| Thursday, May 15, 2003 |
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| k, so it´s been almost a week here in Mexico, and i don´t even know where to begin. we arrived in Guadalajara, found a wicked little hostel right away and went straight to the bar :) what can i say, we just happened upon this place to eat that didn´t look too dodgy, and it just happened to have two for one corona. totally a coincidence. Guadalajara is a really awesome city, and seems surprisingly safe. lots of wandering, people watching, etc. we made it out to Tlaquepaque, a nearby tourist trap full of all things traditionally Mexican and had Margaritas with impossibly smooth tequila. *so* good. saturday (?) found us at this bar having a foam party!!!! where we made some friends and shook some serious booty. the palace has nothing on this place ;) the last couple days have been spent getting into Autlan, where Jamie n i are working, and finding a place to stay. we got dragged out to the field the day we arrived (monday). a 2 hour drive through the mountains, making hairpin turns, nearly running into oncoming traffic and having nothing between us and a 300 ft drop but a few inches of dirt. i had to hold back the giggles the whole way!! we went out to a town called Cuzalapa just in time for the only remaining traditional indigenous festival still practiced inthe area, ´la Llegada de las Virgens´. it was incredible. drummers, of all ages, in these flashy red and blue capes and hats coverd in mirrors and beads who lead this procession, carrying the four statues of the virgin Mary from one town to another. they start at the coast, work inland, and then go back. locals join in along the way as they approach a town. they drum all day and into the night. the receiving town sets up kitchens for them, and they spend two days just drumming, eating and celebrating. it was so beautiful. i also made a new friend, ´el Costeño´ aka ´the guy from the coast´ who reeked of dodgy Mexican moonshine and was harassing me all afternoon. this was a great big joke to me fellow field researchers, so i don´t think i´ll be livin it done for a while :) as for work, it looks like i´ll be conducting interviews of people in indigenous communities in this area, with the goal of putting together case studies of local entrepreneurs who are struggling against the forces of globalization. these will go in a book to spread awareness of the issues affecting the agriculture and economy of rural Mexico. i´m so excited i could wet my pants!!! for those of you i´ve gushed to about the organic farmers i´ve interviewed....this is SO much better!!! k, this will have to do for now, cuz i spent the afternoon lying inthe sun by the pool and it makes a girl sleepy....i´m sure you all really feel for me ;) |
posted by tatjana @ 4:04 a.m.   |
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