All Good Things Come to an End

As I enter my last couple of weeks of my Fulbright Exchange, I have tried to spend more time with the people that I've met here. My students, colleagues, and friends. We have had "hasta luego" (see you later...easier than good-bye, which usually results in a big lump in my throat and tears) parties galore. I've never been so aware of the generous hospitality and love that the Mexican people readily give, as this past week. First, a dance recital one of my students asked me to attend....Areli, a beautiful ballerina and great English student too. Next, are photos of a 'cena' (dinner party) given in my honor, by a student and her family. It lasted 6 hours.....just enjoying the conversation, food (carnitas made by her dad) and music with kareoke, as her brother played beautiful guitar and we sang popular Mexican and American songs.






Also, was a breakfast gathering with my yoga group. We celebrated Dia de los Maestros (teacher day) with my yoga teacher at a restaurant and many of our group...just 3 hours. I thought we might be there long enough to order lunch too!

Next, are some photos of a gathering with all our colleagues from the Politecnico Nacional at a wonderful restaurant called 'Fondo del Recuerdo' (a restaurant called Memories! How appropriate). This one went on for about 4 hours. You get the picture that 'eat and run' just doesn't exist in this culture. People here love to get together and be together for as long as possible. It has been a wonderful treat to be able to talk and eat and just get to know each other so well. Hopefully this is a part of the culture I will bring back to the U.S. with me.

Puebla and Cholula

Puebla is a city that has been known by many names. i.e. City of Los Angeles, City of Zaragoza or just simply Puebla. A city of 2million and about 5k colonial buildings, it is on the historial registry. My colleagues Nancy and Brend and I spent 3 days exploring, eating and shopping our way through this marvelous area.

This area is known for the the delicacies of mole, created in a convent here by a nun....dulces, using all kinds of fruits in incredibly creative ways. We also were impressed with a special kind of sandwiches called cemitas...very reasonably priced and quite a substantial meal. On the artist end, this is the home of Talavera, a beautiful style of tile and pottery initially brought from Iran and Iraq to Spain and then over to Mexico. It is displayed on almost every building in some way, inside and out. Even the Burger King bathroom had an impressive display! We all bought registered pieces of Talavera .... my favorite being the blue, white and yellow patterns. The majority of buildings in Puebla also have a baroque, iron and Talvera exterior which lends it to a European feel mixed with the Indigeous mood. With 5k colonial buildings, the turibus was a good way to get around and see the majority of sites at a distance.

We also toured Cholula, about 20 minutes from Puebla. It is known for its churches and pyramid called Tipanica or Chiconahui Quiahuitl...depending on who you're talking to....It holds the distinction of largest foundation in the world 500 meters wide, covering 25 acres and 181 ft. high. We entered it through the underground cave system....wow! Quite impressive but beware if you are claustrophobic. It is now as impressive above ground, given that the Spanish conquistadores made it a habit of covering pre-hispanic sites and building their own Catholic churches. Above the pyramid is the Church of the Virgen of Eternal Redemption.

We were able to see a couple of more churches in Cholula, one being 'baroque-indigenous' style...where there is a unique facade of Indigenous faces and the holy cross and saints, in one of the most opulent displays I've seen here in Mexico. Needless to say I could go on endlessly about these two areas of Mexico. It's one worth spending some time exploring.

Finally, the twin volcanoes of Popcatepetl and Iztaccihuatl are also visible from both Puebla and Cholula on a clear day...which we unfortunately didn't have this visit.

Exploring East Coast

Cinco de mayo celebration here in Mexico afforded us another long week-end for touring. Hilaria, Alex and I were off to Papantla, Tecolutla, and El Tajin...all in the state of Veracruz. It also enabled me to learn quite a bit about an Indian group called the Totonacs. They have roots from the AD 100 to present day....they are know for their agricultural skills, especially growing vanilla. In fact, in June there is a whole festival dedicated to the vanilla crop and you can take tours of their plantations. Their language of Totonac is still spoken and taught in some of the schools. The town of Papantla is small and quaint with a couple of Catholic churches that lack the opulence I've previously seen in Mexico, more of a simple beauty.









I found the Papanteco people to be a warm, traditional and festive group. In the short time we were there they had a Danzon dance gathering Saturday night and native Totonac dancing and musicians on Sunday all in their Zocolo or park area.








Their claim to fame are the Volador preformers who launch themselves off a pole to the sound of flute music and suspend and descend upside down. Like the American version of bungee jumping but much more beautiful.








The trip to El Tajin was also an educational event. This type of archaeological area is unique in Mexico due to its design and it is quite impressive in size and condition of the structures....which total 15 different buildings. The largest is called Pyramid of the Niches...365 to be exact! One for each day of the year. In it's original state is was painted red and black and some of the color is still visible. It has undergone extensive restoration and was quite a site. Also, different from other areas is that you are not able to climb any of the large structures due to their delicate condition. Just touring around the area was inspirational.








Finally, we took the bus trip to Tecolutla for some fun in the sun....along with a few thousand of the local native people! It was like Waikiki beach, everyone was having fun and the beach vendors provided us with fruit flavored nieves (ice cream), shrimp cocktails, and several other types of fish snacks. Great way to relax and people watch.