City Tour

Many of us that have traveled know about thus two decker buses that give tours around the city...well, today i rode one with Viviana. It was awesome! Haha! And it was her idea. She said she has always wanted to do it, but her friends would never go with her. For those of us that live in Liberty, it´s like wanting to go see the historic Jesse James Bank or something like that. I know much of the city, but I was dying to get out of the house.

Everyone woke around 11 and Maria prepared breakfast/lunch. I had juevos rancheros (a tortilla with a fried egg and salsa that you eat like a taco)...very good! We boarded the bus around 12:00 and headed out on the tour. An elder couple joined us for the trip...haha. Just us four. We made a loop of the city and arrived downtown, where the bus stopped. It was a stopping point for the whole fleet of buses the company had and people could depart and reboard whenever they pleased all day as the buses left from downtown every half hour. We walked to the large market downtown (Mercado Libertad) and strolled through the isles, passing trinket upon trinket. Glass bottles here, shot glasses there, sombreros, wood boxes, leather items, wallets...pretty much anything you can think of. The isles were cramped with people out and about to enjoy there day off. For the most part, it was all things I´ve seen before, and for Viviana also. After about a half hour we made our way through the maze to get out.

We exited from a different side of the building I had never been in, and when we were outside I was confused where we were. In front of us stood a large plaze with the entrance to a museum to the left of us. Of course, being on the adventure we were on decided to enter. It was a very large, old stone building with many courtyards and side entrances where the exhibits were at. We strolled though, looking at all the art when I spotted one tiny piece in particular. When I was in Barcelona, Spain, I visited the Pablo Picasso Museum and saw much of his work. Well, to my amazement, I pinpointed this painting to be a picasso and turned out to be correct. I kind of think of myself as a art conoseur now...not that I can spell it. Haha. Ok...not really obviously, but I was semi-proud of myself.

After the museum, we walked out to some music playing at a nearby outdorr resturaunt, and stopped for some micheladas (beer, tomato juice, salt, and lime)...so good and refreshing. Did I mention that the sun was scorching today. Heard 2 feet of snow fell in Liberty...what luck! Viviana and I had a great conversation at the table and at times I couldn´t believe the rate at which my spanish was coming out of my mouth. It definitely surprised how much I was improving. And using new words as well!

We slurpped two micheladas a piece and decided thats all we should have so we could walk back to the bus. We were in the middle of the plaza (large courtyard-like area with no streets), but I told Viviana it was okay, and i yelled for a taxi. She laughed histerically. Mexicans really like simple jokes like this. Very easy crowd! haha!

When we arrived at the bus, we had two options, 1) head home, or 2) take the bus to Talaquipaqui, a small little town 15 minutes away. Of course, I said lets go to Talaquipaqui...we´ve already paid for it. So we did. I really enjoy the small pueblo (town) feel. The people are friendly and life moves at a very comfortable speed...a speed I enjoy often. Haha! We popped in and out of shops, but still saw similar items. We saw a stand for lighters and began to look at them as Viviana is a smoker. We picked up a couple and awwed in their flames, until I decided to pick one up that looked like a pistol. I jokenly aimed it at Viviana and pulled the trigger, and rather than a flame, a bolt of electrictiy shot down through my arm and I dropped the lighter. Viviana was sent into a sudden hysteria of laughter and could barely contain herself. Not at realizing what had happened, continued with a look of worry on my face. Then remembering a similar thing from back home, i realized it was one of those things you use to pull pranks on your friends. It was pretty funny because I had no idea.

We continued on and at one point I asked Viviana if these people made any money because everyone sells the same stuff, but she assured me they did. After succeeding in my efforts not to buy anything we got back on the bus; this time on top because the sun was going down and it was beginning to cool off. The ride back to Guadalajara was fun and Viviana quized me on the various words she had taught throughout the day. We arrived in downtown at the bus dropoff point and exited once again because the driver said he was going to park there for twenty minutes. When we got off, we noticed a large group of people gathered near a stage. We walked over just in time to see the start of a free jazz concert. The sun was just barely over the horizon and the lights under the crevices of the buildings began to turn on. It was very beautiful. There was also a demonstration going on to show your pride for Guadalajara. People were handing out markers and paper and had you write a few words of appreciation for the city. Naturally, Viviana made me do it (throughout the day she made me order and ask questions to the vendors so I could practice). I wrote ¨Te Amo Guadalajara¨(I love you Guadalajara) and signed it John El Peluquero (John the Barber). She got a kick out of that and they took our picture and posted it, with my note on a giant banner they were displaying.

After that it was about 8:30 and Viviana had several missed calls from Maria. We grabbed a Taxi and headed home. We arrived to a waiting meal and had a great time discussing our day with Maria over it. Viviana had plans and took off for the night and for the passed hour or so, Maria and I have been talking. A great conversation to end the day about life, and the things that are important. At one point she began to cry and almost had me into them. She has a giant heart and I can´t believe how much she loves me sometimes...its crazy. But I have a lot of love for her and her family as well. It really is great to be back here!