Day 49

Amanda, Diego’s girlfriend reporting,

Diego has given me the permission and privilege to contribute to the Chevy Astro Diaries. I started my journey with Diego in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It seemed to take hours from the time I landed to the time I saw Diego. After clearing customs it seemed to be a battle to get through all the resort shuttles and taxi drivers who were convinced that I was lying to them when I had told them I had someone to pick me up. I must have looked like a lost lamb not knowing where I was going. Luckily I saw Diego who told them all to back off with his eyes. Our resort was very nice but very empty, I guess not many tourists like to go to Mexico during hurricane season. We actually had hurricane Jova headed towards the whole time we were there and came the last night. However, we slept through and missed it. We spent most of the time relaxing by the beach, in the pool and walking around the town. It was very hard for Diego to be so close the ocean and not go surfing. He was drooling over the locals who were body boarding. He told me, however, that going surfing there would be like skiing in Chicopee when you know you will be skiing in the Rocky Mountains next week. He is planning on going surfing in Puerto Escondido which is apparently the cream of the crop for surfing destinations. Diego also took me driving through residential area of the town which was the scariest driving experience ever. The streets were super steep and super narrow. There was a point where I wanted to jump out of the van because walking was much safer.

            After Puerto Vallarta we drove to Guadalajara. It was a long twisty journey. It was very jungle like along the coast then it turned into plenty of agave fields and small towns. Diego and I bonded a lot when it came to navigating through Mexican cities. Guadalajara is a very beautiful city. The first place we went to was the Mariachi plaza which was pretty empty due to the heavy rainfall from hurricane Jova. There was one Mariachi band there who were playing for family right next to us. I think Diego was thinking to himself “Yes I do not have to pay for a band to play for Amanda” He eventually got one to play a song just for us! We were so cold from the rain that we hung out in the hotel to warm up. We decided to venture out of the hotel at night which was very fortunate for us because the main plaza was very beautiful at night. We only stayed in Guadalajara for the night but it is definitely a place I would go again.

Next stop on our journey was Mexico City. This was a place which my whole family was against me going due to safety and the fact that it has the same population as Canada on a whole. Our friends Charity and Erick, however, highly recommended it and it was a place that Diego really wanted to go. I am very glad I went; it is a place of a lot of charm and energy. We were so nervous about driving in Mexico City. We got lost about 3 or 4 times but luckily it was very close to our hotel. Diego actually thought that we weren’t lost at all because he was following my directions and he had complete faith in me (I never told him when we were lost). Our hotel was in the Zona Rosa which was an area that Charity had recommended. It was very safe and was only an hour walk from the down town area. The first night we came across a restaurant that had a live band, great food and then a huge mariachi band and dancers. Diego and I had our first tequila there which I had discovered that they do not drink it as a shot but to enjoy it as a drink. It helped us to show some cumbia movements in the dance hall.  We later walked around this area discovering that it was a very “open minded” neighbourhood…

            The next day we journeyed out to see Teotihuacan. This was the top place I wanted to see while in Mexico. It was once habituated by 160 000 natives around 400 AD. These were people before the Aztecs had been in the area. There were two huge pyramids of the sun and the moon and ruins of a city all around. We were able to climb up the pyramid of the sun.  This place was amazing and fascinating. Throughout the ruins there were many people selling jewellery and carvings. I learned the hard way that you should never show any interest in what they are selling unless you are actually interested.  They will follow you and lower they’re price until you buy. I left the ruins buying $60 worth souvenirs.  Only half of these I actually wanted to buy.

 

            The last full day we spent exploring the city.  On the way to the main plaza we came across this plaza full of people dancing, it was mostly older couple who danced with so much style. We then came across a group of people playing Cuban music. Once we were in the main plaza it was the first time I was truly nervous due to the massive crowds of people. The architecture in the historical area is amazing. The two favourite places of ours were the Church in the main plaza and the Correo. The Correo is translated into post office. It was like a palace inside. I have never been in a place so beautiful. There was also many food vendors on the street which was very tempting to stop at but I knew if I ate there and got sick there would be many people back in Canada saying I told you so.

            Now I am spending my last morning with Diego and it will be a very sad day for Diego and I. I wish Diego lots of luck on the rest of his journey.

Pictures from last to first

Street band playing some cuban music

Amanda admiring a mural of Diego Rivera

Amanda and a charro

Diego trying a mexican spicy candy

Amanda in the correo mayor

Correo mayor

Streets of Mexico City

La gente en el zocalo

La guia roji

Handcreaft sellers in Teotihuacan

Mate in Teotihuacan

Stair to sun

Rainy night in Guadalajara

Beach in Puerto Vallarta

Mate while watching people surfing

Streets of Puerto Vallarta

Jarabe tapatio