As 2008 came to an end, I traveled throughout central Mexico.

 

The plane took off from O'Hare emerging through dense fog like something out of a movie. Every horror movie I forced myself to sit through suddenly came to mind as my overdramatized wild imagination took over. Soon we were above it all and reading proved to be a more lucrative pastime. Then the crying started, followed by the group happily getting inebriated and loud. So I took the headphones to try to drown it all out. Now, I never wear things in my ears because I do not like my senses being cut off, and because I fear becoming that annoying person who head bops and sings along with the music that no one else can hear. I plugged it in and wouldn't you know, my song was on, "Open up your eyes and see like me, open up your plans and damn you're free...," and,” ...it's a thief in the night to come and grab you..." "...baaaaaabe I'm gonna rock your gypsy soul..." Oh yeah, I turned into that person. And quickly removed the headphones; a bit red in the face.

Arriving in the middle of the night, Guadalajara was a city bustling with everyday life. Next was San Luis Potosi, a cleaner, more Americanized town. Santa Maria del Rio was the most colorful with bright buildings and bustling markets full of fresh produce. El Fuerte was a ranch in the mountains where life is simple and I elicited many stares. Ciudad Valles led to rappelling down the Tamul waterfalls and climbing around at the Micos falls. Here are some excerpts from my journal and a lot of photos taken along the way.

Many things were learned on this journey, for instance, in Mexico, instead of saying "Cheese!" they say, "Whiskey!" This got many laughs and cooperative faces - except in Valles. People looked at me with strange looks on their faces as if I was asking for some. Clearly that doesn't work everywhere. If they are smiling, it is because they were alright with me taking their picture, if they are not, I took a shot without permission which resulted in a bit of minor conflict. I prefer the ones where they do not know they are being photographed; it's a bit more rude, but a lot more real. Overall, I have never been stared at so much, photographed by strangers so much, and I nearly killed someone with my photography. I got kicked by a horse, shot by a slingshot, stood on a horse, and through it all, my stomach fared pretty well considering all the chilies and peppers. Only one encounter with some questionable mole prompted my intestines to wage civil war.

I'm not easy to travel with, so bravo to my friend for lasting a few of the days. I averaged five hours of sleep and one to two meals per day (and I learned how to cook some authentic Mexican food). Traveling like this thus results in being injured and beaten in so many ways, that by the time I boarded the plane to return home, my whole body was whipped and sore causing me to walk with a limp and a grin.

A sure sign of a great time!

 

Guadalajara San Luis Potosi Santa Maria El Fuerte Ciudad Valles Tan Chong Chin