Back in Austin

Sally and I are having a blast.

Here is a picture that Jamie Zech took of Sally and Vonnie and me at McKinney Falls amid the Bluebonnets.

The Pretty Flowers From the Patio

... and the Wise Monkey from the photo lab.

David and Margarita Cruz

Dad and I are about to get on the road to leave San Juan Teotihuacan to go back to Texas and Sally. These pictures are from Saturday.

Soon we will be back together

Hey there! Long time no blog! I am excited to say that very soon my husband will be back in Austin with me! I am glad I came home so I could get going on looking for a job, but I was very sad to leave my Baby. I don't know if y'all know this, but I have been informed that The Danno and I are a "Power Couple" and we must be in the same country! I know he trying his darndest to hurry home to me. Love you all and we will continue to update this site with Austin adventures!

Much love,
Sally Fletcher (officially....I have the driver's license and SS card to prove it!)

Christ Church Ruins

The Mexico City earthquake of 1985 made the old Episcopal Christ Church where my sisters and I went as children unusable. They are now slowly (very slowly) restoring it. Dad and I took some pictures when Leti took us by there. She has fond memories of the beautiful church as well.

It is in the heart of Mexico City near downtown.

Here is a link to the rich history of the church. Old Christ Church

(Sally left Mexico on a plane on Monday morning, so these were taken after she left. Sally picked up Vonnie in Austin and I am helping Dad with the house here in Mexico, which is in considerably better shape than the old Christ Church.)

Dan and Dad in Mexico

We visited with my padrino Jose Luis and madrina Lipa and their daughter Leti (and son and husband Jorge). Leti took us over to the neighbors to visit with the miniature Xoloitscuintle dogs that they have. Dad wants one and has asked to be kept informed if they breed the female again.

They are a noble breed of dog which some believe the Meso-American peoples brought with them from far east when they crossed the Bering Straight during the last ice age. Intelligent, loyal, hardy, and warm to the touch.

When my dad came to Mexico in 1960 they were still common enough to be out in the streets of small rural towns. Growing up we had many of the standard size Xolo at our house in San Juan. Now you have to search them out and pay high prices for the noble Aztec dog.

Back in the City with Robin

Okay, for a different perspective, Rob Dog will be writing this blog: To the left you can see my darling brother-in-law proving to one and all that he was at the Anthropology Museum and saw this amazing Aztec calendar carving. This museum was wonderful. It was very exciting to be at the pyramids yesterday and see amazing artifacts preserved in the museum today.




Sally took this wonderful picture as we entered the Sala de Teotihuacan at the museum. This picture is great because it reminds us of one of our favorite childhood movies The Goonies (and of course it is one of the amazing artifacts I mentioned before).






Toward the end of the day we traveled 45 stories up to the top of El Torre Latinoamericano. The view was so clear (very surprising given the usual smog of Mexico City).



You can see how clear the day was in this view down to the Zocalo (city center). The clear, blue sky topped off this quick eight hour tour of this gigantic city.

Robin in San Juan!!

YEAH! My seester is in San Juan! Yesterday Danny, Irma Gisela (una amiga), and I drove into Mexico City to pick Robin up since she is on break from teaching this weekend. I am soooooooooo excited to have my sister here (wish my whole fam could be here, of course)!
Today we ventured back to Las Piramides to further show off La Ciudad de los Dioces (City of the Gods) to Robin. It was cooler today than the first time Danny and I climbed the pyramids, but we got started later. At left is a picture of mi hermana mayor (my older seester) and me from on top of La Piramide de la Luna, with La Piramide del Sol in the background.

Here is another, better picture of Dan and me, opposite the pic of Robin and me: atop La Piramide del Sol with La Piramide de la Luna in the background.



This is Robin and Danno making their way down the Pyramid of the Sun. The stairs are uneven and steep, so Robin was prepared to break her fall with The Danno. We made it up and down each Pyramid safely, so we were able to balance the negative energy from The Pyramid of the Moon and the positive energy from The Pyramid of the Sun.

If you look closely at this picture you can see the crowds on top of La Piramide del Sol. Hay mucha gente (there were many people) at the pyramids today because this is the Semana de Santa (week of celebration leading up to what we call Easter), and many people, all school-aged children included, have the whole week off to observe the holiday.

La Ciudad de Mexico, Part 2

These are some of the things that we (Sally and I and Sally, Robin and I) saw while in Mexico City.

The Palacio Nacional, Diego Rivera paintings of the History of Mexico, the Templo Mayor of the Aztecs, we encountered rain in the markets.

La Ciudad de Mexico, Part 1

Yesterday morning, Dan and I finally got a chance to head into Mexico City. Surprisingly, traffic was not bad at all, although Dan was the one driving and may not necessarily agree. It took about 25 minutes to get into the city.

One thing that Danny was extremely taken by was what I hope you can make out in the first image shown: As a kid, he remembers the area shown being nothing but fields and hills. Now the areas outside the city are heavily populated with houses going right up the side of the surrounding hills, as shown. There were miles of half-finished buildings and shanty-looking structures lining each side of the road. These areas become built-up before there is even the infrastructure to support the new dwellings. The homes were so thick, I couldn't imagine empty fields, but that is all Danny could picture. I know the feeling, that is my reaction to the way Rocky Point has changed and developed so much, although when I think of being there throughout my life I still imagine it the way it was 10 years ago.

This is Danny and his Padrino (God Father), Jose Luis. We had been trying to call the number Charlie had for Jose Luis and his wife Lipa for days and it was busy constantly. They live in the city, so our first order of business yesterday was to simple drop by their house. Fortunately Jose Luis was home with his daughter, Letticia and her son, Jorge. Danny's Madrina (God Mother), Lipa was away in Vera Cruz, but will be back this weekend and so we will return to their home on Monday with Charlie for a proper visit.

The buildings in Mexico City are gorgeous and reminiscent of the big European cities. Many of the apartment and business buildings are tremendously old and some have not even been repaired from damage from the earthquake that devastated the city in 1985. Even still, the style of the building facades are classically beautiful with obvious influence from many different regions.

At right is El Palacio de Bellas Artes, a lovely structure seated within a large square with tons of people sitting and visiting, school groups coming out of the building, and pigeons ready to crap on my head. This is the city's premier Opera House, built with imported Italian marble, which is so heavy, the building has been sinking slowly since it was built. Though it looks antiquated, it was completed in the 1930's.

This is El Catedral Metropolitan located en el Zocalo (city center), perched on a giant square next to El Palacio Nacional. Upon conquering the city and destroying the Aztec Temples that once occupied this land, Hernando Cortez ordered a church built on this site.

In the sixteenth century, that church was demolished and so began the construction of this ornate Cathedral that was incomplete into the early 19th century. This site can also be noticed to be sinking down into the ancient lake bed that the city itself was founded upon so many centuries ago.

This is a view of the Cathedral interior, which was covered in scaffolding for many years as it's beauty was being preserved. They don't always have funds available to complete these kinds of repairs, but after walking throughout the inside of this Cathedral, I am so glad they took the time and found the money to restore the interior. It is gorgeous and enchanting on the inside.

Off topic...Great Website

I happened upon, of all people, Leonardo DiCaprio's website, which is divided into two subtopics: his career AND his support of environmental action and organizations. His ORG site has two short films that are well done and informative. I am more and more pleased to hear about actors and other famous folks using their name, influence, and money for good causes! Imagine that?!? Check out the site, if you get a chance:
http://www.leonardodicaprio.org

La Familia Cano

One of Charlie's Compadres passed away a few years ago, named Augustine Cano. His wife, Juanita and son, Augustine Chico still run la tienda (the store) that the family owns across from the city square en San Juan. We got to see parts of the family at La Corrida del Toros and at La Feria del Caballo, but on Monday we went to their home for a long visit and another wondful meal.
At right is Augustine Chico with his two month old son, Esbrad Sebastian (named for Brad Pitt b/c Augustine loved Troy so much). Such a sweet baby boy; tranquil and attentive, very curious and seldom made a peep.


This is a picture of me and Augustine Chicitito, who is 5 years-old TODAY! He is so much fun to play with while the other adults talk about old times. As mi Suegra (My Momma-in-law, Rhoda...who teaches Spanish) has suggested, I have been much more comfortable practicing my Spanish with Augus, because kids don't judge your language and he will even correct me casually. Also Augus is learning English in school, so he practices on me too!

We will be lucky enough to be here for his birthday fiesta on Sunday, so I will get to experience a big Mexican celebration, and if the pictures that we saw of his last several parties are any indication, this will be pretty spectacular!

The Market in San Juan

The biggest market day in San Juan Teotihuacan is Monday. Many streets are blocked off and are thick with merchant stands and the crowds are abundant. They sell mesh bags for folks to combine and carry their purchases, which are all at amazingly reasonable prices. Pictured at right, is Danny sampling a mango at a fruit stand. The fruit is fresh and piling off the stand tables. We've had the best pineapple, melons, bananas, etc.

The colors and crowds at the market. Besides the large number of people out shopping, it is just nice to roam around the market and see what is for sale, including fruit, vegetables, tacos, tamales, tools, music, clothes, diapers, nuts, spices, meat, poultry, scarves, wallets, toys, candles, hats, and much more.

This is a view of the street across from the city square in San Juan. The closest building is the Panaderia (Bakery) that we go to with the yummiest bread and pandulces (sweet bread). This is no place for Atkins!

Mas Amigos

Alicia, on the far left with her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. Alicia and her sister Celia used to take care of "Little Dani."




Pilar and her esposo, Alfonso (who practiced his very good english on us), Pilar was very good friends with Kitty and used to come to the house and sit and visit with her for hours.



A portion of La Familia Cervera. I didn't get everyone's names, but Charlie's Comadre, Luchita is on the far left, I think that is Susi's God Mother. Her husband Hernan, passed away a few years ago.



More of The Cervera Family: Uriel and his children came by the house for a short visit.

La Feria del Caballo en Texcoco

On Saturday we went to La Feria del Caballo in Texcoco, a town not far away from San Juan. David Chico's esposa, Terre, had told us that this festival was much more grand than La Feria Obsidiana, and she was right. When we arrived and parked it was already clear. They have a Plaza del Toros that is permanent and about three times the size of the temporary one put up in San Juan. The scale of events and food and curios put San Juan's tiny festival to shame, although we still enjoyed it very much. In the picture are Dan with David Chico and Augustine Chico's families, clockwise from left to right: David Chicitito (as Dan calls him), Augustine's wife Alicia, David Chico, Dan, Augustine holding his son, Augustine Chicitito, Terre, and daughter Brenda.

One of the things we got to see at La Feria del Caballos was the ceremony of Los Voladores (The Flyers) de Papantla, which is in the state of Vera Cruz. These men in traditional outfits of the Totonac Tribe of Papantla, climb this pole and strap into these harneses and then slowly unwind from their feet until they flipover just before hitting the ground and land in a jog on their feet.
Charlie says this is a religious ceremony of the Totonac Tribe. Many years ago, the Spanish tried to get rid of all native religious worship, including the ceremony of Los Voladores. Fortunately, many tribes were resistant and practiced these rituals clandestinely, which is why they can still be seen today. It is pretty amazing to watch. The Flyers look absolutely relaxed as they slowly plummet and then land effortlessly.

Charlie also says that "The Hippies" were amazed by this and decided to try it themselves, but after several broken necks, they moved on to try bungees instead. I believe him about the first part, but I am reluctant to take his word on the Hippies.

La Ingelsia de Purificacion en el dia

Here are more fotos of the church up the street from #8 Purificacion during the day. The grounds are beautiful and are still all decorated from La Feria de Obsidiana. The weather here has been much more warm than it usually is this time of year. But every afternoon the clouds roll in and we have had some pretty good evening storms...The April Rains, I am told.

This is a beautiful cross that is behind a gate in an alcove on the church grounds. The back drop seems like it needs some restoration, although I like the effect it creates the way it is.






Another view of the steeple.