Monday, July 12, 2010
Long time, no write
Well sorry I haven't written for a long period of time. CJ just left yesterday and we were pretty much running the whole time he was here. Here's a recap of what we did:
Friday the 2nd we both went to Mexico City to spend my four day break between sessions. We stayed in the Melia México Reforma Hotel on the Paseo de la Reforma (which is the main street downtown). We went to the Zócalo, which is just a HUGE square downtown. On the sides of the zócalo you can find the Palacio Nacional (National Palace) where I believe the President has his office. You also can see the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral) and the Templo Mayor (Aztec ruins). The Spaniards built the church and the whole plaza on top of Aztec ruins and only recently have they been uncovered.
After spending one day downtown we went to Xochimilco at the southern end of the city. There you can ride in gondolas in the canals that still exist from the city of Tenochtitlán (Aztecs). Tenochtitlán was built on Lake Texcoco and the city was comprised of little islands that were built up above the surface of the lake. So the people had to ride on gondolas through the canals to get through the city. We took a 30 minute ride and saw lots of mariachis and families riding and relaxing. Then we went to La Casa Azul. It is the former house of the mexican painter Frida Kahlo. She lived there with her husband and famous mexican muralist Diego Rivera. It is called La Casa Azul because it is painted blue. Our last stop on Sunday was to the National Museum of Anthropology and History. It is an amazing place. There are so many artifacts from the indigenous groups of Mexico and it is amazing all of the things that are still in tact that they have found.
On Monday we took a bus and went to Teotihuacán (City of the Gods). There you can see all kinds of pyramids built by the Teotihuacans. The Aztecs later inhabited the city. Also there are two enormous pyramids that you can climb: The pyramid of the sun and the moon. What is so amazing is that when the pyramids were built they didn't have knowledge of the concept of the wheel. There are really amazing!
On Tuesday we rode the bus back to Querétaro and CJ and I got acclamated into our hotel here. I had classes Wed-Fri. CJ took advantage of sleeping in and then in the afternoons we went walking, bought souvenirs and took a short tour of the historical center.
On Friday CJ, a bunch of fellow students and I went and sang karaoke and played pool. Then we went dancing. We stayed out late so we slept in on Saturday. On Friday CJ got to meet my host grandpa Martin who owns and runs a popsicle shop. CJ tried 7 different flavors and we had a really nice visit with him.
On Saturday night we walked around the centro and there was a student group (led by my host mom's brother Pepé) that was singing and playing instruments. We listened to them and CJ really enjoyed it.
Yesterday we got up early and packed his things. When we got to the bus station the next bus wasn't until 12 and his flight left at 3:50. We were worried because we only arrived at the airport by 2:45. He lucked out... he made the flight and his suitcase arrived with him in Des Moines.
Today I went back to classes and am a little blue now that he isn't here. I come really soon though!!! This weekend a group of 8 of us are going to Guadalajara. The state of Jalisco is know as the area where Tequila is made in Mexico. We are planning on touring the Jose Cuervo factory and seeing how they make the tequila out of agave. I have seen pictures of agave fields and they look beautiful. It is also a famous area for mariachis and it is my housemate Amy's b-day on Sunday so I know we will have to have them sing to her.
Well I should get to posting some pics!!!
Hasta luego!
Erin
Friday the 2nd we both went to Mexico City to spend my four day break between sessions. We stayed in the Melia México Reforma Hotel on the Paseo de la Reforma (which is the main street downtown). We went to the Zócalo, which is just a HUGE square downtown. On the sides of the zócalo you can find the Palacio Nacional (National Palace) where I believe the President has his office. You also can see the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral) and the Templo Mayor (Aztec ruins). The Spaniards built the church and the whole plaza on top of Aztec ruins and only recently have they been uncovered.
After spending one day downtown we went to Xochimilco at the southern end of the city. There you can ride in gondolas in the canals that still exist from the city of Tenochtitlán (Aztecs). Tenochtitlán was built on Lake Texcoco and the city was comprised of little islands that were built up above the surface of the lake. So the people had to ride on gondolas through the canals to get through the city. We took a 30 minute ride and saw lots of mariachis and families riding and relaxing. Then we went to La Casa Azul. It is the former house of the mexican painter Frida Kahlo. She lived there with her husband and famous mexican muralist Diego Rivera. It is called La Casa Azul because it is painted blue. Our last stop on Sunday was to the National Museum of Anthropology and History. It is an amazing place. There are so many artifacts from the indigenous groups of Mexico and it is amazing all of the things that are still in tact that they have found.
On Monday we took a bus and went to Teotihuacán (City of the Gods). There you can see all kinds of pyramids built by the Teotihuacans. The Aztecs later inhabited the city. Also there are two enormous pyramids that you can climb: The pyramid of the sun and the moon. What is so amazing is that when the pyramids were built they didn't have knowledge of the concept of the wheel. There are really amazing!
On Tuesday we rode the bus back to Querétaro and CJ and I got acclamated into our hotel here. I had classes Wed-Fri. CJ took advantage of sleeping in and then in the afternoons we went walking, bought souvenirs and took a short tour of the historical center.
On Friday CJ, a bunch of fellow students and I went and sang karaoke and played pool. Then we went dancing. We stayed out late so we slept in on Saturday. On Friday CJ got to meet my host grandpa Martin who owns and runs a popsicle shop. CJ tried 7 different flavors and we had a really nice visit with him.
On Saturday night we walked around the centro and there was a student group (led by my host mom's brother Pepé) that was singing and playing instruments. We listened to them and CJ really enjoyed it.
Yesterday we got up early and packed his things. When we got to the bus station the next bus wasn't until 12 and his flight left at 3:50. We were worried because we only arrived at the airport by 2:45. He lucked out... he made the flight and his suitcase arrived with him in Des Moines.
Today I went back to classes and am a little blue now that he isn't here. I come really soon though!!! This weekend a group of 8 of us are going to Guadalajara. The state of Jalisco is know as the area where Tequila is made in Mexico. We are planning on touring the Jose Cuervo factory and seeing how they make the tequila out of agave. I have seen pictures of agave fields and they look beautiful. It is also a famous area for mariachis and it is my housemate Amy's b-day on Sunday so I know we will have to have them sing to her.
Well I should get to posting some pics!!!
Hasta luego!
Erin
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