Saturday I had a pleasant surprise, visitors! James who is traveling Mexico working on organic farms...the last one that he went to was in Tepoztlan, and unfortunately had very poor conditions. James's room was swarming with bees and bats, so he only stayed a small portion of the time he was supposed to at the farm, and then came to our center instead. James and I went out on Saturday night to have some beers and see what we could discover. I say beers because there is no having only one beer here it seems, menus always have a two for one deal. We went to a trendy bar with a live acoustic guitar player.
Sunday brought more visitors! A couple and their two children came to visit us and Kathy, our director. They are a Menonnite family from the U.S. doing work in a small town not far from here. They lived in Chicago for many years but now are enjoying working in a town small enough that it takes a half an hour to walk 2 blocks because you talk to everyone you know as you pass by. They are really enjoying this change of pace. We all enjoyed an Italian meal together in an incredibly good Italian restuarant here. I kept feeling like I was back in the states being at an Italian restaurant!
Afterwards James and I headed out for music. On our way to our destination, we ran into a drum circle! After seeing the movie, The Visitor several times this past spring, I was enthralled to see the drumming and dancing. I held myself back from running into the middle of the circle and trying to do some version of the African dance I had learned a couple years ago. I figure I should try to practice a bit at home first....
James and I made it to the salsa spot later on that night, and watched the live band and some fantastic dancers. I danced one dance, but found that it is difficult to get men to ask you for a dance when it looks like you came as a couple... James loved the music too, but he wasn't ready to try salsa for the first time at this place of incredible dancers.
On Monday, we quickly made our plans for El Grito and Independence Day!! Because of varias other events going on in town, we decided to jump on a bus and visit a the nearby town of Iguala. Casey, (my coworker), her boyfriend Nestor, James and I met up with friends in Iguala. We went to the town square for El Grito. El Grito (literal translation= the cry of pain) is a Mexican Independence Day tradition at 11pm on the eve of independence day when a Government official will yell out varias things about Mexico. It is called "El Grito" because it signifies the cry of pain from the control Spain had over Mexico for over three centuries.
We found our way into the square and listened as the government official yelled and the people responded "Viva Mexico!" (long live Mexico). As soon as he stopped, from everywhere in the crowd white spray went up and filled the air and the spray suds came down on all of us. I asked someone what the spray was, the response was "Independence spray!" Soon the fireworks were going off, and then trailing down towards us. Nearby there was a large contruction that held varias fireworks. The fireworks started at the bottom and worked their way up this construction that had varias symbols and turning wheels. At one point, the fireworks stopped, and 2 men climbed up to get the whole thing going again then quickly climbed back down trying to avoid the sprays of flame; some job that would be!!
Casey and her boyfriend had made some reservations at a well known bar in the area for us to go there later that night. When we arrived, we received our Mexican colored necklaces and red white and green lines were drawn on our faces. The music was loud and a strange kind of party music that had not much more than just a beat. For a moment, I was thinking, I am too old for this kind of place! Thankfully, I was proven wrong...before I knew it disco songs from the US were playing, including YMCA and Disco Infirno! Nestor told me that this is typical; the music will go from US music, to cumbia to merengue to salsa to classic Mexican, and he was right! I had a great time dancing to them all..somehow I managed to keep dancing until 4 in the morning.
My friend James took a bunch of photos and said he would send them to me, so I'm hoping I'll be able to show them soon!
On the actual Independence day, we went to Iguala's proud tourist spot: the site of the Largest Mexican flag in the whole world!! It happens to be the second largest flag in the world, topped only by Israel. Throughout this whole Independence Day festivities, I have learned that Mexicans are very good at enthusiastically showing their pride for their homeland....
Here is a photo of Iguala from where the flag stands.
Sunday brought more visitors! A couple and their two children came to visit us and Kathy, our director. They are a Menonnite family from the U.S. doing work in a small town not far from here. They lived in Chicago for many years but now are enjoying working in a town small enough that it takes a half an hour to walk 2 blocks because you talk to everyone you know as you pass by. They are really enjoying this change of pace. We all enjoyed an Italian meal together in an incredibly good Italian restuarant here. I kept feeling like I was back in the states being at an Italian restaurant!
Afterwards James and I headed out for music. On our way to our destination, we ran into a drum circle! After seeing the movie, The Visitor several times this past spring, I was enthralled to see the drumming and dancing. I held myself back from running into the middle of the circle and trying to do some version of the African dance I had learned a couple years ago. I figure I should try to practice a bit at home first....
James and I made it to the salsa spot later on that night, and watched the live band and some fantastic dancers. I danced one dance, but found that it is difficult to get men to ask you for a dance when it looks like you came as a couple... James loved the music too, but he wasn't ready to try salsa for the first time at this place of incredible dancers.
On Monday, we quickly made our plans for El Grito and Independence Day!! Because of varias other events going on in town, we decided to jump on a bus and visit a the nearby town of Iguala. Casey, (my coworker), her boyfriend Nestor, James and I met up with friends in Iguala. We went to the town square for El Grito. El Grito (literal translation= the cry of pain) is a Mexican Independence Day tradition at 11pm on the eve of independence day when a Government official will yell out varias things about Mexico. It is called "El Grito" because it signifies the cry of pain from the control Spain had over Mexico for over three centuries.
We found our way into the square and listened as the government official yelled and the people responded "Viva Mexico!" (long live Mexico). As soon as he stopped, from everywhere in the crowd white spray went up and filled the air and the spray suds came down on all of us. I asked someone what the spray was, the response was "Independence spray!" Soon the fireworks were going off, and then trailing down towards us. Nearby there was a large contruction that held varias fireworks. The fireworks started at the bottom and worked their way up this construction that had varias symbols and turning wheels. At one point, the fireworks stopped, and 2 men climbed up to get the whole thing going again then quickly climbed back down trying to avoid the sprays of flame; some job that would be!!
Casey and her boyfriend had made some reservations at a well known bar in the area for us to go there later that night. When we arrived, we received our Mexican colored necklaces and red white and green lines were drawn on our faces. The music was loud and a strange kind of party music that had not much more than just a beat. For a moment, I was thinking, I am too old for this kind of place! Thankfully, I was proven wrong...before I knew it disco songs from the US were playing, including YMCA and Disco Infirno! Nestor told me that this is typical; the music will go from US music, to cumbia to merengue to salsa to classic Mexican, and he was right! I had a great time dancing to them all..somehow I managed to keep dancing until 4 in the morning.
My friend James took a bunch of photos and said he would send them to me, so I'm hoping I'll be able to show them soon!
On the actual Independence day, we went to Iguala's proud tourist spot: the site of the Largest Mexican flag in the whole world!! It happens to be the second largest flag in the world, topped only by Israel. Throughout this whole Independence Day festivities, I have learned that Mexicans are very good at enthusiastically showing their pride for their homeland....
Here is a photo of Iguala from where the flag stands.
1 comment:
Wow... I thought I had a busy & fun weekend!!!
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