the Zocalo of Mexico City (main plaza). It was kind of not the greatest there as there was a strike and thus the whole central plaza filled will the tents and stuff of those striking. We went into the Palacio Nacional, and in there I saw the famous murals of famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera. These depict the history of Mexico. Drove around some of downtown Mexico City, and also stopped for a few minutes at the Palacio de las Bellas Artes, where they have operas and all kinds of cultural performances. It is huge, and, is sinking, moreso than the city, ie, the steps to the entrance to this building are lower than the rest of the surrounding area. We also went to La Plaza de las Tres Culturas (Plaza of the Three Cultures), where the ruins of TLATELOLCO are found, in front of a colonial catholic church built by the Spanish, which are both beside a modern-day business building. For those three buildings from different times the Plaza is called asi (like that). Then we took ADO bus back to Puebla. A scenic drive I might say. Once back we had supper at Marianas sisters place (I ate too much chicken!!!! :) ) And then she and I left to DAR LA VUELTA -- drive around and such. We went to downtown Puebla to see how it is on Sundays. On Sundays many many people and families are out around the main Zocalo... most times more from the lower class / poorer sector of society. There are many balloon-men, a orchestral band playing, all kinds of kiosks etc... We went down the Calle de Santa Clara, where one can find tons of stores selling typical PUEBLA sweets and also TALAVERA wares (difficult to describe without a picture). Of course we picked up some sweets. From there it was nearing the time of sunset, and it was a clear day, so we zoomed by car to try and find a good lookout point to watch it. And really, she knew a good place! It was a race but upon arrival the sun had already dipped enough behind Popo and the other for the sunset sky to lose some of its splendor. We tried :) That evening back at home we learned from the TV that the team America had won the National League futbol final, and we knew her whole family and much of D.F. would be happy and celbrating that night. From her house we could hear a few more random fireworks sounding from Puebla area than normal (that is, seemingly there are always some random ones to be heard in the evenings). Run out of room, go to next... |