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!