Spring Break: Intro

The week leading up to Easter was spring break, which I spent with my college friend Carissa. We went to three different cities in one week, which meant hypothetically a whirlwind tour. However, our trip was quite tranquil as we didn’t overly pack our time and had great lodging, which meant I was able to return ready to get back to studying. I enjoyed leaving my studies; being able to talk, share, and listen in English with an old friend (aka be understood and understand); and getting to see more parts of the country,although it was just enough to know where I'd go should I return there some day. Check out the next three posts for photos of our three stops. (Photo of Carissa, myself, and Andres, when we met up with him in Mexico City)

Picture of Raul and Ofalia, a couple I had met on my fall trip with Karen. They were fabulous help: advice and reservations on a hotel, prebought our bus tickets, picked us up from the airport, and a reminder to watch my purse! Much appreciated, especially in Mexico City.

Spring Break Part 1: Veracruz, Veracruz

Veracruz: A great place to begin our trip:

Sunshine for my Seattle friend Carissa and humidity for me with a beach to enjoy them (although not the place for true beaching),

drinking coffee with a view of the port and the great blue of the Gulf of Mexico,

a festive atmosphere in the plaza in front of our hotel with the

celebration of Palm Sunday and all the vacationing Mexican tourists on holiday (Spring Break occurs at the same time for all schools and universities, although the south gets an additional week after holy week),

plus many kind helpful locals to welcome us.

(1st picture: distant view of jam packed beach; 2nd pic: San Juan de Ulua Port;
3rd pic: plaza in front of our hotel, 4th pic: plaza at night.)

Spring Break, Part 2: Xalapa

Xalapa: The town where I was going to study before I was found out I would be in Hermosillo. It has a very different feel: colonial buildings, San Francisco hilly streets, Seattle rainy weather. However, we spent most of our time in the neighboring pueblo, Jico, with its beautiful waterfalls surrounding by lush green and cloudy mist: a much needed nature fix! Xalapa has more of my type of nature, although their gray skies would have been a harsh switch from Denver’s 300 days of sunshine, and I would have missed out on the Hermosillo’s fabulous people and University (they are still the best part). No regrets!

Spring Break Part 3: Good Friday in Mexico City

Last day, Mexico City:
Beautiful day, great weather, no noticeable pollution. Fascinating city with lots of history, definitely worth visiting. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to go back. Highlight was seeing Diego Rivera’s murals depicting Mexico’s history in the Governmental Palace, plus meeting up with my friend Andrés from from the 1^st semester threesome.













Top pic: Historical Cathedral in the traditional plaza of the Zocalo Procession


2nd: Viacrusis, i.e. Stations of the Cross procession, in Alameda Park










3rd: Andres and I in front of the Main Aztec Temple ruins, 1 block from the Zocalo


Last pic: Carissa and I in the Zocalo,, also with Cathedral in background.