it's my second evening in Guadalajara, and having achieved all my goals for witnessing the stereotypical mexican ways of life, there doesn't seem much else to do...
1) shifty mexican man with pencil moustache
2) fields of maize
3) el nino (boy) coaxing donkey with stick
4) a local wearing cowboy hat and poncho (admittedly, the poncho was a black garbage bag, but it still counts)
when i arrived, it was positively teeming with rain and the guttering in the city must be atrocious because the streets were flooded. the taxi driver seemed unfazed so i believe it to be a regular occurrance.
the roads are completely nuts. being a motorist is dangerous enough, but when there's no pedestrian lights on a 6 lane intersection and buses are literally driving on the footpath centimetres from ones feet (i can only assume this is some sort of generous welcoming practice for 'gringos' because i haven't yet seen a near-death-autobus-graze befall any Guadalajarians) you take your life in your hands.
there's little pavement to be seen but rather informal walking tracks cutting through long grass and around trees. the more adventurous will walk on the highway dodging motorcycles and wooded utes filled with rowdy mexicans travelling to... well, i don't know where exactly.
what i've tried thus far, the food is great. although i've had to resist the tempting treats from the roadside food stalls emanating aromas of rancid meat and stale oil - often this is because mecahnics and sellers of fine foods will occupy the same patch of ground.
so, it's all extremely exciting and other-worldly. admittedly, my middle-class australian sensibilities are being tested. i feel bratty and a bit precious wandering around the streets.
i'm living in such a privilliged environment with brand new kitchen and bathroom facilities and drinking bottled water while it appears most people in the area live in a situation much removed from mine. and here i am, tapping out these musings on the keys of my new laptop... hmmm.
we'll see what tomorrow brings...
claud
i'll post some photos next time, i promise
2 comments:
Good thinking , stay well away from the street foodstalls .
you have heard of Montezuma's revenge of course.
Sooo , if I understand this correctly .you shall return from this experience a changed person .
Full of gratitude for all the blessings your doting parents have bestowed on you.And upon your homecoming you will cook meals and clean the house and generally be a dutiful daughter.
as if i'm not already! you seem to be forgetting that i have power of attorney, dear father!
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