weekending

So, last weekend, after the draining day on Friday, I totally checked out of everything school related. Novio and I went to his hometown north of DF to visit a cousin and go to the feria (fair). I was so excited: horses, cowboys, and good times! We bussed through DF, which was fine until you're in the metro terminal, which was crazy! People were pushing and shoving to get onto the trains, which were filled to maximum capacity. There wasn't even breathing room. Luckily we didn't have a long trip there. We managed to make it to the other bus station and drove out to Texcoco. I was really relieved to see open space outside the city, to see horses milling about in a field, and cows being herded up. It was interesting to imagine this space covered in lakes hundreds of years ago before the Spaniards arrived.

When we made it to Texcoco, I discovered that barbacoa (barbeque) is the town specialty! yep, this is gonna be a good weekend. We met his cousin, and his wife at their store and shortly the four of us went to dinner...for barbeque of course. But it was by this little pond with carpe and geese and ducks. it was refreshing. Omar and I went out later for ice cream and a meandering through the town square that night, feeling too tired to go to the fair and be abused by barrachos (drunks). We slept in Sunday, went for coffee, and then went to the fair. I enjoyed it immensely! And I got a sunburn. not unusual.

We had to leave because as novio had promised, we were going to mass at the Basilica de la Virgen de Guadalupe. That was one thing I wanted to do when I came to Mexico, and I don't think it would've been possible without novio. So we bussed, metroed, and walked, and made it to the basilica. I was so enthused and touched in my heart. The place has such incredible historical, political, and social significance for Mexico, besides being one of the spiritual capitals. People were walking on their knees to the steps of the church (common way of proceeding and praying), and we were there just in time for mass. It was a beautiful service, I liked especially that Nahuat still influenced the service (bilingual, incense, song, procession). It was just a beautiful and very authentic experience for me. And, we were able to come within feet of San Juan Diego's cloak as it hangs in front of the church. I was weak in the knees. We wandered the grounds afterword, and eventually taxied back across town to the bus station.

It was a long weekend, and it was beautiful. I came home to discover that I had a policy research paper and powerpoint due Tuesday morning. oops. And, 17 UNAM (Autonomous University of Mexico) were coming to stay with us for the week. But I had needed the break, and I had needed that visit to the Virgin.