While walking to the opening of a cenote, I passed through the living area of the family that owned the land. With a warm welcome, the family invited me onto their land. I ran across this beautiful child taking a bath in this large cooking pot. The amazing things and beautiful faces you see here are priceless. Imagine how simple life is for this happy child. - Sherry
After living in Mexico for 6 years or so, you get a little relaxed about things! Despite it being a week later, I still want to tell you about Mexico’s Independence Day. You always know the date is near when you start to see vendors on the street selling mexican flags, horns, streamers and more in the colors of green, white and red! Cars and homes and parks are often decorated with the flag and colors.
It is celebrated on the Sept 15th night and Sept 16th day. The history goes like this… In the year 1500, Spain conquered Mexico and named it New Spain. Life was difficult under Spanish rule and many of the native Mexicans (The Mayas and Aztecs) were forced into slavery. More than 300 years later, on September 16, 1810, a priest named Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla started a revolt against the Spanish. The Spanish were finally defeated in 1821 and now Mexican Independence is celebrated every year to remember the beginning of the struggle for freedom.
To remember this historical date, the celebrating begins on September 15 (the eve of Independence Day) by having crowds of people gather in the zocalos (town squares) of cities, towns, and villages. People sell confetti, whistles, horns, paper-machete helmets, and toys in the colors of red, white and green. Food is a big part of celebrating.
The people watch the time and when the clock strikes eleven o’clock (PM) the crowd gets silent. On the last strike of eleven the president of Mexico steps out on the palace balcony, and rings the historic liberty bell that Father Hidalgo rang to call the people. Then the president gives the Grito de Delores. He shouts “Viva Mexico” “Viva la independencia” and the crowd echos back. People do this at the same time all across Mexico. While the crowd says this they fill the air with confetti, streamers and noise. Castillos explode in showers of red, white, and green. Then people prepare for the next days’ celebration.
Personally, I celebrated with a group of friends with amazing mexican food, music and conversation. The next day it is typical for guests to return to the home of the party giver to eat leftovers! - Sherry Stevens
If you are looking for another reason to LOVE Mexico… a good one is the SIESTA!
Mexico takes its nap time very seriously. Many stores, shops, and offices close between the hours of 2 pm - 4 pm for the traditional siesta time. I am not sure if they all run home to jump in their hammock or not, but it is a brilliant plan if you ask me. If corporate America would follow suit, I am sure the productivity level would improve drastically. It worked for all of us in kindergarten, why not in adult-hood. Kudos to Mexico! We love Siesta time here! - Sherry
While wandering around Playa del Carmen, you can not help but notice construction here, there and everywhere. We are growing like a weed. I began to notice crosses on the top of most construction sites and finally had to find out what it symbolized! Mexico is known for its celebrations and abundant holidays. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to the bank to find out it was closed for a holiday that I had never known about.
The crosses on the top of buildings in progress were to celebrate the DIA DE LA SANTA CRUZ (Day of the Holy Cross). It is celebrated on May 3rd.
This day is celebrated as the day of the bricklayers and the builders. On May 3rd the construction workers build altars to the cross, adorn them with flowers, sails and sometimes streamers of many colors. The construction workers work half day, and most likely celebrate and enjoy the second half of the day work free!
The crosses are made with scraps from the construction site. The cross is placed in the highest point of the site. As soon as the cross is installed the holiday begins. In many cases, the acquaintances and family members of the workers are invited to celebrate the day. They share in fun and a meal such as fried pork, corn stew and tamales.
The crosses stay up long enough for people like me to wonder what they mean. This country has so many celebrations and traditions. As I continue to learn more and more about this country, I will share it with you. - Sherry
It is true, “Don’t drink the water in Mexico”, the TAP water that is. No one drinks it. Here is a little inside scoop on my personal routine of obtaining the “liquid of life” in Mexico.
Tourists have nothing to worry about. Purified water is easily accessible in rental properties and hotels. On the other hand, for locals, if you have a car and the build of a Pro Football Player, you can easily get your large bottles of drinking water at any grocery or most quick marts. For the rest of us, the darn things are heavy! You really don’t want to carry one very far unless you are training for the Olympics.
One of the things we locals have to contend with is listening for the “water guys”. There are 2 companies that sell water in Playa del Carmen, Electropura and Cristal. The vendors circulate throughout the neighborhoods on tricycle carts or a company truck, selling water. The best part is that they each have their own style of melodic warning to let you know they are near by if you need a refill. I tend to buy from the guys on tricycle carts because it feels good to lighten their load that they are peddling around. As they ride around, they blurt out with their personalized inflection, “A-G-U-A-A-A-A!” (water) usually rotating in the name of the company they represent… ” E-L-E-C-T-R-O-P-U-R-A-A-A!”
One of the challenges is catching them when they are on your street.
If you are low on drinking water and happen to be in the shower with a thick lather of shampoo on your head when you happen to hear the water guy calling outside… if desperate, you may chose to jump out of the shower and run to the closest window and shout back, “AGUA!!!” This is the signal to them that you need a bottle and they promptly bring the water to your door.
Meet Hermenegildo Sanchez Ramiro, MY WATER GUY who always keeps me well stocked on water. He uses an old squeeze horn that he beeps in between his personalized shout out of… “A-G-U-A-A-A-A!”.If you have an empty bottle to exchange, it costs $21 pesos (Less than $2 US). If you do not have a bottle to exchange, it costs around $70 pesos (Less than $7 US).
I have been lucky to devise a system with Hermenegildo so that I never run out of water. I have 3 bottles so that I always have a full back-up. I put my empty bottle outside my door with coins inside along with a small tip and he replaces it even when I am not at home. It works like a charm. He usually makes 2 rounds a day through my neighborhood.
A “water guy” is a part of life here. No one drinks the tap water here. But don’t worry, you will NOT find a restaurant in Playa del Carmen that would serve someone tap water. Even if it comes in a glass, I can assure you it came from a bottle. Business owners would never want a visitor to have a bad experience. We are all proud of this country and want visitors to enjoy themselves. But if you are still concerned, just ask for bottled water (botella de agua). Also know that the ice is always made with good purified bottled water as well. Another common question I have been asked by visitors is, “Do you brush your teeth with bottled water?” For the record, I have always brushed my teeth with the tap water and I am still alive but, if concerned you can always have bottled water by the sink.
I have to admit that the sounds of the streets in Mexico are something I truly cherish. If they ever replaced some of these vendors with more sophisticated methods, it would be disappointing. In addition to the water vendors, other familiar sounds on the local streets are the gas trucks that sell tanks of natural gas. They have a “Gas song” that blares from a speaker on the truck. I think most locals could sing the gas song or at least hum the tune if asked. The knife sharpener guy has a beautiful whistle that he uses to let people know he is available for sharpening. Although I have never used him to sharpen a knife, I love the sound of his flute-like whistle that he uses to promote himself. Life in Mexico! - Sherry
Note: After posting this and discussing it with local friends, some told me that they do not brush their teeth with the tap water. I did not want to imply that my choice to do so was necessarily typical. I will also add that as a general rule in Mexico for the local Mexicans and foreigners alike, we are recommended to take a de-parasite/lombrices pill every 6 months as a part of general health maintenance. If you visit Mexico and desire to take a similar treatment, they are easily found over the counter here. Daxon and Vermox are two names of brands you could buy.
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