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Two updates in one day... I really need to catch up with this stuff so you guys should have alot to read about in the coming week.
Guanajuato, Guanajuato. This is a lovely city. One of the loveliest in all of Mexico. The city is unique and is on the UNESCO world heritage list (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list). This was the second time I have visited the city of Guanajuato, it was a little less spectacular this time around but then again I knew what to expect.
The city was a mining capital of Nueva Espana during the colonial period and is located among hills. What makes it such a lovely place to visit is the size of the streets or alleyways(CAllejones). The city is was not built with idea of cars in mind and in many parts of the city cars have no access. So engineers decided to save the colonial buildings and build roads underneath the city. The city is criss crossed by roads running underground. There are some main streets in the city but most roads are underground.
When I arrived in the city I actually had an HCer willing to host me. HCer are members of hospitality club an organization for travelers and the like ( http://www.hospitalityclub.org). I met up with my host a girl named Jessica. She is a student in the city. We walked to her house which was on top of one of the many hills. We walked through so many alleyways on the way I was confused and had no idea what direction I was facing. On top of this I realized how out of shape I am because I was struggling with my back pack and all of the twist and turns. Finally we made it to her home. Even the house was built incorporating the hillside. There were three levels to the house. Very unique. Before we had reached her house Jessica had told me to pretend like I was her boyfriend due to her landlady and problems they were having. I was cool with it. The landlady was cool with it. But the thing she wasnt cool with was Jessica and her roomies not being able to make rent (one roommate had skipped out on them).
Jessica, her roomies and her new fake boyfriend all got evicted. I got to stay one night and the next day I was helping Jessica move out of her home and into her friends place. I have tried to explain the architecture and layout of the city to you people in a sufficient manner. I will post some pictures later. Moving from one place to another in this city is HARD. Moving always sucks but when cars cant reach your place because your house is in an alleyway well it begins to suck even more. Oh yeah and the alleyways are all on hills. I helped Jessica out and again it was a situation that one can only get with the hospitalityclub. After that I had to find a hostel to stay in. I made a very good decision in that respect.
Hostels are either really great or really bad. Sometimes this has nothing to do with the hostel but more to do with the people in the hostel. The particular hostel I chose to stay in was a gold mine as far as the people go. No, there were no hot chicks... sucks. But the was one man that saved the hostel.
His name was Paul and this is his story....
"So whats up bro? Where you from?", I said as the new arrival walked into the room and threw his bag onto the bed.
"Oh, Hi. Im Paul.", pausing for a second for what can only be the dramatic affect Paul continues, "Im an American".
"Sweet!! Im American too. Where you from man",
"California"
"Me Too Brother"
As the conversation continued and all seemed well with Paul. Seemed like any other American, his voice and speech patterns were a little odd though. It seemed as though everything he was saying came out in an agitated manner. As though the kid wasnt comfortable in his own skin. Finally the conversation steered towards school and thats when I knew I had struck gold.
Look at him with an envious eye and repeating what he said, "You go to Chico State? Man, isnt that like a party school?".
"Oh Yeah, its a school thats is notorious for the extremes its student body take to have a slamming time". Pausing before continuing, " Thats actually the only reason I went there. I was socially inadequate in high school and I figured a school with such an emphasis on social interaction would give me a chance to excercise practice in social settings."
As he continued to speak the more I wanted to hang out with the guy just to be around him and see hime in social settings with other people especially when those other people are of the opposite sexual persausion, throw in some alcohol and this could be the funnest part of my trip.
"...I mean I use to be a complete nerd a few years ago and thus far I have made alot of progress in the opposite direction..."
I actually have alot that I can say about Paul but it wouldnt be appropriate for this blog, plus no matter how much I try to convey about him it just cant capture how this guy really was. Words just do do him justice. So here are some quotes from the guy.
"Dude, I banged that girl for like three straight hours" THis is the morning after he was dancing salsa with a big momma. After he arrived back in the hostel he had a thousand yard stare, he serioslay could not sit down. He waould sit down for a second then stand up and walk around the room with a blank stare. He had been out all night and couldnt sleep even went and got some bread and coffee. I think he was suffering from PTSD or something.
"Do you think when I approach girls I should speak to them in a Star Trek Dialogue," Puts hand into air in the take me to your leader posture and begins to speak in an alien voice, "I have Klymordian crystals that have the power to seduce you..." He almost did talk to a group of girls like this but I stopped him. I had actually encouraged him at first but felt bad when I saw how happpy he was to comply.
"I feel really bad. I treated that girl like such an object. I was like a barbarian" The expression on Pauls face was one of anguish, guilt or constipation as he said this. Every other guy I know would say this while laughing and giving everyone within ear shot a high five.
There was alot more that he said but some of it cant be described on this blog... trust me though this guy was so unique it was great to hang with him.
Oh yeah there are also mummies on exhibit at the mummy museum. The Cemetary here is so small that 100 years ago bodies were being dug up to make room for the newly deceased. The bodies being exhumed were mummified due to the minerals in the soil and arid atmosphere. To this day if families fail to pay the fees for a deceased relative then they are dug up and cremated or if they are mmified properly then they are put on display in the museum. Creepy huh.
The museum definetely leaves a person with chills. After seeing the mummy babies and a pregnant mummy I felt a little disturvbed. I will post pics soon then you will see what Im talking about. Got to run.....
So that was Guanajuato....
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