Last Day in District Federal

       I'm ready to go out and visit a site today.  As I write this I have a loud speaker blaring some Mexican Dance music,workman refinished the bar that was just painted but someone ignored the sign WET PAINT and the whole bar had to be redone after five executives had to assess the damage.  I'm going to see the Diego Rivera museum and see what else I can squeeze in before I pack for my departure.

      It was a warm and sunshiny day.  Everyone was out and about. I felt better and stopped at Starbucks and kept everyone in line waited while I tried to pronounce a Raspberry drink special on the menu..repeating my mistake over and over while pointing to the menu. Finally I was laughing at myself along with the line of customers while trying to apologize for my bad Spanish.  I sat out on one of the few sidewalk Cafe's I have seen in the City.  It was pleasant.  I took some photos then walked on to the Diego Rivera Museum. I passed through the park but it wasn't where I remembered it on the map.  I went down another street and approached a young business man that spoke little English but offered to walk me there.  We chatted a bit. He designed a program for University of Phoenix but has never been there.  It was outsourced to Mexico. Interesting that a Private college that teaches IT has to source it out to Mexico City for their program. We laughed and bid goodbyes.

The long line for ATM very common sight.

Mom and Dad keep me tethered to this rope while they make lots of Money pretending to be authentic Indians . They play music and sell CD's maybe you've seen them all over the world?

That's my Aunt and Uncle..we all sleep in the flower bed.

This gets boring...sometimes I dance with them.

       I paid my entrance fee and another fee to take photos of the Mural Diego was famous for.  There are 75 different points of interest all explained in both English and Spanish in front of the Mural.  I took pictures of it all and on the way out requested a copy of the explanations of the points of interest.  I expected they would have a copy to sell...stupid me...why would they do that.

      There is something to be said for a NON  socialistic government.  Mexico politicians are the most corrupt in the world. They milk their country with their monopolies granted to businesses they pay them big bribes... Walmart is one that comes to mind and on the other hand exploit their biggest resource...the cheap labor.  Keep them happy and low pay.  I walked right into the Museum of Tolerance  A great idea and another way of keeping them happy without paying them.  Propaganda.  Give gays the right to marry...doesn't cost anything and actually creates another market to exploit. I suspect the Minister of Culture has his minions running things while he is on his boat cruising to Panama to visit his cronies instead of finding inexpensive ways of making money for the Ministry of Culture like selling printouts of Diego's famous mural that could be sold for a couple of Pesos.

      I took some photos of a beautiful courtyard fountain and water sculpture with large pieces of artwork that cost plenty...but no water was running ...it was all stagnant and created the opposite effect.  Next door was the Minister of Justice...that was fitting I thought. Then as I was leaving I passed through a gate back out into the street to witness over 150 riot police lined up in full gear expecting an attack or something.  I stopped taking photos and went back to the VIP restaurant I enjoyed when I first arrived. This was another solid food meal with no problems.  I returned to the hotel to pack and catch up on my reading. I asked my lovely desk clerk that I've fallen in love with about the news and riot police.  This is the one year anniversary of an extended postponement of an austerity measure that goes into effect today.  Many people will lose their jobs and protests have been going on all week.  Keep the people happy.  I don't know if we had riot police protecting Washington when the tax cuts were due to expire?  I haven't gone out much at all after dark. It turned out to be a response to the PEMEX methane explosion that killed over 30 people.

   My fantasy lover is now making my bus reservation as there are few seats left for tomorrow. Seems everyone wants to get out of the city on Friday and head into the country.  I hope I get a seat.  Bye Bye..see you in Oaxaca...I hope.

Doctor Day

      I slept fairly well .  I woke once during the night and made 4 trips to the toilet before returning to sleep.  I think the NyQuil helped...no dreams, sweats or chills.
     I got directions to the nearest Doctor and decided to walk.  There was a bank on the way so I took out some more Pesos from the ATM and arrived at the Doctor's office.  She saw me after a brief wait but didn't speak any English so there was this very comical body language going on between us.  Especially when she wanted to give me an injection.  I dropped and bent over but she wanted me laying on the table not bent over...I moved around the table and bent over and she started laughing.  We both were laughing.  She charged me $9 for the injection and her consultation.  She told me to stop the lomitil and gave me three medicines with some re-hydration fluid.  I walked back a new man.  Total cost $35.

      Walking the streets I noticed a woman with a baby doll wrapped in a blanket close to her bosom.  Then a man walking with a basket with a baby doll in it.  Then another woman with a basket and a baby doll in it.  I asked the receptionist at the hostel about that.  She explained it is to prepare them for motherhood or fatherhood.  They were expecting a child in the family.

    I observed my first black person since leaving the plane at the airport.  There are a lot of openly gay and lesbians in Mexico City and they have the legal right to marry. My day consisted of returning to Sanborn's for some solid food and a walk in the park with an ice cream.  I figured I lost about 50 lbs in the last two days and could indulge.  The city was getting to me.  Constant loud noises even in the hostal.  Tours through the hostal.  Business men etc.  Quite a noted place.  Mostly for the expensive restaurant and the architecture.  I found out about it in Dwell magazine for architects and designers. I sat around the hostal and played poker on the internet, read and when to bed.

Taxco on Tuesday...at last.

It was another sleepless night with weird dreams, sweats, chills,etc.  I woke at 7 a.m. with the realization I had altitude sickness.    Fatigue, shortness of breath, hyperventilating  confusion, on and on.  I had read older people in Mexico City have a problem with this, especially if they have a respiratory problem to begin with.  I couldn't find a pollution report on the Weather Channel or anywhere.  I did find out that Mexico City used to have the worst pollution but in the last two years it has improved to be on par with L.A.  I guess that is an improvement.   My diarrhea increased in frequency so I did the best to prepare for the long trip in the mini van. I took my lomitil (for diarrhea) and stocked a bunch to take with me.The diarrhea frequency has increased .   I had a bowl of cereal but no coffee.  It was to be the last food I ate except for a Flan later that afternoon.

      I had to find a bathroom at every stop and sometime go back twice in ten minutes.  I can't tell you how many times that was today but my bottom is sore.           When we got to Taxco, a mountain silver mining village, I was having a hard time keeping up with my small group consisting of our 75 year old guide, Carlo from Santiago, Chile and a newly married couple from Buenos Aires.  The wife was pregnant. I sat on the sidelines most of the day.
     It wasn't the altitude , which was less than Mexico city but climbing steep stairs and inclines.  The weather was perfect and the air was clean and fresh.  We did a tour that included another Cathedral built by a rich Mexican who had discovered the Mother Lode when it came to silver veins.  We broke for lunch .

Hector, our distinguished  Guide

  Carlo, the other couple and I while Hector was off visiting his friends.  I was in the toilet when the waiter came for the drink order. I returned just as the waiter was bringing the drinks and taking food orders.  He seemed put out when the gringo ordered water and a Flan.  The South Americans were conversing in Spanish.  I was wondering if I could have my water but our waiter was over chatting it up with the other waiters .  We were four of eight customers in the restaurant.  When I couldn't get anyone's attention, I went to the bar and ordered my water then returned.  I asked the lady if she had visited the United States yet.  She promptly replied she didn't speak English or understood what I was saying.  PMS. Carlo learned to ski in Bellingham Washington while he attended college there on an exchange program and had been to Phoenix while visiting the Grand Canyon.  The lunch came and we exchanged travel experiences and enjoyed each others company.  She had a bad headache but now seemed friendly and cordial.  The bill came and everyone started counting Pesos.  USA is one of the few places where a tip is expected and a large part of the servers income.  I do believe we get better service as a result and the restaurateur can afford to staff te dining room properly.  I owed 61 pesos and just gave him 100 to keep while others were still counting out their Pesos.  I was waiting for the waiter to return with change for another 100 so I would be able to tip our guide when the time came.  Everyone was waiting outside when the waiter returned with my money and then put BOTH arms around me and hugged and thanked me.  Well appreciated 30% tip instead of 10%.  I think Raul will be my friend for life.
         When everyone was on free time, I sat in the plaza taking in the sights while talking to Hector our guide. He had been a guide for 50 years.  He impressed you as an educated college lecturer.  He had been shopping an bought a small hand drill like I used to have as a child, which was the last time I saw one like that.  He explained that when he has time off he enjoys a quiet life when at home.  His hobby is woodworking.  He asked what I do with my time in retirement.  I replied that when I'm not traveling, I enjoy golf and poker.  He asked if I was professional.  I explained both were only hobbies.  I have a story for you , he said.  One day , when I was a boy of 14, my father asked me to take the bus to Durango for an important errand.  I was to meet my Uncle at the main hotel in town.  There he would give me a package of money, lots of money, to return to my father soon.   I did as I was told but as I was leaving , there was a man in the lobby with some cards and he asked if I wish to take a game of chance with him.  I was young and naive so agreed to try one chance.  I used a little of my money and won some so when he thought I could win more.  I lost my money and all of my father's.  The man gave me 150 pesos so I could return home.  When I arrived my father was so saddened.  The money he borrowed from his brother to pay off a loan he had taken for our home.  He was behind and in financial difficulty.  The police came and took him to prison when he couldn't pay the loan and he lost our house too.   I have never held a card in my hand since then.
         When the day was over, I wasn't sure I was going to make it to my bathroom even though we stopped once on the return trip. I did and then knew I needed some food.  I went to the 7 Eleven and stocked up on Activa.  Then stopped at the coffee shop to buy another solid yogurt and a muffin.  The Yogurt turned out to be whipped cream with jam on the bottom.  I drank a quart of Activa, took lomitil and NyQuil and am about ready to drop over.  The cramps and the stomach pain subsided but I can't keep awake.

 

Monday Blues..

     I went to bed early to heal my body and rise early for my long day of travel to Taxco and Cuernavaca.  I hardly slept at all on my "pool table bed" and awoke with a rush to the toilet.  Not a good start.  I woke late and was to be picked up in 45 minutes.  I rushed to be ready.  The last tour, they arrived early.  It was 15 minutes after the appointed time when I asked the front desk to call them.  Dario returned with a message they would be there within 15 minutes.  Fifteen minutes later and I returned to find out there weren't enough people for the trip and it was cancelled.  Welcome to Mexico.  This is not a problem nor is it unusual while traveling.
        Monday in Mexico City, most attractions are closed.  I remembered the Temple Major and the Monster / Egyptian exhibit so decided to have a nice real breakfast at Sanborn's after catching up on my blog then head down there for the afternoon...after taking my anti-diarrhea pills. Never travel without them.
       Four gorgeous REAL blondes from Denmark or Sweden greeted me in the hall wearing their underwear.  I wasn't ready for that small pleasure but it made up for the cancelled trip. My plans and I was not happy.  Not because they changed but because the tour company said they were running late and would be there in 10-15 minutes.  My guess is they wrote me off when they realized they hadn't picked me up first and taken me to their station to pay before leaving.  They had left the tour company and were on their way out of town when they got the message to pick me up. Either way, it was inefficient and I was put out considerably.

    Sanborn's was still serving breakfast when I arrived.  I ordered  scrambled eggs with chopped ham, a fresh juice, and a small roll greased down and toasted on a dirty grill.  The same one they scrambled my eggs on.  All this came with one of those frozen potato patty also fried on the dirty grill.  The juice was great and so was the toilet...thank God.  I took some photos of the building and walked around a bit after paying $14.  It was worth it to see the building.  I noticed the Mexican's order coffee and a pastry and sit for an hour while reading a book or catching up with a friend.  I will return and sit at the lunch counter for coffee and a pastry. That is in a separate area and equally as beautiful.
      There was still some big event going on at the Zocalo as I passed by to the Tempo Major.  This is where they discovered the huge Aztec Calender Stone "Wheel" while doing a construction project near by in 1979.   It is now a protected archaeological site.  A Monster exhibit and one about Tutankhamen were being presented at the Colonial building next door.  I visited the Egyptian one but it was only replicas of the boy King , his mummy, and related items...they also had a nice toilet...thank God.  I met Jerry from Chicago who was skipping out on some work he was sent to Mexico City to do.  He didn't have much time before he had to return but most all the good things were closed on Monday.  He was the only one with shorts on in the entire plaza.  Not that is wasn't warm...but Mexican's do not wear shorts, nor do the Spanish.  They are modest. I'm not but don't want to be singled out as a gringo any more than necessary.

         I was returning to the hotel to shed some clothes when I passed the hotel I planned on staying at a few days before I flew back to the USA.  I stopped in and booked my reservation and noticed a tour agency so inquired about taking the tour I missed.  It costs me $20 more but they said they would show up.  I leave tomorrow.
      When I arrived at the Hostel, they were spray painting the bar in the Hostel open area and the fumes permeated everywhere.  I decided to run some errands and visit a recommended restaurant.  I purchased some toiletries at the Pharmacia  then half way to my goal, I realized I didn't have my camera so decided to return Wednesday to take some pictures in the area.  The more I walked, the more pictures I wanted to take .If I was to return on Wednesday, I would have lunch at the restaurant then so stopped at McCafe to do this blog. Getting close to evening so will stop for a snack and say goodnight.