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[at-l] Re: TRIP REPORT 5, Week 2, con´t. (LONG)



Hey, everyone; this one is a gem!

Trailmixup

In a message dated Sun, 18 Jun 2000  2:48:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time, patv@falcon.cc.ukans.edu writes:

<< 
MEXICO CITY

Hikers could learn a thing or two about boot lacing from the
military  and security  types around here. They all wear shiny,
black, round-toed boots that go  half way up the calf. The white
laces that some of them use  caught my attention. The lacing
was unusual; it looked a bit like basic macrame going up the
eyelets. I was forced to explain quickly when the guard at the
trout  farm caught me eyeing his boots. (Yes, I said ´guard at
the trout farm´--this is Mexico, after all.) He sweetly asked
if I would like a lesson and then proceeded to  unlace and relace
the top of his boot while his semi-automatic weapon swung from
his shoulder. (Yes, I said ´semi-automatic weapon.´ Go back to
the part about this being Mexico. And, FWIW, I was thankful that
I wasn´t checking out  his pants...)

Tuesday we spent a long time hanging around outside an exchange.
(There are 17 of us, and nothing is fast in Mexico.) Again, I
had a problem with the security guard. Once I got past her heavy
make-up, flak vest, and serious firepower, I stared, riveted,
at her boots. She had about 3-4´´ of solid black braid all the
way up the front. I just had to ask. She appeared amused by my
fascination and told me that her laces were seven meters long
and it took two hours to do each boot. She also pointed out the
discrete zippers on the inside of each ankle. (Poor guard at
the trout farm. His were only two meters long. Wonder if he has
lace envy.)

The driving in Mexico is just as horrific as you´ve heard. To
slow the traffic a bit, most roads and even highways have numerous
´topes´or speed humps. Last week at the University of the Americas
we came up with a new game for the beginning Spanish  classes:
Count the Topes. (There are 18 on the small campus.)

Thursday I think I saw the historical inspiratioon for Mexican
speed bumps when we visited the pyramids at Teotihuacan. At the
expansive archeological site, the Avenue of the Dead runs from
the Temple of the Moon to the Temple of the Sun and beyond. There
are six walls across the broad walkway. Each is taller than me,
with steep steps on each side. Early speed bumps for hikers.
Very effective.

I climbed both of the pyramids at Teotihuacan. The guys couldn´t
figure out how I beat them to the top, but they ended up  inviting
me for an early-morning romp through the streets of Mexico City.
I thought it would be fun to see the city in the dark, and I
figured I´d be safe with two  big men. We ran along, dodging
traffic and potholes (and talking about the perceived dangers
of night hiking...Ha!) Suddenly I planted my foot in an unseen
hole. It felt like I was going down an elevator shaft, and I
didn´t stop ´till my foot hit oil. (I´m not kidding.) Rand, who
tops 300 pounds, pulled me out and held me until I insisted that
I could walk if he´s just put my feet back on the ground. They
were astonished that I didn´t break my leg, and I think that
I learned LaMaze breathing techniques when it was disinfected.
(I am so thankful for the tetanus and hepatitis A shots.)

When we headed out later in the day, Terry kept offering to carry
me--´No!´--while the rest of the group shouted out warnings:
´Hole, Pat!!´ ´Hole, Pat.´ ´Hole, Pat!!!´ In the crush at the
subway station, Rand picked me up with one arm and trundled me
into the car. When the car got so crowded that we could feel
each others´ ribs, we started to worry about getting everyone
off at our stop. We put  Rand in the front and linked elbows,
and he extricated us  conga-ling style. The last person in the
line almost got scissored in the fast-closing doors. In the excitement,
Sara stepped on the hem of Angelia´s elastic-waist skirt, leaving
her standing there in her turquoise underwear and money belt.
Let´s just say that the locals enjoyed our performance...

Mexico City has been wonderful but exhausting and wet We set
out watches everyday to the 5:00 rains. Tomorrow we have a six-hour
bus ride to flooded Oaxaca. (I´m looking for a Mexican Scrabble
game. I figure  it must have lots of X´es.)

Two down, two  to  go-
Give Me Chocolate

-----
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