For the weekend of Mexico's Independence Day (that's Sept. 16 for those of you who don't know) we took a trip out to Cuetzalan. We didn't really know a whole lot about it, because it's a pretty small city and not much for tourism. Some past ILP groups had gone there before and we heard it was just a beautiful place to enjoy nature. After the first few weeks of teaching, nothing sounded better! So, we hopped on a bus and headed for the mountains.
The road was long and windy, and we thought it might just lead to our deaths, but the beauty of this place did not disappoint. I love the mountains! And I've never been so far up, literally in the middle of the clouds before. It was quite exciting. Don't believe me? Try it!
Viva Mexico!
This picture does no justice, but the streets here were SOO steep! It was seriously a hike to get anywhere. Our legs got a workout that weekend, that's for sure.
The church and city hall in the zocalo
I love how the decorate everything for Independence Day! There were so many decorations in Tehuacán, and everyone would dress all patriotic like... that's my kinda country!
I'm convinced that it's impossible to take a picture by anything significant here without having a couple completely in the way. It was one of those things that could be really irritating, and kind of was, but you really just can't help but laugh.
Where there's a pole in the middle of the city, there are men in costumes to climb it and then swing down on ropes. Hey, why not?
Climbing up, and...
ready to fly!
Might I add, that it was raining while they did this. Hence, the water spots on my lens.
The drum line held very still all throughout the rain. I was very impressed.
And later, it POURED.
A photo of the pre-festivities. Here they have cans of foam, kind of like silly string, but instead just foam, like shaving cream... and they spray it all over each other. They also take egg shells and fill them with confetti and smash them on each other. It's a good time. When the show finally started we listened to a mariachi band for far too long, but for awhile they had Chipwrecked playing in the background, so at least that was a little entertaining. Following that they had a little flag ceremony and the mayor? some city official, waved the flag from the top of a building and we all got to yell "viva" for Mexico, Puebla, Cuetzalan, freedom and all sorts of good things. It was super cool. Then another band that played country-ish music came out and started performing with Bon Jovi music videos playing in the background... it was quite interesting. There were fireworks too! At that point, it was pretty late and we were tired and wet and cold, so we decided to go back to our hostel and get some god shut eye.
The next day was Sunday (actual Independence Day), so we wanted to take it easy and just enjoy some of the nature we'd heard so much about.
There was some eventfulness to our morning though, when my head got squished by a car! We don't think there's any damage... but we're still not entirely positive.
We found the mariachi band from the night before!
Waterfalls, this way.
Roughin' the streets of Mexico, day 30-something
The hike to the falls was beautiful!
and then we finally found them
This water felt so good. There were a few people swimming in it, but we never did.
I love the beauty that our HEavenly Father has created for us to enjoy.
I'm telling you, these dang couples! They refused to stay out of our pictures! it was slightly irritating. But, at least we finally got a picture all together. And that was our lovely first vacation weekend. It was very much enjoyed :)
I'm so jealous. I miss you! We need to talk!
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