Sunday, August 28, 2011

So many awesome days!!

Merida Aug28 002Merida does not get much rain this time of the year but there was a short burst of rain this afternoon which filled some of the streets.



I went to the Zocolo, which is the center of town with a big park. There is music and stuff going on there every weekend. There were dancers in traditional clothing.


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There was a great band.


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And later, another fun band. I can’t imagine wearing jeans, long sleeves, and dancing because of the heat. This band had a lot of energy. Isn’t the building in the background beautiful? There are so many beautiful buildings.


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I waited 35 minutes for the return bus and then it passed me by. Since it was dark and another bus would not come, I decided to take a taxi. It was probably 15 minutes by taxi to the house and cost me 50 pesos.


I returned to my room to find lots of cockroaches. 2 in my shower and 3 on my floor. I took car of these but I can’t catch the one that has ran across my bed twice. And ya know…it doesn’t even bother me.


Goodnight!

Arrived in Merida

I arrived yesterday afternoon into Merida and was greeted by Gloria and Jose Luis.  They have a nice home with a pool.  I have my own room, bathroom, and little patio that are separate from the house.  Oh and I even have a TV in my room.  It is sooo hot here. 

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Here is a view of the pool last night at sunset.

 

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Here is my room and my patio.

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Daytime views of the pool.

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And me at the pool.  Remember I said it is HOT here and super humid.

After arriving at the home yesterday afternoon, I learned that the sister of Jose Luis had passed away three days prior due to breast cancer.  They went to mass last night and then more than 30 family members were scheduled to arrive for dinner after the mass.  I was invited to join them but declined. 

The last night with Maria Elena and Jorge, we watched a movie until 11:00 and then I had to pack.  I only got 4 1/2 hours of sleep Friday night so last night while they were at mass, I went for a mini walk.  It is super hard to understand the streets here.  The are numbered in each direction but without North, South, etc.  so it is super confusing.  And me with NO sense of direction!  After the walk I watched National Geographic in Spanish.

Today Gloria and I went on an excursion to my school.  We walked for 8-10 blocks and then took the bus (17 min. by bus) and then walked 2 more blocks to arrive at the school.  I thought I could walk there but I have since changed my mind and will definitely be taking the bus.  I was soaked just standing and can’t imagine how wet I would be walking.  Well I can image it and that is why I won’t be doing it.  Also my walking 3 days a week for this next month will come to a stop.

I will head back into town later today to see some local dances at the Palacio Municipal.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Cacaxtla and Xochitencatl

Cacaxtla is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in Mexico.  Located in a hilltop, the pyramid is covered be the world’s second largest archaeological roof in order to prevent erosion.  Two discoveries distinguish this site from others.  One is the latticework window, which is the only one of its kind in Mesoamerica:: and the other is a series of murals scattered about the site, considered some of the best-preserved pre-Hispanic paintings in Mesoamerica.  Xochitencatl and its ruins are located on a hill just opposite to Cacaxtla.  The site features four pyramids, the largest of which, The Pyramid of Flowers, is actually a pyramid on top of a pyramid.  The spiral pyramid, dedicated to the wind god Ehecatl, is the only such spiral pyramid known to exist. 

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From the looks of this picture, taken on top of the Pyramid of the flowers, I could be anywhere.  You’d have no idea that I am in Mexico.

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Saturday, August 20, 2011

I loved !!!! my day today

I went with another student to show him the Talavera Fabrica and a few other sights since this is our last weekend in Puebla.

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Concert in the Zocolo and me in San Francisco Park.

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This park and the surrounding area is full of ruins.  The rocks on the lawn are ruins.  The second picture is of lavaderas (sinks for washing laundry).  Before people had water in their houses, they would come to this place to do their laundry.  This is 2 rows of 10 big sinks in each row and then there are 2 more mores.  Loved this!!

Graduation from Intermediate level 3

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This is my favorite Guia (guide) Haiti (Heidi).  I have a different one every week for conversation and seight seeing.  We ended Friday with a beer. 

Galleria phototechnica bolero

A bolero is the person that shines your shoes.  This was a little museum full of the boxes the boleros store their supplies in and also use to put your shoe on while shining your shoes.

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Friday, August 19, 2011

Extracurricular Activities

just a few highlights:

Sopa de napal (cactus), Pepita verde Mole, Pyramids of Teotihucan, Castillo Chipoltepec in Mexico City, Museo del Alfinique,  Teatro Principal, El centro de convenciones, Biblioteca Palafoxiana, with its 15th century books, Tecala (ciudad) with the Franciscan ex-convent of Santiago Apostol de  16th century, onyx and marble factory, roses, dvd’s, dark Mexican chocolate, new baby iPod for my Spanish music and lessons, calle de computacion, graduation banquet at Spetto’s, a different Museum de Bello, finished the day off with a beer with my fabulous guide Haiti and then a beer with my friend Angie, oh yeah and a salsa class.  Whew!!

Biblioteca Palafoxiana Truly Amazing

The origins of Palafoxiana Library date to 1646 when a personal collection of approximately 5,000 volumes was contributed to the Colegio de San Juan y San Pedro by Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza. In 1773, Bishop Don Francisco Fabián y Fuero ordered the construction of the Palafoxiana Library in the historic center of the city of Puebla to house Bishop Juan’s donation. The walls of the 43-meter-long library were fitted with two tiers of bookshelves made of ayacahuite pine, cedar, and coloyote wood. The western wall displays the mid-14th century retable of the Madonna of Trapana, painted by Nino Pisano. Throughout the colonial period, large quantities of prints and manuscripts were donated by other bishops, different religious institutions, and private individuals, and the library grew to rival the finest libraries of 18th-century Europe. The library’s collection grew to over 41,000 volumes in the 19th century, requiring a third tier of bookshelves. The added weight of these bookshelves contributed to the damage sustained during the 1999 earthquakes, as the older lower levels had weakened due to insect damage. These conditions, combined with the weight of the third tier, made the bookcases more susceptible to damage during the earthquakes. The baroque cloistered building still has many architectural and decorative elements, including the original 18th century wooden bookcases.

Teotihucan

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1st Pic- I am standing on the top of the Temple of the Sun with the Temple of the Moon in the background.

2nd pic- is  model inside the museum.  This is only maybe 1/4-1/3 of the actual model of the city.

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The museum was amazing.  I love all of the figures.

Tecali

Within the city of Tecali we traveled to the Onyx and Marble Factory and then to the Ex-Convent of Santiago Apostol de  16th century.  It is known for its beautiful columns and arches.  It is one of the only renaissance structures of the New World.

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Friday, August 12, 2011

Talavera Pottery

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This photos above are from a series of the 7 Deadly Sins.  I found them really interested.  Every piece is hand painted and are truly amazing.  These people are such amazing artists.  The photo below is not very good but it is of the streets of Venice.  It is amazing.  An individual person has contracted them do to it.  It will cover a very huge wall.  All the tiles are numbered so it is like a gigantic crossword puzzle.

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Below is just one small area in the store.  The original Talavera Pottery is only white and blue.  Over the years, other colors have been added.  Most typical is a mix of yellow and blue.  I had to return to the Factory because last week I found a piece that I feel in love with.  I took a chance on it still being there and it was. 

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Another week that flew by

I am just plain lucky.  Last Sunday, my family bought 3 different types of tamales for breakfast.  They were delicious. 

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For dinner they bought Cemitas which is a local speciality.  They are huge!  Then we had paletas.  This week I went to a couple more museums, watched a movie “las mujeres arriba” with Penelope Cruz.  I watched that  with my guide.  I also returned to the Talevera Fabrica.  I will have to dedicate a separate page just to Talevera next.  I went to a Zumba class on Tuesday.  Tonight (Friday) I went to a Cumbia class followed by another dance class that I cannot remember the name of.  The Cumbia class was SO much fun.  Usually you can’t drag guys to dancing classes but there were a few that actually wanted to go.

Sunday is a big excursion to Teotihuacan and Mexico City.