Jan 9, 2002 Mexico City

Hello!  Long time since our last update, we know- sorry.  So let´s see, where were we?  Oh ya, Monterrey... we were there through Jan.1.  One notable experience there was a visit to the ´Grutas Garcia´, or the ´grutas gracias´ as Glen kept saying... these were some amazing caves in the town of Garcia just outside Monterrey.  We have some pretty good pics, which we will post soon.  We were also serenaded by our Internet cafe host... let me explain.... Glen met this guy Alejandro who ran the local internet cafe and also happened to be a singer/ guitar player.  He invited us to come watch him play at a local cafe.  He kept embarrasing us by dedicating songs to us and asking us questions... quickly... in Spanish... to which we could only reply with the international language of ´smile and nod´.  One of the other performers kept the trend going by dedicating some good ole American pop hits to us- she gave a stirring rendition of I will always love you by Whitney Houston and Hotel California.  It was a good time and the music was a nice break from the constant blaring of Mariachi and latin dance music beats. On the 1st, we bussed it overnight to the small town of Xilitla, home of the Surreal Gardens of the late Sir Edward James- eccentric rich guy from Europe.  In the 1930´s, he built a winding maze of intricate concrete structures and dwellings in the jungle.  What an inspiring place!  These jungle gardens were impossibly lush, pure, and beautiful- there were waterfalls, pools, and bright green life!- everywhere!  And searching the jungles for the next structure added a sense of adventure to the experience.  I arrived at the site drained from the sleepless bus ride, but left the gardens hours later refreshed and vibrant and intensely alive.  I give these gardens 2 thumbs way up.  The actual town of Xilitla, perched on a hill in the surrounding paradise, was a nice spot to say the least.  And to our delight, we enjoyed this bounty for a bargain price.  We found a room for 30 pesos a night (about 3 bucks). A few days ago, we endured yet another largely sleepless overnight bus ride (we´ve got to quit doing that) and found ourselves hurled into the throbbing metropolis of Mexico City at daybreak... but since it was Saturday morning, the city slept and we negotiated the hauntingly empty streets and found a nice little hotel without any trouble.  Mexico City is da bomb!  The sheer amount of history, museums, monuments, culture... it´s overwhelming!... in the best way possible.  We´ve been running around like headless fowl trying to take in all the sights... not to mention tastes, and smells and sounds.  (the street vendors here are amazing). So far the highlights have been- - the Pyramids of Teotihuacan-  the pyramid of the sun, dedicated to the sun gods, is the 3rd largest in the world!  This ancient city, about 50km  Mexico city, was once approximately the 5th largest city in the world, home of 200,000 people, before it collapsed somewhat mysteriously amid internal battles in about 600ad.  - the Pallacio de Bellas Artes (fine arts)-  an amazing palace/opera house, housing art exhibits and performances.  We caught a great exhibit of Juan Rulfo´s photography, writings, and art. - the museum of Anthropology-  Wow!  this place is vast, covering the wide and deep of the history of mankind and the civilizations of mexico.  Highly recommended.  But the place was so huge, my aching feet and overloaded mind prevented me from absorbing anything after about half way through, although thanfully  I was still able to stumble around and look at pretty rocks while babbling incoherently.... - the Zocalo- the center of Mexico city one of the largest central plazas in the world- surrounded by the ancient Cathedral, the Federal Building and more mind blowing ancient Architecture than you can shake your passport at.  This place was absolute madhouse on the weekend- aztec dancers, vendors, magicians, musicians, etc. We´ve seen lots of other stuff too, but my fingers are tired.  More later. We miss you all. Greg and Glen