"No hablo Espanol, si!"Mexico (pronounced Me-hi-co) once intrigued me. So when I pursued my studies in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, I decided one wintry December to fly south to sunny Mexico. You know I had to wire home to the folks to sell-off my car so that I could get to buy the "Conquistador" package offered by the travel agent. Unfortunately, none of my friends shared my enthusiasm, thus I had to travel alone across half of the continent.
Upon reaching Mexico City, I met other travellers in my small group (all Caucasians). For the first few days they didn't pay much attention to solo me because "Oh, we thought you're one of the locals!". Should I be flattered or what? Yes, even the Mexicans thought I was one of them, some spoke to me in Spanish - Hola, como estas? Buenos dias! Hasta pronto! and the like. And I would say the only Spanish my friends in Hartford taught me "Por favor, no hablo Espanol! Gracias, de nada".
Besides Mexico City, I got to see cities like Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Taxco, San Miguel de Allende, Ixtapan and of course Acapulco. That was a long time ago but what I do remember then was the disparity between the haves and the have-nots. I saw castles and shanties side by side. The churches were lavishly decorated while outside I saw poverty. Maybe things have changed now, I hope so.
It was Christmas in Mexico City and I never saw so many Father Christmases with their elves in Central Square (Zocalo) ! Everywhere it was "Feliz Navidad". The city folks were smart-looking and well-dressed. But it was no fun for me travelling alone. I got no one to share my excitement (or someone to snap my photos with me posing!) Overall, it was OK - should be, after all I sold my car to see the country!
8 comments:
nek ngah u look sooo cute in tht photo. haha. wish i could be lyk u.
wit lov, iman
Dear Iman,
You mean you wish you could be "sooo cute" like me or be able to see the world like I did?
So study smart, ok?
Thanks for your comment, I'm flattered.
Putri, I think that is the wonderful person that I came to know in the early seventies in Malacca.
Have a nice day.
Thanks for your compliments, Pak Idrus. Those were FUN times, yeah!
Selling your car to tour Mexico, now that's commitment to travel! I hope you eventually thought it was a good trade off.
Those cities you visited would have presented the finest and the most charming aspects of the rich culture of Mexico.
Judging from the photo accompanying your post, I can see why Mexicans would have mistaken you for a fellow Mexican.
Your reference to the Zocalo at Christmas reminded me of one of my more memorable visits to Mexico City, at Christmas in 1975. In the US we were still reeling from the effects of the Oil Embargo which had forced unwilling conservation of energy here to the extent that many businesses and homes thought it more prudent not to put up Christmas lights.
It was going to be literally a gloomy Christmas in the US, so my wife and I with our two small children headed to Mexico City. There, sure enough, were lots of Christmas lights, lots of Reyes Magos (the Three Wise Men), Santa Clauses, and especially delightful, lots of balloon sellers with huge bundles of ballons in shapes never seen in the US, at the Alameda Park, not far from the Zocalo,
Unfortunately, the scenes of poverty you have described were still around in Acapulco two weeks ago when I visited. It's a disgrace, a blot on an otherwise wonderful country.
Louis, thanks for sharing here your experience in Mexico. I forgot about the 3 wise men. Yes, I saw many groups of the wise men too! And I also remember the balloons...
salam tuan puteri ...
connected to your blog thru louis's. Looking forward to be hook to your blog. And yes ..selling your car to travel ..that's cooolllll.
RIZAL
Hi Rizal,
Thanks for popping in, Yes . . I'd do anything to travel back then. But now have to be extra careful, pensioner you know!
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