new picture collection
OK, well since Tripod severely limits the amount of photos I can put up, I moved a lot of photos and added some new ones of me I took today to this web site

Lots of GDL pictures

That way I could put them all up full size. :)

more pictures

         
more from el centro

Lake Chapala
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: church bells across the street :)(:
Well, I spent Saturday all day at the biggest lake in Mexico, Lake Chapala, located about 45 minutes outside of Guadalajara. It was really beautiful... the bus ride there was not pleasant since a guy (about 55 years old) decided to sit next to me and ask if I wanted a boyfriend from Chapala (where he happened to be from) and proceeded to talk my ear off for the entire trip. I was very happy to get off the bus and run as fast as possible from the station.

The lake itself isn?t really like those in the U.S. I didn?t see anyone swimming or anything... the change in culture, etc. was amazing coming out of Guadalajara, it instantly became much more of a "rancho" atmosphere. But the drive in was nice, I just wish I had realized that taking pictures with the windows open would have worked.

Spent a while in Chapala taking in the view, looking around at the shops. Lots of Mexican families there spending the day relaxing, taking out boats, shopping. Then took the bus to the village of Ajijic which was very disappointing. The tour book made it sound like it was the place to be, but... well, it wasn?t. Mostly Americans there and not too much to do, the streets were pretty much dead and the view was pretty much the same as from Chapala.

Then decided to head to the balnearios in San Juan Cosala about 20 minutes away. Missed the stop and had to walk, but it was worth it... I doubted it would be, but it was kind of like a small water park with water from underground springs. The water in the pools I used ( the ones with no splashing kids ) was really warm and clear, and the facilities were A MILLION times better than those at Montezuma, for those of you who have had the pleasure of going there. :)

Then waited over an hour for a bus back to Guadalajara and was offered rides 3 times by strange men who just couldn?t believe (probably for good reason) that I actually enjoy taking the bus... Ja ja.

Overall, it was a great day. And for those of you who give me a hard time for being scared to be social or whatever, you have to give me credit for going out there by myself... everyone I met did. :) Pictures below.


                   
28.7 - 31.7

more pictures from all over the place
Now Playing: ummm, nothing actually
more pictures - hooray! none of me because i do a lot of exploring by myself, and even though gdl is relatively safe, it's never good to tempt someone with a decent digital camera. below you'll find some various pictures from random places where i felt like taking pictures. no logical basis, just whatever i thought was itneresting. :)


                   
mas fotos

otro dia...
Now Playing: wish it was the new thalia album... :(
It?s Friday, my first weekend in Guadalajara... I?m planning to do some more exploration in the Centro tomorrow - especially looking at some of the old churches which are supposed to be beautiful! Then on Sunday I?ll be going to the village of Tonala, which is home to some 6,000 craftspeople (perfect for someone like me who loves to shop!) to pick up some things at the mercado. More pictures on Monday.

Yesterday?s pictures...
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: Keyshia Coles on my iPod
Well, here are a selection of images from el Centro Historico.
Click to see full size and read the captions. :)



                               
El Centro Historico

The first few days...
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: El General y Anayka (old school merengue-ton)
A quick note - I took about a million pictures today with the intention of putting them up, but apparently the computer that is available here at the Casa Internacional does not have a USB port, so I'll have to find another location to post pictures.

So just to update everyone -
had an interesting journey here. We left Albuquerque a bit late on Sunday thanks to certain individuals whose peer pressuring skills make getting up the next morning kind of difficult. :) We drove without air conditioning down to Juarez (me, Cheroki, and his dad). We arrived at the airport LITERALLY at the last minute, but I was luckily able to make my flight. Sad to leave, and sorry I didn't get there earlier so I could have some yummy gorditas at Gorditas Gaby in Ciudad Juarez! :)

Anyways, flight stopped in Monterrey which from the window looked absolutely goregous! Beautiful mountains - kind of like Albuquerque.

Then on to Guadalajara. Arrived in the evening and settled into the Casa Internacional, where I'm staying. They're pretty decent accomodations. I have my own room and bathroom, access to a phone and internet, and only a couple blocks away from a super market with a delicious panderia!

I met the famous Antonio who Miguel told me about and a girl from Sinaloa and we spent quite a while chatting about Mexico, the U.S., the murders in Juarez, and other topics. Had some ramen and mexican bread which cost me a whole 18 cents! :)

First day of classes I was certifiably stupid and forgot to change my watch, so I ended up arriving an hour late for the placement testing, but it was all good... tested out of taking the different levels and was classified as bilingual. Just slept the rest of the day - I was exhausted... GOOD NEWS - ZERO NASEAU!!! HOORAY!!!

Today was fun though... started my classes, they're kind of boring, but if it helps - whatever. Then I took a taxi down the the Centro Historico by myself, since anyone who has travelled with me knows that I LOVE to do that! It was amazing!

First of all - the media lies about MExico. Not a moment has passed when I was scared or nervous or felt at risk. Of course, I haven't ventured out at night, but honestly, people are friendly and helpful and the poverty isn't at all overwhelming here. People are much more concerned with their families, etc. It is DEFENITELY not what I expected. There are beautiful stores everywhere, people shopping, etc.

The Centro was beautiful! Very old buildings, but not old Albuquerque-style, they're made of stone and hopefully I'll be able to put up some pictures tomorrow. I first visited the Hospicio Cabanas, which is home to lots of murals by Jose Clemente Orozco. I got in trouble for taking pictures with flash, but the paintings and building were stunning. Then I went to the MErcado Libertad, which is like the most enormous flea market I have ever seen... It might be the biggest in Latin America if my memory serves... anyways - lots of goodies from food to Dora the Explorer backpacks to ceramic goods to candies to T-shirts to recuerdos. Plus enough huaraches to run around the world. I bought some for my mami and for myself - cute chancletas with flowers on them, plus a few other little things for various other people who I was thinking of. Found a place to buy Cohibas and authentic Tequila. Good stuff, of course.

Then walked around aimlessly, taking in the sites... there were lots of beautiful buildings whose names I don't know, pictures to come... didn't get to enter any of the many churches because I was wearing a tank top (it was waaayyy over 80 degrees - quien sabe how much because centigrade temperatures make no sense to me!)

BAsically, that was my past few days. So far it's been great, but there's a lot more to see! :)
I miss everyone. XOXO!

Que C@r@/* estare haciendo... What I'll be doing...
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: anything mariachi - Guadalajara is the HOME of mariachi music!
Topic: Trip Information
I've recieved like a million questions about exactly what it is I'll be doing. So....

I'm flying out of Juarez, Chihuahua. I'm going to be spending 1 month as an exchange student at the Universidad de Guadalajara - Centro de Estudios para Extranjeros through the Latin American-Iberian Institute here at UNM. I'll be living in the dorm for international students since my picky eating habits made a home stay kind of impractical... you try explaining my self-imposed diet restrictions to anyone of Hispanic descent... it's IMPOSSIBLE! :( I will be taking two classes - a Spanish language class which is required, but which will hopefully be informative, and a course on Mexican history taught in Spanish which will count towards my much hated History major.

Other than that, I'm on my own. I plan on doing as much fun stuff as possible... exploring Guadalajara and hopefully some other parts of Mexico as well... I am especially hoping to make it to Mexico City (the biggest city in the world!) to see the cloak on which the first image of the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared, as well as the Museo de Antropologia... but we'll see. I'm a bit scared of the pollution and crime - so I'll need a travel companion - anyone interested? :)

So hopefully that answers everyone's questions... Be back 19 August 2005! :)(:

Muchisimas Gracias!
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Glory's new album, Yolanda Perez as usual, Shakira's new CD (despite it's disturbing name!)
Topic: Mil Gracias!
Well, I'm getting ready to leave in just a few short days for my first trip out of the United States to Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico! I know how many people are excited for me and want to hear about my trip, so I thought this would be the most effective way to share my experience with everyone - especially those who made this opportunity possible.

I first want to say THANK YOU to several people:

- To my grandfather Marty for providing me with the resources to take this trip and not be the only one of my sisters that had never left the U.S. Thank you for your continuing love and support through all my journeys. I hope that I make you proud in the things I do and the person I have become. I am so grateful for your generosity in giving me the chance to see another part of the world.

- Thanks, Papi for your emotional and economic support as well as your patience with my occasional irresponsibility.

- Mil gracias, Mami, por el apoyo que me da en todo que hago, y por comportiendo su interes en nuestra cultura y herencia hispana conmigo.

- Cheroki, your peace of mind is, in the words of Miguel, priceless. Thanks for introducing me to Mexico, since now I know how you do things down in Juarez... and thanks for the ride, the company, the support, and everything else.

- As well, I thank my grandfather Roy Romero, although he won't read this, for giving me the courage and encouragement I needed to take this trip and to do it myself. Bug, thanks for the international hygiene advice.

Overall, I thank everyone in my life for their support and encouragement. Feel free to email me, Facebook me, whatever... :)
Check back on the regular - I'll be updating as frequently as possible. I'll also be attempting to Upload pictures if I can find a way to do so, so check for that too.

P.S. Thanks, mami, papi, and Bug for the IPOD - it'll keep me occupied on my adventures on yet another strange public transportation system!