Area Students Travel to Mexico
by Donna Albrecht
June 17, 2008
Area Students Travel to Mexico
Five area students from Hall, Ohio, and Mendota High Schools recently completed a trip to central and southern Mexico with their Spanish teachers.
Upon our arrival, our group began the educational trip by exploring modern Mexico City. Since the hotel was near the historic downtown area, we were within walking distance of the Zocalo, the second largest plaza in the world. Next to the Zocalo is the National Palace, where the president’s and other government offices are located. Also inside the Palace are some famous murals of Diego Rivera that depict the history of Mexico until the time of the Spanish conquest. The National Cathedral and some of the Aztec ruins are on the other side of the Zocalo. There was Aztec dancing right next to the cathedral that evening!
On our second day in Mexico City we saw the Palace of Fine Arts, Alameda Park, Reforma Boulevard, the Angel of Independence monument, and Chapultepec Castle. We drove through Las Lomas, an exclusive upper class neighborhood where the Mexican president and other celebrities live. We toured the Museum of Anthropology that has many Aztec artifacts, and we saw the famous Aztec Calendar Stone there. Next we traveled across town to visit the sacred Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico. After a delightful lunch where we were serenaded by a mariachi band, we traveled to Teotihuacan, an Aztec ceremonial center about 30 minutes from Mexico City. There we climbed the Pyramids of the Moon and the Sun. The Pyramid of the Sun is the second-largest known pyramid in the world!
The third day we boarded our charter bus and went to Puebla, the fourth-largest Mexican City. We walked through the downtown, visiting the Puebla cathedral and the Church of Santo Domingo. We shopped for Talavera tile, onyx, and native handicrafts in the Parian artisan market before journeying on to Oaxaca, five hours south of Mexico City.
On day four we went to the majestic Zapotec Indian ruins of Monte Alban. Built on a flattened mountain top that rises above the valley, the view was absolutely breathtaking! We explored the Great Plaza, the I-shaped tlatchli ball court, and ancient tombs of the high priests. It was indescribably beautiful in the morning sunlight with the mountains peeking through the clouds around us.
Then we went to Coyotepec, a village known for its black pottery. We were treated to a live demonstration of the ancient process of pottery making and bought souvenirs there before we went to Santa Maria del Tule to see Mexico’s most famous tree. The Tule Tree is believed to be more than 2,000 years old and its girth measures 165 feet. It’s a Montezuma Cypress and some experts say it is the largest single biomass in the world. Later we went to Casa Vasquez in Teotitlan to observe how the Zapotec Indians dye wool and weave it into rugs and other household items, using traditional Zapotec patterns.
The fifth day we explored Oaxaca, visiting its Santo Domingo Church and some of us purchased native paintings on parchment made from tree bark. In the Mayordomo Chocolate Factory we saw how chocolate is made from cacao beans. Surprisingly, the samples they gave us to try were very delicious, even though they had no sugar in them! We spent the afternoon at the open-air market buying souvenirs and gifts for loved ones.
On day six we went to Veracruz on the coast of the Bay of Campeche. The bay is to the west of the Yucatan peninsula. Historically, Veracruz was Cortes’ first landing site in Mexico. Also, Benito Juarez, a former Mexican president, was imprisoned there for political reasons. But thanks to Ritchie Valens, Veracruz is probably best known in the United States for La Bamba, a traditional dance and song that originated there. We opted to go to the aquarium, where we walked beneath a tunnel that had sharks and stingrays swimming above our heads!
On our last day in Mexico we did various activities—some of us went to the beach or spent the day enjoying Hotel Mocambo, which has hosted movie stars and presidents. Others explored the former prison of San Juan de Ulua before regrouping for lunch. The afternoon was for free time at the beach or banana boating.
Ms. Quarton and Mrs. Albrecht would like to thank the students for making the trip so enjoyable for them. We would also like to thank the Ohio Schools for shuttling us to O’Hare.
