Tuesday, April 05, 2005
No, we didn't die in Mexico City
Betcha thought we did, or at least that we got Montezuma's Revenge and had to lay low for a while. Nope, we're just fine... the only thing I caught was a mighty case of writer's block.
So, the trip. We left Thursday night and got to Mexico in about two and a half hours. Victor's uncle picked us up at the airport and drove us out to his home in Tepotzotlán. Turns out it's not so much of a ranch as a house in a rural area... but whatever. It was a big house full of people. There was a big pot of fish soup on the stove, which we were immediately force-fed. I ate so much that weekend. Victor's aunt's friend from Panama drunkenly informed me that I was going to learn Spanish right then. It was a crazy night.
The next morning, we got up to see a reenactment of the crucifixion, which was going to be held on top of a "hill" (read: rocky mountain covered in thorn bushes and cacti). Somehow it was decided that it would be a good idea for Victor and I to ride the horses to the event. They put Victor on a nice, sweet horse and put me on one that was known to be skittish and occasionally throw people. Needless to say, it was not the most relaxing ride for me, but I had fun. There were three of us riding... me, Victor, and a Mexican guy who was helping us. His horse, a stallion, and my horse, a gelding, did not get along, and I was instructed to keep my horse away from his. We took back roads most of the way to the church, and that was pleasant. Of course, when we got near the church, there were hundreds of people around, and in the crush my horse got near the stallion... and tried to fight him. I jumped off to pull my horse away, but got back on for the ride up the hill. We rode on narrow streets surrounded by cards and people of all ages, from little grandmas to toddlers to young mothers carrying infants. At the foot of the hill, I decided I had had enough of the horse (he was really acting up), so I proposed that Victor and I walk the rest of the way.
A lifetime later, we made it to the top. The air was thin (we were really high in elevation) but pretty clear, and we could see for miles. The people-watching at the top was pretty amazing. The crucifixion was too - they hoisted the three guys up on crosses using ropes and ladders. They acted out some of the crucifixion story from the Bible... of course, it was all in Spanish but I knew the story. Afterward, we walked back down the hill with Victor's uncle's friend Marco, a photographer from Chile. He bought us a drink made with guava pulp and ice... it was as if it was sent from heaven. I was so thirsty that I didn't care about getting sick from the ice (and I didn't get sick the whole trip).
After lunch (more fish soup! and also baked red snapper), we rode the horses again with Marco, who took us up on a hill to look at the distant lake. We then went back to the house and had a nap. That night, most of the company left. After dinner, Victor, his uncle, Marco, and Marco's girlfriend stayed up playing dominos while I crashed.
Saturday, after an insanely huge breakfast, Victor's uncle took us into Tepotzotlán to see the church and museum. There is a beautiful ornate church there, and attached to it is a former school/monastery which has been turned into a museum. The church was absolutely breathtaking, with incredibly elaborate and ornate gold decoration. The museum was really interesting too. We walked around the market in the town square and had lunch. Then we packed up all of our stuff and headed into Mexico City to Victor's uncle's apartment. We had tacos, watched TV, and went to sleep.
On Sunday we did a little sightseeing around Mexico City. Victor's uncle drove us around, and we ended up at the Metropolitan Cathedral and Templo Mayor. We toured the Templo Mayor, which is the remains of an Aztec temple in the heart of Mexico City. I really enjoyed seeing it, and I thought the excavation work was really good. There was a museum attached that had some really nice exhibits of things found in the excavation of the temple as well as other Mexican artifacts. After we finished at the museum, we headed back to Victor's uncle's place to watch the soccer match and eat a really yummy lunch cooked by Victor's aunt. And then we went to the airport.
It was a really great trip. Victor's aunt and uncle took great care of us and invited us back. I would like to go back to see more of Mexico City and maybe visit the pyramids nearby.
Oh, and here are the pictures!!!
Betcha thought we did, or at least that we got Montezuma's Revenge and had to lay low for a while. Nope, we're just fine... the only thing I caught was a mighty case of writer's block.
So, the trip. We left Thursday night and got to Mexico in about two and a half hours. Victor's uncle picked us up at the airport and drove us out to his home in Tepotzotlán. Turns out it's not so much of a ranch as a house in a rural area... but whatever. It was a big house full of people. There was a big pot of fish soup on the stove, which we were immediately force-fed. I ate so much that weekend. Victor's aunt's friend from Panama drunkenly informed me that I was going to learn Spanish right then. It was a crazy night.
The next morning, we got up to see a reenactment of the crucifixion, which was going to be held on top of a "hill" (read: rocky mountain covered in thorn bushes and cacti). Somehow it was decided that it would be a good idea for Victor and I to ride the horses to the event. They put Victor on a nice, sweet horse and put me on one that was known to be skittish and occasionally throw people. Needless to say, it was not the most relaxing ride for me, but I had fun. There were three of us riding... me, Victor, and a Mexican guy who was helping us. His horse, a stallion, and my horse, a gelding, did not get along, and I was instructed to keep my horse away from his. We took back roads most of the way to the church, and that was pleasant. Of course, when we got near the church, there were hundreds of people around, and in the crush my horse got near the stallion... and tried to fight him. I jumped off to pull my horse away, but got back on for the ride up the hill. We rode on narrow streets surrounded by cards and people of all ages, from little grandmas to toddlers to young mothers carrying infants. At the foot of the hill, I decided I had had enough of the horse (he was really acting up), so I proposed that Victor and I walk the rest of the way.
A lifetime later, we made it to the top. The air was thin (we were really high in elevation) but pretty clear, and we could see for miles. The people-watching at the top was pretty amazing. The crucifixion was too - they hoisted the three guys up on crosses using ropes and ladders. They acted out some of the crucifixion story from the Bible... of course, it was all in Spanish but I knew the story. Afterward, we walked back down the hill with Victor's uncle's friend Marco, a photographer from Chile. He bought us a drink made with guava pulp and ice... it was as if it was sent from heaven. I was so thirsty that I didn't care about getting sick from the ice (and I didn't get sick the whole trip).
After lunch (more fish soup! and also baked red snapper), we rode the horses again with Marco, who took us up on a hill to look at the distant lake. We then went back to the house and had a nap. That night, most of the company left. After dinner, Victor, his uncle, Marco, and Marco's girlfriend stayed up playing dominos while I crashed.
Saturday, after an insanely huge breakfast, Victor's uncle took us into Tepotzotlán to see the church and museum. There is a beautiful ornate church there, and attached to it is a former school/monastery which has been turned into a museum. The church was absolutely breathtaking, with incredibly elaborate and ornate gold decoration. The museum was really interesting too. We walked around the market in the town square and had lunch. Then we packed up all of our stuff and headed into Mexico City to Victor's uncle's apartment. We had tacos, watched TV, and went to sleep.
On Sunday we did a little sightseeing around Mexico City. Victor's uncle drove us around, and we ended up at the Metropolitan Cathedral and Templo Mayor. We toured the Templo Mayor, which is the remains of an Aztec temple in the heart of Mexico City. I really enjoyed seeing it, and I thought the excavation work was really good. There was a museum attached that had some really nice exhibits of things found in the excavation of the temple as well as other Mexican artifacts. After we finished at the museum, we headed back to Victor's uncle's place to watch the soccer match and eat a really yummy lunch cooked by Victor's aunt. And then we went to the airport.
It was a really great trip. Victor's aunt and uncle took great care of us and invited us back. I would like to go back to see more of Mexico City and maybe visit the pyramids nearby.
Oh, and here are the pictures!!!
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