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Leaving Boston's
Logan airport. CD player - check.
Nintendo
Gameboy - check. |
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We landed in
Mexico City then drove to Puebla, two hours
east of Mexico City. El Popo is supposedly the most
dangerous active volcano in the world. Popo began shooting off steam and
ash the
day we arrived. Everyday we asked, but the kids refused to be
sacrificed. |
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Up in the hills next to El Popo was
this trout farm. We bought food to feed the trout, then bought the
trout to feed us. Cooked in a restaurant down the bottom of the hill.
Cerveza and fresh trout seasoned and cooked in tin-foil... delicious. |
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Next stop - into the lush mountains of Tezitlan. A 3 hour drive east of Mexico City.
Lorena takes Matt and Alex for a ride on Christmas Eve.
Lorena, sister
Catalina, and brother Angelo lived with us for one year each in
Brookline to study English. Our second family. |
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A piņata and
games are part of traditional Christmas Eve festivities. Ma Catalina blindfolds
Matt as the rest of the Lemini family looks on.
The dinner feast began
at midnight.
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Jorge went to Tufts
University in Boston and we became lifelong friends. Yoli made sure the boys
had American food and Jorge made sure Bobby had Mexican Tequila. |
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Dad had one too
many Tequilas the night before but managed to get to "Africam." Who would have thought Mexico has this awesome
wild animal country safari adventure?
Jorge's son Sergio is with us. |
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Roll up your windows and
drive through. This guy was right next to us. |
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A hot afternoon. Keep
your hands in the car boys. |
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Who let one go? |
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Coolness lives. Hip Hop
Gangstas in Africam while dad makes friends. |
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This town is Chalupa,
near Puebla. 27 Catholic churches in this
tiny town.
We just made it out of this church as a wedding
procession was coming in. Pregnant bride in
white. Father not too happy.
Our tour guide
is Anna, another friend's daughter. |
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Jamesie's at the
top of the hill in the distance while Bobby "glides" from one
hillside to the next. Can only imagine her thoughts. |
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Bobby
wishing he had adult diapers on. |
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Alex made it
across, this way.... |
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then went back,
and did it Superman style. |
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Matt as Superman was brave,
but not so
lucky. |
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Mexico's land is as
diverse as America. Mountainous hills with exotic birds and flowers. Citrus
trees quenched our thirst and bananas were for the picking. |
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Catalina, Jamesie, Bobby,
Angelo.
Lucy, Anna, Matt, Lorena and Alex. |
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The whitewater raft trip
began friendly enough but erupted with fierce water fights. The girls were
the "Hot Chicks" and the boys were the "White Tigers."
Spanish only commands were given. Oar and water skills were quickly learned
and practiced for what was ahead. |
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Angelo and Bobby in
the front. Our guide in the rear. Notice Alex and Matt. |
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Seconds later....hello?
Alex and Matt? |
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Back on land. Alex roamed for
hours on the Lemini family ranch crossing
streams, picking oranges, and checking on the cattle. |
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Cowboys out until dusk. |
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At night, cowboy Matt puts the moves
on Lucy. But Dad's keeping a close eye in the background. |
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We walked through this 1 mile long
tunnel with nothing more than a flashlight and the tunnel openings to
guide us.
At the end of the tunnel was the electric plant.
Below. |
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We listened for
an hour, every detail you could imagine of how this electric plant works.
Unfortunately it was all in Spanish. We did understand river water falls through a
man made tunnel in the mountain (on the right) to create the electricity. It supplies Puebla and part of
Mexico City with their energy needs. |
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Luxurious
accommodations in Atlixco. Most Mexicans living in Atlixco are Italian
Mexicans. They're known for their
flowers, grown and sold everywhere. |
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We visited a
health club the size of a city block. It's owned and visited primarily by Spaniards who
vacation in Puebla. Basketball,
aerobics, tennis, and of course the pool. Dad was at the bar watching the Patriots
beat Miami. Big Dolphin fans there, but thank my life, good sports. |
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Jorge lacing 'em up.
Notice the look of worry on his face. He's about to face his worst nightmare
on the basketball court. |
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We stayed for a
couple of days on the ocean in Martinez Veracruz, but unfortunately were
visited by the rain and cold
weather. Matt and Cata were the only ones brave enough to partake. |
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Pick one: A. Matt getting
warm
B. A Mayan Mummy
C. Parents lost it. |
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The Giffords
standing on top of the largest pyramids per square foot in the world. They
were created by 7 different Indian civilizations. When the Spanish
arrived in the 1600's they slaughtered the Indians, demolished the pyramids,
and built their Catholic church on top of them. Holy mole. |
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Our friend
Armando took us through some of these just recently discovered pyramids.
Armando hired a tour guide. The guide was 87 and had no teeth, but he did speaketh English. Thanks Armando. |
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Posing for Mom halfway
down the pyramid top. |
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More tacos, burritos or
the best ribs in the world? Tony Romas it was. Tony's was located in one of the largest malls in
the world. Adios Puebla Mexico, with Andres, Marissa, Elvira, and Armando. Nice picture Matt. |