ice rink

By the way here's the ice rink.....

At least some poor kids will have a chance to experience the exhiliration of falling on their behinds.

japanese scotch in mexico

Went to Mexico City a couple of weeks ago... some U.S. movie company was filming downtown. Don't know who was starring in it but the name of the flic will be, "Persons Unknown".

On the way out of town I noticed a factory on the right hand side of the highway, about ten miles south on the Road to Puebla, its sign said, "Suntory Scotch. de Mexico, S.A..

Suntory is a Japanese Company thats been here since 1923, I don't know what their scotch tastes like but I've heard it was pretty good. I'm a Glen Livett man myself and I think the scotch have a better knowledge of brewing... What's next? Mitsubishi Tequila??

Happy New Year to All !!!!

Mexico City

Mexico City is only 3 hours away by bus so every once in awhile I go there. It's either the worlds most populated city are soon will be, I think Tokyo may still have an edge.

Because of it's place in History, it was the Capital of the Aztec Empire, it still retains it's Historical, Economical and Political Influence.

Mexico City has a population of 21 million and a "floating population" of about 3 million, that is people coming in and out of the city daily.

At the Central of Abastos Market (Supply Center), 30,000 tons of food arrives each day to feed this monster. There are 40,000 people working there and it covers 36 city blocks. There's parking for 50,000 vehicles. It even has its own newspaper that posts present & future food prices. Even this isnt enough to feed the city and they have a huge "market on wheels" that goes to different locations around the city every day.

Amongst the many problems of the city is pollution. Someone once remarked that managing Mexico City was like trying to repair an airplane in flight.

Every day 43,000 cubic meters of fuel are burned, half of that is used by vehicles. For every public transport vehicle there are 40 private vehicles, as a result Mexico City has a "day without your car" law. depending on the number of a cars license tag its not allowed on the street one day of the week.

The subway known as the "metro", was built by the French to accomodate people during the Olympics in 1968, More than 4 million people board the subway train at "Pantitlan" Station than all people who board Amtrack daily in all the U.S. . 3 and a half million people ride the subway each day at a cost of about 30cents a ticket, Sr. Citizens ride free.

Minibuses in Mexico City serve 8 million passengers every day.

One thousand planes a day land at Benito Juarez Airport in Mexico City. Private planes have to land at the Toluca Airport 40 miles away.

More than 2 million interstate buses a year arrive and leave Mexico City, there are 4 terminals of which T.A.P.O is the worlds largest & busiest bus station, the 2nd largest is C.A.P.U. bus staion in Puebla, Mexico , 150 miles South of Mexico City.

Mexican Trivia

Did you know ...... Robert Louis Stevenson while in the port of Ensenada, waiting for his ship to go to Hawaii, wrote part of his book, "Treasure Island".
Lucia Zarate, billed as the worlds smallest lady, at the age of 18 weighed 2 kilos, born in Sonora, Mexico, she worked on the Barnum & Bailey Circus. She died at the age of 26 from hypothermia, when the circus train got stranded in the Rocky Mountains during a blizzard (1890).
The Scwartz & Meurer Construction Company along with architect Gustav Eiffel of tower fame, designed and built the kiosko (bandstand) in Cuernavaca, the Church in Santa Rosalia, Baja California and the American Consulate building in Puebla, Puebla (now VIPS Restaurant.).
Malcolm Lowry, Author of "Under the Volcano" was deported twice from Mexico, both times for barroom brawls...(What an honor).
Dictator Porfirio Diaz gave William Randolph Hearst(Pattys grandad), 2 and a half million acres of land in Mexico so that he would only write positive stories about his Presidency in his newspapers. (talk about the ministry of propaganda, makes you wonder if the sinking of the Maine was real or not).
Keep coming by..... HAPPY REVOLUTION DAY!!!...

Santa Ana's Leg

Santa Anna....

Known for his cruel Massacre at the Alamo was involved in other schemes, plots & pursuits. He introduced chewing gum into the U.S., While in New York looking for ways to finance a new political career, he met Samuel Adams who was trying to figure out ways to make latex tires for carriages. Santa Ana sold him a ton of chicle gum from the zapote tree of Mexico. While experimenting one day, Adams daughter asked if she could have a piece to chew on, this inspired him to flavor it and sell it as a treat. It became an instant success and Adams Chiclet Gum was born. Adams became a millionaire and Santa Ana died impoverished. So the next time you sit or step in gum remember it was Santa Ana's fault.
Back around 1838 some of Santa Anas troups in Mexico City broke into a bakery on Tacubayo street and ate all the cakes & pastries, The shop was owned by a Frenchman named Remontel who put in a protest to the French ambassador. The price of the pastries was about $6000 pesos, Harsh words were spoken & the argument went on for months, finally France made a declaration saying Mexico owed $600,000 pesos, an exhorbitant amount at a time when the minimum wage was $1 peso a day. Mexico refused, France sent a warship & bombarded Veracruz, took over the port and Mexico declared war.
Santa Ana was living in Xalapa at the time and saw it as a chance to reenter politics, without authorization he gathered a scraggly band of men and descended on the port to wage war. Admiral Charles Baudin in charge of the Ship ordered his men back on board the vessel, Santa Ana on the docks ranted & screamed when suddenly a single canon shot of grapeshot came from the ship and hit Santa Ana in the leg, it seemed like a scene from a hollywood epic, Santa Ana went on and on as to how he was laying down his life for his country. He was taken to a hospital where his leg had to be amputated. Meanwhile the Gov't agreed to pay the debt with interest at a later date & the french departed. the war was over. Santa Ana wore a cork leg after that & he never failed to mention how he had given his leg in patriotic bravery.
Years later while chasing Sam Houston near San Jacinto, he along with a few soldiers stopped to rest under a shade tree and he took his leg off to rest it. Suddenly a group of Texicans rode up so his soldier escort picked Santa Ana up and placed him in a wagon and rapidly galloped off, leaving the leg resting against the tree. The Texans liberated the leg & took it as a Souvenir, it's now in a museum in Illinois.
During the Sesquicentennial of the Alamo(1985), someone in the U.S. Government mentioned that they had seen the flag that flew over the Alamo in a dusty glass case in the basement of Chapultepec Castle. So The Texas Gov't. wrote a letter saying they wondered if the Mexican Gov't. would be willing to trade the flag for the cork leg.
Someone, I believe it was the Secretary of the President of Mexico wrote back saying... "we don't want the leg of a man that lost half of our country. besides that Mexican boys paid for that flag with their blood."

Here's an interesting quote from Porfirio Diaz who was President/Dictator of Mexico for 30 years (1880=1910).
"Poor Mexico, So far from God and so close to the United States"

State Fair has started

The State Fair opened last Friday, tremendous Firework display Friday Night. Mexican Rodeo at the Fairgrounds and the running of the Bulls on Nov. 1st & 2nd.

more about All Saints Day

Fall is definitely here, the cornfields are turning brown wild flowers are blooming, theres a purple flower that covers roadsides , I cant identify it but I`m told it`s a chrysanthemum.Also cempasuchil flowers are showing up in the markets, which means the Day of the Dead is near,(All Saints Day).

All Saints Day is of European Origin but the Mexican Version predates it to prehispanic times and now it`s a blend of Catolic/Aztec Customs.

The Aztecs had their own way of celebrating death and their concepts that determined where they would go after death. Their idea was that warriors who died in battle were converted into companions of the rising sun, called "Cuahetecatl" or companions of the Eagle.

For those who died ordinary deaths, they would go to "Mictlan" , the 9th region of death to begin their journey , being buried with things they would need on their trip. Sometimes accompanied with their dog, a xolitescuntle, who would lead them through the underworld towards heaven.

In Aztec theology we find the god, "Xipe", who was worshipped and feared and his fiesta was celebrated in the Aztec calendar, el Tonamatl and Xiumatl that fell between Oct. 15th and Nov. 15th of our calendar. It was celebrated with flowers, song, food & drink.

Todays traditions of Day of the dead synbolize a mix of pagan0-christian beliefs, which have become customs with some modifications depending on the region.

The Day of the dead really starts on Oct. 28th.. when Mexicans celebrate the death of persons who have died in disgrace (murder-suicide) or in accidents. At 3 PM the priest orders the ringing of the church bells to receive the souls of the dead. Also people who have drowned on this day, the belief being that the xoloitescuintle (dog) didn`t aid them, for these water is added to the offering which is a sign of regeneration.

All souls are received with incense of copal (rosin), if its a child a white bow is placed on the incense burner. It`s believed that a child never journeys alone but is accompanied with another child who has died.

On Oct. 29th the souls of stillborn children are received.

On Oct 30th other infants souls are received.

On the 31st pubescent children & teens are received.

Nov. 1st is reserved for adults, on the 2nd of Nov. families, friends & godparents have a reunion & give a large offering. Besides flowers its time to clean up the gravesite.

In honor of the dead, food, flowers, fruit & food or placed at the offering. Adult offerings include day of the dead bread, cempisuchil flowers, incense, tamales, beer, tequila & items the deceased enjoyed in life. Seasonal fruits like tangerines, apples, jicamas, bananas, etc., are placed on a wooden altar along with a picture of the deceased, a cross and other religious images.

This is a celebration with a distinct prehispanic & Spanish colonial atmosphere. Very colorful & symbolic.

Poetic Money

If you take a close look at a $100 peso note you'll see some interesting things, first of all the Picture on it is the last Aztec King of Mexico..Cuahtemoc. He was captured by Hernan Cortez' Conquistador's while attempting to escape during the siege of Mexico city.

Cortez had him bound and tortured by putting his feet in a fire trying to force him to tell where the rest of the Aztecs golden treasury was hidden...He never talked.

Another interesting thing on the bill is just below Cuahtemocs left ear, above the word "peso" you can see something written...it's very small and you'll need a really strong magnifying glass to see it. Here's what it says: (translation):

I love the song of the corn.....

& the bird of 400 voices...

I love the color of jade

and the invigorating perfume of the flowers...

But I love more my fellow men (humanity).

Netzahualcoyotzin

--------------------------------------------------

Netzalhualcoyotzin (in Nahuatl Indian language means "Fasting Coyote")...he was the poet warrior king of Texcoco, Mexico...His Father was assassinated when he was six. He hid in a Cherry tree and made his way South of Texcoco to Tlaxcala where he was adopted and trained as a warrior. When he reached adulthood he returned with a band of warriors to recapture Texcoco and regain his throne.

Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead is coming up. Better known as All Saints Day in the U.S. . In Mexico practically the entire country will visit graveyards to pay homage to deceased relative or friends.

There will be "Offerings" at altars on which they will commemorate the death of a person by placing things they enjoyed in life, like special foods, drinks, etc.

Many floral decorations, incense and such are used. Its really a 3 day event, October 31st is for persons who died in accidents, November 1st is for children and Nov. 2nd for adults.

It's very colorful and many towns have contests to see who can make the best "offering altar".

Also during this festival a special bread is made, Pan de los Muertos", a sweet bread with the figure of crossed bones on top.

A Ship in the Mountains

Awhile back a friend stopped by my house. He had been to Veracruz and picked up a truckload of red cedar wood and wanted to know if I'd like to buy some. So I did and eventually made a bar out of it. But what are you going to do with the rest of it? I asked.

It's for a Catholic Church about 60 miles from here called St. Andrews. he told me.

So a couple of months ago someone stopped by and asked if we'd like to see an unusual church at St. Andrews Buenavista. So off we went. And what an amazing Church it is, Its built like the Santa Maria of Columbus's fleet. What a strange sight to see a caravel sitting amidst the mountains of Tlaxcala.We were in luck to encounter Father Arnulfo Mejia the Priest of the San Andres Church, who gave us an excellent tour of the ship.

The principal theme of the ship is religious syncretism as represented in the architecture and decorations. Amixing of prehispanic and European cultures, there are many prehispanic glifs in the church.

Theres a cellar with crypts...1st floor is the Temple & pulpit...2nd floor is aGallery and cafeteria...

3rd floor is game room, cultural events, museum observacion balcony, a terrace & masts.

There biggest Fiesta day is October the 12th (Of Course!!)

Father Arnulfo says the project started in 1974 and the idea of the construction of a ship started in 1984 because St. Andrew was an Apostle of Jesus and a fisherman as were his brothers, .

Also Jesus preached from a boat and the boat is a symbol of Salvation.

A most unusual place to visit if you ever get this way.

Tours

Had a little business last week, a group of 12 people went with us on our "Hacienda Tour", we visited a couple of Haciendas that raised fighting bulls and a Pulque Hacienda where they brewed Cactus Juice. Actually the fermented juice of the Agave Plants.

It was like stepping back into the wild wild west, Very well conserved Ranches that have an atmosphere that makes you think Zorro is goind to ride up on a horse at any minute.

Idepence Day is over but celebrations go on..They erected a countdown Bi Centennial Clock in the main Plaza ...721 days to go till the Bi Centennial of Independence from Spain.

Also the next big event will be at the end of October & through November...The Day of the Dead and the State Fair along with the Running of the Bulls through the streets downtown.

Have a nice day...................Bob

Independence Day

I went to the Market tody..it was packed, people buying things in preperation for Independence day tomorrow...Big dinners everywhere...typical meals for tomorrow will be Pozole (a hominy soup type dish with strips of pork or chicken, oregano, chili flakes and lime juice, garnished with radish slices and shredded lettuce...served with tostadas. The tequila will be flowing like a river.

Theres a Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera exposition at the Municipal Palace in Puebla...along with free movies at the Cathedral about legends, music and things identifying poblanos on the 19th. 20th & 21st of Sept. ay 8:30 PM.

Lots of things happening:

At the XXI Century Auditorium****

Oct. 7th-- The BBC Orq. and the Royal Philharmonic will perform at 8:30 PM

Sept. 20th... El TRI...Rock Group,

Sept. 21st ... The National Symphony Orquestra performs at 12:30 PM

October 2nd... The Opera Center of Moscow performs "Carmen" at 8:00 PM

Oct. 17th-- Juanes will sing at 8:00 PM

Oct. 30yh.-- Judas Priest performs at 8:30 PM

September 28th is the Atlixcayotl Festival in Atlixco. Puebla (25 minutes from Puebla), a Festival that dates back to Prehispanic times.

mexico-mystic

It's September 14th and Mexican Independence Day is 2 days away.. Already people are streaming to the Ocean beaches. I cant styand a crowded beach. It's better to wait for the off season.

So let me introduce myself: My name is Bob Cox, I've lived, off & on , in Mexico for 40 years..I'm an officially accredited tourist guide for the State of Tlaxcala. I have a wife, (Raquel), 2 kids who are grown and married, living in the next State over, 50 miles from here.

Originally I was raised in Georgia but left when I was a teenager and wanderlust overcame me...I carried a copy of Jack Kerouacs book, "on the Road" for years thinking it was the bible.

Crossed the border back and forth so many times I lost count... Now have resident papers and a work permit .

If anyones thinking of living, retiring, snowbirding for an extended period drop me a line and I'll try to answer your questions.

I'm located in the central highlands of Mexico...I like Mountains.. Do most of my business around Puebla...Tlaxcala...vera cruz area.

Went to Puebla yesterday to see my Dr. at the Social Security Clinic...I have mildly high blood pressure... I've managed to get into the system and get free medicine, medical care and meds.

Saw an interesting police vehicle yesterday downtown Puebla...it was a golf cart...check out the photo. Where I live in Tlaxcala they have bike patrols... easier to get through traffic jams.

Lot of flak about how unsafe Mexico is, but I feel safer here than in the U.S. .

Hope to hear from you. Bob