Saturday, February 25, 2006
Mariposas!
We left early, and after several detours due to not having good signage on the roads, we finally got there. This is a place where every year the Monarch Butterflies (mariposas) migrate down from the US for the winter and then head back up in the summer. There is an unimaginable amount of them there. We wanted to go to a place where you could ride horses up but it wasn't marked very well so we ended up in the most popular and largest place. You had to park and then walk up through a trail lined with vendors selling anything and everything that they could put a butterfly on. It was a really long walk once we got up in the trails where the butterflies were and after a while it got kinda old, but still a little interesting. Check out the pics posted on Photo bucket to see the amazement, its a little hard to explain. We had lunch on the way down, I loved it but the others not so much, I had chicken mole and the others had a type of meat but it was toung and salty like jerkey we also had the staple beans, rice, and tortillas. Then we were off back to home.
Mexico City Tour Bus
See the picks at Photo Bucket (pictured link on the right o the page).
Karin's friend Eunice was comming in from Torono so we went to pick her up at the airport in Mexico City and after decided to take a double decker tour bus through the city. There are several stops in the city but we decided to get on at the National Auditorium which was near the Omega building which houses the headquarters of the Karin's company, so we were familiar with the area. We were told that there was going to be a lot of traffic later, and more expensive parking due to a concert by Luis Miguel (he one of the biggest stars here), but oh-well.
The bus took us through several monuments and neighborhoods in the city. One of the most important monuments is El Angel Del Independencia (see the pic). One of the neighborhoods we went through is realy old but it is sweet. I really want to live there. Everything was old, but classy. There were mostly apartment buildings, small restraunts, cafes, bars, and parks that date back to the 1600's.
Then we drove by several important buildings like the National Lottery building, and the tallest building in Latin America. We got off at "El Zocalo." It is the part of any city where there is a large square surrounded by the Cathedral and Government buildings. There are also several cafes, streeet vendors, and shops around.
The Bus took us through the rest of the city, passing several more monuments and museums (too many to remember the names and what they have). By the end of the tour it started to get chilly and we were tired and restless (traffic was terrible so it was a lot of standing around) so we rode in the bottom falling in and out of sleep going through other parts of the city. There was a retail area where there are shops of the top names in fashon and fancy restraunts, then a large park with an amusment park, a castle, and several large fountains. It was too dark to really see them well. So our trip ended and we tok off home where we pretty much went right to bed because we had another big day ahead of us where we had to get up early.
Karin's friend Eunice was comming in from Torono so we went to pick her up at the airport in Mexico City and after decided to take a double decker tour bus through the city. There are several stops in the city but we decided to get on at the National Auditorium which was near the Omega building which houses the headquarters of the Karin's company, so we were familiar with the area. We were told that there was going to be a lot of traffic later, and more expensive parking due to a concert by Luis Miguel (he one of the biggest stars here), but oh-well.
The bus took us through several monuments and neighborhoods in the city. One of the most important monuments is El Angel Del Independencia (see the pic). One of the neighborhoods we went through is realy old but it is sweet. I really want to live there. Everything was old, but classy. There were mostly apartment buildings, small restraunts, cafes, bars, and parks that date back to the 1600's.Then we drove by several important buildings like the National Lottery building, and the tallest building in Latin America. We got off at "El Zocalo." It is the part of any city where there is a large square surrounded by the Cathedral and Government buildings. There are also several cafes, streeet vendors, and shops around.
The Bus took us through the rest of the city, passing several more monuments and museums (too many to remember the names and what they have). By the end of the tour it started to get chilly and we were tired and restless (traffic was terrible so it was a lot of standing around) so we rode in the bottom falling in and out of sleep going through other parts of the city. There was a retail area where there are shops of the top names in fashon and fancy restraunts, then a large park with an amusment park, a castle, and several large fountains. It was too dark to really see them well. So our trip ended and we tok off home where we pretty much went right to bed because we had another big day ahead of us where we had to get up early.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
ACAPULCO!
The past four days were fantastic. A lot of sun, pools, food, beer, clubs, chicks (not that many, there was mostly old people getting their vacations in before the spring break crowd) but some. We didn't do a lot of the things that we wanted like sight seeing and shopping because the beach was super relaxing and we just spent all day there.
The first night we rolled in just about and sunset. It took us about 6 hours to get there but we had some problems making our way through Mexic City which set us back an hour or so. There was just about nothing between Mexico City and Acapuco, two small towns and a lot of mountains full of brown folliage and cacti, it was like when they portray Mexico in the movies with blue skies, dust, no sign of life, cacti, more dust, hills and mountains, and more dust.
Right after we checked in we went out for a simple dinner at a small authentic restraunt. It was awesome. The tacos were great, beer was good, and some light street entertainment in the form of a one man band.
Then we went out to a bar called BarrbaRoja (red bierd). It was a cool pirate themed bar on the beach. It was muggy and the air was thick but it was cool. It was mostly an older crowd all week, but there was a group of about 5 hot mom's that were fun to watch.
The next morning it was off to the beach. The hotel had a great spot for its patrons where it was roped off from the rest of he beach so you didn't get bothered by local merchans selling anything you could imagine. We just relaxed under the sun, under the umbrella, or in the pool to cool off. There was plenty of good spot but not very many umbrellas to go around, so if you wanted to be sure that you got one you had to go down there really early in the morn to put some stuff in a spot to reserve it. We had a waiter that kept our thirst in check, but at an expence. For the second day we decided to buy a cooler and bring our own beer which was easier and cheaper. We didn't go out the second night, mostly because Karin came down with something fierce, plus we were beat from the sun, drinking, and we also rented jet ski's for a half hour which tool a lot of energy out so I was glad to have a chill night. I took a nap from 5 'till like midnight then went back to bed around 4am just watching the tube.
The next day was much like the first, got out early to get the spot, we went out to get the beer and snacks and set up camp. We dug a hole in the sand for the cooler to kep it cooler. The beer was tasting great and they were rapidly disapearing. We went to Hooters for lunch, then right back out to the beach. We hung out for the sunset and relaxed, took naps, and got ready to go to the club.
We bought our tickets for the club in advance for the day before but we didn't go out so we were going to use them this night. But the club for whatever reason was closed so we ended going to the one next to it and it was cool. We got there very early to ensure a table, and we were like the first there. We were all a little hit from the day in the sun and it took me a while to get back over the hump, but I finally did and started to throw them back yet again. There was a stiff cover at the door but once inside there was an open bar, so for me it was worth it, Karin and Pat never really got back into it. By the end of that day with the beach and the club I had drank a whole case, 24 beers! The Club was cool, it was called Mandara or something like that. It ended up getting pretty busy with a younger spring break like croud, but it wasn't that crazy. They had a huge window overlooking the bay with tons of decorations, lights, go-go dancers dancing on plaforms, and a fire show with a guy and a girl twirling fire. It was fun, but I could see that it could get pretty crazy with a group of my rugby buddies with the open bar and all, maybe some day. Every time I go to a club without my dancing buddies (GSVU Rugby girls) I always miss them because I look like a pimp dancing with a bunch of hot chicks.
Once we got back I really wasn't ready for bed and I decided that I wanted to chill on the beach ad have a couple more brews. Once I got down there there was a couple groups of security guards by the bar and when I tried to sneak around through the public part I saw a couple real cops partolling, I felt as if I was in a James Bond video game because it was dark and I was being sneaky, seeing guards walking around between me and my mission. I felt like getting out my sniper rifle and picking them off one by one and completing my mission of chillin' on the beach at 3 in the morn. I decided just to go back up to the room and go to bed.
Then we got a couple hours at the beach today before we headed back to Toluca at about 1pm. We made it back in about 5 hours because we didn't have very many problems in Mexico City. Once we got back we went out for a nice dinner and a Argentinian steak house, it was fantastic. We had wine and several courses, we were going to get desert but we were stufed and reasy to lay on the coutch so we busted up. I can't wait to hit up the leftovers.
We have another big weekend ahead of us, Karin's old roomate Eunice is comming into town tomarro. Be back with more adventures. Later
The first night we rolled in just about and sunset. It took us about 6 hours to get there but we had some problems making our way through Mexic City which set us back an hour or so. There was just about nothing between Mexico City and Acapuco, two small towns and a lot of mountains full of brown folliage and cacti, it was like when they portray Mexico in the movies with blue skies, dust, no sign of life, cacti, more dust, hills and mountains, and more dust.
Right after we checked in we went out for a simple dinner at a small authentic restraunt. It was awesome. The tacos were great, beer was good, and some light street entertainment in the form of a one man band.Then we went out to a bar called BarrbaRoja (red bierd). It was a cool pirate themed bar on the beach. It was muggy and the air was thick but it was cool. It was mostly an older crowd all week, but there was a group of about 5 hot mom's that were fun to watch.The next morning it was off to the beach. The hotel had a great spot for its patrons where it was roped off from the rest of he beach so you didn't get bothered by local merchans selling anything you could imagine. We just relaxed under the sun, under the umbrella, or in the pool to cool off. There was plenty of good spot but not very many umbrellas to go around, so if you wanted to be sure that you got one you had to go down there really early in the morn to put some stuff in a spot to reserve it. We had a waiter that kept our thirst in check, but at an expence. For the second day we decided to buy a cooler and bring our own beer which was easier and cheaper. We didn't go out the second night, mostly because Karin came down with something fierce, plus we were beat from the sun, drinking, and we also rented jet ski's for a half hour which tool a lot of energy out so I was glad to have a chill night. I took a nap from 5 'till like midnight then went back to bed around 4am just watching the tube.The next day was much like the first, got out early to get the spot, we went out to get the beer and snacks and set up camp. We dug a hole in the sand for the cooler to kep it cooler. The beer was tasting great and they were rapidly disapearing. We went to Hooters for lunch, then right back out to the beach. We hung out for the sunset and relaxed, took naps, and got ready to go to the club.
We bought our tickets for the club in advance for the day before but we didn't go out so we were going to use them this night. But the club for whatever reason was closed so we ended going to the one next to it and it was cool. We got there very early to ensure a table, and we were like the first there. We were all a little hit from the day in the sun and it took me a while to get back over the hump, but I finally did and started to throw them back yet again. There was a stiff cover at the door but once inside there was an open bar, so for me it was worth it, Karin and Pat never really got back into it. By the end of that day with the beach and the club I had drank a whole case, 24 beers! The Club was cool, it was called Mandara or something like that. It ended up getting pretty busy with a younger spring break like croud, but it wasn't that crazy. They had a huge window overlooking the bay with tons of decorations, lights, go-go dancers dancing on plaforms, and a fire show with a guy and a girl twirling fire. It was fun, but I could see that it could get pretty crazy with a group of my rugby buddies with the open bar and all, maybe some day. Every time I go to a club without my dancing buddies (GSVU Rugby girls) I always miss them because I look like a pimp dancing with a bunch of hot chicks.
Once we got back I really wasn't ready for bed and I decided that I wanted to chill on the beach ad have a couple more brews. Once I got down there there was a couple groups of security guards by the bar and when I tried to sneak around through the public part I saw a couple real cops partolling, I felt as if I was in a James Bond video game because it was dark and I was being sneaky, seeing guards walking around between me and my mission. I felt like getting out my sniper rifle and picking them off one by one and completing my mission of chillin' on the beach at 3 in the morn. I decided just to go back up to the room and go to bed.
Then we got a couple hours at the beach today before we headed back to Toluca at about 1pm. We made it back in about 5 hours because we didn't have very many problems in Mexico City. Once we got back we went out for a nice dinner and a Argentinian steak house, it was fantastic. We had wine and several courses, we were going to get desert but we were stufed and reasy to lay on the coutch so we busted up. I can't wait to hit up the leftovers.
We have another big weekend ahead of us, Karin's old roomate Eunice is comming into town tomarro. Be back with more adventures. Later
Monday, February 20, 2006
Teotihuacan
We went to see another set of ruins. This place was huge! The pyramid of the sun is the third largest pyramid in the world behind the one in Egypt and the largest one which is fairly close to here as well. There was several smaller sets and another fairly large one called the pyrmad of the moon. It was a tough trip because we got up really early to drive there (about 2 hours away) and I was a little dehydrated and extremely nausious, that feeling pretty much stayed with me all day and the sun didn't help much.
We meet up with Karin's friend Veronica for breakfast in Mexico City and headed off. It was really tough to climb up to the top but the views were worth it. It is very interestng to think about the people that lived here and how they lived their lives and how they worshiped different Gods (sun, moon, rain.....). After we ate at a small restraunt near by. I still didn't have an appetite so I just had water. There was a drink that I was suppoded to try but there was no way. It was called "la leche de vaca verde," Trandlation, milk of the green cow. It was
an acoholic drink made from the agave plant (same plant as tequilla). But this was very different, if you thought tequilla was bad, ths stuff literely smelled like swamp ass. Instead of distilling the plant as they do to get tequilla, they ferment it. I took one whiff and about blew chunks all over the place. Usually I am game to try different things, but there was no way I was thryng that at that time, my body wouldn't allow it. Maybe some other time. I pretty much slept the whole way home and we stopped a OXXO (like 7-11) to get ice cream, which finally got the pukey tequilla hangover taste out of my mouth. Tomarro we are off to Acapulco for four days! I don't know if we will have internet access, but if now I will still be able to make posts using the phone so either way I'll be checking in to make everybody jelous because I am chillin' on suny beaches where it is 90 degrees and most of you are still batteling the effects of the storms that just passed threw Michigan.
I May Have Found My Home Bar!
Karins boyfrind flew in late friday night so we didn't do anything then, it was about midnight when we got back home. On saturday we hng out during the day and then went to see "Banditas" with Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek. I thought it was entertaining, but it was really corney. The hot latinas made the whole movie, it it was two dudes playing their part it would have been as good as legaly blonde II (horrible, possibly the worst movie I have ever seen, I actually felt dumber after seeing it).
Then we decided to check out a bar. There was a couple fairly close to our house and one was a psudo Irish bar so we decided to check it out. It was cool, they featured guiness (in a can, you dont find very many places with beer on tap) and also featured Irish car bombs to which I had a couple. It was a pretty sweet place and fairly inexpensive. I could totally me chillin there with the gang. There are a couple pics on Photobucket. We got to know the guys that work there who were really friendly, they said that friday night is a good night to pick up chicks. After we got home I had a few more beverages and gave some friends a ring, that is one of my favorite things to do here is drunk call friends at home.
Then we decided to check out a bar. There was a couple fairly close to our house and one was a psudo Irish bar so we decided to check it out. It was cool, they featured guiness (in a can, you dont find very many places with beer on tap) and also featured Irish car bombs to which I had a couple. It was a pretty sweet place and fairly inexpensive. I could totally me chillin there with the gang. There are a couple pics on Photobucket. We got to know the guys that work there who were really friendly, they said that friday night is a good night to pick up chicks. After we got home I had a few more beverages and gave some friends a ring, that is one of my favorite things to do here is drunk call friends at home.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
J.O.B. and What Not
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
I've been busy this week. I've been into my new place of employment yesterday and today going over several lessons, meeting and mingling with future co-workers, and just getting to know the joint. I found out a couple important details today like PAY! I will be getting $100 pesos/hour! Thats more than I expected. The other teachers that work there get around 20hrs a week, but since I will be working with a company there may be more. Another good thing is that they are completly fine with my trip back home for a month+ in April.
I was feeling good when I left that I treated myself to a movie (the school is in the mall, and the mall has a theater). I saw Munich. I liked it, but it was super long. It was a good shoot em up, blood everywhere, who is working for who and who is on your side movie. I dug it. Professor Snape was in it, he was a dude that "cleaned up" after the assasinations so they dudes won't get caught, he was good. I did however, manage to forget my binder that I've had for a long time in the theater. Karin gave it to me forever ago and I used it all the time, especially when I had interviews to go to and what not. I didn't realize that I had fergot it untill I was on the bus to go home, it was too late and I chalked it up as a loss. I didn't have anything important in there, most of its point is to look like I mean business.
Then I got rained on on the way home, so I had some ps and downs today. Then Karin and I had a good workout so I feel good (I also ran this morning!).
I've been busy this week. I've been into my new place of employment yesterday and today going over several lessons, meeting and mingling with future co-workers, and just getting to know the joint. I found out a couple important details today like PAY! I will be getting $100 pesos/hour! Thats more than I expected. The other teachers that work there get around 20hrs a week, but since I will be working with a company there may be more. Another good thing is that they are completly fine with my trip back home for a month+ in April.
I was feeling good when I left that I treated myself to a movie (the school is in the mall, and the mall has a theater). I saw Munich. I liked it, but it was super long. It was a good shoot em up, blood everywhere, who is working for who and who is on your side movie. I dug it. Professor Snape was in it, he was a dude that "cleaned up" after the assasinations so they dudes won't get caught, he was good. I did however, manage to forget my binder that I've had for a long time in the theater. Karin gave it to me forever ago and I used it all the time, especially when I had interviews to go to and what not. I didn't realize that I had fergot it untill I was on the bus to go home, it was too late and I chalked it up as a loss. I didn't have anything important in there, most of its point is to look like I mean business.
Then I got rained on on the way home, so I had some ps and downs today. Then Karin and I had a good workout so I feel good (I also ran this morning!).
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Breakfast Turned Into Boozin'
Karin and I went to her friend Veronica's house for breakfast. It was awesome, we had some soup with garbonzo beans and barbacoa. Veronica's boyfrind and his bro showed up, with beer in hand. Even I sometimes don't feel like drinking during breakfast, but we did any way. We sat and chatted for a while, made three beer runs, sang a lot of kareoke (Vero has a Kareoke/DVD palyer). It was fun. Then we decided to go to the Pool hall that Mario and Dan (Vero's friends) run. We played pool and boozed it up. They kept feeding me these crazy shots with like 5 different liquors in it, it didn't taste bad. Anywho, karin saw that it was getting a little out of controll (she knows how I get when I start taking shot after shot after shot....you get the point), so we took off.
This is Mario, a dude named Juan Corona (sweet name) and myself after one of those crazy shots.
When we got home I decided to give some of my buddies back at home a call. A lot of them were playing in the snowball tournament, it is an annual rugby tourny in Kalamazoo, played in any weather condition. While i was chatting with Inferno, I asked him what he was doing up so late. He thought I was crazy because it was 8pm. I was kinda out of it and I thought it was 8am the next morning. Needless to say I got to bed pretty early. One reason I left GR was to get away from all the boozin' I was doing and it has worked out well but it is still fun to do every once in a while. I went from boozin' like 4-5 days a week (very true) to like once, sometimes nunce (is that a word) a week.
This is Mario, a dude named Juan Corona (sweet name) and myself after one of those crazy shots.When we got home I decided to give some of my buddies back at home a call. A lot of them were playing in the snowball tournament, it is an annual rugby tourny in Kalamazoo, played in any weather condition. While i was chatting with Inferno, I asked him what he was doing up so late. He thought I was crazy because it was 8pm. I was kinda out of it and I thought it was 8am the next morning. Needless to say I got to bed pretty early. One reason I left GR was to get away from all the boozin' I was doing and it has worked out well but it is still fun to do every once in a while. I went from boozin' like 4-5 days a week (very true) to like once, sometimes nunce (is that a word) a week.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
More than I expected!
I had another meeting with Kate from the Wall Street Institute (English School). She told me what the deal was with the contract with the airline and that she wants me to have a bigger role than just teaching and testing. She would like me to be responsible for a big part of the reports for Wall Street and reports for the airline. She mentioned that this was going to be a bigger contract than anticipated and she will need a lot of help, and she doesn't want to take a lot of people off the classes and what not at the main center. Instead of just pilots and flight attendants, there will also be mechanics, hosteses, and office workers.
It sems like I will get a lot of hours. I am still not sure about pay, however, she did say that some of the people at the center may be displeased that I will be brought on the take care of a lot of the airline work because it pays better than the center work, but again, she neds her regular teachers to keep up business as usual at the main center.
I must have given her a good impresion because she seemed very confident about me taking on more responsibility, I also think that my availiability had a lot to do with it. I think she was also impressed that I have ben playing rugby for some time (she is from Whales, and she loves rugby!)
I go in for more trainig on monday, I will be going over the material, the different level specifics, and sitting in on some classes. I am very excited not only for a job, but if I do well, it could be something that I could do for a long time.
It sems like I will get a lot of hours. I am still not sure about pay, however, she did say that some of the people at the center may be displeased that I will be brought on the take care of a lot of the airline work because it pays better than the center work, but again, she neds her regular teachers to keep up business as usual at the main center.
I must have given her a good impresion because she seemed very confident about me taking on more responsibility, I also think that my availiability had a lot to do with it. I think she was also impressed that I have ben playing rugby for some time (she is from Whales, and she loves rugby!)
I go in for more trainig on monday, I will be going over the material, the different level specifics, and sitting in on some classes. I am very excited not only for a job, but if I do well, it could be something that I could do for a long time.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Yo pienso tengo una trabaja
I think I have a job! Kate from wall street called me today and she wants me to come in on thursday for some training. They got the contract with the airline. I just need to brush up on my grammer (i.e. verb tenses, I can use them properly but can I name them? NO) She wanted me to come in today but it was too late by time she got a hold of me. One thing I don't like is that they call like 2 hours before they want you to come in, at least that is what they have done the last two times. Oh-well, I guess I can deal with it. Maybe I can pay my sister back for the plane ticket before we leave. That would be bien chevere (awesome)! We'll see whats up.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Active Volcano in Mexico City
Kewl.
It is named Popocatepetl. I wanted to go check it out but Karin says no.
Jugaba basketból en este mañana
This morning I got to play some b-ball. It was with a guy Karin works with (he runs like 12 plants), he invited me to come and play. I wasn't sure what I was in for but I was eager to play and see the competition. I am somewhat of a decent ball player and I wondered that if it wasn't that big here that they probally sucked really bad. But they were alright. There was a couple guys who could play but I think that they were all in good shape had a lot to do with it. It was a league that plays at an outdoor court so it was like a regular game with refs and scorekeepers. I thought that they just got a couple guys together to play.
I didn't paly very much because I was the new guy but I got about a quarter and a half. It was fun, I was at about the same level as the competition which was cool. It was tough running and sprinting, there is like 50%less O2 in the air, I was tired as hell after a few min. It felt like there was a bowling ball laying on my chest, and I haven't stopped coughing since. We lost the game, the other team was better. I meet some new cool dudes that were very accepting of my showing up and wanting to play with them, and also not speaking very much spanish. A couple study english and were helping me with what to do as far as position and what not. I am going to play next sunday as well.
I didn't paly very much because I was the new guy but I got about a quarter and a half. It was fun, I was at about the same level as the competition which was cool. It was tough running and sprinting, there is like 50%less O2 in the air, I was tired as hell after a few min. It felt like there was a bowling ball laying on my chest, and I haven't stopped coughing since. We lost the game, the other team was better. I meet some new cool dudes that were very accepting of my showing up and wanting to play with them, and also not speaking very much spanish. A couple study english and were helping me with what to do as far as position and what not. I am going to play next sunday as well.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Got Tickets For Trip Home
I bought, well, Karin bought me my ticket to come home in April. I will however pay her back once I get some money. I will be flying into Chicago on April 12th, Karin is too, we are going to the Red Wings game on thursday night against the Blackhawks in with her boyfreind's family (I'm excited because I've never been to a NHL game before, let alone the wings), then head to Saginaw for Easter, hang for a couple days and spend time with the fam, then head to Grand Rapids to work (my good buddy Inferno works for a temp agency, and I am going to give plasma, I used to do it all the time in college) and have fun of course.
I have the 4th Annual GVSU Rugby Old Boys game on April 29th. It is where the old boys (guys who have played for GVSU in the past) come back from their distant corners of the world and play against the current team. Then in May I have two weddings to go to. Then fly back to Mexico on the 22nd of May. I was checking on some detours on the way home in Arizona or Orlando for a couple days to see some friends but it was a little out of my price range for right now. Maybe some other time.
I have the 4th Annual GVSU Rugby Old Boys game on April 29th. It is where the old boys (guys who have played for GVSU in the past) come back from their distant corners of the world and play against the current team. Then in May I have two weddings to go to. Then fly back to Mexico on the 22nd of May. I was checking on some detours on the way home in Arizona or Orlando for a couple days to see some friends but it was a little out of my price range for right now. Maybe some other time.
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