I've been waiting for the right time to sit down and write my thoughts about our trip to Mexico. First of all, for all of us who have been to Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, Cabo, etc. the Mexicans want to make it clear -- you have NOT been to Mexico. They take American money there, and the Mexicans treat these places as non-Mexican. So we arrive in San Luis Potosi close to midnight, and Jozie and his family pick us up at the airport. By the way, it is an International airport in a city of 1.4 million people, but it is a third of the size of McGhee Tyson in Knoxville. We had our bags searched by hand, both upon arrival and departure. We had to fill out a Mexican immigration form which we were instructed to keep with us (and our pass ports at all times). It was to prove our legal ability to be in the country. Hello! Isn't this what our government refuses to do in this country? I was amazed.
So we go to the Westin in San Luis Potosi, which was a wonderful, beautiful and very inexpensive hotel. I could stay here as cheap as the Comfort Inn Suites in Cookeville, Tennessee -- $113 a night. We tucked in for the night, and the Ramirez family promised to let us sleep in. Hurricane Alex had roared (sort of) through North/Central Mexico during the day, and the city was soaked with water. The data 3g/4g networks were not working so my Blackberry was useless, and better yet, I left the power cord to my laptop at home. Joe did better than that. He left his laptop, our Verizon router wireless card, MP3 player and every thing else electronic sitting in his chair in the office at home. We were off to a good start.
So we got some sleep, and as always, the first night, especially for me, was fitfull, but we awoke and went downstairs to breakfast. Oh my, I fell in love with the Mexican breakfast, especially at the Westin. I had lots of wonderful fruit and juice -- celery juice, really! Then, gorditas which were corn tortillas put together like a pocket with wonderful fillings. I asked for three different fillings, not realizing I would get three different gorditas! I thought they would just put them in one. So we have lunch around 1 p.m. that lasted until 3 p.m. at a wonderful restaurant. We discovered a new Mexican beverage -- La Paloma, which is tequilla, lime and Fresca. It was so freshing and light. We had a wonderful meal, and then went back to the hotel to rest. We took a long nap -- and my Blackberry started working. Thank goodness.
Jozie said he would pick us up at 9 p.m. for the graduation party. We went downstairs and suddenly the hotel lobby was hopping with different parties and people in the air. They were all dressed like they were going to the prom, a wedding or the Oscars, depending on your perspective. It was amazing. Jozie picked us up and said we didn't really have to be there at 9 -- that was an understatement. We went to an overlook over San Luis Potosi to take in the view. It was where all the "kids" go parking. We went to the party, and we quickly realized this is a loooonnngg event. They served the first course a little after 10 p.m. -- mind you this is Central time for us -- and then, we had dessert around 1 a.m. I kept saying I would outlast the grannies, but in the end, I only beat one granny. I quickly learned, Mexicans seriously do not have concept of time, and they love to party and they love to dance. We got to our hotel at 3 a.m., and I'm thinking -- I can't do this for four days.
We slept, got up, had another wonderful Mexican breakfast, and Jozie picked us up around 11 or noon. Dany, his beautiful little sister, was having her first Communion at 1 p.m. Again, I learned that time is relative to Mexicans. We arrived around 10 after 1 p.m., and the service actually started around 1:30 or so. It was a beautiful service, and even though it was in Spanish, I know that Joe and Kelli, the American parents were acknowledged and trusted with the guidance of a beautiful young lady. So now, off to party number 2. I think that if the party for Dany's communion is any indication, it is akin to a wedding celebration, but with inflatable toys and bouncy things for kids. The food was wonderful. We were welcomed into the family in so many ways, and I got some incredible pictures of family, friends, fun and food. So we go back to the hotel, tired again, and go to sleep.
Next morning, another incredible Mexican breakfast, and World Cup soccer on top of that. Jozie picked us up for a trip to San Miguel. It is a wonderful, old, especially by American standards, city with beautiful (and narrow) cobblestone streets, delightful buildings and a lovely vista view. People were dancing in the courtyard -- Mexicans love to dance and do it often -- and we visited the churches and buildings around the town. It was lovely.
Then, we went for lunch, late around 3 p.m. There is an old farm just outside downtown San Miguel that houses a restaurant. The owner operates it in an old corn silo. Mexicans love brick ceilings, very unique, and they grace the churches and the grain silos. We arrive, and the owner seats us. There is no menu and no prices. A lady is making home made pasta in the back corner. What you get depends on the size of your party and the flavors of the day. We were delighted. We started with a calamari/mussel/greens salad on a platter for all 7 of us. Dany, being the youngest, wanted something simple, so she got fettucini noodles with cheese and grilled beef slices. We also got a beef salad with greens and pine nuts. Both of them were excellent, but I absolutely savored the squid/mussel salad trying to dissect its ingredients. The owner of the restaurant operates it as a hobby 3 months out of the year, and lives in Italy the rest of time. It was incredible. I have 2 GREAT restaurant experiences -- Nobu in NYC and Delmonico in NOLA, this ranked right up there with both of them.
So next we have a wonderful pasta balls, like pergoli, with pesto and a spinach/cheese ravioli with a mushroom pine nut sauce which was wonderful. Then several of us had lamb shank and veggies. Lupita and Dany each had dessert, and with drinks and all the bill with tip was $193. Oh my! That puts this eatery over the top from Nobu and Delmonico! So we drive back to San Luis Potosi, and all the while, I'm thinking, Mexicans drive like crazy. If I live through this experience I will never, ever criticize Joe's driving again. After many prayers -- all answered -- I gave him the green light to any time I criticize his driving to say -- remember Mexico. I'm sure he will take advantage of it. So we make it back to San Luis Potosi alive, and the Ramirez family leaves us at the Westin, which just happened to coincide with the first evening without parties at the Westin until 3 a.m. We slept pretty good.
Next morning, the wonderful breakfast again, and the Ramirez family and Caesar joined us. Dany showed off her school medals, and we had another wonderful meal. We took off with Jozie and Casear to downtown San Louis Potosi, and we enjoyed the buildings, especially the churches, the street vendors, and the movie being filmed. It was lovely and we had a great time. So we went back to nap (much needed) to prepare for our last Mexican meal. We went to eat fried worms, but they were out. So we did better. First of all, I never saw a basket of chips and salsa in Mexico until the last meal. Then, it was baked or broiled tortilla strips and homemade salsa table side, depending upon what you wanted pepper, tomato, heat wise. It was yummy. Then, since we had no fried worms, we went Fear Factor extreme. Chips, guac, with ant eggs on top. It sounds gross, but it was quite good. Then, I had some baby goat intestines that were grilled, some yummy seafood and a couple of La Palomas. We had a wonderful last meal and then back to the hotel for an early morning flight.
Oh, and I would be neglect if I didn't state the obvious. Mexico is not America, and although there are LOTS of places in America I would not feel safe, they are much more in Mexico. Jozie and his family and friends are "affluent" and they all live with huge walls protecting themselves and their homes. Every where you went there were huge fences or walls to protect people from the potential violence. Jozie's house is lovely, but the 2 story and then 3 story walls in the back yard speak volumes, along with the gang graffiti along the exterior wall of his house at the end of the road. I have to ask myself -- if the Mexicans protect themselves with walls and fences, why can't America protect its borders the same way? Why can't America require every one, not a random citizen on the street, but some one pulled over for a criminal violation, to produce evidence of the right to legally be in America? I'd have to do it in Mexico. Why is Mexico suing Arizona over their similar requirements?
Any one who knows me knows I am so open to diversity. I've had a Mexican kid at the height of the amnesty/immigration debate. I had to explain to him that the Mexican govt. telling him that there were American border patrol agents ready to shoot Mexicans at the border was not accurate. I also sat and loved and had family time with my Mexican family. They never treated me any differently because I was white or an American. I hope they felt the same love from me. Our governments are wrong, and they are fostering this divide. There is a way for many people to immigrate to this country legally. The offer of amnesty is a joke, because most of the Latinos here just want to work, make money and go home and take care of their families. They don't want to become US citizens.
So that is my take. No one can call me names, because I have a Mexican kid and family whom I love without condition. We loved our visit to Mexico, and we know how much they worry about America's perception of them. They were shocked at some of the things we told them about our government. They readily admit their government is corrupt. What I shockingly admitted, and was surprised, is so is ours. That is a shame. America is on a down ward spiral. We have to save her and ourselves.
