10 Oct - Arriving in Guadalajara

A we flew into Guadalajara, unbeknownst to us, the city was in a state of preparing for celebrations even more vibrant than the usual. On the place with us were the Brazilian national equestrian team, boisterous, energetic and as we soon discovered, all geared up for the 16th PanAmerican games to be hosted by Mexico in Guadalajara later in the week!  They were telling us that this is hopefully the precursor to the Olympics in London next year - and if enthusiasm counts, I'd say they're on the way.

The boys were excited to see Abuelito and visit his home again.  They especially love his elevator, they've never seen one in any other home before - come to think of it, neither have I! There is a very pretty 18 year old girl called Jasmin who works here in the kitchen and laundry and a young fellow named Jose who takes care of the garden and cars/garage.   Sam has been following Jasmin around like a puppy - when he's missing, I often find him with her in her room .. given that she doesn't speak any english and his spanish is limited to a handful of words I wonder what kind of communications they've developed..

We’re sleeping in what was my younger brother Charlie's room.  It is still the same now as it was before he died in December.  All his photos still cover the walls and his books and knick-knacks surround us.  There’s a definite feel of his presence in the room and I like that.  Coming Mexico has always felt like coming to the world I inhabited by all the spirits and ghosts of my past here now staining my present with their bittersweet memories.  Appropriate then that we are here in time for Day of the Dead celebrations, when Mexican people remember their friends and family who have passed on with festive celebrations.

After a quiet day on Tuesday – well, as quiet as three energetic, noisy boys caged indoors can be -  we went to the cinema in the evening.  The boys and I chose Lion King 3D with Jasmin while Dad and Justin watched a grown-up comedy.  As we settled into our seats (cosier than those in our English theatre) the boys were outraged to find out that the movie was actually in spanish and with no subtitles!! ... but after a bit of grumbling and resistance they eventually settled into it and could even be said to have enjoyed the experience - Ben claimed to have seen much more detail in the waterfalls and jungle creatures since he couldn't understand the words.

Wednesday here in Zapopan was a very important day - the festival of the virgin of Zapopan.  It is a big holiday here in Guadalajara, one of 2 key religious holidays, and there is no school. There is a huge parade from the cathedral in Guadalajara centre to the cathedral in Zapopan, a 3 hour walk.  Many native indian dancers in cermonial attire dance through the streets, followed by schools and other religious groups, then monks and priests ...ordered to some extent, it seemed, by religious rankings? .. old and young all cover the same 3 hour distance.  The virgin arrives at the rear of the procession in a ceremonial car and is transferred to a golden pedestal for the last few hundred yards walk.  There were one million people watching this year - less than usual due to torrential rains. 

 

We tried to make the most of the situation, all of us in rain jackets and Dad having brought 2 umbrellas - but it was freezing.  Our legs and feet were dripping, hair plastered to foreheads and rain jackets working to their fullest extent.  We were quite far from much of the marching parade and, as the boys pointed out, we were there for what seemed like a very long time.  Still, we were located in a spot close to the transfer of the virgin to the gold pedestal, which was quite lucky.   Maybe it was appropriate that it was raining as the main fame of the virgen of zapopan is having brought rain to the land during a great famine.  This is why she is carried around all of the churches in the area and arrives in the final cathedral, her home - and has done this journey for 277 years.  We rewarded our shivering, blue-lipped boys with some warm chocolate and picked up some Day of the Dead sweet bread (formed as doughy skeleton bones) on the way home.

Wednesday evening, Gilda came over with her son, my nephew Charlie Jr.  We all had dinner together with my aunt Lupe and my father's friend Conchita - a DA he has become friends with. Dad was trying to play it cool, but we all noticed the extra efforts that had been made in dressing for dinner before he went to pick up his friend.  Lunch as prepared by my father and Jasmine was delicious.  When Gilda left us to go to work, Justin and I took Charlie and the boys to Peter Piper pizza.  Same as in any country, it was very noisy and lots of money spent! Could've used ear plugs, will plan ahead next time.

Thursday we went and bought a Wireless router so that Dad's house could have internet more accessible.  Justin installed the new router and then spent time working on Dad's computer as it has serious virus issues.

Thursday evening, some of my mexican cousins came over for the evening.  Although we were told a start time of 5 o'clock it was no surprise to find the earliest person arriving around 6:30 or 7 as seems to be the mexican style.  My cousins Marielle, Angie, MariLupe, Lorena, Lupita, Margarita, Patricia, and Monica Sofia arrived with their little ones many of whom I have never met before.  Innes, Lorenzo, Matisse, Valentia, Jose Pedro, Luciana and Santiago  ...   We all had drinks and communicated in a very mixed spanish and english, spanglish, with accompanying hand gestures.  Justin had been  dreading this much conversation in spanish, but he managed fine - the girls thought he hadn't aged since they last saw him, and he's always happy to hang out with beautiful women.