Jerri and Maureen Clout discover Mexico. Photo provided by Maureen Clout. We learned a lot about the culture and history of Mexico City, visiting two large historical sites on Tuesday, the Tectihuacan Pyramids and Guadeloupe Cathedral.
Jerri and Maureen Clout discover Mexico. Photo provided by Maureen Clout. We learned a lot about the culture and history of Mexico City, visiting two large historical sites on Tuesday, the Tectihuacan Pyramids and Guadeloupe Cathedral. The Guadeloupe Cathedral is the most significant church in Mexico. They have around 14 masses everyday with approximately 10,000 people visiting daily.
Mexicans come from all over and it is considered a pilgrimage. They bring their babies, the ill and especially those who would like to conceive. This church was built for the Virgin Mary and considered a very scared place. Until this church was constructed the Aztec held services in the area. As the story goes a boy came down from the mountains to tell his family and all of the community that he had seen the Virgin Mary and she had asked for a church to be built for her. The community did not believe him and the next day the same thing happened again. He told her he would need proof to have others believe that she had appeared. She told him to come back in the morning, there would be flowers growing in the snow, and he could bring them back to the community as their proof. The next morning there were roses growing in the snow which was proof and all the community built the church for her. Now flowers are considered the greatest gift and the Aztec and Catholics share services together daily.
The Tectihuacan Pyramids have been standing since 200 BC. They are amazing structures that show just some of the history of the architecture in Mexico City. We climbed up two pyramids, well I did, Michael and mom only accompanied me on one. The sun pyramids and the moon pyramid. The sun pyramid is the bigger of the two and it stands about 300 feet about the ground. At the top of the pyramid, you can certainly feel the altitude; you are 7300 ft about sea level. It comes with a spectacular view!
At the pyramids and the fortresses around them there are many venders selling all kinds of silver, handcrafts, blankets...you name it! They certainly can be aggressive sellers though. If you show interest in an object and then walk away, they will keep offering you lower prices. Once we had spent all of our money, they continued to approach us, even after we told them we had no money left, they said they took credit cards, watches, they even said they would trade Michael shoes!!
They also took us to a shop where they showed us how tequila was made. It was very interesting. One plant has many uses. They used to peel layers of it off and use it as paper, there is a point end, which they broke off and pulled from plant, and it was a threaded needle!
Today was a mix of learning more about a very interesting country and an even more interesting individual, Michael.
We are learning so much every day, at the conference and outside of the conference. This again has been a quite an experience, giving me a closer view on the big picture of HIV and AIDS and its devastating effects. You hear of so many people dying o f AIDS, and it is all just number, until you hear a personal story like Michaels, or Patrick’s, and the epidemic grows in front of your eyes. You cannot comprehend the impact and the challenge faced by one person living with HIV and AIDS.
Jerri will be sending BayToday a daily blog update, however, if you would like more information, please check out her websites : www.patrick4life.org or www.youth4youth.net. Also, feel free to email Jerri at [email protected]
