Last day

After class today we walked over to the Alameda Hidalgo. Alameda is another way of saying "park" in Spanish. There are so many tall trees that it is pure shade and people like to go there to sit in a cool, quiet spot. Lulu also explained that on Sunday afternoons/evenings, lower-class people (her words, not mine) spruce themselves up and go there to flirt. The young women (most of them maids, says Lulu) wear high heels and sit on the surrounding benches while the young men (construction workers) walk around the park. When eye contact is made and sparks fly, then the young man sits down next to the lady and they chat. What I find even more interesting is that people of lower-middle class go to a different park. They're very conscious of dating within their social class. I thank Lulu for telling it like it is!

Later on we met again for a second dance lesson. Some students were feeling a little tired or had some stomach problems so only a few participated, but WOW they were great!

Then all of our Senoras came to the school for a little going-away party. Gabi, the school's director, provided some delicious tamales for us to eat and atole to drink. Atole is warm beverage made from chocolate and maiz. It's very sweet and served in tiny cups. I drank about half of it before I was really craving some water.

I have to say I think this group of mamas is just outstanding. They are warm, friendly, caring, funny and very easy to get to know. They obviously enjoy having student guests in their homes. This has been a truly rewarding experience!

Now, I just need to keep my fingers crossed that everyone will be well enough to travel tomorrow. It's time to get back to our regular diets and get some rest!

La piramide

I am fascinated by Pre-Hispanic history so today was a real treat for me. There is a pyramid just four miles from downtown Queretaro! It is believed that Teotihuacan and Toltec cultures populated this area from around 600 A.D. and later by Chichimecans, Otomis and Tarascans. They call it "El Cerrito" (Little Hill) because that's what everybody thought it was for many years until an excavation began.

Later in the day we got together with Lulu for a little song session focusing on the classics.

Last update tomorrow!

Convento de la Santa Cruz

I'm happy to report that all students were in class today! Everyone was talkative and ready for the day ahead. After class we walked over to the Santa Cruz Convent. It's really old! Let me quote what my tourist map says about it:

The Spanish conquest of the city ended here on July 25, 1531, where this magnificent convent was later built. During the battle between the Spaniards and the local indigenous people, a vision of a cross in the sky appeared to all. With both sides in awe, the battle ended abruptly. A replica of that cross, carved in stone, is suspended above the main altar of the church. Coincidentally, thorns in the perfect shape of a cross grow on an extremely rare ancient tree found in the garden of the convent.

They sell the large, cross-shaped thorns all over Queretaro to help support the convent, which now serves as a functioning seminary school. (Yes, I bought one, and yes, it has stabbed me more than once.)

After a brief tour we went back to the school to check emails and facebooks and then we went to a nearby market to look for a little gift for Lulu. The rest of the afternoon was free time!

San Miguel de Allende

We started class an hour earlier today so that we would have more time to spend in San Miguel de Allende. Unfortunately, Austin was still feeling a bit sick so he stayed at home. (I just spoke with him and he's feeling much better!)

We took 3 different buses and finally we arrived at the market place. It was nice! I called it the "Nieman Marcus" of mercados. What a difference a weekday visit makes - almost nobody there! It so happens that many stores close on Tuesdays in San Miguel -sort of their day off. We didn't notice. There were still a lot of stands open and the merchandise looked a lot nicer, although a bit more expensive. A lot of the stuff you might find at stores in Santa Fe, for example, but SO much cheaper. Oh, by the way, I picked up a big blue bag for you Mrs. Rogers! I forgot to tell Austin that a moment ago when I spoke to him.

The overcast skies were a relief from our normal sunny afternoon walks. We saw more Americans than we have seen in the past week - including at school! American artists and anti-war protesters moved to San Miguel and have had a positive influence on the community by supporting education and children's issues. You can even see/hear the young adult children of these Americans in the plaza and cafes. They look American but they are speaking Spanish like a native. Americans also like to retire there.

General Ignacio Allende, a native of the town, was a leading player in the war against Spain for Independence. He is now a national hero. (He was ultimately captured and beheaded, of course.)

After spending a little time in the market we saw another beautiful church then relaxed at Starbucks for awhile. Just as we were getting to the bus stop it started raining. Most of us had an umbrella, a raincoat or something to put over our heads for the few minutes we had to wait. Then it was nap time on the bus!

Of our three day trips I have to say this place is my favorite. It's just my style.

Second week begins

After class today we went to a nearby small town called Can(y)ada (I don't know how to do accents and tildes on my blog yet, sorry.). That is where the aqueduct began hundreds of years ago. Now it is all dried up, but still you can get an idea of how it all works. There was a nice park around the reservoir with big trees. Spencer, Diego and Alejandra couldn't resist a climb!

After lunch we got together with Lulu at the school and played some typical Mexican board games. It was fun and we learned some new vocabulary words. Austin and Rachel took the afternoon off to get some rest. As you can see, our daily schedule is packed and can wear you out!

Tomorrow after classes we will drive to San Miguel de Allende for another day trip. Mrs. Mullins is getting back on that bus!

Guanajuato

Sorry for the delay in my blog, but I ate a funky chicken taco yesterday at lunch in Guanajuato and got a bad case of food poisoning. Yuck! I've been resting all day and I think tomorrow I'll be all better.

We left at about 8:30 and it was a two-hour bus ride. Guanajuato is a pretty town in the mountains. It was born from silver mining during colonization. The first place we went was el Museo de las Momias (the Museum of the Mummies), where Spanish priests would torture non-conformists and lawbreakers of all kinds. Terrible things happened there during the Inquisition.

We went to an old silver mine and the students got to actually go down the mine to see the kinds of conditions the men used to have to work in. Then we stopped by a church which is considered the second-most important church in Mexico due to the 24 karat gold altar. Very impressive.

After that we went to the market for a little shopping and then had lunch on the plaza. Some mariachis were strolling along looking for clients and so we bought a song. They were fantastic! Then, the table next to us bought three songs (one song is about $9). It was very entertaining.

After lunch (which would haunt me later) the kids went with Lulu to see the Universidad de Guanajuato and Diego Rivera's house. Diego Rivera was famous for his murals and was married to Frida Kahlo. Lauren and I stayed downtown to finish up some shopping.

It was a three-hour ride home thanks to Mrs. Mullins being so sick, but the kids were all in good spirits. I will never be able to thank Lauren enough for taking such good care of me.

Market/Cooking Day

After class today we all got on a bus and rode over to the big market in Queretaro. This was the first time for us to use public transportation so it was a new experience. Upon arriving the mercado, the students were told which grocery items they were to go buy. The found the queso ranchero, onions and cilantro without any problems. After that we had some time to walk up and down the aisles and see all of the typical items found at a Mexican market. I love those colorful nylon bags so much I bought ten of them - for only $14! I was so absorbed in all the surroundings that I forgot to take any pictures. Sorry about that!

Then we took a private minivan to Graciela's house. Graciela was our cooking instructor. Turns out that her husband, Vicente, did most of the cooking and the students did most of the prep for the guacamole. That was the best darn guacamole ever! They also made the cucumbers and limonada (limeade). Vicente prepared Enchiladas Queretanas, chicken, potatoes and carrots over the fire. Delicious! They also had a huge dog that was only 11 months old who barked at us.

We missed Spencer today because he was feeling a little under the weather but he has recharged his battery and rejoined the group.