Today, I got to know the new group of students a little bit better, as we took an excursion to Xochihuacan. I second-handedly learned that Melissa has done all of the followings: Air Force 1, medic, psychiatry, and saving lives in a hospital in Ghana. Laura is a diplomat and has been traveling everywhere, including Vietnam. Emily speaks very good Spanish, and actually grew up not too far from San Francisco. She has visited other pyramids in Mexico, and is my guide on the way home (She has been here just 3 days but already knows the way better than me :). There is a family from Colorado who is going to farm in Paraguay. They have a tunnel in their house, and many crazy farming stories, about the weather, the rain, the different cultures between North Americans and South Americans.
And of course, the trip itself is interesting. In true touristy form, I took way too many pictures. This time, we visited another pyramid, where the view, again, is spectacular. The original habitants are still a mystery to archaeologists but the site is restored beautifully. There is a temple, a steam bath, and even a sacred playground for ceremony. The best part is that the site was almost empty. We were the only people on the premise, roaming free, enjoying the view, climbing a pyramid, taking our time. It is also the first time when it actually didn't rain at all during a visit. The bright sun, the blue sky and white clouds over a city's ruins made me pause and start to appreciate the scenery even more than ever.
On the way back, we stopped by a historic hotel. This is where the 1st Spanish ruler, Hernan Cortes, built his residence and hosted guests. Now it is a commercial hotel, with few modifications from the original building, but anyone can rent for the night. Next to the residence is a sugar mill - now a restaurant, and the tunnel, where slaves and workers used to live, a high end bar. The building is packed with history. It also boasts a big swimming pool, a nice garden, and a big hall which used to be a stable for guest carriages. Other notable is a big stadium for mariachi bands during wedding celebration. If you stay here, you probably feel like you are walking on the set of the History channel.
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| Yes, this is a hotel |
One sad thing for the day: Rosy, mi mama mexicana, has suffered a loss in her family: the mother-in-law of her brother passed away today. I wanted to say sorry, condolences, but my vocabulary is not that developed that. Best of luck to their family!
**PS: writing under influence of the fancy hotel's cocktail, Vista Hermosa:
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