Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Mexico City
Since leaving Guatemala a few weeks ago we've spent lots of time on buses, one night in Oaxaca, about a week on the Oaxacan coast and close to a week in Mexico City. The beginning of the trip was challenging because we had it in our minds that we wanted to get to the beach as soon as possible. We bought tickets in Guatemala all the way to the beach, but once we got to Tapachula (the border town) we found out that the overnight bus we were planning to take was full. It turns out there was writing in very small letters on our tickets that said our tickets were dependent on available space. The bus for the following night was already full as well and not wanting to spent any more time than necessary in Tapachula, we bought tickets on a night bus to Oaxaca. We got to bus station what we thought was 45 minutes early, but when we got there we were told that the bus already left (it turns out there is a one hour time difference between Mexico and Guatemala). We really wanted to get out of Tapachula and so our only option was to get a taxi and try to catch up with our bus at the next stop 45 minutes away. The taxi driver seemed happy for the challenge and we sped towards the next town at around 100 km/hour. It was a bit scary, but we made it to Huixtla about 3 minutes before our bus. Whew!
After one night in Oaxaca we decided to head for the coast. We spent our first night at the beach in Puerto Escondido, but didn't like the feel of the place so the next day we headed to Zipolite. Leah and I had already been to Zipolite and knew that we liked it there. Zipolite is a small, laid back beach town with enormous waves. We spent the next few days playing cards (our rummy scores are up to about 3000 now), swimming, eating, and reading in the hammocks. William and Toño (the directors from Leah and my study abroad program) also happened to be at the beach in a nearby town at the same time so we were able to hang out with them a bit and meet the current SIT group. It was fun to see them and it felt like just yesterday that I was there as a student.
After a wonderful and relaxing week at the coast, we boarded a bus to Mexico City. We've been staying in Santo Domingo with our friend Martin (the same place we stayed when we were in Mexico City before). Martin and our other friends, Diego and Vanessa, have been wonderful hosts and take us somewhere new almost every day. My birthday was on the 12th and Leah, Rachel, and I spent most of the day wandering around one of the beautiful parks in downtown and went to a history museum. Then in the evening we all piled into Martin's van and went to a spot that overlooks Mexico City. Once we parked we climbed for about 10 minutes up a very steep hill of sand. It was hard going but once we made it to the top the view was incredible. It was freezing up there and I was very glad to have brought my sleeping bag! A little after 1am the ground started shaking and as we looked out on the city we saw small explosions and then huge patches on the city turned black. The earthquake lasted about 30 seconds and was more exciting than scary. It made for a memorable birthday, even though it wasn't technically my birthday anymore when it happened.
On Sunday we went with Martin, Diego, and Vanessa to Xochilmilco which is where the Aztecs first began building floating gardens called chinampas. We took a boat ride for an hour through the canals and it reminded me a lot of Italy (except that the boats were much more colorful and it was very crowded and we kept crashing into other boats and the sides of the canals). Every fifth boat or so had a mariachi band on board and there were lots of people cooking up tacos and quesadillas out of frying pans in their boats. After the boat ride we walked around the artisan market and then the flower and plant market.
Today we went to a birthday party for Doña Ema (Leah and I stayed with her and her family the first time we came to Santo Domingo). We visited her a few days ago and she asked us to come over and share a meal with her, but assured us that there would be no party because there is no space in their house to have a party for the 27 people that live there plus guests. However, when we showed up today they told us (and Doña Ema) that we were going to a relatives house and when we got there it was all set up for a party. They even had a band and 7 huge speakers and there was lots of eating and dancing.
That's all for now...thanks for reading!
xoxo, Katie
After one night in Oaxaca we decided to head for the coast. We spent our first night at the beach in Puerto Escondido, but didn't like the feel of the place so the next day we headed to Zipolite. Leah and I had already been to Zipolite and knew that we liked it there. Zipolite is a small, laid back beach town with enormous waves. We spent the next few days playing cards (our rummy scores are up to about 3000 now), swimming, eating, and reading in the hammocks. William and Toño (the directors from Leah and my study abroad program) also happened to be at the beach in a nearby town at the same time so we were able to hang out with them a bit and meet the current SIT group. It was fun to see them and it felt like just yesterday that I was there as a student.
After a wonderful and relaxing week at the coast, we boarded a bus to Mexico City. We've been staying in Santo Domingo with our friend Martin (the same place we stayed when we were in Mexico City before). Martin and our other friends, Diego and Vanessa, have been wonderful hosts and take us somewhere new almost every day. My birthday was on the 12th and Leah, Rachel, and I spent most of the day wandering around one of the beautiful parks in downtown and went to a history museum. Then in the evening we all piled into Martin's van and went to a spot that overlooks Mexico City. Once we parked we climbed for about 10 minutes up a very steep hill of sand. It was hard going but once we made it to the top the view was incredible. It was freezing up there and I was very glad to have brought my sleeping bag! A little after 1am the ground started shaking and as we looked out on the city we saw small explosions and then huge patches on the city turned black. The earthquake lasted about 30 seconds and was more exciting than scary. It made for a memorable birthday, even though it wasn't technically my birthday anymore when it happened.
On Sunday we went with Martin, Diego, and Vanessa to Xochilmilco which is where the Aztecs first began building floating gardens called chinampas. We took a boat ride for an hour through the canals and it reminded me a lot of Italy (except that the boats were much more colorful and it was very crowded and we kept crashing into other boats and the sides of the canals). Every fifth boat or so had a mariachi band on board and there were lots of people cooking up tacos and quesadillas out of frying pans in their boats. After the boat ride we walked around the artisan market and then the flower and plant market.
Today we went to a birthday party for Doña Ema (Leah and I stayed with her and her family the first time we came to Santo Domingo). We visited her a few days ago and she asked us to come over and share a meal with her, but assured us that there would be no party because there is no space in their house to have a party for the 27 people that live there plus guests. However, when we showed up today they told us (and Doña Ema) that we were going to a relatives house and when we got there it was all set up for a party. They even had a band and 7 huge speakers and there was lots of eating and dancing.
That's all for now...thanks for reading!
xoxo, Katie
Friday, April 13, 2007
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