Oct 12, 2010 - Procession of the virgin of Zapopan

So today in guadalajara I saw the largest parade of my life. Thousands of people took to the main street of Guadalajara at 6 am. This is a very religious, cultural, and revered event for Guadalajans. Every year a statue of the Virgin of Zapopan journeys from church to church in guadalajara from June through October 12th when it is slowly carried back to her home in the Basillica of Zapopan. This parade is not like any other. Thousands follow in the streets to make the journey with her. Dancing and singing, praying and cheering. Buses don't...

Oct 11, 2010 - Virgin of Zapopan - a bit of history

Tomorrow is Romeria de la Virgen de Zapopan which from what I understand is the closing off literally all of the city center through, yes, the main street I live on. The people march from the center all the way to Zapopan. I have been conversing with my familia here for about two hours on how I might get to class tomorrow. This event attracts thousands to the street. The buses don't run and the activities in the street will be endless. There are SO many people already in the streets. I think I just agreed to go with the granddaughter and...

Oct 10, 2010 - Tequila bus tour

I'll have to write about this experience tomorrow but here's a sneak picture preview. but just two things; ALL OF OCTOBER IS A FIESTA. NOT JUST ONE DAY OR WEEKEND BUT THE ENTIRE MONTH!! And the public bus i caught home today was black lighted with glow sticks and "Thriller" blaring throughout the bus!!! Really??? And i'd had plenty of tequila. The next bus is gonna have a DJ I swear!!! LOL!! I love this city. You just never know what your gonna walk into from one minute to the next.

Oct 8, 2010 - First night out

I messed up bad tonight LOL!!! I went out....the only girl and lost my address card the school gives you to keep with you. So unlike me! It has your host family's information including address and phone numbers. This is what I am suppose to show the cab driver so that I get home safe. Note to self: when in another country's very big city, it's important to memorize your address immediately and especially before you go out at night!! Thank god I got a mexican cell and had the good sense to save my host mom's phone number in the address book....

Oct 8, 2010 - Test today!!!!

Took a test today after the first week and scored 96% Yahoo!!! Tonight we have Salsa so my friend, Patricia and I went to find her a dress. The shop owners LOVED helping me with my spanish. I learned "yo encontre lo que necesito" A funny thing about traveling: So we foreigners were talking (happen to be all white) this morning about how much we are stared at, LOL. Everywhere we go they look at us as if our flies are open. I feel like a zoo animal sometimes which is strange because I think i could pass as indiginous. Any way, at break we...

Oct 7, 2010 - As the week ends and the weekend begins!!!!

OMG, so every once in a while you get to ride a bus with music. today I held on to the bars, swinging around again like a monkey while rocking out to I think Enrique Iglesius (sp). It was awesome. One day I'll end up on that bus again and can then coordinate my trip around catching his every time, LOL. for now I'm just happy to find I've taken the right bus at all. So the Pan guy drives by the house every day turns out and he's got everything. Today I purchased a caramel empanada! Really??? It's like an ice cream truck to a little kid. I'm...

Oct 7, 2010 - first week

First off, this is GREAT! The cab brought me straight to la casa de me familia and not one speaks a word of english!! Regardless she loves talking to me and rushes me as soon as I'm home from school. My Day's consist of 8:00 breakfast with host mom 8:30 walk to bus stop, take bus, walk from bus to school The busses here are entertaining as hell!! The bus drivers take off like rockets only to slam to a stop three feet away. There is no suspension or shocks on these buses and the streets are bumpy as hell. You stand, holding on to bars...

Sep 3, 2010 - Turtle Project

Global Volunteer Project - Conservation Mexico 4th September - 30th September I fly from Mexico City to Puerta Vallarta on 4th Septmber and start my first volunteer project. The turtle conservation project is based at the El Mayto turtle camp, about 100kms south of Puerto Vallarta. Thousands of turtles come ashore each year to nest and lay eggs on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Each turtle will lay several eggs but the chances of a turtle hatchling making it to adult life are slim. The chances are made slimmer in Mexico due to human...

Mar 22, 2010 - Guadalajara

This weekend we headed to Guadalajara to see David Guetta. Most hilarious taxi journey so far in Mexico on the way to the arena, the ‘driver’ had his mate in the front and they both looked about 18. He was definitely not a proper taxi driver, he looked like he had nicked his dad’s car for the night. They were on their way to a party so had a coolbox in the back where we were sitting and told us to help ourselves to beer and whiskey. Free pre-lash as part of the journey - amazing. The concert was really good, it was outdoors and kind of like...

Mar 2, 2010 - Last Day in Ecuador

It´s noon and I´ve been out of the hotel room since 9 trying to scare up something to do. Joan and I were supposed to go to the Mitad del Mundo, exact location of where the equator crosses in Quito, but she is sick as a dog. I thought we had a great dinner last night but hers made her sick. Dinner was $5.99 including a glass of vino tinto. I went to Coffee Tree where gringos are supposed to hang in the AM but few were there. I went to artisans´ market just behind our hotel to buy two more Panama hats. Now I am toting 17 of them back to...

Feb 3, 2010 - COPA Airlines Jets Me to Quito, Ecuador

Joan Montgomery and I arrived at 10:30 PM, immigration and customs a breeze, van waiting for us. Even mariachis playing outside. There´s 20,000 Herbalife independent reps here from all over Latin America. I think the band was for them. All hotels are full. We have reservations at Hostal L'Auberge for $19 a night. www.auberge-inn-hostal.com With elevation over 9000 ft. above sea level, the climb to our third-floor room was quite an effort. Viva Ecuador!

Jan 23, 2010 - Charreada Benefit at La Quinta Cros

Tom Finn and fiance Darlene are in town from Chicago for the annual rodeo to benefit the handicapped kids horse exercise program. This group, Pasos Milagrosos, uses equestrian therapy to improve the life of kids with many handicaps including cerebral palsy and autism. It was a nice surprise to be invited to this event by Darlene and Tom. What a great send-off before I leave for Ecuador. And what a festive afternoon we had!