We left summer in Teacapan

I see various references to heat-wave conditions north of the border and I confess that I simply can’t relate. Back in March, hell yeah. Back in April, May, June, oh yes. February was comfortable, but by March we were quite hot. Since we’ve moved to the highlands, we’re experiencing fall. This part of the country and further southwards have their rainy season this time of year and it just makes life so much easier. The day heats up, the clouds build up, the wind picks up, the temperature drops and the rain falls softly at first and sometimes just drizzles or pounds down and you are left to wonder if the ground will ever absorb the spreading puddles and lakes. If you’re in town, the streets turn to rivers and waterfalls over cobbles and shelves. It is so incredibly civilized.

Today we headed to La Quemada aka Chicomoztoc Chicomoztoc in Spanish to see what we could learn from the northern Mesoamerican culture. We’ve been to many ruins; most south of Mexico City but this one was incredibly different from any we’ve been to. The building structure was completely and utterly different but the architecture was about the same. Ellen remarked as we climbed higher and higher that the Aztecs (well, she was close) must have had really LONG legs. The views from the mountain top site were absolutely stunning and Jamie and I agreed that this was the most beautiful site we’ve seen.

Even with the gallery and museum and ruin trips, I’m beginning to think that we might as well not even be in Mexico for all the interaction and culture we’re exposing ourselves to (how is one to end this sentence without a dangling participle?). We stay way out of town, surrounded by fencing in our trailer compound and shuttle ourselves from place to place in our own vehicle, speak among ourselves and the rare moments that I converse with others there is almost always a child demanding attention. I am beginning to realize that the only way that we’ll really be able to sample the culture and make friends is to immerse ourselves; by staying IN a town. So we are thinking next year of simply picking a couple towns, driving there and then renting a house. I honestly don’t think we know much more than the average American about our terribly friendly neighbor to the south. And after spending a year in the country, that is shameful.

No news on the blood tests; we spent most of the day at the ruins and didn’t get back to town early enough to pick them up. I expect everything will be negative anyway and I’m feeling so much better that I don’t really even care what got me; just that I got it back.