Pictures of Mexico!!!! :o)

Place: Cuenavaca, Mexico, home of Tere McDermot

Introducing (counterclockwise): Me, Tere McDermit (oldest Grail member in Mexico, originally of Pennsylvania), Lilia Fernandez, Rosaurora Espinosa (my host mom), and another Grail member.

This was the day we all met to interview Tere about her experience of the Grail in Mexico. It was day three in mexico for me.

My home in La Noria, D.F. Mexico. Yeah, those really are whales you see painted on the house! The idea is to discourage vandalism. They where having a problem with renagade spraypainters... This´ll show you!!!

Scorpion!!!!!!!!!!! Yep! It was on the kitchen window. And last night (Tuesday 7/21) another showed up in the carport. Woot!

Do note, in reality these guys are all of about 2 inches long...not so scare as the zoom would have you believe. But still...it´s a scorpion!

This is the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist) in the main square of the neighborhood of Coyoacan. I LOVE this neighborhood! It´s like Hyde Park meets some mix of Florida and Italy. During the weekends this square fills with canvas-tent vending stalls (hundreds!) with sell all sorts of crafts and art, clothes and food. People mill about by the hundreds and it feels like an old-school Cincinnati Church festival (minus the cheesy rides).

For the history buffs among us, this neighborhood was also the childhood home of Frida Kahlo. After strolling the cobbled streets a bit I can see how she was so inspired to be an artist early on.

There were SOO many peacocks strolling about the grounds of the Olmedo Museum, where I saw my first bout of Frida and Diego. This particularly striking example was strutting his stuff when I came along with the camera...

This is a picture of only one small part of the Cathedral Basillica of Mexico. It´s kinda crazy to think about it now, but this church was basically build over, on and with the ruins of a former Aztec temple, El Templo Mayor. In the same city block excavations have begun that show the remnants of what was once a HUGE temple and plaza. Story has it that Cortes (absolutely loathed figure of mexican history that conquered the Aztec empire, for all intents and purposes) ordered the temple destroyed and the stone used to pave the new Plaza afront of the Cathedral and later, presidential palace and other colonial powerhouses. That´s SUCH a slap in the face of Natives´culture and history...and today you can see indigenous people throughout the square selling goods, giving purformances, and best of all (insofar as irony is concerned) you can be blessed by a Native Priestess (yes, woman priest!). This all happens only feet from the front gates of the Catholic Basillica. Such a culture clash!!!!

This is the sole supporting pillar of the roof over the patio of the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. It´s a REALLY lovely museum with all sorts of history of the groups of people who have lived here in Mexico since the ice age. It´s a BEAUTIFUL work of architecture...indeed, the whole building is layed out with such flare!

Last but certainly not least is this picture of the original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Thousands of pilgrims were gathered here when I arrived.

This image hangs over the altar of the main sanctury. (There are about 5 or 6 or more churches on the premises.)

For those who want this close-up view, there is a conveyor belt of sorts (airport style) which runs below the altar. Devotees can stand on the conveyorbelt as they glide quietly by. The idea is to give everyone a chance to pay their respects. And should someone try to act otherwise, there are a number of guards placed at either end to enforce the restricted viewing.

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Peace and love to you all! I head to Guanajuato tomorrow, the "campo" for those familiar with the term. I´ll be taking pictures for your viewing pleasure and hope to offer updates next week!