From: chuahl@ocf.berkeley.edu (Chua HakLien)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: C+'s trip to Mexico ( Long... )
Date: 6 Jan 1993 07:48:32 GMT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley Open Computing Facility
NNTP-Posting-Host: tornado.berkeley.edu

C + waves his legs lazily in the air while taking a drink from a bottle
of tequilla.
"Hello, everyone. Now that Didi's alright, we all can breathe again... =) 

"Anyway, just came back from a trip to Mexico City. The guy who was supposed
to plan the trip didn't, and so we had to wing most of the trip. Worst part
was the bus trip from Tijuana to Mexico City. 50 hours. And I had taken
a bus from SF to LA the night before, and then from LA to Tijuana, so in a
space of 72 hours, I chalked up about 64 hours on buses. ( shudder.. )

"But we did get to see a lot of the countryside. Rows of /agave/ ( the
cactus plant which tequilla is made from ), the Sierra Madre looming in 
the distance and desert and more desert.. Thankfully, the highways of
Mexico seem to be pretty well-maintained, and the ride was smooth, even
if it was l---o---n---g...

"In Mexico City, did a bit of sightseeing and relaxing. We arrived at a
bad time, as it was about the 30th, and most everything was closed over
the weekend of the 1st. But still made the most of it. We visited the
Cathedral in the /zolaco/, which has a Christ figure made from corn,
the Pyramids outside the city, which has two main pyramids dedicated to
the Sun and the Moon ( First time I was thankful for the Stairmasters in
the school gym.. those pyramids were a heck of a climb.. ), and went bar-
hopping in the /zona rosa/ ( pink zone ). 

"I had expected Mexico City to be hell, but was pleasantly suprised. The air
was bad, and there was lots of smog, but it certainly wasn't as bad as I
thought. It has a pretty good subway system with each ride costing about US$.13
one-way and there was a lot of stuff to do in the city.

"We also had a great host, who bought us around to have some great food.
Enchiladas, mulletas and other stuff whose names I can't pronounce.. =),
Mexico certainly was a great culinary experience. Ahh... the salsa.. I can
still smell the onions... 

"Since there were 3 Asiatics in the group, we got a lot of stares from the
locals. Most tourists seemed to come in packs, and avoided the subways or the
shadier areas of town. Got slightly uncomfortable, but was used to it by the
1st...

"Still, there were a few things that were kind of disturbing. The gap in
wealth primarily. Child beggars waited by the cash register of the bakery
at the bus station, waiting for change; barrios housed 12 men to a small
apartment on the edge of the megatropolis that was Mexico; and beyond those
barrios were cardboard and tar paper houses wherein the poorest stayed.

"Meanwhile, we passed by elaborate mansions and houses, and on New Year's
Eve, went to this party which resembled a gathering of frat boys. Rich,
spoiled kids, mestizos or Whites, mostly, who drank cognac and whisky with
wild abandon. ( There doesn't seem to be an age limit for drinking in Mexico..
)

"Still, the people are energetic and passionate. Mariachi bands roam the 
streets, and balladeers ask you to hire them to sing for your lady love.
Vendors are everywhere; in the subway, waiting at traffic intersections etc,
all trying to pluck something for themselves in the economic upturn. 
Everything and anything seemed to be on sale; candy floss, pottery, cheap
watches, /churras/ ( a long piece of fried dough sprinkled with sugar ) etc.

"What else? Oh yeah. We were stopped by a police car for beating a traffic
light. They dwaddled about writing a ticket, and our host said that they 
wanted a bribe. The police had told him he had commited a traffic offense,
and asked him "what he was going to do about it", but he didn't have any
cash, so got off with a warning. He says giving bribes is commonplace in
Mexico, as the pay is so low for policemen.

"Hmm... this thing is a mess. If you do visit, try to catch the Ballet
Folklorico at the Belles Artes. They perform a variety of local dances,
and though the dancers themselves aren't superb, the dances are, reflecting
the spirit and passion of the Mexican culture with their powerful movements
and their colourful costumes. Also check out the Museum of Anthropology,
though it'd be better if you were able to understand Spanish, as the exhibits
don't have english captions....

"In all, it was a good and relaxing trip. Good food. One image sticks in my
mind like glue, which I think reflects the Mexican people best. As we were
coming into Mexico City, we passed by a traffic intersection where Beetles
and Chevys and Pontiacs waited. I saw a figure standing in the middle of
the street and thought that it was a policeman directing traffic. Then,
he turned to the side and blew out a spout of flame from his mouth. It was
a fire-eater plying his trade in the time it took a traffic light to change
from red to green. Somehow, it epitomised Mexico and the spirit of it's
people.

"(Whew)!!! Mike, some Sangria!!! Worked up quite a bit of a dry throat...
Next time, I'll try to make it to the Yucatan, and I definitely won't take
a bus!!!!" =)

C +