Chronicles of Mexico 1962April 7
Chronicles of Mexico 1962
Excerpts from a teenager’s diary/scrapbook
(The full names of locations have been added to the Transcript of the scrapbook for clarification.)
Thursday, April 7, 1962
This morning immediately after breakfast, we left for Mexico City. We had come down in two days, but, were going to go back on one day, because, tomorrow we have to catch a plane. We really had our doubts about that plane, though. The original plan was to catch a 12:00 PM plane and get into Chicago at 4:05 PM, but, because of the airline strike things changed. Now, we were going to have to leave Mexico City and fly to Dallas, TX, where we’d have to wait six hours at the airport for a connecting flight to Chicago and arrive at 6:30AM. We would have to go to school or never go to Mexico again. Well, luck was with us and we were going to charter a plane with an Evanston group and arrive in Chicago at 6:30PM.
After dinner, we went shopping in Mexico City for a sombrero I wanted and some odds and ends people had forgotten.
I couldn’t help wondering if mother had found a new house (in PA) and how they’d find out the change of planes.
Chronicles of Mexico 1962April 6
Chronicles of Mexico 1962
Excerpts from a teenager’s diary/scrapbook
(The full names of locations have been added to the Transcript of the scrapbook for clarification.)
Friday, April 6, 1962
Fridays are market days in Mitla (UNESCO World Heritage Site, Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca), but on the way there, we stopped in a small town to look at pottery and woven material. In the Casa Buena, I bought a tan and black pitcher for Nana. Before going much further, we stopped to watch some pottery being made. It was here I purchased candlestick holders for Mother.
Once at the market, Bob and I walked around. He was making some very interesting observations, until we came to a pineapple stand. There, he bargained at 4 peso pineapple down to 4 pesos!. Because the woman rattled out Spanish so fast, he got confused and decided to take the pineapple at the first price. Then, when he came to a flower stand, he bought me a huge bouquet of purple and white Zinnias for 3 pesos.
When we got back to Casa Bueno, Bob and I were thirsty, so, we went up to the bar and the bartender asked: Que quieran? Martinni? Bacardi?” The drinking age is 16.
We just smile and said: Manzanta, por favor.” This is carbonated apple cider, which is very tasty. He winked and served it to us.
That afternoon, we went for a swim and into the Oaxaca market, where I bargained for a beautiful, large knife for Sandy; 21 pesos to 13 pesos which was $1.04.
It really turns your stomach to see these cute little kids with a head full of lice and to think they eat the moldy food we saw, but, Esta es la vida de ellos; although they are very proud of their heritage.
Back at the hotel, we were again thirsty, so, we sat at the bar and the same bartender as before asked, Agua? Manzanita? Rather teasingly.
We smiled and said no. Quieramos Bicardi, por favor.
The bartender smiled and said, “Si. Si. Bacardi: Bob ordered it, but we both drank it with two straws. When it was done, I noticed there was a little bit of it left in the shaker. I pointed to it and inquired if I could finish it. At this, he shook his head emphatically yes and handed me a long straw.
That evening, after dinner, we went back into Oaxaca to listen to the mariachi bands. We were late and only heard one song, so, we just cased the town, witnessed Miss Bog purchase her fifth fish serape, and then went back to the hotel.
At the hotel, Barb and Marla, Bob, and I went to Bob’s room to demolish the pineapple.
Chronicles of Mexico 1962April 5
Chronicles of Mexico 1962
Excerpts from a teenager’s diary/scrapbook
(The full names of locations have been added to the Transcript of the scrapbook for clarification.)
Tuesday, April 5, 1962
Today, at the Ruins of the Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla, we went down from one of them from out of the shining sun, into a stuffy, damp tomb in the shape of a cross lying down. The arms pointed exactly north, east, south, and west.
When we came up, it was pouring buckets, however, it only lasted four minutes. To The right in the picture is a little room in which the Z-design exactly 45-degree angle. This was done so that when one wall met the other in the corner, they joined without interrupting the over-all design.
There are typical God images seen all over Mexico. Next, we went to see the Patriarch Tree of Pule, reputedly one of the oldest trees on this continent. In different places the gnarled trunk forms the head of a buck, horse, and a bird. In the afternoon, we drove to Teotihuacan to watch the Indians weave beautiful serapes. I could not resist a cute demi-god woven on a colorful background and bought it for 140 pesos, which is $11.40.
On the way back, we were far ahead of the others, so, we stopped to talk with a peasant woman for an hour. She talked of nothing but her family which illustrates the family pride the Mexicans have.
That evening, Bob took me down to the zocalo to listen to the mariachi bands . Everyone went, but we couldn’t find anyone. Later, when we got back to the hotel, we caught the word that Russ had bought a watermelon. We went over and had a lovely time spitting seeds at cars coming up the hill.
Chronicles of Mexico 1962April 4
Chronicles of Mexico 1962
Excerpts from a teenager’s diary/scrapbook
(The full names of locations have been added to the Transcript of the scrapbook for clarification.)
Wednesday, April 4, 1962
We arrived in Oaxaca around lunch time, so, we had lunch at the Hotel Victoria, then, went for a swim.
The pool had two platforms for diving. I did a jack-knife off the top one with an audience watching from the hotel balcony, but, Bob, for the second year in a row, wouldn’t go off the bottom one, so, we chanted: Pollo! Pollo! Pollo!
After that swim, Barb swears a big bug bit her.
We went to the Castillo de Chapultepec (Museo Nacional de Historia) via a very colorful flower market, the Chapultepec fountain, and had lunch in the Chapultepec Restaurant. Chapultepec means Grasshopper Hill.
The Chapultepec Castle used to be the home of the Emperor Maximillian. One half is now a National Museum. The other half shows some of the rooms the Emperor and Empress used.
The next to the last activity was to visit the ruins of Monte Albán, Oaxaca. In this picture, is shown the game area. Into this pit were put many of the young able men who were to fight to the death. The dead or injured were a sacrifice to the Gods. They not only relieved the burden of choice from the Emperor, but, it seemed as if the Gods chose their own sacrifices.
We went into this little crack in the side of the construction, twisted around, narrow, hairpin turns and came out on the top of it.
Out of all of us who went into this secret passage, only one got stuck: me.
These two fellows in the picture are the best, friendliest, and nicest fellows , who taught me a lot. To the left is Roberto, my guide, and to the right is Bob K., that nasty man with that nasty movie camera.
That evening at our hotel, they put on a feather dance for us that was rather interesting. John W. picked this (dark purple feather) off one of the headdresses for me.
Chronicles of Mexico 1962 April 3
Chronicles of Mexico 1962
Excerpts from a teenager’s diary/scrapbook
(The full names of locations have been added to the Transcript of the scrapbook for clarification.)
Tuesday, April 3, 1962
Originally, we were to fly to Oaxaca, but due to the airline strike, we decided to drive , spend the night at the Hotel Lastra in Puebla, and arrive Wednesday. This is what we did and I am very glad. Enroot to the hotel, we stopped off to see where several generations of nuns stayed hidden for 100 years without being discovered by their persecutors (possibly the Secret Convent of Santa Monica, Puebla, Mexico). They watched the Mass through holes poked through a wall.
The Hotel Lastra, was a panic. First off, Linda started chasing Russell, because he’d taken her bathing suit. Then, the pool was only half full, so, we would run and slide into the water.
The pool floor had an octopus and two entwined eels on its floor and a tiled theme of fish and kelp on the deep end wall.
That night when Bob and I came back from a walk around the premises, we found everyone writing a letter to Linda M. from Russell, the Duke of Dingleberry (unknown to him, though.) and one to Russ from Linda (unknown to her), something about little green, fuzzy men.
Chronicles of Mexico 1962 April 2
Chronicles of Mexico 1962
Excerpts from a teenager’s diary/scrapbook
(The full names of locations have been added to the Transcript of the scrapbook for clarification.)
Monday, April 2, 1962
Carol and I had roomed together, so, this morning John W., Tita, and we went for a horseback ride. We missed breakfast, but, it was worth it. The silly horse! It’d been trying to buck me off when I gave a nudge to catch up with the others. I rode behind along with the stable hand, who had to accompany us as a guide. We had a wonderful time trying to communicate. I learned so much.
Later that morning, Bob took me around to the palace we’d been to last night. I took a picture of the bullring where “Pepe” had been filmed. I had never seen a real, working steam engine before. I snapped this picture as it passed. Note the bottled H2O, which was very common to us.
That after noon, we drove to Taxco, the City of Silver where I bought a sterling silver ring for 35-pesos, which was $2.85. Here we visited the beautiful Santa Prisca de Taxco, Guerrero, in which the Tree of Santa Domingo or Tree of Life, was carved inside above the doorway.
On the way back to Mexico City, we stopped at the Platera VistaHermosa, where I bought tie clips of onyx stones for Daddy and Pappy.
We spent this night in the Hotel Genevieve. Bob had taken me to see the Monument to Independence at night.
Chronicles of Mexico 1962 April 1,
Chronicles of Mexico 1962
Excerpts from a teenager’s diary/scrapbook
(The full names of locations have been added to the Transcript of the scrapbook for clarification.)
Sunday, April 1, 1962
Carol, Patti, and I toured a little church two blocks away from our Hotel Genevieve that didn’t even look like a church. We had such strong doubts that I asked the poor peasant woman , “Es esta la iglesia?”
The inside was simple and nice. When we first came in and knelt, we’d put our purses behind us. Soon the Father told us we should hold onto them, because although the people were virtuous, they felt we wouldn’t mind if they took something.
Back at the hotel , I was talking to some of the bellboys, trying to talk Spanish and to tell him that we were going to the play and the bull fight. I talked in Spanish, because if I used an English word, he would say, “No entiendo Englas.”
I was sputtering around so much that I decided to imitate them (pretend to fight a bull). While I’m doing this, about five bellhops gathered around to watch. When I was finished , the first one said in perfect English, “I hope you enjoy them thoroughly.”
I turned red as a beet, but, I did learn the hard way that all hotel personnel speak or at least understand English.
Then, after breakfast, we found our little group and we were off to the Palace of Fine Arts to watch Ballet Folklórico de México. Before the ballet began, we saw the wonderment of lights shown on the Tiffany glass curtain, which was fabulous and breath-taking. It was a sunrise over a mountain reflected on a lake.
After the ballet, I bought a record of the music and left for Xochimilco (literally: where the flowers grow), the Floating Gardens. We were led to two little boats that had “Welcome Highland Park High School” on them. We entered and found a seat. There are floating bands also, so, Raphael said for our two boats to sandwich one between us , so they could play for us. They played “Viva Mexico”, several others and floated on their way. It is very interesting to see all these gondola-type boats all scrambled together and, yet, no one starts swearing. If one gets into trouble, they help each other.
Last on this Sunday’s agenda, was the bull fight. We were very, very lucky, because today was the end of the bull fighting season, so only the best matadors and bulls were to perform.
Many people think it is a cruel sport, but, it isn’t. It is actually very beautiful to see. The grace and courage of a 110-pound man artfully maneuvering a 900-pound bull to do his bidding .
Immediately after three of the twelve bulls were gone, we had to leave for the Hacienda Vista Hermosa, En route to the Cuernavaca Valley, we swung around the university to see the mosaics on the library exterior, which was fabulous.
We arrived at the hacienda in the evening, so, we had time to swim in the magnificent pool. This is when I first met Bob K.. I had pushed him into the pool and raced him, out dove him, and out ate him. This began a nice friendship.
After dinner, he showed me around because he had been here with the group last year.