Chapter II

We get back to Guadalajara on Sunday and mi Tia Luz has prepared a delicious meal for us Huaraches (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy6AcBpY1CQ&feature=related) and Tacos al Pastor.

Don't think she fed us "sandals" for dinner - the dish is call huaraches because they shape it like the sole of a traditional mexican sandal, very much like a gigantic sope. Typically it includes: fried beans, queso, chopped up meat, a green sauce, creama, some avocado if you'd like. It's heavenly - needless to say we ate a couple!

The next day - we were back at the Abuelita's house looking for our next adventure. Our Tia Rosa and cousins: Daniel & Caro took us to see the Guachimontones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guachimontones). The only circular pyramids (in the world -- I believe). We also got to see a couple of high school kids dress up in traditional indigenous attire preparing to film themselves doing a traditional ritual of some sort. It was hard not to stare, they looked odd - the guys had their tidy whities on under the loin clothes and scribbles on their arms with black eyeliner. Definitely a sight to see.

The very next day - we headed to "el centro" (aka downtown Guadalajara) so that Chuck could see some historical sites. Thankfully, my Abuelita lives pretty close and the bus ride was quick. But we managed to get serenaded by a blind man with a tape recorder and microphone. He sang like no one's business, it was a good time. In the Centro, we went to a couple museums, ate some tortas ahogadas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torta_ahogada) and enjoyed the other sites. We stopped in to visit with two of dad's Tias. It was nice seeing them again - 10 years makes a big difference, they were smaller and more frail but sweet and kind as always!

That very night we got invited to see LUCHA LIBRE. I was hoping for some midget action but they only had "full-size" wrestlers (remember, a good majority of men in mexico are smaller than me). We went on "college night" so there was a lot of raving and ranting between groups - lots of inappropriate comments flying around -- so I felt right at home :D (i.e. when any girl would stand up to go to the ladies room, the guys would yell: vuelta, vuelta [turn, turn] if she obided they would cheer and say something else, if she didn't they'd boo and move on to the next victim). Chuck took 4 pictures before his camera got confiscated (and returned after the event). You should have seen his face!

The next days we hit up more tourists sites like Tonala (where you buy all artisan crafts and where I got my molcajete [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molcajete]), visited more uncles Tio Cesar & Jose Luis (+ family). Hung out with Tia Ofelia at her house where we feasted on carne en su jugo and frijoles de la hoya. On our last day - our Tia Bertha (+ family) took us to las Fiestas de Octubre (big fair) and we got to see female impersonators of famous mexican stars. They were pretty good, i was very impressed with the moves, make-up, costumes, mannerisms, overall performance.

We got back and dialed into reality - work in a couple of days, tons of laundry, lots of mail to sort, grocery shopping to do, and the need to spend time with our hairy children. I enjoyed this trip tremendously and look forward to visiting with family again (very soon!)

There's too many pictures to post on the blog - check out my flickr page. If you need access just let me know!