Mexican Inception

Well after more than a two year hiatus I figure it is about time to start documenting my adventures once again. My primary reason is that I feel I rarely get a chance to write these days and can feel my vocabulary hastily dwindle away. The second reason is of course to have a documented account of my adventures to look back on since unfortunately, my memory seems to be fading at the same rate as my vocabulary. And my final reason is to entertain my friends and family with tales of my escapades through foreign lands. So with that attempt of an introduction I shall begin... Most of you who will be reading this are pretty caught up with me and my life but for those of you who are not, let me indulge you... My sister Carli and I headed south to Guadalajara enrolled in a Teaching English as a Foreign Language course. Our initial flight was cancelled and we ended up arriving 30 hours later than we originally anticipated. Once landed we quickly cleared customs and jumped in a taxi to our surprisingly spacious and tidy room at the Posada San Pablo. After a quick shower we headed into the ITTO school to meet our classmates and teachers. I'd say about an hour in, Carli and I locked eyes and gestured to head out into the hall for a little pow wow. During that little discussion we both expressed our lack of motivation to be stuck in that classroom for another 4 weeks while the wild streets of Guadalajara pumped with action, beckoning us to come explore every single corner. We decided to give it until the end of the day and then decide whether or not we were going to commit. Let's just say that here we are, day #3 and haven't been back to the physical classroom, but rather have been immersed in the intensive life study program taught to us by the streets of Guadalajara!

Our home for the month is located on Calle Madero entre calles Donato Guerra y Ocampo, Which translates to right in the epicenter of all the Centro Historico action. The streets are constantly filled with students, professionals, viejitos and every once in 3 days a fellow tourist! The exhaust from bald tired old buses mixes with the aromas of delicious pastries and hundreds of taco stands dispersed at least 3 per side of every block. We are but a five minute walk to the cities most iconic attraction; the Catedral Metropolitana. Within fifteen minutes we can be at the front door of palaces, theaters, museums, Cathedrals, be splashed by the numerous fountains, post up on plaza and park benches, and of course pose for photos below gargoyles and other eerie sculptures.

On our second day after hours of walking the aged streets, we impulsively popped our heads into an enticing old building that just happened to have only been open to the public for less than two years. It was the Museo de Arqueología del Occidente. It was originally a giant convent that housed around 150 nuns. The amable guia told us that for the original construction in el año 1700 a group of men came and worked until the last stone was set and then disappeared without requesting a single cent. Naturally the word spread that angels had descended from the heavens to aid in the construction of this lovely convent. Unfortunately after one hundred years the Mexican military didn't honor this holy place and decided it would be an ideal location for their head quarters. The transition was quick, but not pleasant. The residents were quickly disposed of, some to the streets, some to their deaths and the entire Library was destroyed, eliminating all 200 plus years of records and collections. For 96 years up until 2010 this was the Military Generals head quarters in the city of Guadalajara. Our guide Marisela Guzman had been working there for about a year and after a little persuasion by flattery I convinced her to take us to the roof. She had never been up there and had to ask the director for his keys, but sure enough he handed them over and to the rooftop we went. Let's just say that I can't think of a better introduction to a new city than from a roof top view. Guadalajara is even more expansive than I had pictured and it was astonishing how many steeples reached into the clouds in every direction.