The Bird in Flight

september 15, guadalajara, mexico.  the first night in mexico was one to remember.  it so happened that it was the night of a celebration all over the country.  at around 11pm, a man steps on to the upper level porch in the town square.  the man is a magistrate, but he represents hidalgo, the mexican hero/ horseback priest from two centuries ago.  the din of the people subsides, as he shouts............................¡VIVA MÉXICO!  the throng erupts in ecstatic shouting, screaming, jumping, chanting ¡viva méxico! ¡viva méxico!.  stylish teenagers with red white and green headbands begin pushing through the crowd in circles, creating a whirlpool of bodies in the middle of the street (note traffic lights and a fireworks tower overhead).  from babies riding on padrés shoulders waving flags to town elders barely 5 feet tall, all were swirling, shouting, laughing, smiling, as they were pressed from every side.  this was a party.  i have really never seen such pride and love of country as i did that night, as patriotism seems to be out of vogue in the US right now.

it is hard to believe our journey has now begun... we have been ready for so long.  justo and i are staying with his very WARM and friendly family in guadalajara, with whom we hiked a canyon this morning.  we also got to play futbol  and eat tacos with friends from their 200 yr. old church.  i love it here, but tonight we will leave by bus for the southern state of CHIAPAS.  there we will hike around the ruins of mayan civilizations that were creating beautiful stone cities, elaborate star-based callenders and writing systems, and perfecting agriculture while europe was stuck in the dark ages.  after that we continue on through el salvador to santa ana, honduras, near the capital, tegucigulpa.  just so you all know, i am having a great time and my spanish is coming along slowly.  i miss you all and look forward to telling about more adventures, and hearing yours.