Danielita does Independence Day

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  Mexico City, Central Mexico and Gulf Coast, Mexico
Thursday, September 18, 2008

Wow.  So much to write about since my last entry that I´m overwhelmed.  But if you want the short and sweet version of what´s going on with me, I love Mexico City.

Arrived back in DF Sunday morning, after a brain draining 6 days in Puerto Escondido.  Managed to catch my requisite one big wave boogie boarding, and a few seconds later (when panic set in) I had my requisite one big wipe out.  Subsequently managed to wipe out about 40 gigs of music off my ipod somehow, which was a little sad (especially on the 13 hour bus ride to the city), but it´s also a really great chance to expose myself to some new music.  Hooray for $1 counterfeit CDs off the street.  Burning "Lo Mejor de la Musica Country" as I write. :)

If there is one reason I´m glad to be out of Puerto, it´s because of running.  DF is certainly no picnic with smog and the high elevation, but I swear to god, during my week in Puerto, I was chased by a turkey, attacked by a pack of dogs, and forced to run through a bushel of crabs (that´s what a group of them is called... I looked it up!), and this is not even to mention how much I hate running in humidity and sand.  The dogs were the scariest; one got me on the back of the leg- not hard enough to break skin, but hard enough to leave a huge bruise which I´m still sporting.  I can laugh it now though- about how close I came to becoming the new Coppertone sunscreen baby, nearly being depantsed by a dog on the beach- but still, a treadmill has never sounded so good.

But DF... sigh.

The sights of DF were the first familiar people, places, things I had seen in a month.  I know I only spent a very short time here previously, but I can't help feeling like I've arrived home.  I love the hostel I´m staying at and the people I´ve met there- kindred nomad spirits.  I love the perfect weather- barely cold enough for a sweatshirt.   I love eating refried beans for breakfast.  

This week was especially special, because of the Independence Day holiday on Tuesday.  In true Mexican fashion, the party started late Monday night.  All over the country (but especially in Mexico City) people gathered to hear the "Grito," a shout of "Viva Mexico!" which was first issued in 1810 by revolutionaries seeking Mexico's independence from Spain.   The biggest Grito is given by the president in Mexico City's zocalo (main square).  Guess who was there?! Sort of the Mexican equivalent of New Years Eve on Time Square.  So much fun.  Even my very American chest got all puffy when the speech about human rights, freedom, etc. was given.

But enough with the culture/history lesson; the best thing about Mexican independance is foam.  Yes, foam. 

All up and down the street leading to the zocalo, vendors were selling shaving cream-esqe foam in a can, and all up and down the street, people were spraying it at one another.  There were certain intersections, with sprayers lined up on each side, that were like running the gauntlet.  I, of course, absolutely loved it, bought a couple cans for myself, had foam fights with lots and lots of people, and came out of the whole thing looking like the adominable snowman, asking "why don´t we do this in America!?  Can we do this every night!?" and vowing  "I´m never going home!"  Any opportunity to act like an obnoxious  6 year old makes me so happy... I think the world needs way more of them (opportunities, not obnoxious 6 year olds.)

After the zocalo and braving the foam-filled streets, I headed over to another area of the city with friends from the hostel.  The celebration had a different vibe, but was also very fun.  There was a carnival set up with rides (if it´s still set up, tonight I might go back an try the mechanical bull) and yummy food.  We arrived just in time for fireworks.

Something happened to me while I was watching the fireworks, a huge ear-to-ear smile on my face, trying to fall up into the sky.  A realization.

This is the happiest that I´ve ever been.

The best (but still completely insufficient) way I can describe what I mean is that I feel the hand of God everywhere, in everything.

The practical implication of this was that the "this is good, but we have to be careful not to mess this up" part of me completely shut off, and I´m now completely gung-ho.  I want to live, all the way.  I want to go for it.

The next morning, there was a parade, and still very much in 6 year old mode, I went and stood amongst lots of little girls on their daddies' shoulders.   I guess I was sort of expecting a Macy's Thanksgiving Day kind of deal, but was a military parade.  Still very cool though- I saw everything SCUBA divers, marching bands, a mobile kitchen with cooks riding in it, mounted cavalry men, giant grenade launchers, and more.

Since the end of the parade route was sort of nearby, a friend and I headed in to Chapultepec Park and eventually over to La Feria, an amusement park and the home of the legendary Montana Rusa I´ve written so much about wanting to ride.  And well... I rode it!  (I´m envious of a guy mentioned on a plaque next to the roller coaster though, who wrote it 1333 times in a row to set a world record.)  Also rode a big, new steel coaster called Montana Infinitum, which has 3 vertical loops, and got to eat a corn dog.

When I got back to the hostel, utterly exhausted, some folks were sitting around playing harp and guitar and singing.  I joined in "Let it Be," "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," and "Morning has Broken," and had yet another "I´m so, so happy right now" moment.  (Hostel is run by Quakers and has sort of a hippie vibe that reminds me of Peace Corps... it´s good.)

Capped off a damn near perfect 24 hours by going to see "Mammia Mia" (again) at the movie theater.  More singing.

Suffice to say, life has been good to me.  A little afraid I´ve been burning the candle at both ends though, as I´ve come down with a cold or allergy thing.  Spent all yesterday with a cup of tea in hand, resting, and plan on doing much of the same today.

Have I mentioned though, that I love Mexico City?  That I love traveling?  That I love life?

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