The First Week in Mexico

Okay, so this is the first official blog entry for my blog. I think I overestimated the availability of internet connections in Mexico. I've found it very hard to get connected even when I go out into town since I'm always so busy. In any case, I'm going to try my best to recall my adventures thus far. Here goes.

Arrival at Guadalajara

I left the United States at 1:30 am California time and arrived at 6:30 am local time (Guadalajara). I had never been to Guadalajara before; I found it to be more chaotic than any other city I've ever visited. As soon as I got out of the plane things were very different than they are back in the states, people looking to make a quick buck ask you if you need them to carry your luggage or for them to hail a taxi, it's very different. I picked up my bag from the carrousel no problem, the problem I had was when I found my way to the front of the terminal and left the secure confines of the airport. The first item on the list was to get a hold of some Mexican Pesos and that was fairly easy since the same place I bought a taxi ride also exchanged dollars for pesos. It all happened so fast that I could have easily been jipped, to tell you the truth I didn't even know the exchange rate. I knew it was somewhere around 10 to 1, who knows. The next thing I knew a short man had my suitcase and hauled it into a taxi cab. He then asked for a tip, I complied, I gave him a dollar.

The cab ride to the central bus station was pleasing. I found the cabbie to be very pleasant. At first it was kind of awkward being in there, but then we started to talk about the local soccer team, which also happens to be my favorite team, Chivas. After that, he went on about the transfer of some players and how he owns season tickets. Meanwhile, as we drove by the city the smell of smog was overwhelming. Some of the streets where in desperate need of repair and from the large crowds gathered at the different bus stops it seemed like most people where using public transportation. Finally, I arrived at the bus terminal.

The bus terminal was very clean and could be something you find in the United States. It was very easy to buy a ticket and it had a very nice waiting area with couches and a cafeteria near by. Since I arrived so early I had to wait several hours before the busses started to run. I bought a ticket for the first bus to Jerez, Zacatecas. It was very cheap, about 18 dollars for a 6 hour ride in a nice bus. I sat next to an old lady who was visiting some family in Guadalajara. She was very nice and we had a great conversation for almost the entire trip. The only time our conversation was interrupted was when the bus driver sped up on the curves. These weren't ordinary curves. The curves I'm talking about where all missing a guard rail and the drop was at least 3 to 4 hundred feet down, for a while I thought I wasn't going to make it to see my family. Thankfully the scenery was so beautiful that it calmed my nerves just by looking at it. It reminded me of the California central coast near San Luis Obispo, without the ocean. There were rolling hills lush with grass and high cliffs that literally took my breath away. I knew we where starting to get into the Mexico I remembered from my childhood.

Jerez, Zacatecas

My uncle picked me up when I arrived in Jerez at about 3:30 local time. The first thing I noticed was that he was playing Tim McGraw on his stereo, maybe to make my arrival more pleasing or maybe because people in Jerez love bull riding and country music. He knows I don't really listen to country so I think it was the latter. In any case, it was a pleasant surprise. The first thing I did was ask him if he could take me to get some tacos, I hadn't eaten in about 15 hours and I was starving. I don't know why, but the tacos in Mexico are so much better than those you find in the United States. When I arrived at my village, I went and said hi to my family. As I walked around people I didn't know said hi to me. I guess the Mendoza face is a dead giveaway. "You where this little when I last saw you" "How are your mom and dad doing?" "It's so nice of you to come and visit" where some of the questions and comments I encountered. It felt great, I felt like I was home. After a few beers with my uncle I went to bed and got ready for the next day.

The next few days where just like any other day. Everything is so quiet out in the village. I had some great conversations with my grandpa while we worked out in the house. He told me that our family has been living in our village for at least 150 years, but more for sure. If that's not my ancestral homeland I don't know what is. He told me about the great mineral wealth that we have in our mountains. He said he found a vain of phosphorous and iron near by but that he never went and told the government officials since they would surely come and exploit it, as soon as we have time he's going to show me where its at, I'll take my camera. He said that the village land also has deer, mountain lions, wild boar (javali), and lynx. I'm not sure if I want to come head to head with any of the last three on that list.

The trip so far has been amazing. My family is very accommodating and so nice to talk to. I love having my grandma and grandpa there to ask them questions about any thing. It's so good to have them there whenever I need them. I'm going to try to make up for all of the lost time.