Safe and Sound in Wisconsin

Study Girl

Yes I know you all thought that I didnt study, but HA. Finals came and I had to do a bit of that. No, I am kidding, I study all the time, but naturally I didnt take any photos of it. How boring would that have been. "OK well I studied again last night, here's the pic, then I studied again tonight, here is another pic." Well that would just be silly, but anyway. Just to prove to you all that there is a school involved with midterms and finals and all that jazz, here I have a picture. So now there is proof. I did occasionally study. Yup, not just all fun and games, not that I dont wish it were. It was even difficult at times. Well, a bit. Now I am very excited because all of my finals are done, finito, terminado, cumplido, y no hay mas, yay!!!

Mariachis

On our Photo Scavenger Hunt one of our objectives was to find some mariachis, so we headed towards the plaza of the mariachis, it is kind of like a mariachi hangout. You know, where they go so if people want some mariachi music they know where to go. They all have matching outfits and everything. So on our way to the plaza we ran into a group of them and before we could ask they volunteered themselves for a picture or two. They were very nice, but came a bit too close for comfort. I guess I have to remember that in Mexico you dont have a personal space, not in this culture.

Las Nueve Esquinas

The Nine Corners, is what this place downtown is called. It is so named because there are so many streets that intersect that you literally have to turn every block to go in one general direction. Left then right, then left then right, then left then right, then left then right, then left, or something to that effect. It was an interesting place that we found. And because of these jagged roads it is renowned through out the entire city.

Los Arcos de Zapopan

We explored another small city that is included in the grandure of Guadalajara, it is actually closer to our house than school is. Only and 8 min bus ride. They had a lot of really nice architecture.

Estadio Jalisco

This is where we saw a futbol game, yes they call it futbol, not football, no, futbol meaning soccer. And you know, it makes more sense if you think about it, really. It was cool, I have never been to a soccer game before, it was interesting, and the home team won. Some of our group really put on the team spirit with their masks, scarves and shirts.

National Culinary School in Guadalajara

This was part of a CEA excursion, we went to a culinary school to get taught about Mexican cooking. We took a four hour class here and learned a lot. We got all dressed up in chef gear, we had aprons and those tall chef hats too. We made salsas and some other fun and interesting dishes. They also gave us a folder of recipes of the dishes we made so that we could bring the culture back with us.

Estudiantinas

These guys are in college and they make a little extra profit by going around town playing songs for a tip. They are pretty cool and dress in old fashion clothes and play old fashion instruments as well. This was part of our photo scavenger hunt, to find these guys and get a cool pic. I think we did just fine.

Tunnels

There are many tunnels running through Guanajuato because of the large mountains and old mines. They turned these mines through the mountains into roadways where people drive or walk, we had the chance to walk through one of these tunnels and get a few pix. This one is of Riley posing for the camera.

San Miguel de Allende

These are some pictures of this small town outside of Guanajuato. There is a very extravagant cathedral and in front of it is a large zocalo, town square, where people gather and stroll around town. It is like a carnival or some kind of fair, there are people walking around selling things, large markets and lots of people just kind of hanging around. This was a sunday and after church the people hang out to chat with each other and be with familiy.

Sunset in Guanajuato

How did some of Chuck's Artwork End up in this Museum?

Wow, this looks a lot like something Chuck would have cooked up, but the truth is unless he lived several hundred years ago in some Indian village, it belongs to some other artist. Hey, maybe that is where he gets his style of art from. Well, I think Chuck's style is better anyway, he would have added way more detail. I guess you've got one up on all of those ancient Indian civilizations artwork Chuck.

Mining

Guanajuato used to be a mining town, and still has several mines open and running. The have here several different kinds of ore which we got to see. We took a tour down 60 meters of the mine, with steep steps all the way down. In the old days the Indians would work these mines and walk 600 meters down and carry up about 140 pounds all the way to the top 600 meters up. Wow is all i have to say, they must have been super strong.

Amanda in the City

Oh look, here I am again, but this time several hundred feet above the city of Guanajuato. We all went there this weekend. We had a great time. This was a great view. We rode in this train like thing to get up there, it was like a roller coaster car, but covered like a train car. Strange but fun, going down was the best, and the view of course.

The Lovers Reunite

This cross is the largest one in the cemetery. It was put there for a very good reason that follows a very tragic story. Once there were two young lovers, the boy was from a very rich family, but the girl's family was very poor. Natrually the boys family refused their union and would not allow them to marry. The lovers were so upset by this, knowing that they would never be allowed to be together in life, found comfort in thier union in death. They both killed themselves that night. And then the family finally realized that their love was true and they were wrong to try and stop it. Only they were too late. The family built a large memorial to thier son and the girls family buried her somewhere else. The family of the boy later decided that they should really be buried together and asked permision to exume the girl to bury her next to their son. There are two stone crosses encircled by a stone wreath of roses there below the large cross where they now recognize their true love and unity.

He Died of Fright

This poor young boy was diagnosed with an incurable disorder when he was born, to help him sleep at night his parents always left a lamp burning so he would not be afraid. Miraculously the child lived for two years and every night his parents kept that lamp burning. But one night someone forgot to refill the lamps and the light went out. They say that he died out of fright of the dark; others say the disorder finally got him. Was it a coincidence or was it fright? His heartbroken parents buried him in this cemetery. But the next morning they found the coffin above ground, so they reburied it. This reoccurred 5 consecutive nights, until they decided that this was happening because their son was afraid of the dark and did not wan to be buried. They then left the stone coffin above ground. His parents also had constructed 4 stone pillars with stone lamps on the tops of them, so that their son could rest in peace and not be afraid. They say that if you pass this coffin and do not give him a sweet or toy, he will haunt you.

The Vampire of Guadalajara

This is no ordinary tree, knotted and gnarled it is the beginning of a dark ledgend that starts here in Guadalajara. It is told that this man reaped havoc on the town of Guadalajara, back when it wasn't as big a place as it is now. He stole away young babes and children in the night. One night though the towns people captured this "Vampire" and stuck a wooden stake through his heart. They put him in a coffin and buried him in this cemetery. They say that from that piece of wood grew a giant tree that encompassed the coffin of this man so he could never return to the land of the living. For if he were to escape from this wooden prison, he would return to Guadalajara to seek his revenge on the people there, that had once, long ago, stolen his life.

Pirates of Jalisco

This is the gravestone of a renoun pirate that sailed the seas around Mexico. It is said that he wanted his son to take over the family business for him when he grew old enough. But this pirate died before he could make his son a captian. So they say he comes back at midnight trying to find a captian for his ship. Oooooooooooooh.

Panteon de Belen

This is a cemetery/graveyard which resides behind a hospital. It is very old and has been there for over 150 years +. We arrived there around 8 o'clock that night just as it was getting dark. We even had to bring flashlights. This place was full of tall tales and mysteries around every gravestone. I will bring to you a few of the tales that make this place so famous. This picture is to set the ambiance of the scene.