Nabigla ako sa di inaasahang balita na aking natanggap noong isang araw. Namatay daw ang aking bayaw (sister-in-law). Bigla lang daw ang mga pangyayari at ngayon ako ay napasubsob sa aking kama noong na-confirm ko sa Facebook na totoo nga.
Ang sanhi ng kanyang pagkamatay at massive bleeding sa loob ng kanyang utak malapit sa may Pons Vareli. Nagkaroon daw ng aneurysm o ang paglobo ng kanyang ugat sa utak at dahil sa matinding pressure ay pumutok ito at naging sanhi ng bleeding at biglaang pagkai-stroke niya. Ang sanhi ng aneurysm ay dahil sa matinding alta presyon sa katawan.
Kelan lang nag-text sa akin ang aking bayaw na hihiram sya ng pera para lang pambayad ng tuition ng kanyang bunso at pagtustos sa allowance the panganay na kasalukuyang nag-rereview sa kanyang board para sa nurse licensure. Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala.
Hindi pa nga kami nag-uusap ng aking kapatid dahil nga siguro sa iniiwasan nya ako nito dahil sa akalang sisingilin ko sya ng kanyang hiram na pera noong isang taon bago sya sumakay ng barko. Ngayong nakuwi na sya ay ini-ecpect ko na babayaran nya ako ng kanyang utang. Eh papano nangyari na to.
Naisip ko lang kasi kung ang babae ang mabalo ay wala iting problema. Kasi noong ang aking Nanay ay nabalo noong mamatay ang Tatay sya ay nadalamhati ng todo. Tapos kailangan nyang tibayan ang kanyang loob. Naipatuloy pa rin nya na pangalagaan ang kanyang sarili dahil ang mga gawaing bahay ay routine na lang sa kanya dahil ginagawa naman nya ito araw-araw.
Pero noong ma-i-stroke sya ay hindi na nya maipatuloy pa ang mga ito at sya a nahulog sa angking kinang ng depression at unti-unti sya nag-deteriorate dahil sa kanyang depression.
Sa ngayon, aking napag-isip-isip kung ano na ang mangyayari sa aking kapatid ngayong balo na sya. Hindi sya sanay sa mga gawaing bahay dahil ang kanyang asawa ang gumagawa ng lahat. Tapos may dalawa pa syang mga anak na dapat i-supervise. Ano na kaya ang mangyayari sa kanila?
Iniisip ko lang kasi ang pagluluksa ang depende sa adjustment ng isang tao. Merong napadali ito meron namang napahaba. Noon mamatay ang Nanay naramdaman ko na hindi ako nagluluksa dahil tanggap ko na ang maging mangyari sa aking minamahal na ina. Umabot lang yata sa isang buwan ang aking pagluluksa.
Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa aking kapatid at sa aking mga pamangkin sa ngayong wala na ang aking bayaw? Ayoko lang kasing maghusga pero yan ang aking opinyon.
Masakit man ang mga pangyayari pero nararapat lang na tanggapin ito dahil hindi lang doon umiiot ang ating mga buhay. Depende lang ito sa ating adaptasyon sa ating mga paligid at sa ating coping skills. Sana nasa mabuti lang kalagayan ang aking kapatid at ang mga bata.
Sana okay lang sila and heto ako ngayon. Kailangang tatagan pa nila ang kanilang mga sarili at sana ay matanggap na nila ang pakay ng Diyos kung bakit nangyayari ang mga ito. Maraming salamat po!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Ang Aswang
Ako po ay isang manunulat at ang kwentong ito ay isang kathang isip lamang. Pero ito ay may kinalaman din sa ating pang-araw araw na pamumuhay sa maniwala man kayo o hindi. Sana ito ay magsilbing aral sa inyo at sa lahat din. Salamat po sa inyong oras sa pagbasa nito.
Itong kwento ay sinulat sa perspektibo ng unang persona sa katauhan ng manunulat para ikwento sa inyo ang kanyang mga saloobin at ang mga kwento na ikwenento sa kanya. At akin pong inuulit na ito po ay isang kathang isip lamang na hinango sa ating pang-araw araw na buhay.
May isang balikbayan na umuwi sa kanilang purok. Labing-isang taon na raw ang nakalilipas na hindi sya nakauwi sa kanilang purok. Tuwang-tuwa po sya sa kanyang pag-uwi dahil makikita nya na raw ang kanilang matiwasay at magandang purok at ang kanyang pamilya at mga kamag-anak na matagal nya na raw na nami-miss at hindi nakikita.
Isang araw nakasalubong ko ang balikbayan na ito sa may palengke at galak na nagkamustahan kami sa isa't isa. Sya kasi ang matalik kong kaibigan nuong haiskul pa kami. Marami kaming pinagkwentuhan lalo na ang kanyang mga eksperensya sa abroad at pamilya hanggang sa umabot kami sa isang istorya na malugod at paluhang ikwenento nya sa akin.
Doon po sa kanila, sa may tahimik purok na kanilang tinitirhan, may napapabalitang may isang aswang daw na nakatira duon. Ito raw ay nagpapakita sa mga mamamayan duon at nanakot sa kanila paminsan minsan. Nabagabag daw ang mga tao duon at takot na takot sa maaaring maging epekto nito sa kanilang pamumuhay.
May isang tsismis na umiikot daw sa kanilang purok na may isang babae raw na aswang. Nakatira raw sya sa isang dampa na malapit nang mauga dahil sa ito ay nakatagilid na at malapit nang matumba. Isang bagyo na lang daw ang dadaan at siguradong ang bahay na ito ay tuluyan nang bumigay. Ang bahay na ito ay makikita sa isang gulod, walang kapitbahay, at solong nakatirik duon sa magubat at di gaanong madaanan at di mataong lugar ng gulod.
Kilala daw nya ang babaeng ito dahil madalas daw siyang pumunta duon nuong sya ay bata pa. Madalas din daw syang nakikipag-usap sa babaeng ito nuong maliit pa raw sya. Sa kanyang galak daw ay nagpaalam sya sa kanyang ina na puntahan, bisitahn, at kamustahin ang babaeng ito pero pinagbawalan sya ng kanyang mga kaanak na wag pumunta duon. At sinabi nga sa kanya ang mga tsismis.
Ang tinutukoy nilang aswang ay isang tahimik na babae, na sa katandaan ay napabayaan na ang kanyang sarili. Isang payatin na babae, kulubot ang mga balat dahil sa matinding paghahanapbuhay sa sakahan at pagka-lantad nito sa matinding init ng araw. Nakatira sa kanya ang kanyang kulang-kulang na kapatid na babae na syang binubuhay nito ng solo.
Tahimik silang dalawa na nakatira sa isang sirang-sira na kubo at dahil sa kahirapan ay hindi na niya napaayos ang kanilang bahay. Dalawa lang silang nakatira dito at tahimik na namumuhay at mairaos ang sarili araw-araw. Hindi nila alintana na may umiikot na masamang istorya tungkol sa kanila sa buong purok dahil hindi naman sila nakikihalubilo sa mga mamamayan ng purok.
Naawa ang aking kaibigan sa nagyayari sa matanda. Nawala nga raw sya ng labing-dalawang taon pero ito naman daw ang kanyang natuklasan. Hindi raw sya makapaniwala na pati ang kanyang mga pamilya at kaanak ay naniwala sa walang kwentang kwentong ito.
Hindi nya raw alam kung totoo itong balita pero minsan daw may isang bata na nagsabi na nakakita raw sya ng isang malaking itim na aso na naglalaway at pula ang mata habang sya ay naglalakad patungo sa eskwelahan isang tanghaling tapat. Sa takot ng bata ay kumaripas sya ng takbo nang walang lingon-lingon hanggang sa hindi na nya nakita ang itim na aso.
Meron namang isang lasing daw na umuwi na nang hatinggabi at nakasalubong nya raw sa kanyang daanan ang isang matandang uugod-ugod na at nakabelo ng itim na nakatungkod pa ng isang sanga ng kahoy. Hindi nya raw namukhaan ang matanda dahil daw sa belo na nakatakip sa kanyang ulo at madilim daw noon at walang buwan.
Meron namang balita na may isang malaking itim na baboy-damo daw na umiikot-ikot at umaaligid sa may magubat na lugar ng gulod at naninira ng mga taniman at mga punog-kahoy duon. Baka raw ito ang aswang at gustong paalisin ang mga nakatira duon.
Subalit sa mga balitang ito, wala namang napabalitang may namatay man lang o may taong namatay na nawalan ng lamang loob kung totoong may aswang. Ang mga tsismis na ito ay parang cancer na umiikot at pinapasa-pasa sa buong purok na pawang walang katotohanan at isang paninira sa buhay ng kawawang matanda sa may gulod na dahil sa kanyang kahirapan at katandaan ay nakuha pang gawan ng mga tao ng isang kahindik-hindik na istorya na wala namang katuturan kundi paninira lamang sa kanyang tahimik na pamumuhay.
Isang araw daw ay sikretong nakapuslit ang kaibigan ko at pumunta sa bahay ng matandang babae at gusto nya raw itong kausapin at alamin ang mga pangyayari. Nang makapunta raw sya duon ay nakita nya ang kalunos-lunos na sitwasyon ng kubo at ang kahirapan ng pamumuhay ng matandang babae at ang kanyang abnormal na kapatid.
Nung magpakilala sya sa matanda ito ay biglang napaiyak at tumango na naalala pa sya raw nito. Nagkwentuhan raw sila ng matanda at kwenento ng matanda ang kanilang mahirap na pamumuhay at kung papano sila nakakaraos araw-araw. Sinabi din sa kanya na nagtataka na rin daw sya kung bakit ang kanyang mga kamag-anak ay hindi na nakikipag-usap sa kanila kaya tahimik na lang daw silang namumuhay sa kanilang dampa.
Dahil daw sa kanilang katandaan ay hindi nya na raw maipaayos ang kubo at wala naman daw silang pera na maipayos ito kaya hinayaan nya na lang daw na masira ito ng panahon. Wala na ring syang perang ipambili ng mga gamot ng kanyang kapatid na abnormal kaya pina-painom nya na lang daw ito ng mga balat ng kahoy. Wala na rin daw syang perang pambili ng abono para sa palay nyang tanim at nagpapasalamat naman daw sya na may nakukuhang ani naman sya taun-taon. Panalangin na lang daw ang kanyang puhunan upang sila ay mabuhay.
Tinanong sya nga aking kaibigan kung bakit hindi sya humingi ng tulong sa barangay at ang sabi ng matanda ay yun nga raw ang kanyang pinagtakhan dahil mismo ang kapitan ay umiiwas kumausap sa kanya. Wala na raw syang mapuntahan kundi ang Dios at pinagpaubaya nya na lang daw sa Dios ang lahat.
Tumalikod ang aking kaibigan at biglang napaluha ito. Hindi nya lang kwenento sa matanda ang mga tsismis at hinayaan nya na lang na mamuhay silang tahimik at walang kaalam-alam sa mga pangungutya ng mga tagapurok. Nagpaalam sya sa matanda na may dalang sobrang awa at napayakap ito sa kanya. Binigyan nya ng kaunting pera ito bago sya umalis at nagpaalam.
Sa aming pagkikita sa palengke ay masakit nyang naikwento sa akin ang kahabag-habag na sitwasyon ng matanda. At wala naman akong masabi sa kanya kundi isusulat ko ito at kakapulutan ng aral para sa aking mga mambabasa. Kaya heto ako ngayon at ikwenento sa inyo ang salaysay ng aking kaibigan. Sana ay may napulot kayong aral sa kanyang kwento.
Itong kwento ay sinulat sa perspektibo ng unang persona sa katauhan ng manunulat para ikwento sa inyo ang kanyang mga saloobin at ang mga kwento na ikwenento sa kanya. At akin pong inuulit na ito po ay isang kathang isip lamang na hinango sa ating pang-araw araw na buhay.
May isang balikbayan na umuwi sa kanilang purok. Labing-isang taon na raw ang nakalilipas na hindi sya nakauwi sa kanilang purok. Tuwang-tuwa po sya sa kanyang pag-uwi dahil makikita nya na raw ang kanilang matiwasay at magandang purok at ang kanyang pamilya at mga kamag-anak na matagal nya na raw na nami-miss at hindi nakikita.
Isang araw nakasalubong ko ang balikbayan na ito sa may palengke at galak na nagkamustahan kami sa isa't isa. Sya kasi ang matalik kong kaibigan nuong haiskul pa kami. Marami kaming pinagkwentuhan lalo na ang kanyang mga eksperensya sa abroad at pamilya hanggang sa umabot kami sa isang istorya na malugod at paluhang ikwenento nya sa akin.
Doon po sa kanila, sa may tahimik purok na kanilang tinitirhan, may napapabalitang may isang aswang daw na nakatira duon. Ito raw ay nagpapakita sa mga mamamayan duon at nanakot sa kanila paminsan minsan. Nabagabag daw ang mga tao duon at takot na takot sa maaaring maging epekto nito sa kanilang pamumuhay.
May isang tsismis na umiikot daw sa kanilang purok na may isang babae raw na aswang. Nakatira raw sya sa isang dampa na malapit nang mauga dahil sa ito ay nakatagilid na at malapit nang matumba. Isang bagyo na lang daw ang dadaan at siguradong ang bahay na ito ay tuluyan nang bumigay. Ang bahay na ito ay makikita sa isang gulod, walang kapitbahay, at solong nakatirik duon sa magubat at di gaanong madaanan at di mataong lugar ng gulod.
Kilala daw nya ang babaeng ito dahil madalas daw siyang pumunta duon nuong sya ay bata pa. Madalas din daw syang nakikipag-usap sa babaeng ito nuong maliit pa raw sya. Sa kanyang galak daw ay nagpaalam sya sa kanyang ina na puntahan, bisitahn, at kamustahin ang babaeng ito pero pinagbawalan sya ng kanyang mga kaanak na wag pumunta duon. At sinabi nga sa kanya ang mga tsismis.
Ang tinutukoy nilang aswang ay isang tahimik na babae, na sa katandaan ay napabayaan na ang kanyang sarili. Isang payatin na babae, kulubot ang mga balat dahil sa matinding paghahanapbuhay sa sakahan at pagka-lantad nito sa matinding init ng araw. Nakatira sa kanya ang kanyang kulang-kulang na kapatid na babae na syang binubuhay nito ng solo.
Tahimik silang dalawa na nakatira sa isang sirang-sira na kubo at dahil sa kahirapan ay hindi na niya napaayos ang kanilang bahay. Dalawa lang silang nakatira dito at tahimik na namumuhay at mairaos ang sarili araw-araw. Hindi nila alintana na may umiikot na masamang istorya tungkol sa kanila sa buong purok dahil hindi naman sila nakikihalubilo sa mga mamamayan ng purok.
Naawa ang aking kaibigan sa nagyayari sa matanda. Nawala nga raw sya ng labing-dalawang taon pero ito naman daw ang kanyang natuklasan. Hindi raw sya makapaniwala na pati ang kanyang mga pamilya at kaanak ay naniwala sa walang kwentang kwentong ito.
Hindi nya raw alam kung totoo itong balita pero minsan daw may isang bata na nagsabi na nakakita raw sya ng isang malaking itim na aso na naglalaway at pula ang mata habang sya ay naglalakad patungo sa eskwelahan isang tanghaling tapat. Sa takot ng bata ay kumaripas sya ng takbo nang walang lingon-lingon hanggang sa hindi na nya nakita ang itim na aso.
Meron namang isang lasing daw na umuwi na nang hatinggabi at nakasalubong nya raw sa kanyang daanan ang isang matandang uugod-ugod na at nakabelo ng itim na nakatungkod pa ng isang sanga ng kahoy. Hindi nya raw namukhaan ang matanda dahil daw sa belo na nakatakip sa kanyang ulo at madilim daw noon at walang buwan.
Meron namang balita na may isang malaking itim na baboy-damo daw na umiikot-ikot at umaaligid sa may magubat na lugar ng gulod at naninira ng mga taniman at mga punog-kahoy duon. Baka raw ito ang aswang at gustong paalisin ang mga nakatira duon.
Subalit sa mga balitang ito, wala namang napabalitang may namatay man lang o may taong namatay na nawalan ng lamang loob kung totoong may aswang. Ang mga tsismis na ito ay parang cancer na umiikot at pinapasa-pasa sa buong purok na pawang walang katotohanan at isang paninira sa buhay ng kawawang matanda sa may gulod na dahil sa kanyang kahirapan at katandaan ay nakuha pang gawan ng mga tao ng isang kahindik-hindik na istorya na wala namang katuturan kundi paninira lamang sa kanyang tahimik na pamumuhay.
Isang araw daw ay sikretong nakapuslit ang kaibigan ko at pumunta sa bahay ng matandang babae at gusto nya raw itong kausapin at alamin ang mga pangyayari. Nang makapunta raw sya duon ay nakita nya ang kalunos-lunos na sitwasyon ng kubo at ang kahirapan ng pamumuhay ng matandang babae at ang kanyang abnormal na kapatid.
Nung magpakilala sya sa matanda ito ay biglang napaiyak at tumango na naalala pa sya raw nito. Nagkwentuhan raw sila ng matanda at kwenento ng matanda ang kanilang mahirap na pamumuhay at kung papano sila nakakaraos araw-araw. Sinabi din sa kanya na nagtataka na rin daw sya kung bakit ang kanyang mga kamag-anak ay hindi na nakikipag-usap sa kanila kaya tahimik na lang daw silang namumuhay sa kanilang dampa.
Dahil daw sa kanilang katandaan ay hindi nya na raw maipaayos ang kubo at wala naman daw silang pera na maipayos ito kaya hinayaan nya na lang daw na masira ito ng panahon. Wala na ring syang perang ipambili ng mga gamot ng kanyang kapatid na abnormal kaya pina-painom nya na lang daw ito ng mga balat ng kahoy. Wala na rin daw syang perang pambili ng abono para sa palay nyang tanim at nagpapasalamat naman daw sya na may nakukuhang ani naman sya taun-taon. Panalangin na lang daw ang kanyang puhunan upang sila ay mabuhay.
Tinanong sya nga aking kaibigan kung bakit hindi sya humingi ng tulong sa barangay at ang sabi ng matanda ay yun nga raw ang kanyang pinagtakhan dahil mismo ang kapitan ay umiiwas kumausap sa kanya. Wala na raw syang mapuntahan kundi ang Dios at pinagpaubaya nya na lang daw sa Dios ang lahat.
Tumalikod ang aking kaibigan at biglang napaluha ito. Hindi nya lang kwenento sa matanda ang mga tsismis at hinayaan nya na lang na mamuhay silang tahimik at walang kaalam-alam sa mga pangungutya ng mga tagapurok. Nagpaalam sya sa matanda na may dalang sobrang awa at napayakap ito sa kanya. Binigyan nya ng kaunting pera ito bago sya umalis at nagpaalam.
Sa aming pagkikita sa palengke ay masakit nyang naikwento sa akin ang kahabag-habag na sitwasyon ng matanda. At wala naman akong masabi sa kanya kundi isusulat ko ito at kakapulutan ng aral para sa aking mga mambabasa. Kaya heto ako ngayon at ikwenento sa inyo ang salaysay ng aking kaibigan. Sana ay may napulot kayong aral sa kanyang kwento.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
My Initial Tympanoplasty Operation
March 5, 2012: Today, I woke up at 0400H trying to ready myself for my scheduled elective ear surgery. I was instructed to be at the hospital's registration office at 0600H for some pre-op preparations. Today, my ear doctor will repair my right ear drum which I've been planning to have years ago yet my previous insurance won't cover for it. Now that I have a new insurance who is willing to shoulder it, I am glad that it will be done today.
When I was growing up in the Philippines I used to swim at the river near our house and had noticed that the dirty water had caused infection in my ears ergo causing a hole called perforation which became a part of my growing up. I complained this to my mom and had it checked with an ENT doctor. He only prescribed me an antibiotic ear drops for my recurrent infections and had not recommended any operation at all.
Since then I have trouble hearing and was advised to cover both ears when taking a bath or shower. It's always a struggle having difficulty hearing and the use of a hearing aid had helped me so much to amplify sounds. It even drove me to depression at times because of the stigma of not hearing well but I know I am a strong person and never gave up.
My handicap didn't hinder me to succeed at school and at work. I learned to adapt myself to hear better by asking "Excuse me?" or leaning towards my better ear when I have trouble hearing. This had helped me conceal my handicap and was never noticed by friends and co-workers but the thought of getting caught one day frightened me and I have to make a drastic decision to have it fixed.
Since then I have trouble hearing and was advised to cover both ears when taking a bath or shower. It's always a struggle having difficulty hearing and the use of a hearing aid had helped me so much to amplify sounds. It even drove me to depression at times because of the stigma of not hearing well but I know I am a strong person and never gave up.
My handicap didn't hinder me to succeed at school and at work. I learned to adapt myself to hear better by asking "Excuse me?" or leaning towards my better ear when I have trouble hearing. This had helped me conceal my handicap and was never noticed by friends and co-workers but the thought of getting caught one day frightened me and I have to make a drastic decision to have it fixed.
Before I went to Mexico lately for a vacation, my ear doctor had scheduled me for an elective surgery for my right ear called tympanoplasty for March 5 and I am so happy that the new insurance had approved it. This will be my first operation in my entire life. I never had any operations done to me before. My nagging hard-of-hearing problems had kept a toll on me especially at work and at school and I had brought up the problem to my primary doctor who then eagerly referred me to an ear specialist.
Dr. Smith (not his real name for purposes of confidentiality but if you needed my recommendation please message me under the comment section) had examined me meticulously and told me that both of my ear drums were perforated big time and required a much needed repair or surgery in order for me not to lose my hearing permanently, which I already felt was fading away as I grow old. I felt scared of the bad news and had asked him a lot of questions and also asked him what's the best way to prevent from losing my hearing. He told me that I needed a new ear drum by scraping a fascia or cartilage at the back of my right ear and place it on the busted ones.
He assured me that all the operations he did in the past were all 100% successful, and I believed him because I've read his extensive medical bio plus he's the most celebrated and recognized ear surgeon in the entire Southland. I have attended one of his seminar before and I've witnessed and heard his touching speeches. So I entirely trusted him my hearing repair.
Well, with my extensive nursing background I know how a tympanoplasty was done so I immediately okayed the recommended surgery and we discussed about the dates hence today was the day. He told me that he will do the weaker ear first then after five months depending on the prognosis of the first surgery he will do the other ear. I was ecstatic and very emotional about the good news and for me to at least see the brighter side of my life-long ordeal with hearing impairment which prompted me to give up when my first insurance declined to cover for it.
Last night after the birthday party at the park I went to, I refrained from eating and drinking as what I was instructed, to prevent further complications and delays during the surgery. I was NPO after midnight aside only for my morning medications wherein I am only allowed to take few sips of water just enough to down the medications.
Today, is the day of the first surgery. My landlord had dropped me off at the hospital entrance and he will pick me up after the surgery is done. I went to the second floor and lined for the pre-op registration at the out-patient department. There were a lot of patients lining there already. When I get through the registration process, had my bracelet on, signed the operative consent, and was instructed that the surgery will be at 0730H I went to the waiting room and waited. I felt nervous already so I started praying and it helped me a lot.
At 0730H I was called in to the pre-op room and a Filipino nurse had entertained me and instructed me to change my street clothes with the fresh gown, non-skid socks, and surgical cap placed tidily on the gurney and then she interviewed me for the pre-op history and assessment. After that she started an IV on me with at 18G (big pink) IV needle on my right wrist. She got it on a coup d'essai (oh thank God) but I can still feel how the big needle grated my vein. She immediately hydrated me with one liter Normal Saline.
After that the anesthesiologist came and spoke to me about the advantages and disadvantages of the anesthesia. He also told me what to expect during the surgery and asked me if I have any more questions. I asked him if I will be intubated and he told me he will give me an IV sedation then give oxygen via a mask and if I happen to stop breathing then he will intubate me.
After thirty minutes Dr. Smith, garbed in green scrub and a surgical cap, passed by and asked me if I am okay and if I have any more questions. I smiled at him and said "hi". I told him politely that I don't have any more questions to ask. I thanked him for his patience and he bade good bye and told me to see him in the operating room shortly.
Then few minutes later, the anesthesiologist came back together with the operating nurse. The anesthesiologist injected the sedation med through my IV then they wheeled me to OR at around 0820H. I started to felt sleepy and then I never knew or felt any thing after that. I was totally knocked out the moment they placed me on the OR table. I never knew what happened next.
I woke up at 1140H in PACU and I heard the nurse near my bedside was very talkative and noisy instructing her orientee about what to do. I felt so groggy and my mouth was very very dry and numb. I felt that my tongue had doubled in size and I couldn't swallow my saliva because it was dry. I felt something was tied around my head and my right ear had a bulky cover. There was no pain but I am pretty much beaten up.
My nurse in PACU had noticed that I had awaken so she introduced herself and her orientee and I just smiled at them and groggily said "hi". She asked me how am I feeling and if I am okay and I just nodded yes. She also asked me if I have pain and I told her no. I told her I am thirsty and hungry so she offered me an apple juice and some crackers.
I started to eat but still I felt that my tongue was still numb and my throat was very dry. I chewed on the cracker slowly then chased it with a little sip of the apple juice. I felt good after that then I started to get up and had asked the nurse politely to raise the head of my gurney a little bit. I tried to push myself to stay awake and just sat down quietly there at the gurney to speed up my exit so that I can go home.
I then feel that my bladder was about to burst and felt the urge to pee so my nurse offered me assistance to walk to the rest room. She says it's good to pee out some of the anesthesia and she offered me more apple juice after I came back at the gurney. She also gave me my discharge instructions after that and asked me if I have any more questions which I declined. She then called my landlord that I am ready to be picked up and she instructed him where to wait because I will be wheeled down the lobby once he got there.
Thirty minutes later, my landlord was at the lobby and he was instructed to buy my pain medicine at the hospital's pharmacy, then after that I was wheeled down the lobby to meet him. I felt a little bit weak and groggy but I am ok. I walked towards the car and was glad that my surgery was been done and was a success. I had a good day and I am glad that the worse was over.
When I got home I thanked my landlord for picking me up with concern and care and I told him that I just needed to sleep the whole day. He asked me if I needed food and I told him that I had cooked some soup last night and I still have some fried chicken and fruits I bought yesterday in preparation for my post-op recuperation. He was smiling and told me that I am always prepared in what I do. I smiled back and just nodded my head.
I then ambled slowly and went in to my apartment to rest. I took one Vicodin tablet then slept like a baby the rest of the day. I woke up at 2200H and ate a cup of soup then started to blog. I felt good now and had felt a little improvement in my hearing while I was watching TV. Hopefully, everything will be okay for me for the next few days.
I did not regret having this operation because I know it will benefit me bringing back my hearing even slightly. I know it's still early to make conclusions but I felt I have little improvement already even when the bulky dressing is still on. I am so thankful to Dr. Smith and is willing to recommend him to whoever would ask me for a second opinion.
And I am also thankful for all the nice surgical team and to my concerned landlord and to all the caring people who some way or the other had helped me make this operation possible. To my ever available DON at work for patiently arranging my schedule for my recuperation as well as to my understanding Dean at school. Thank you very much guys for your great help. I am also thankful to all my loving friends who some way or the other had offered their concerns, worries, and prayers. I love you all guys!
And most importantly, I thank you Lord for the guidance and for being there when I needed you most. You are indeed my refuge and my fortress. I love you, Lord!
Birthdays At The Park
March 4, 2012: I was working last night at the CV North and had remembered that I have to attend the birthday of my goddaughter at the Signal Hill Park. I got the invite through mail last Wednesday and I have took note of that in my iPhone Calendar. Good thing I had it on alarm or else I will totally forgot about it considering my very hectic schedule these days.
My work last night was ok. It was not that very busy. I send one resident to the hospital during the early part of the shift because she was wheezing and hypoxemic. I noticed her while she was at the hallway on her wheelchair bobbing her head and appeared distressed. Since I am short of charge nurses that time I just informed Mark (the charge nurse on that side) that the resident appears bad.
I told him to check her vital signs and I rushed to get the Albuterol nebules and gave her a nebulization treatment because I heard her wheezing audibly. Despite the treatment her O2 sats was 88% and she's still appears in distress or clamping down. After that I immediately called the attending physician and explained to him what happened and he ordered to transfer her to Silver Lake Hospital.
I immediately called the ambulance and prepared all the paper works from the computer and I have printed out the physician's order as well as the Emergency Transfer Assessment Form which I did in a jiffy. By the time the ambulance came all my paperworks were just printed and I handed them the envelope. Whew! It was an adrenaline rush situation but I am glad I had send her out or else we will be busy if I opted to keep her during the night.
Well she was a stubborn patient refusing to put her oxygen on all the time despite the fact that my charge nurse told her to have it on all the time because of her COPD status. Added to that she was also smoking secretly despite the physician told her to quit. The funny thing is every time she had a bout of respiratory distress she call for help and told us (the nurses) that she doesn't want to die and we kept telling her that she needs to quit her bad habits and she says she will. Yet this situation always keeps going on and on and on. Hahaha. (Like the energizer bunny.)
Well, that was taken cared of and I am home now trying to consider my work last night as past. Today, I will be attending Andi's and JJ's birthday at the park. I have to go to sleep first then go to the park in the afternoon. The birthday party will be between 1300H to 1700H. I still have plenty of time to get some needed rest from the busy night I had last night.
I woke up at 1400H and had slept for five hours. I immediately took a shower and fixed myself then left the apartment because I still have to drive to Long Beach. I hope that the traffic is not that congested on this Sunday afternoon. I stopped by first at Walgreens and bought a musical birthday card because I don't have time to shop for presents so I decided to just give them both money.
My goddaughter's name is Andi and her birthday was supposed to be on February 27. Her big brother was JJ and his birthday was supposed to be March 2. My "kumare" decided to held their birthdays on a weekend because she's working during the weekdays and in order to save time she joined their birthdays for one celebration, which to me is a practical way of doing it considering of our very hectic schedules.
The party was intended to be held at a park in a very posh place in Signal Hill, Long Beach and I have to drive there on this very sunny and windy Sunday afternoon. The traffic near downtown Los Angeles was kinda a little bit congested but after I went out of the Inglewood area the traffic was already sparse then when I shifted freeway at 405 the traffic was congested again until the 405 and 710 interchange.
I arrived at the park at 1540H and I noticed the party was already started. I saw Herald (the kids father) leaving, for he will be working, and I continued ambling towards the gazebo where they are holding the party. I saw Roselle (my kumare) and told her that I am here. She immediately called Andi and told her that Ninong Tonee was here.
My "inaanak" was already big and she's 3-years-old now. I still remember how little she was when she was delivered premature and now she was big, cute, and pretty. Roselle took us picture and we talk a little bit then I also hugged JJ (the birthday boy) and greeted him happy birthday. JJ was also growing big and vey handsome. They were both little and shy before. Now they are very interactive and not shy anymore.
Roselle offered me a plate and I started to pick some food and started to eat while talking to Roselle. There were not much visitors anymore unlike the previous hours (as what Roselle had told me) and Roselle had introduced me to some of them who were left. The food were all good and I had a slice of the fresh strawberry cake that Roselle had given me. It was very delicious!
An hour after, Abby came also (one of my former student and my kumare for Andi) and we hugged each other upon seeing there. I told her to eat first then we talked while she ate. It was good to see her there. I thought she will not be coming because I've she was working. Good thing she showed up. It was good to have seen her and Roselle there. The last time we saw each other was during Andi's birthday last year and now we saw again on Andi's third birthday.
I left the party at 1730H together with Abby and I thanked Roselle for inviting me. It was nice to see all of them including the kids despite of our busy schedules. I am glad I am also available that time and had closely bonded with them even in a short time. It was a breather to have done that and saw very important persons who are closer to me. Thank God!
My work last night was ok. It was not that very busy. I send one resident to the hospital during the early part of the shift because she was wheezing and hypoxemic. I noticed her while she was at the hallway on her wheelchair bobbing her head and appeared distressed. Since I am short of charge nurses that time I just informed Mark (the charge nurse on that side) that the resident appears bad.
I told him to check her vital signs and I rushed to get the Albuterol nebules and gave her a nebulization treatment because I heard her wheezing audibly. Despite the treatment her O2 sats was 88% and she's still appears in distress or clamping down. After that I immediately called the attending physician and explained to him what happened and he ordered to transfer her to Silver Lake Hospital.
I immediately called the ambulance and prepared all the paper works from the computer and I have printed out the physician's order as well as the Emergency Transfer Assessment Form which I did in a jiffy. By the time the ambulance came all my paperworks were just printed and I handed them the envelope. Whew! It was an adrenaline rush situation but I am glad I had send her out or else we will be busy if I opted to keep her during the night.
Well she was a stubborn patient refusing to put her oxygen on all the time despite the fact that my charge nurse told her to have it on all the time because of her COPD status. Added to that she was also smoking secretly despite the physician told her to quit. The funny thing is every time she had a bout of respiratory distress she call for help and told us (the nurses) that she doesn't want to die and we kept telling her that she needs to quit her bad habits and she says she will. Yet this situation always keeps going on and on and on. Hahaha. (Like the energizer bunny.)
Well, that was taken cared of and I am home now trying to consider my work last night as past. Today, I will be attending Andi's and JJ's birthday at the park. I have to go to sleep first then go to the park in the afternoon. The birthday party will be between 1300H to 1700H. I still have plenty of time to get some needed rest from the busy night I had last night.
I woke up at 1400H and had slept for five hours. I immediately took a shower and fixed myself then left the apartment because I still have to drive to Long Beach. I hope that the traffic is not that congested on this Sunday afternoon. I stopped by first at Walgreens and bought a musical birthday card because I don't have time to shop for presents so I decided to just give them both money.
My goddaughter's name is Andi and her birthday was supposed to be on February 27. Her big brother was JJ and his birthday was supposed to be March 2. My "kumare" decided to held their birthdays on a weekend because she's working during the weekdays and in order to save time she joined their birthdays for one celebration, which to me is a practical way of doing it considering of our very hectic schedules.
The party was intended to be held at a park in a very posh place in Signal Hill, Long Beach and I have to drive there on this very sunny and windy Sunday afternoon. The traffic near downtown Los Angeles was kinda a little bit congested but after I went out of the Inglewood area the traffic was already sparse then when I shifted freeway at 405 the traffic was congested again until the 405 and 710 interchange.
I arrived at the park at 1540H and I noticed the party was already started. I saw Herald (the kids father) leaving, for he will be working, and I continued ambling towards the gazebo where they are holding the party. I saw Roselle (my kumare) and told her that I am here. She immediately called Andi and told her that Ninong Tonee was here.
My "inaanak" was already big and she's 3-years-old now. I still remember how little she was when she was delivered premature and now she was big, cute, and pretty. Roselle took us picture and we talk a little bit then I also hugged JJ (the birthday boy) and greeted him happy birthday. JJ was also growing big and vey handsome. They were both little and shy before. Now they are very interactive and not shy anymore.
Roselle offered me a plate and I started to pick some food and started to eat while talking to Roselle. There were not much visitors anymore unlike the previous hours (as what Roselle had told me) and Roselle had introduced me to some of them who were left. The food were all good and I had a slice of the fresh strawberry cake that Roselle had given me. It was very delicious!
An hour after, Abby came also (one of my former student and my kumare for Andi) and we hugged each other upon seeing there. I told her to eat first then we talked while she ate. It was good to see her there. I thought she will not be coming because I've she was working. Good thing she showed up. It was good to have seen her and Roselle there. The last time we saw each other was during Andi's birthday last year and now we saw again on Andi's third birthday.
I left the party at 1730H together with Abby and I thanked Roselle for inviting me. It was nice to see all of them including the kids despite of our busy schedules. I am glad I am also available that time and had closely bonded with them even in a short time. It was a breather to have done that and saw very important persons who are closer to me. Thank God!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
In Recollection: My Eight Days Trip To Mexico
FEBRUARY 24, 2012: Yeah, my goal in staying in Mexico for eight days was about searching my inner soul. Searching for the answers I needed to know to give me a guarantee about my self doubts. And so far I've found the answers to it and I am very happy for the outcome.
Also, along with my sojourns I was there to learn about the country called Mexico. To learn about a country who in the first place has given me some notorious ideas and pessimistic thoughts in retrospective which I have learned were all a fallacy. I found it out during my first trip here, last December, that Mexico has a lot to offer and I was magically drawn to the simplicity of this country as well as the infectious rustic living in the outskirts of the city which I am longing to see and do.
The strolls on the streets of the city compared to the streets of the municipalities were very different and wonderfully interesting. It was a very entertaining as well as educational visits to every city I've been to. I cannot trade everything I've had experienced and I will surely look back and reminisce every thing I have experienced when I will be old enough to do a lot of musing and recollecting.
Every city has its own unique and wonderful characteristics and it had amazed me how they differ from each other yet they are the same as one country. It was a very puzzling notion to know their differences yet their ideals as a country are one. It had nullified my very inquisitive curiosity because I can really feel that there is a unique difference but the holistic perception of each place as a country was very rock solid. It was awesome!
I found the churches very beautiful to browse at especially for those very intricate and meticulously vintage altars I have seen so far. They left an indelible mark in my spiritual self and had made me commune with my inner soul. It was moving and touching at the same time. I am energized with an aura of an extreme power yet I am drawn to my inborn catholic roots.
The food were very authentic and wonderfully delicious. I cannot complain. They were different from the ones in the United States. I am flabbergasted! I don't know what to choose. And each city has their own staple food to present that's why I never stopped exploring and trying them to quench my unquestioningly erratic satiety. I never stopped feeding my epicurean taste all the time.
The archeological museums had given me thorough knowledge about the ancient Indian people in Mexico. Their customs and culture, their beliefs and traditions, their arts and crafts, and their ways and migrating habits had always left me myriad questions in my head. Everything I needed to know was laid in front of my bare eyes right there and then and I supplemented it wth some readings from the internet then viola I was back in those times learning and re-learning everything I needed to know.
The art and exhibit museums were all fascinating. It had given me an idea how various Mexican artists had evolved. How they painstakingly and stoically thrive in their respective realm in order to be recognized. I had known their complicated and moving lives and the genre they were evolving right there and then and I had a satisfaction of browsing their wide array of beautiful works and I liked it very much so far.
My stay in Mexico City was just a panacea of the lost times I've missed during my last visit. I continued strolling the streets that I've never strolled before. I got to see the magical Chapultepec Castle which was very beautiful. I got to amble around the Chapultepec Park and Lake and walk along at the famous Paseo de la Reforma and met some very interesting people.
I've came back to TransLatino Tower in Zocalo and saw the aerial view of the entire city in 360 degrees which I never saw and done before. I found the intricate House of Tiles which I missed last time. I got to see the inside part of the Palacio de las Bellas Artes which was close last time when I went there. Everything I did not do last December was been continued during this second trip.
I came back to Teotihuacan and strolled the famous "Paseo de las Muertos" and had climbed the magical and second largest pyramid there which is the "Piramide de la Luna" and have seen the adjacent beautiful and intricate pyramids lining the stretch of the "Paseo de las Muertos".
The last time I went there was closing time and I only had the chance to climb the largest pyramid which is the "Piramide del Sol". When I was there, the pyramid was teeming with tourists eagerly climbing its treacherous peak. They look like hyperactive ants going up to the top of the pyramid from where we're at at the paseo.
I also got to see and browse the Teotihuacan Museum and had seen some of the interesting raw exhibits they have about some stuff from the ruins. And I had seen a lot of people, along with their friends and families, teeming and crowding in the eight kilometer stretch of the "Paseo de las Muertos". It was a very exciting time we had at the pyramids.
Now, I came to see more new pyramids I've never seen before. We went to Teotihuacatl and Cacaxtla in Tlaxcala, which was believed to be a sacred ceremonial pyramid places. They're both beautiful to see and explore in person. I've never regretted seeing and climbing all of them with a very inquisitive curiousity. Please go to my specific blogs for this pyramids. It was very amazing and educational!
I got to visit the beautiful rustic quiet town of Coyoacan and had strolled its streets. I have enjoyed the market stroll and had browsed a lot of interesting items there. I got to see how calm and quiet the place and had visibly entertained retiring there. I got to visit the nearby Frida Kahlo Museum which is an enormous blue house at the corner of Calle de Allende and Calle Londres. It was a very fascinating, amazing, and educational tour we had there.
We also went to the famous city of Xochimilco where the waters of its dying river became alive with hundreds of parked colorful gondola-like rectagular boats. It's riverways were calm and quiet and were teeming with colorful boats called "trajineras" rowing travellers and tourists in their delight of the murky still water. The flower beds in the nurseries being seen on the sides of the river grows thousands of colorful and beautiful flowers. It was very beautiful to look at.
Our travel to Queretaro was even spiced up with angst and petty quarrels but we did reconcile and settled our individual differences. Queretaro was a sprawling industrial city and was very beautiful. The colonial streets of the downtown was very beautiful and pretty. The strolls was fantastic and enjoyable. I was delighted to see the captivating aqueducts and the waterways. The churches were magically and wonderfully pretty. As if I don't want to leave the place. The "gorditas" were succulent and tasty. I never dreamed to have eaten five of those.
Our stay in San Miguel de Allende was very unforgettable. We have stayed at the very best "bed and breakfast" hotel called Quetzal. The food were awesome and excellent! As if I don't want to stop eating there. It was very memorable. The narrow cobbled stone streets of the city geometrically arranged in a very intricate manner were an extreme pain to the feet but the stroll was very magical and wonderful. The corral pink church of San Miguel de Allende was very beautiful and steadfast. The establishments were very nice to browse at and the goods were very cheap. The big amount of western retirees roaming the streets without any worries or jitters were just banal.
Our drive to Guanajuato was the craziest among the drives. We were alone in the scary and desserted savanna and we were acting like crazies. Guanajuato was also a very beautiful sprawling place. The scene on top of "El Pipila" was awesome. Seeing those colored boxed houses from the hills all over the city had filled my eyes with awe and amazement. The tunnel system under the city were very treacherous but we still enjoyed the drive around the city. The downtown was very rowdy yet it was nice there. The noisy throng of people were always fun loving and the jovial crowd of the city was very different from the other cities I've been.
The drive to Cubilete was very frightening yet I have seen the Cristo Rey even though we got there already in the dark. I got to see the narrow street of "Callejon de Beso" wherein the veranda of each houses there met. It has a very interesting and magical story of it's own. Please research it. The churches were quite similar from the other cities I've been to. The market place were also interesting and the food were unique to the place alone. Guanajuato is a very unique city and a memorable city for me.
My eight days sojourn were filled with action-packed-adventures and various educational musings about the country's culture and people as well as the demographics of the city I've been to. Again, it was a soul-searching travel yet an enjoyable travel I can never forget in my entire life. I am glad my goals I've been looking before I went here were all answered and this trip had given me the guarantee that I will be coming back here again to search for more interesting and lovable places to learn their life and culture.
Mexico has so far grew in me and I am trying my best to learn the complicated Spanish language intimately so that when I come back here again I would never be left out. I think I am embracing this country and its culture now because it is quite similar to my motherland when it comes to culture and religious practices. And I hope I will know more new and wonderful places when I come back here.
This trip could not be possible without the one and only guy that had unselfishly and unconditionally helped me fulfill my puzzling goals and had painstakingly brought me to a lot of amazing places I've never been. To the ever amiable Ricky, thank you very much for being extra patient with me and for never complaining (I love you for that.) You are the second most wonderful person I've known among my caring and loving friends that I've met during my current and previous travels. Without you my recent trips would not be possible and I thank you from the very super abyss of my heart.
"Todas gracias mi amigo. Viaje con Dios!"
Also, along with my sojourns I was there to learn about the country called Mexico. To learn about a country who in the first place has given me some notorious ideas and pessimistic thoughts in retrospective which I have learned were all a fallacy. I found it out during my first trip here, last December, that Mexico has a lot to offer and I was magically drawn to the simplicity of this country as well as the infectious rustic living in the outskirts of the city which I am longing to see and do.
The strolls on the streets of the city compared to the streets of the municipalities were very different and wonderfully interesting. It was a very entertaining as well as educational visits to every city I've been to. I cannot trade everything I've had experienced and I will surely look back and reminisce every thing I have experienced when I will be old enough to do a lot of musing and recollecting.
Every city has its own unique and wonderful characteristics and it had amazed me how they differ from each other yet they are the same as one country. It was a very puzzling notion to know their differences yet their ideals as a country are one. It had nullified my very inquisitive curiosity because I can really feel that there is a unique difference but the holistic perception of each place as a country was very rock solid. It was awesome!
I found the churches very beautiful to browse at especially for those very intricate and meticulously vintage altars I have seen so far. They left an indelible mark in my spiritual self and had made me commune with my inner soul. It was moving and touching at the same time. I am energized with an aura of an extreme power yet I am drawn to my inborn catholic roots.
The food were very authentic and wonderfully delicious. I cannot complain. They were different from the ones in the United States. I am flabbergasted! I don't know what to choose. And each city has their own staple food to present that's why I never stopped exploring and trying them to quench my unquestioningly erratic satiety. I never stopped feeding my epicurean taste all the time.
The archeological museums had given me thorough knowledge about the ancient Indian people in Mexico. Their customs and culture, their beliefs and traditions, their arts and crafts, and their ways and migrating habits had always left me myriad questions in my head. Everything I needed to know was laid in front of my bare eyes right there and then and I supplemented it wth some readings from the internet then viola I was back in those times learning and re-learning everything I needed to know.
The art and exhibit museums were all fascinating. It had given me an idea how various Mexican artists had evolved. How they painstakingly and stoically thrive in their respective realm in order to be recognized. I had known their complicated and moving lives and the genre they were evolving right there and then and I had a satisfaction of browsing their wide array of beautiful works and I liked it very much so far.
My stay in Mexico City was just a panacea of the lost times I've missed during my last visit. I continued strolling the streets that I've never strolled before. I got to see the magical Chapultepec Castle which was very beautiful. I got to amble around the Chapultepec Park and Lake and walk along at the famous Paseo de la Reforma and met some very interesting people.
I've came back to TransLatino Tower in Zocalo and saw the aerial view of the entire city in 360 degrees which I never saw and done before. I found the intricate House of Tiles which I missed last time. I got to see the inside part of the Palacio de las Bellas Artes which was close last time when I went there. Everything I did not do last December was been continued during this second trip.
I came back to Teotihuacan and strolled the famous "Paseo de las Muertos" and had climbed the magical and second largest pyramid there which is the "Piramide de la Luna" and have seen the adjacent beautiful and intricate pyramids lining the stretch of the "Paseo de las Muertos".
The last time I went there was closing time and I only had the chance to climb the largest pyramid which is the "Piramide del Sol". When I was there, the pyramid was teeming with tourists eagerly climbing its treacherous peak. They look like hyperactive ants going up to the top of the pyramid from where we're at at the paseo.
I also got to see and browse the Teotihuacan Museum and had seen some of the interesting raw exhibits they have about some stuff from the ruins. And I had seen a lot of people, along with their friends and families, teeming and crowding in the eight kilometer stretch of the "Paseo de las Muertos". It was a very exciting time we had at the pyramids.
Now, I came to see more new pyramids I've never seen before. We went to Teotihuacatl and Cacaxtla in Tlaxcala, which was believed to be a sacred ceremonial pyramid places. They're both beautiful to see and explore in person. I've never regretted seeing and climbing all of them with a very inquisitive curiousity. Please go to my specific blogs for this pyramids. It was very amazing and educational!
I got to visit the beautiful rustic quiet town of Coyoacan and had strolled its streets. I have enjoyed the market stroll and had browsed a lot of interesting items there. I got to see how calm and quiet the place and had visibly entertained retiring there. I got to visit the nearby Frida Kahlo Museum which is an enormous blue house at the corner of Calle de Allende and Calle Londres. It was a very fascinating, amazing, and educational tour we had there.
We also went to the famous city of Xochimilco where the waters of its dying river became alive with hundreds of parked colorful gondola-like rectagular boats. It's riverways were calm and quiet and were teeming with colorful boats called "trajineras" rowing travellers and tourists in their delight of the murky still water. The flower beds in the nurseries being seen on the sides of the river grows thousands of colorful and beautiful flowers. It was very beautiful to look at.
Our travel to Queretaro was even spiced up with angst and petty quarrels but we did reconcile and settled our individual differences. Queretaro was a sprawling industrial city and was very beautiful. The colonial streets of the downtown was very beautiful and pretty. The strolls was fantastic and enjoyable. I was delighted to see the captivating aqueducts and the waterways. The churches were magically and wonderfully pretty. As if I don't want to leave the place. The "gorditas" were succulent and tasty. I never dreamed to have eaten five of those.
Our stay in San Miguel de Allende was very unforgettable. We have stayed at the very best "bed and breakfast" hotel called Quetzal. The food were awesome and excellent! As if I don't want to stop eating there. It was very memorable. The narrow cobbled stone streets of the city geometrically arranged in a very intricate manner were an extreme pain to the feet but the stroll was very magical and wonderful. The corral pink church of San Miguel de Allende was very beautiful and steadfast. The establishments were very nice to browse at and the goods were very cheap. The big amount of western retirees roaming the streets without any worries or jitters were just banal.
Our drive to Guanajuato was the craziest among the drives. We were alone in the scary and desserted savanna and we were acting like crazies. Guanajuato was also a very beautiful sprawling place. The scene on top of "El Pipila" was awesome. Seeing those colored boxed houses from the hills all over the city had filled my eyes with awe and amazement. The tunnel system under the city were very treacherous but we still enjoyed the drive around the city. The downtown was very rowdy yet it was nice there. The noisy throng of people were always fun loving and the jovial crowd of the city was very different from the other cities I've been.
The drive to Cubilete was very frightening yet I have seen the Cristo Rey even though we got there already in the dark. I got to see the narrow street of "Callejon de Beso" wherein the veranda of each houses there met. It has a very interesting and magical story of it's own. Please research it. The churches were quite similar from the other cities I've been to. The market place were also interesting and the food were unique to the place alone. Guanajuato is a very unique city and a memorable city for me.
My eight days sojourn were filled with action-packed-adventures and various educational musings about the country's culture and people as well as the demographics of the city I've been to. Again, it was a soul-searching travel yet an enjoyable travel I can never forget in my entire life. I am glad my goals I've been looking before I went here were all answered and this trip had given me the guarantee that I will be coming back here again to search for more interesting and lovable places to learn their life and culture.
Mexico has so far grew in me and I am trying my best to learn the complicated Spanish language intimately so that when I come back here again I would never be left out. I think I am embracing this country and its culture now because it is quite similar to my motherland when it comes to culture and religious practices. And I hope I will know more new and wonderful places when I come back here.
This trip could not be possible without the one and only guy that had unselfishly and unconditionally helped me fulfill my puzzling goals and had painstakingly brought me to a lot of amazing places I've never been. To the ever amiable Ricky, thank you very much for being extra patient with me and for never complaining (I love you for that.) You are the second most wonderful person I've known among my caring and loving friends that I've met during my current and previous travels. Without you my recent trips would not be possible and I thank you from the very super abyss of my heart.
"Todas gracias mi amigo. Viaje con Dios!"
Friday, March 2, 2012
My Trip Back To Los Angeles
FEBRUARY 22, 2012: After bading good bye with Ricky I lined up at the security line and went through the line without any problems. When I was okay inside I waved at him while he was outside trying to be sure that I am okay. I waved at him to say my last goodbye and I turned around trying not to look back because it hurts seeing him for the last time. It was a very emotional moment for me.
Initially the gate I was assigned for my flight to Los Angeles was at Gate 18 but thirty minutes before the boarding time they moved the gate to Gate 36. I have to turn around the next building and looked for Gate 36 along with the other passengers who were waiting there bound for Los Angeles.
When we got at the Gate 36 they started to board us at 1850H. There were not much passengers for this direct trip from Mexico City to Los Angeles. I was the only passenger on the row of my seat and I had a big room to rest. We left Mexico City at around 2000H.
I napped a little bit trying to nurse my fatigue from my week long vacation and escapades. It was really a nice and memorable trip having spent it with the guy I like most and learned to love. I smiled at myself trying to remember all these unforgettable things that had happened during those times. I am glad I made this trip to give me the much needed answers to my self doubts.
The flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles was smooth and not bumpy compared to the flight I did when I came there. It was a very relaxing flight where I napped all throughout the trip.
After three hours we arrived at Los Angeles airport at around 2300H and it was cold when we got there. Twenty minutes before landing we had an emergency at the plane.
One of the female attendant had spotted one lady passenger two seats above me to be pale and was in respiratory distress. She asked her if she's okay but the passenger didn't respond and was catching her breath and was about to throw up.
One of the male flight attendant came to rescue and brought an oxygen tank with a mask and had reached one of the emesis packet for the lady to vomit. After she vomited he placed her on the oxygen mask and had leaned the seat so that the lady will feel better.
The female flight attendant called on the intercom calling for any passenger affiliated in medical field so I volunteered because I am the only nurse passenger during that flight. I went to the seat where the lady is and interviewed her for my assessment.
I asked her about her pertinent medical diagnosis, age, medications, and his complaints and symptoms. I noticed that she was clammy and was thinking that she was hypoglycemic. I asked the male flight attendant if they have a glucometer and when he came back with it I immediately took the lady's blood sugar which came back very low at 30 mg/dl.
We gave the lady a cup of orange juice and continued to placed her on oxygen because she felt like she's fainting. I also took her blood pressure and it was way below the borderline. I stayed at her side until the plane landed at the tarmac.
When the plane was taxiing at the tarmac it cruised to the United Airlines gate concierge and had opened the door in time for the EMT to come in to attend to the ailing lady that had almost fainted inside the plane.
The passengers were then halted to disembark because of the emergency and then we were instructed that we will be transported via a bus to the Tom Bradley International Airport to line for the immigration check and to pick up our luggages there.
When we got to the Tom Bradley International Airport I lined up immediately at the immigration because I was very tired now and just wanted to go home and retire. I passed through the immigration without any problems then when I came out of the airport I immediately looked for the taxi line.
When I got to the taxi line I was assigned to a Korean taxi driver who was quiet and never talked. I told him the address and he took the 405 Freeway and made a right on the 10th Freeway and exited at Western Avenue and made a right at Lemon Grove Avenue where I live.
I gave the taxi driver the necessary dues for the lift and tipped him $15.00 for the speedy drive. He was bowing constantly thanking me for the generous tip.
I immediately rolled my luggage to the apartment and started to took a warm shower and then changed with my PJs. It was already 0030H, so I decided to text Ricky that I've arrived safely in Los Angeles and now that I am home because it's not convenient for me to wake him up at 0330H in Mexico City. I decided to call him in the morning and told him of my ordeal during the flight back to Los Angeles.
I was glad I'm back home after my eight days journey and sojourn in Mexico. It was a breath of fresh air being back to my apartment and do the things I left behind. This mini-vacation was a much needed trip to answer all my doubts about a person I will try to fall in love. And I am glad that I had all the positive answers I needed to know.
Oh how I wish it will be July again so that I can be back at Ricky's arms and reminisce all the good times and the bad times we had together from the beginning.
Initially the gate I was assigned for my flight to Los Angeles was at Gate 18 but thirty minutes before the boarding time they moved the gate to Gate 36. I have to turn around the next building and looked for Gate 36 along with the other passengers who were waiting there bound for Los Angeles.
When we got at the Gate 36 they started to board us at 1850H. There were not much passengers for this direct trip from Mexico City to Los Angeles. I was the only passenger on the row of my seat and I had a big room to rest. We left Mexico City at around 2000H.
I napped a little bit trying to nurse my fatigue from my week long vacation and escapades. It was really a nice and memorable trip having spent it with the guy I like most and learned to love. I smiled at myself trying to remember all these unforgettable things that had happened during those times. I am glad I made this trip to give me the much needed answers to my self doubts.
The flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles was smooth and not bumpy compared to the flight I did when I came there. It was a very relaxing flight where I napped all throughout the trip.
After three hours we arrived at Los Angeles airport at around 2300H and it was cold when we got there. Twenty minutes before landing we had an emergency at the plane.
One of the female attendant had spotted one lady passenger two seats above me to be pale and was in respiratory distress. She asked her if she's okay but the passenger didn't respond and was catching her breath and was about to throw up.
One of the male flight attendant came to rescue and brought an oxygen tank with a mask and had reached one of the emesis packet for the lady to vomit. After she vomited he placed her on the oxygen mask and had leaned the seat so that the lady will feel better.
The female flight attendant called on the intercom calling for any passenger affiliated in medical field so I volunteered because I am the only nurse passenger during that flight. I went to the seat where the lady is and interviewed her for my assessment.
I asked her about her pertinent medical diagnosis, age, medications, and his complaints and symptoms. I noticed that she was clammy and was thinking that she was hypoglycemic. I asked the male flight attendant if they have a glucometer and when he came back with it I immediately took the lady's blood sugar which came back very low at 30 mg/dl.
We gave the lady a cup of orange juice and continued to placed her on oxygen because she felt like she's fainting. I also took her blood pressure and it was way below the borderline. I stayed at her side until the plane landed at the tarmac.
When the plane was taxiing at the tarmac it cruised to the United Airlines gate concierge and had opened the door in time for the EMT to come in to attend to the ailing lady that had almost fainted inside the plane.
The passengers were then halted to disembark because of the emergency and then we were instructed that we will be transported via a bus to the Tom Bradley International Airport to line for the immigration check and to pick up our luggages there.
When we got to the Tom Bradley International Airport I lined up immediately at the immigration because I was very tired now and just wanted to go home and retire. I passed through the immigration without any problems then when I came out of the airport I immediately looked for the taxi line.
When I got to the taxi line I was assigned to a Korean taxi driver who was quiet and never talked. I told him the address and he took the 405 Freeway and made a right on the 10th Freeway and exited at Western Avenue and made a right at Lemon Grove Avenue where I live.
I gave the taxi driver the necessary dues for the lift and tipped him $15.00 for the speedy drive. He was bowing constantly thanking me for the generous tip.
I immediately rolled my luggage to the apartment and started to took a warm shower and then changed with my PJs. It was already 0030H, so I decided to text Ricky that I've arrived safely in Los Angeles and now that I am home because it's not convenient for me to wake him up at 0330H in Mexico City. I decided to call him in the morning and told him of my ordeal during the flight back to Los Angeles.
I was glad I'm back home after my eight days journey and sojourn in Mexico. It was a breath of fresh air being back to my apartment and do the things I left behind. This mini-vacation was a much needed trip to answer all my doubts about a person I will try to fall in love. And I am glad that I had all the positive answers I needed to know.
Oh how I wish it will be July again so that I can be back at Ricky's arms and reminisce all the good times and the bad times we had together from the beginning.
Back To Mexico City From Guanajuato
FEBRUARY 22, 2012: I woke up early at 0600H at the Hotel San Diego in Guanajuato after a long night rest preparing my luggage for my trip back to Los Angeles tonight. Our stay at Guanajuato was been memorable, unforgettable, and I am very pleased of the outcome.
We took our bath and changed, then after that we decided to tour the city of Guanajuato for the last time. We went to see the Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato Church (where I had my self blessed with the Ash for it was Ash Wednesday that day), the Hidalgo Market, the Granaditas, and the Guanajuato University, the Teatro Juarez, and the Church of Santo Alcala. We also went to see the Callejon de Beso and visited some of the very important fountains all around the city.
We also tried to eat some of the street foods we saw along the streets and the one that really reverberated at the back of my mind was the tasty and delicious tamales we found near the Hidalgo Market.The tamales was loaded with ham, cheese, and spinach and it was very delicious and succulent. It was the best tamales I had ever tasted.
We also bought some fresh empanaditas at one of the local bakery and also ate some sliced variety of fruits placed in a lunchbox squeezed with lime and sprinkled with a slight salt and chili powder. It was very good to eat it early that time to start off our good and pleasant morning.
We finished this last tour of the city at around 0930H and then we went back to Hotel San Diego and decided to check out at the hotel then we left the city at around 1130H driving back north to Mexico City taking the straight and long Freeway 57.
We passed by the mouth of Celaya but we never passed by the city because we were wary if we have enough time. The road was also loaded with a very nice sceneries of lush green wheat and corn plantations and various nurseries and when we reached the industrial city of Queretaro we remembered our memorable experiences that we had spent there two days ago.
The drive to Mexico City was long and tedious and we were bored along the way. I napped several times and left Ricky driving on his own. He was very understanding about it because he knows I have a very long trip to tackle later tonight. He just wanted me to be rested well before I left Mexico. I pity to leave him alone driving while I was napping but I have to do it because I was pretty beaten up from our week long trip in Mexico.
The road trip from Guanajuato to Mexico City was normally about four hours but Ricky took it for three-and-a-half hours and he was driving between 110 to 120 kph. The road trip was smooth yet rushed and good thing there's no hassles or impediments along the way.
We arrived at the Mexico City boundary at around 1500H and we exited at a mall near the airport because we were starving so much. We still have enough time to spent eating for the last time and that we can bond a little bit more before I will leave Mexico City.
At the mall, we decided to eat at Chili's and we ordered food to quench our hunger. I ordered an oriental baby back ribs and Ricky ordered the sizzling beef-and-chicken fajita combo but before that we ordered a spicy buffalo wings for our appetizer for us to share and a matching strawberry margarita (for me) and a lime margarita (for Ricky) which was very very delicious.
When our entree came I shared by baby back ribs with Ricky and he also shared his beef-and-chicken fajita with me. We enjoyed our hearty lunch happily talking about our experiences during this trip. We left Chili's so stuffed and we had a good time during that time. It was memorable for me.
We then left the mall, Ricky drove me to the airport. The traffic was very congested and crowded yet we made it early on time. Ricky parked his car at the parking where he picked me up and then we went to Terminal 2 where I will be checking in at the United-Continental Airlines Terminal.
The line at the United Airline counter was not that busy and I went through it in a jiffy after I provided my necessary paperworks like the e-ticket, my Driver's License ID, and my passport. Then I checked in my luggage sans my backpack which I opted to have it hand carried.
It was 1630H after I checked in and we still have enough time to spend with each other. We went to the airport's food court and looked for an available table to sat at and continued our zany stories and laugh at them giddily. Hehehe. I asked Ricky to buy me a vanilla sundae ice cream at McDonald's because I was looking for some sweets after that hearty lunch we had at Chili's.
I can feel Ricky's anxiety for my departure and I am also bleeding inside leaving him alone at the airport. We started to discuss our next itinerary trip south of Mexico which we tentatively scheduled in July. I am very excited about it and can't wait to be back again.
At 1745H, it was time for me to line up at the security line in order to locate my gate inside and it's time to bade goodbye to Ricky. He gave me a tight hug and I pecked him on the cheek. I promised to call him once I get to Los Angeles to assure him that I arrived safely and he reminded and pleaded me to do it once I got home.
I lined up at the security line and passed through the x-ray line without any problems. When I was inside I still saw Ricky outside looking at me trying to be sure that I was okay and had passed through the line. I waved at him inside and trying to assure him that every thing is okay then I continued inside to look for my gate.
It was a very poignant moment not to look back after that because I don't want to cry. It was a very emotional moment for me leaving the person I learned to like and love and I hope that I will be back again here to spend more time with him in July, fingers crossed.
Good bye Mexico City, good bye Ricky, for sure I will be back here again. Thanks for the fond memories and I won't forget both of you in my hearts. Ciao!
We took our bath and changed, then after that we decided to tour the city of Guanajuato for the last time. We went to see the Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato Church (where I had my self blessed with the Ash for it was Ash Wednesday that day), the Hidalgo Market, the Granaditas, and the Guanajuato University, the Teatro Juarez, and the Church of Santo Alcala. We also went to see the Callejon de Beso and visited some of the very important fountains all around the city.
We also tried to eat some of the street foods we saw along the streets and the one that really reverberated at the back of my mind was the tasty and delicious tamales we found near the Hidalgo Market.The tamales was loaded with ham, cheese, and spinach and it was very delicious and succulent. It was the best tamales I had ever tasted.
We also bought some fresh empanaditas at one of the local bakery and also ate some sliced variety of fruits placed in a lunchbox squeezed with lime and sprinkled with a slight salt and chili powder. It was very good to eat it early that time to start off our good and pleasant morning.
We finished this last tour of the city at around 0930H and then we went back to Hotel San Diego and decided to check out at the hotel then we left the city at around 1130H driving back north to Mexico City taking the straight and long Freeway 57.
We passed by the mouth of Celaya but we never passed by the city because we were wary if we have enough time. The road was also loaded with a very nice sceneries of lush green wheat and corn plantations and various nurseries and when we reached the industrial city of Queretaro we remembered our memorable experiences that we had spent there two days ago.
The drive to Mexico City was long and tedious and we were bored along the way. I napped several times and left Ricky driving on his own. He was very understanding about it because he knows I have a very long trip to tackle later tonight. He just wanted me to be rested well before I left Mexico. I pity to leave him alone driving while I was napping but I have to do it because I was pretty beaten up from our week long trip in Mexico.
The road trip from Guanajuato to Mexico City was normally about four hours but Ricky took it for three-and-a-half hours and he was driving between 110 to 120 kph. The road trip was smooth yet rushed and good thing there's no hassles or impediments along the way.
We arrived at the Mexico City boundary at around 1500H and we exited at a mall near the airport because we were starving so much. We still have enough time to spent eating for the last time and that we can bond a little bit more before I will leave Mexico City.
At the mall, we decided to eat at Chili's and we ordered food to quench our hunger. I ordered an oriental baby back ribs and Ricky ordered the sizzling beef-and-chicken fajita combo but before that we ordered a spicy buffalo wings for our appetizer for us to share and a matching strawberry margarita (for me) and a lime margarita (for Ricky) which was very very delicious.
When our entree came I shared by baby back ribs with Ricky and he also shared his beef-and-chicken fajita with me. We enjoyed our hearty lunch happily talking about our experiences during this trip. We left Chili's so stuffed and we had a good time during that time. It was memorable for me.
We then left the mall, Ricky drove me to the airport. The traffic was very congested and crowded yet we made it early on time. Ricky parked his car at the parking where he picked me up and then we went to Terminal 2 where I will be checking in at the United-Continental Airlines Terminal.
The line at the United Airline counter was not that busy and I went through it in a jiffy after I provided my necessary paperworks like the e-ticket, my Driver's License ID, and my passport. Then I checked in my luggage sans my backpack which I opted to have it hand carried.
It was 1630H after I checked in and we still have enough time to spend with each other. We went to the airport's food court and looked for an available table to sat at and continued our zany stories and laugh at them giddily. Hehehe. I asked Ricky to buy me a vanilla sundae ice cream at McDonald's because I was looking for some sweets after that hearty lunch we had at Chili's.
I can feel Ricky's anxiety for my departure and I am also bleeding inside leaving him alone at the airport. We started to discuss our next itinerary trip south of Mexico which we tentatively scheduled in July. I am very excited about it and can't wait to be back again.
At 1745H, it was time for me to line up at the security line in order to locate my gate inside and it's time to bade goodbye to Ricky. He gave me a tight hug and I pecked him on the cheek. I promised to call him once I get to Los Angeles to assure him that I arrived safely and he reminded and pleaded me to do it once I got home.
I lined up at the security line and passed through the x-ray line without any problems. When I was inside I still saw Ricky outside looking at me trying to be sure that I was okay and had passed through the line. I waved at him inside and trying to assure him that every thing is okay then I continued inside to look for my gate.
It was a very poignant moment not to look back after that because I don't want to cry. It was a very emotional moment for me leaving the person I learned to like and love and I hope that I will be back again here to spend more time with him in July, fingers crossed.
Good bye Mexico City, good bye Ricky, for sure I will be back here again. Thanks for the fond memories and I won't forget both of you in my hearts. Ciao!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The Bumpy Road To Cubilete
FEBRUARY 21, 2012: From the Church of Valenciana, we left the group and headed to the San Diego Hotel where we were staying. The guy who drove us back to the hotel was extremely drunk and was buzzing while driving us down the hills. He was pretty much hilarious yucking in Spanish and Ricky was been balling from his funny conversations.
We got back at the hotel at around 1710H and then we went to the underground parking and located Ricky's car. We left the city in haste and took the freeway in going North taking the Silao Libre Freeway until we hit the dirt roads going to Cubilete.
While on the freeway we took the Cubilete route which was about 40 kilometers from Guanajuato. The sun was already setting down and dusk was pretty much imminent and rutilant from the horizon.
Ricky was so stressed out trying to buy the time in order for us to get there while the sun is still out but as we drove towards Cubilete it seems that the darkness was slowly closing in. Another set back was the bumpy and rocky road that had been rocking us inside the car and had caused my butt to succumb to soreness. It was a really unforgettable bumpy-roller-coaster ride.
I told Ricky to slow down but it seems that he was really pressured because of the fiasco for the tour we signed in and he really wanted to make amends of the failure, so in order to appease me, he has to bring me to see the Cristo Rey which was one of my goal for this trip to Guanajuato.
I explained to him that it's much better to go there safely by driving slowly rather than rushing in pressure because in the first place we don't have to fight for our time to be there. We were there for pleasure and not to beat the time.
Finally he listened and he slowed down. The drive to the top of the mountain was very scary plus the condition of the stoney and bumpy-rocky road was very dangerous. The winding road in going up the mountain was very steep and there were no rails to protect the vehicle if something happens along the road.
The climb was frightening and very heart pounding. It took us about one hour to get there and by the time we were there it was already dark and we couldn't even appreciate the beauty of the monument because there was no light and the facade appears dark in person because of the imminent dusk that had just settled in at the place.
The Cristo Rey was standing on top of the dome of a circular chapel which has apparently been open for the mass novena that was just going on when we arrived there. The sound system was blaring loudly when we got out of the car. There were revelers attending the mass novena and the parking lot was loaded with at least seven buses waiting for the attendees of the mass.
Ricky and I went around the opposite side near the entrance of the Cristo Rey. At the back owe saw a huge plaza overlooking the entrance of the small chapel at the base or foot of the monument of the Cristo Rey.
The Cristo Rey was about three storey tall and was been on renovation right now. We can see some scaffolds standing all over it that appeared like shadows in the dark of the night. The statue with his two arms spread apart like he was reaching out to the city was very prominent on this dark night although I couldn't really appreciate his face because it was really pitch dark. There was no spotlight on during that time to illuminate the statue.
We toured around the huge plaza enough to hold an enormous crowd for a big mass and it was very spacious to roam around. There were semicircular covered bleachers with Greek columns surrounding the cream marbled-floor plaza like an arena. At the center of the plaza was a logo of the Cristo Rey and it's mission carved in Spanish. Too bad I can't get a picture of it because it was really pitch dark.
Around the place where high walls protecting the revelers against the steep ravine from atop and from there you can see the night aerial view of the busy and sprawling lighted streets of Guanajuato and the nearby small town of Leon sparkling like twinkling stars from a distance. It was an awesome sight to look at from where we were standing near the plaza.
I roamed around and told Ricky to meet him at the parking lot trying to visualize the whole place in the dark and feel how awesome it was if we came there in broad daylight. It was really a nice place and the view would be spectacular may be when the sun is out. Too bad we went there at night time but still it was worth it. There were still a lot of people coming there during that time. I can say that at least I know that Guanajuato has a very interesting place like the Cristo Rey to go at.
I am embarrassed at Ricky for pressuring him earlier to bring me here and I cannot forgive myself if something had happened to us during our frightening climb to this beautiful and awesome place. It was a steep and bumpy climb and I can't forget how scary it was.
When I got to talk to Ricky heart-to-heart at the parking lot, I hugged him and thanked him for being nice to me and he was very relieved that I liked it. I thanked him for everything he does and we were okay again.
The night was getting dark and we decided to go back to the city. We drove back the winding bumpy-and-rocky road and I asked Ricky to drive slowly now that he was relieved with the pressure of getting me to the top of the mountain.
The bumpy road seems endless and treacherous because of the fleeting darkness that had covered our visibility and Ricky was been very extra careful in driving the downward incline of the hilly stoney road. Along the road we can see some wild animals like raccoons, foxes, rabbits, and squirrels crossing the street lured by the car's headlight.
The drive down the steep bumpy road took us about one-and-a-half hour, half hour more than the climb earlier. When we reached the mouth of the town of Cubilete we sighed with relief and was pretty sure that we're out of harms way.
We arrived at the city of Guanajuato taking the Silao Cuota Freeway which was even faster compared to the dirt road we took a while ago.
When we reached the city at almost 2100H we were so hungry so we parked the car at the underground parking of the hotel and looked for an open restaurant that time. Good thing there's still some opened establishments and we immediately look for one to quench our hunger from the long scary drive to Cubilete.
I am glad we did this little crazy trip to Cubilete and it had gauge as to where we are at when it comes to our friendship. I can see how composed Ricky was while I was the one who was whining around. I know I can be a pain-in-the-ass to him but he still maintained his composure despite of the fact that I am stressing him out.
He never said anything bad nor complained at something. He still have time to make me calm and laugh or smile from his side jokes and funny gestures. I am very pleased to have him during those stressful times and to me he was my catalyst during those dreadful and frightening trip to see the Cristo Rey from our dark drive up the mountains.
He light up my day all the time and I am glad I found him. Hopefully our bond will become stronger now that I am reunited with him for the second time. The trip to Cubilete had solidify my trust in him and I cannot complain to God and be doubtful of who he is because he had proven me something that I needed to see and feel in person.
Whatever had happened with us in Mexico City after all those doubts I had was all been erased because of what he did on our way to Cubilete when he proved to me that he can bring me to Cristo Rey no matter what will happen be it a bumpy-rocky ride, a winding frightening steep road, the imminent darkness that covered the way, and the treacherous road in going up and down the mountains.
These all had proved to me that I love this man and I will retain him in my heart because he is worthy of it. And I thanked God for giving me the right sign and had made my goal achieved for this second trip to Mexico so that I can find closure with what I felt for this kind hearted person. Thank you God!
We got back at the hotel at around 1710H and then we went to the underground parking and located Ricky's car. We left the city in haste and took the freeway in going North taking the Silao Libre Freeway until we hit the dirt roads going to Cubilete.
While on the freeway we took the Cubilete route which was about 40 kilometers from Guanajuato. The sun was already setting down and dusk was pretty much imminent and rutilant from the horizon.
Ricky was so stressed out trying to buy the time in order for us to get there while the sun is still out but as we drove towards Cubilete it seems that the darkness was slowly closing in. Another set back was the bumpy and rocky road that had been rocking us inside the car and had caused my butt to succumb to soreness. It was a really unforgettable bumpy-roller-coaster ride.
I told Ricky to slow down but it seems that he was really pressured because of the fiasco for the tour we signed in and he really wanted to make amends of the failure, so in order to appease me, he has to bring me to see the Cristo Rey which was one of my goal for this trip to Guanajuato.
I explained to him that it's much better to go there safely by driving slowly rather than rushing in pressure because in the first place we don't have to fight for our time to be there. We were there for pleasure and not to beat the time.
Finally he listened and he slowed down. The drive to the top of the mountain was very scary plus the condition of the stoney and bumpy-rocky road was very dangerous. The winding road in going up the mountain was very steep and there were no rails to protect the vehicle if something happens along the road.
The climb was frightening and very heart pounding. It took us about one hour to get there and by the time we were there it was already dark and we couldn't even appreciate the beauty of the monument because there was no light and the facade appears dark in person because of the imminent dusk that had just settled in at the place.
The Cristo Rey was standing on top of the dome of a circular chapel which has apparently been open for the mass novena that was just going on when we arrived there. The sound system was blaring loudly when we got out of the car. There were revelers attending the mass novena and the parking lot was loaded with at least seven buses waiting for the attendees of the mass.
Ricky and I went around the opposite side near the entrance of the Cristo Rey. At the back owe saw a huge plaza overlooking the entrance of the small chapel at the base or foot of the monument of the Cristo Rey.
The Cristo Rey was about three storey tall and was been on renovation right now. We can see some scaffolds standing all over it that appeared like shadows in the dark of the night. The statue with his two arms spread apart like he was reaching out to the city was very prominent on this dark night although I couldn't really appreciate his face because it was really pitch dark. There was no spotlight on during that time to illuminate the statue.
We toured around the huge plaza enough to hold an enormous crowd for a big mass and it was very spacious to roam around. There were semicircular covered bleachers with Greek columns surrounding the cream marbled-floor plaza like an arena. At the center of the plaza was a logo of the Cristo Rey and it's mission carved in Spanish. Too bad I can't get a picture of it because it was really pitch dark.
Around the place where high walls protecting the revelers against the steep ravine from atop and from there you can see the night aerial view of the busy and sprawling lighted streets of Guanajuato and the nearby small town of Leon sparkling like twinkling stars from a distance. It was an awesome sight to look at from where we were standing near the plaza.
I roamed around and told Ricky to meet him at the parking lot trying to visualize the whole place in the dark and feel how awesome it was if we came there in broad daylight. It was really a nice place and the view would be spectacular may be when the sun is out. Too bad we went there at night time but still it was worth it. There were still a lot of people coming there during that time. I can say that at least I know that Guanajuato has a very interesting place like the Cristo Rey to go at.
I am embarrassed at Ricky for pressuring him earlier to bring me here and I cannot forgive myself if something had happened to us during our frightening climb to this beautiful and awesome place. It was a steep and bumpy climb and I can't forget how scary it was.
When I got to talk to Ricky heart-to-heart at the parking lot, I hugged him and thanked him for being nice to me and he was very relieved that I liked it. I thanked him for everything he does and we were okay again.
The night was getting dark and we decided to go back to the city. We drove back the winding bumpy-and-rocky road and I asked Ricky to drive slowly now that he was relieved with the pressure of getting me to the top of the mountain.
The bumpy road seems endless and treacherous because of the fleeting darkness that had covered our visibility and Ricky was been very extra careful in driving the downward incline of the hilly stoney road. Along the road we can see some wild animals like raccoons, foxes, rabbits, and squirrels crossing the street lured by the car's headlight.
The drive down the steep bumpy road took us about one-and-a-half hour, half hour more than the climb earlier. When we reached the mouth of the town of Cubilete we sighed with relief and was pretty sure that we're out of harms way.
We arrived at the city of Guanajuato taking the Silao Cuota Freeway which was even faster compared to the dirt road we took a while ago.
When we reached the city at almost 2100H we were so hungry so we parked the car at the underground parking of the hotel and looked for an open restaurant that time. Good thing there's still some opened establishments and we immediately look for one to quench our hunger from the long scary drive to Cubilete.
I am glad we did this little crazy trip to Cubilete and it had gauge as to where we are at when it comes to our friendship. I can see how composed Ricky was while I was the one who was whining around. I know I can be a pain-in-the-ass to him but he still maintained his composure despite of the fact that I am stressing him out.
He never said anything bad nor complained at something. He still have time to make me calm and laugh or smile from his side jokes and funny gestures. I am very pleased to have him during those stressful times and to me he was my catalyst during those dreadful and frightening trip to see the Cristo Rey from our dark drive up the mountains.
He light up my day all the time and I am glad I found him. Hopefully our bond will become stronger now that I am reunited with him for the second time. The trip to Cubilete had solidify my trust in him and I cannot complain to God and be doubtful of who he is because he had proven me something that I needed to see and feel in person.
Whatever had happened with us in Mexico City after all those doubts I had was all been erased because of what he did on our way to Cubilete when he proved to me that he can bring me to Cristo Rey no matter what will happen be it a bumpy-rocky ride, a winding frightening steep road, the imminent darkness that covered the way, and the treacherous road in going up and down the mountains.
These all had proved to me that I love this man and I will retain him in my heart because he is worthy of it. And I thanked God for giving me the right sign and had made my goal achieved for this second trip to Mexico so that I can find closure with what I felt for this kind hearted person. Thank you God!
Guanajuato: A Very Colorful City On A Hill
FEBRUARY 21-22, 2012: We left San Miguel de Allende at around 1200H and drove to Guanajuato for almost an hour. We took a short cut from San Miguel de Allende as instructed by the guard whom we asked at a local golf club because we missed our exit.
The short cut road was consisted of an asphalt road with only one lane for each directions. It was also a lonely road situated in a savanna-like place, which is a rocky and hilly place, full with scattered shrubberies, a very bosky terrain.
As we continued along the road we saw a little lake and we stopped there to take some pictures. We also spotted some ranch and cacao plantations along the road. We joked, sang crazily, and screamed on top of our voice as we drove to make our drive enjoyable and not boring. We had a lot of fun during that lonely drive at the savanna.
When we reached the Highway 45 going to Guanajuato we were happy because we felt we have reached the civilization. Hahaha. When we saw the sign saying; "Bienvenidos a Ciudad Guanajuato!" we were even ecstatic like crazies. Hahaha.
I was very excited and nervous at the same time because I know the driving there is not good because of a lot of tortuous tunnels below the city, which was once a mining town, as what I have read from Wikipedia before I went to Mexico.
As we approached the mouth of the heart of the downtown, I can see the colored houses on top of the hills. It was very beautiful to look at and I was fascinated by it. The scenery was awesome like it a painting and I just can't stop saying my "Oohs" and my "Aahs". It seems that my friend Ricky knew how to drive this place so I let him take me wherever he wanted to bring me.
As we drove along the hilly stoned roads and passed the twisted tunnels I've noticed we were already heading up the hill and then we stopped on top of the hill where there's a statue of a man holding a torch. They called it "El Pipila" who was considered a hero among Guanajuanians during the fight for independence in the 1900s. He was the one who set fire on the granaries that were long protected by the Spaniards to starve the whole city.
From there I can see the aerial view of the place and the very important buildings can be seen also from there. The beautiful colored houses were even appreciated greatly from there. It was a magnificent sight to look at. Very beautiful and awesome! I just can't stop clicking my camera and iPhone to take several pictures of the awe-inspiring view.
Ricky had hired a guy to explain and point to me in English the very important and historical places we can see and visit later on from the scenery in front of me and he encouraged us some places to visit and check out later on.
After we're through there, Ricky decided to leave his car there and we took the cable in going down near the downtown. The car stopped at the back of Teatro Juarez so from there we ambled around and checked the front side of the theater. It was very beautiful with statues standing on top representing the famous performers of the Greek Mythology.
Beside the theater on the left side is a small church of San Juan de Alcala. We checked the facade and also the inside of the church then checked also the courtyard which currently had some statues being exhibited there.
We ambled towards the East side of the town and Ricky spotted the San Diego Hotel, which is adjacent to the church, so he went in there to inquire about the charge which was very reasonable and affordable. We checked the room and we liked it so I paid the rent for one night. It's good because the hotel was situated at the heart of the city.
We also decided to sign in for the four hours tour of the city at 1600H so I asked Ricky to take his car from up the hill at "El Pipila" then parked it at the hotel's parking lot, while I am roaming around the main street waiting for him till 1600H for our tour around Guanajuato.
I checked the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Guanajuato, which is the yellow church at the heart of the downtown but apparently I can't go inside because there was a burial mass being held inside. I just went to the Plaza de la Paz, which was the little manicured garden with a very intricate sculpture at the middle of the garden situated n front of the yellow church.
After there, I went back to the hotel because it was almost 1600H and our tour will begin shortly. I was at the hotel waiting for Ricky, who apparently was parking at the hotel's parking lot, when the lady who's suppose to pick us up for the tour came. Shortly after, Ricky came and we were lead to a Toyota Forerunner waiting for us at the corner at the back of the nearby church.
The first stop was the El Nopal Mining Co. There, a cute guy had explained to us how mining was being done and he explained to us a brief history how mining had started in Guanajuato. Then he led us to a tour at one of the tunnels. It was a very interesting and educational tour we had there.
After the tour we went back to the truck then the driver was talking to Ricky extensively of the buildings we had passed. We were just looking at each other because we both thought it was a private tour.
The next stop was the Valenciana Church visit which boasted a 23 karat gold Virgin Mary statue. The church has a facade of brick stones with statues of different saints decorated in every level of the facade from top to bottom. It was beautiful to look at. It was just a small church but very pretty inside and out.
There were already a group waiting for us and the tour guide had already started explaining about a little history of the church. The altars were also made of wood intricately carved and painted in gold. There were the main altar at the center and two more altars on each side of the cross lay-out of the church.
After there, the guide led the group to a mini-museum that housed different dolls with different Mexican costumes as well as how to make cloths out of the maguey fibers. Ricky and I had declined to go because we already know how it was made from our trip at Teotihuacan and besides we don't want to pay a $25 entrance.
Ricky complained to the guide that the fee we paid for the tour was for the Church of Valenciana, Mummy Museum, and the Cristo Rey. But the guy told us that we were on the wrong tour. Ricky was mad and demanded us to be drove back to the hotel so that he can drive me to Cristo Rey since we still have an ample time.
The guy who drove us back to the hotel was very drunk and he kept buzzing and telling us funny stories. I was mad at Ricky because I told him that we were just wasting our time with the tour. We could have made it ourselves. He made me chose to go see the mummies or go to Cristo Rey. Since I do not want to see the mummies I told him that I wanted to see the statue of Cristo Rey.
When we arrived at the hotel it was already 1700H but the sun is still out. We took the car from the garage and started to drive out from the city of Guanajuato to Cubilete where the famous Cristo Rey was situated.
We didn't know that it was that far. Cubilete was 40 kilometers from Guanajuato proper and we took the Silao Libre road. Cubilete was a mountainous road and the road was very stoney and bumpy. Because of the pressure of time plus it was getting dark, Ricky drove the car fast on the stoney road.
I told him to take his time and not to pressure himself but he was not listening to me. He drove fast on the bumpy road at 80-90 kph. I was just quiet because he was already stressed out because I blamed him about the tour fiasco.
The drive to Rey will be written in another blog because I needed to explain our scary experiences about it. Please keep reading and thanks for the continued patronage.
When we got back from Cristo Rey it was already 2100H. We went back to the hotel and parked the car then went out to look for a restaurant to eat because we were so hungry. We ate at the restaurant near the Union Placita and we ordered a combination fajita plate and sipped margaritas at the restaurant.
After the dinner, we roamed a little bit around the downtown area. We went to check the Callejon Beso, the Granarditas building, the Hidalgo Market and the small church in front of it. We also went up the hill and checked the house of Diego Rivera, who is Frida Kahlo's husband, and we saw his sculpture on one of the streets. We also checked the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Guanajuato and the Teatro Juarez.
When we got tired we went back to the hotel and retired because we had a long day and a bad experience with the tour planners. I did not insist to fight with Ricky because I don't want to pressure him and ruin his night. I just left it like that because we were okay again. We were arguing at the car when we're on our way to Cristo Rey but I don't want to argue with him anymore because it seems that he does not accept it was his fault.
Well, eventhough I had a bad day yet my recollection of my reaction upon seeing the whole of Guanajuato at the "El Pipila" site was very memorable and I could not explain that feeling of awe and surprise. At least my trip here had given me the chance to know the importance of mining and I am very lucky to have experienced it first hand.
My trip will culminate tonight and tomorrow I will be going back to Los Angeles and face reality again but I've enjoyed everything to the hilt. I can't ask for more but to thank Ricky for every thing he had done so far. Despite our slight arguments and misunderstandings we still maintained a professional relationship at each other.
Guanajuato will be forever remembered. I wish I could be back here in the near future if there will be another big opportunity because I just wanted to explore and savour the place fully next time at my own pace.
The short cut road was consisted of an asphalt road with only one lane for each directions. It was also a lonely road situated in a savanna-like place, which is a rocky and hilly place, full with scattered shrubberies, a very bosky terrain.
As we continued along the road we saw a little lake and we stopped there to take some pictures. We also spotted some ranch and cacao plantations along the road. We joked, sang crazily, and screamed on top of our voice as we drove to make our drive enjoyable and not boring. We had a lot of fun during that lonely drive at the savanna.
When we reached the Highway 45 going to Guanajuato we were happy because we felt we have reached the civilization. Hahaha. When we saw the sign saying; "Bienvenidos a Ciudad Guanajuato!" we were even ecstatic like crazies. Hahaha.
I was very excited and nervous at the same time because I know the driving there is not good because of a lot of tortuous tunnels below the city, which was once a mining town, as what I have read from Wikipedia before I went to Mexico.
As we approached the mouth of the heart of the downtown, I can see the colored houses on top of the hills. It was very beautiful to look at and I was fascinated by it. The scenery was awesome like it a painting and I just can't stop saying my "Oohs" and my "Aahs". It seems that my friend Ricky knew how to drive this place so I let him take me wherever he wanted to bring me.
As we drove along the hilly stoned roads and passed the twisted tunnels I've noticed we were already heading up the hill and then we stopped on top of the hill where there's a statue of a man holding a torch. They called it "El Pipila" who was considered a hero among Guanajuanians during the fight for independence in the 1900s. He was the one who set fire on the granaries that were long protected by the Spaniards to starve the whole city.
From there I can see the aerial view of the place and the very important buildings can be seen also from there. The beautiful colored houses were even appreciated greatly from there. It was a magnificent sight to look at. Very beautiful and awesome! I just can't stop clicking my camera and iPhone to take several pictures of the awe-inspiring view.
Ricky had hired a guy to explain and point to me in English the very important and historical places we can see and visit later on from the scenery in front of me and he encouraged us some places to visit and check out later on.
After we're through there, Ricky decided to leave his car there and we took the cable in going down near the downtown. The car stopped at the back of Teatro Juarez so from there we ambled around and checked the front side of the theater. It was very beautiful with statues standing on top representing the famous performers of the Greek Mythology.
Beside the theater on the left side is a small church of San Juan de Alcala. We checked the facade and also the inside of the church then checked also the courtyard which currently had some statues being exhibited there.
We ambled towards the East side of the town and Ricky spotted the San Diego Hotel, which is adjacent to the church, so he went in there to inquire about the charge which was very reasonable and affordable. We checked the room and we liked it so I paid the rent for one night. It's good because the hotel was situated at the heart of the city.
We also decided to sign in for the four hours tour of the city at 1600H so I asked Ricky to take his car from up the hill at "El Pipila" then parked it at the hotel's parking lot, while I am roaming around the main street waiting for him till 1600H for our tour around Guanajuato.
I checked the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Guanajuato, which is the yellow church at the heart of the downtown but apparently I can't go inside because there was a burial mass being held inside. I just went to the Plaza de la Paz, which was the little manicured garden with a very intricate sculpture at the middle of the garden situated n front of the yellow church.
After there, I went back to the hotel because it was almost 1600H and our tour will begin shortly. I was at the hotel waiting for Ricky, who apparently was parking at the hotel's parking lot, when the lady who's suppose to pick us up for the tour came. Shortly after, Ricky came and we were lead to a Toyota Forerunner waiting for us at the corner at the back of the nearby church.
The first stop was the El Nopal Mining Co. There, a cute guy had explained to us how mining was being done and he explained to us a brief history how mining had started in Guanajuato. Then he led us to a tour at one of the tunnels. It was a very interesting and educational tour we had there.
After the tour we went back to the truck then the driver was talking to Ricky extensively of the buildings we had passed. We were just looking at each other because we both thought it was a private tour.
The next stop was the Valenciana Church visit which boasted a 23 karat gold Virgin Mary statue. The church has a facade of brick stones with statues of different saints decorated in every level of the facade from top to bottom. It was beautiful to look at. It was just a small church but very pretty inside and out.
There were already a group waiting for us and the tour guide had already started explaining about a little history of the church. The altars were also made of wood intricately carved and painted in gold. There were the main altar at the center and two more altars on each side of the cross lay-out of the church.
After there, the guide led the group to a mini-museum that housed different dolls with different Mexican costumes as well as how to make cloths out of the maguey fibers. Ricky and I had declined to go because we already know how it was made from our trip at Teotihuacan and besides we don't want to pay a $25 entrance.
Ricky complained to the guide that the fee we paid for the tour was for the Church of Valenciana, Mummy Museum, and the Cristo Rey. But the guy told us that we were on the wrong tour. Ricky was mad and demanded us to be drove back to the hotel so that he can drive me to Cristo Rey since we still have an ample time.
The guy who drove us back to the hotel was very drunk and he kept buzzing and telling us funny stories. I was mad at Ricky because I told him that we were just wasting our time with the tour. We could have made it ourselves. He made me chose to go see the mummies or go to Cristo Rey. Since I do not want to see the mummies I told him that I wanted to see the statue of Cristo Rey.
When we arrived at the hotel it was already 1700H but the sun is still out. We took the car from the garage and started to drive out from the city of Guanajuato to Cubilete where the famous Cristo Rey was situated.
We didn't know that it was that far. Cubilete was 40 kilometers from Guanajuato proper and we took the Silao Libre road. Cubilete was a mountainous road and the road was very stoney and bumpy. Because of the pressure of time plus it was getting dark, Ricky drove the car fast on the stoney road.
I told him to take his time and not to pressure himself but he was not listening to me. He drove fast on the bumpy road at 80-90 kph. I was just quiet because he was already stressed out because I blamed him about the tour fiasco.
The drive to Rey will be written in another blog because I needed to explain our scary experiences about it. Please keep reading and thanks for the continued patronage.
When we got back from Cristo Rey it was already 2100H. We went back to the hotel and parked the car then went out to look for a restaurant to eat because we were so hungry. We ate at the restaurant near the Union Placita and we ordered a combination fajita plate and sipped margaritas at the restaurant.
After the dinner, we roamed a little bit around the downtown area. We went to check the Callejon Beso, the Granarditas building, the Hidalgo Market and the small church in front of it. We also went up the hill and checked the house of Diego Rivera, who is Frida Kahlo's husband, and we saw his sculpture on one of the streets. We also checked the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Guanajuato and the Teatro Juarez.
When we got tired we went back to the hotel and retired because we had a long day and a bad experience with the tour planners. I did not insist to fight with Ricky because I don't want to pressure him and ruin his night. I just left it like that because we were okay again. We were arguing at the car when we're on our way to Cristo Rey but I don't want to argue with him anymore because it seems that he does not accept it was his fault.
Well, eventhough I had a bad day yet my recollection of my reaction upon seeing the whole of Guanajuato at the "El Pipila" site was very memorable and I could not explain that feeling of awe and surprise. At least my trip here had given me the chance to know the importance of mining and I am very lucky to have experienced it first hand.
My trip will culminate tonight and tomorrow I will be going back to Los Angeles and face reality again but I've enjoyed everything to the hilt. I can't ask for more but to thank Ricky for every thing he had done so far. Despite our slight arguments and misunderstandings we still maintained a professional relationship at each other.
Guanajuato will be forever remembered. I wish I could be back here in the near future if there will be another big opportunity because I just wanted to explore and savour the place fully next time at my own pace.
San Miguel de Allende: A Retirees Respite
FEBRUARY 20-21, 2012: It took us a little less than an hour to drive to San Miguel de Allende. I enjoyed the sceneries of the savannas with agave tress scattered every where on a rocky terrain that sprawled along the way. Unlike last night when we left Mexico City at 2100H where in I couldn't appreciate the sceneries because it was dark.
The drive to San Miguel de Allende was a little lonely and boring because we have to take a dirt road hinted to us by the guard at the golf course when we felt we missed our exit at Highway 57 and we have to separate from the main highway because the way there is not close to the highway.
We arrived there at around 1510H and we stopped a little bit at the hill near the mouth of the town. We saw the sprawling town from there and it was very beautiful and awesome at dusk when the sun starts to set in. The famous pink church can be seen from there and we enjoyed the view so much.
The road going to the downtown was hilly and it was bumpy because of the cobbled stone set-up of the major roads around the town. Most of the road were narrow and in one direction so we have to drive slow to hit the right one and not get loss again.
There were no stop lights either in each road and the drivers were given the responsibility to gave way at each other. The streets were also narrow and the stucco houses were of the same colors of either yellow or brick red. The town appears humologous with those colors. It was very beautiful to look at. Very different from Queretaro that we roamed around earlier today.
I told Ricky to stop at the Cathedral so that I can take a picture of it while the sun is still out then we headed to look for a hotel. We drove uphill and found a beautiful and affordable bed and breakfast hotel three blocks from the plaza near the Cathedral.
We checked in at the hotel and left our things in the room then we started to roam around the town on foot not wasting our precious time. We've noticed there were a lot of Europeans, Canadians, and Americans there close to retirable age. They were scattered all over roaming the beautiful and laid back town of San Miguel de Allende.
Ricky told me that there were a lot of those in San Miguel de Allende and some of them had bought properties and chose to live there because of the nice weather and strategic place of the town in the middle of Mexico.
We continued ambling around and checked some of the famous structures, parks, and churches around. There was also a festival being held right now there and we can see in the plaza that there were a lot of Easter Eggs being sold by the dozens and some children were running and screaming at each other throwing those hallow eggs shells stuffed with confetti at each other. We enjoyed our walk so far until we didn't notice that it was already 2100H.
We went back to our hotel and then took a warm shower and went to sleep for tomorrow we will be roaming the downtown again on foot. We had a long day and we deserved a good night's rest.
The next morning we woke up at around 0700H and readied ourselves for a small trek at the restaurant where we are going to have our breakfast courtesy of Casa Quetzal, the hotel we are staying at.
We walked the cobbled stone streets of San Miguel de Allende on this very beautiful cold morning. There were children walking on the streets along with their parents who accompanied them to school and there were office staffs also driving their cars in order to catch up the morning hours at the office.
As we ambled towards the restaurant we were enjoying the sights of the houses and buildings along the roads and also took pictures of it for my online albums. I appreciated the view greatly at this time of the morning compared to the twilight we witnessed last night when arrived.
We can't find the Menso Restaurant as mapped by the receptionist at Casa Quetzal but after a long search Ricky had found it on the next block different from what was been plotted on the map.
We ordered our breakfast and enjoyed it so much. I ordered an egg-over-easy on top of a fried corn tortilla and drench with a green tomatillo and red tomato sauce. It was heavenly and I ate it with gusto not leaving any trickle of the red and green sauce on the plate. If it is okay to lick the plate I will gladly lick it right there and then.
The four variety of fruits with yogurt and cottage cheese sprinkled with granolas and roasted sesame seeds was also the bomb. And the coffee and the orange-papaya juice was very refreshing. We were stuffed after that not able to walk well back to Casa Quetzal to retrieve our stuff and checked out.
We left San Miguel de Allende at around 1100H and then we continued our trip to Guanajuato, which is almost one hour drive from San Miguel de Allende.
Well, our experiences at San Miguel de Allende was also a religious pilgrimage which was very memorable to me. I got to see the famous corral pink church of San Miguel de Allende and I got to visit some of it's beautiful places of historical importance. It was nice to stay there for quite a while and we had so much fun looking at the children throwing empty eggs with confetti and breaking them at each other's heads
Please read on for my other adventures at Guanajuato. Thank you very much for taking time to read my blogs. I am trying my best to recall all my memorable experiences and I hope you all enjoyed it. Sorry for the delayed blogs though. "Adios, mi amigos mi amigas. Via con Dios!"
The drive to San Miguel de Allende was a little lonely and boring because we have to take a dirt road hinted to us by the guard at the golf course when we felt we missed our exit at Highway 57 and we have to separate from the main highway because the way there is not close to the highway.
We arrived there at around 1510H and we stopped a little bit at the hill near the mouth of the town. We saw the sprawling town from there and it was very beautiful and awesome at dusk when the sun starts to set in. The famous pink church can be seen from there and we enjoyed the view so much.
The road going to the downtown was hilly and it was bumpy because of the cobbled stone set-up of the major roads around the town. Most of the road were narrow and in one direction so we have to drive slow to hit the right one and not get loss again.
There were no stop lights either in each road and the drivers were given the responsibility to gave way at each other. The streets were also narrow and the stucco houses were of the same colors of either yellow or brick red. The town appears humologous with those colors. It was very beautiful to look at. Very different from Queretaro that we roamed around earlier today.
I told Ricky to stop at the Cathedral so that I can take a picture of it while the sun is still out then we headed to look for a hotel. We drove uphill and found a beautiful and affordable bed and breakfast hotel three blocks from the plaza near the Cathedral.
We checked in at the hotel and left our things in the room then we started to roam around the town on foot not wasting our precious time. We've noticed there were a lot of Europeans, Canadians, and Americans there close to retirable age. They were scattered all over roaming the beautiful and laid back town of San Miguel de Allende.
Ricky told me that there were a lot of those in San Miguel de Allende and some of them had bought properties and chose to live there because of the nice weather and strategic place of the town in the middle of Mexico.
We continued ambling around and checked some of the famous structures, parks, and churches around. There was also a festival being held right now there and we can see in the plaza that there were a lot of Easter Eggs being sold by the dozens and some children were running and screaming at each other throwing those hallow eggs shells stuffed with confetti at each other. We enjoyed our walk so far until we didn't notice that it was already 2100H.
We went back to our hotel and then took a warm shower and went to sleep for tomorrow we will be roaming the downtown again on foot. We had a long day and we deserved a good night's rest.
The next morning we woke up at around 0700H and readied ourselves for a small trek at the restaurant where we are going to have our breakfast courtesy of Casa Quetzal, the hotel we are staying at.
We walked the cobbled stone streets of San Miguel de Allende on this very beautiful cold morning. There were children walking on the streets along with their parents who accompanied them to school and there were office staffs also driving their cars in order to catch up the morning hours at the office.
As we ambled towards the restaurant we were enjoying the sights of the houses and buildings along the roads and also took pictures of it for my online albums. I appreciated the view greatly at this time of the morning compared to the twilight we witnessed last night when arrived.
We can't find the Menso Restaurant as mapped by the receptionist at Casa Quetzal but after a long search Ricky had found it on the next block different from what was been plotted on the map.
We ordered our breakfast and enjoyed it so much. I ordered an egg-over-easy on top of a fried corn tortilla and drench with a green tomatillo and red tomato sauce. It was heavenly and I ate it with gusto not leaving any trickle of the red and green sauce on the plate. If it is okay to lick the plate I will gladly lick it right there and then.
The four variety of fruits with yogurt and cottage cheese sprinkled with granolas and roasted sesame seeds was also the bomb. And the coffee and the orange-papaya juice was very refreshing. We were stuffed after that not able to walk well back to Casa Quetzal to retrieve our stuff and checked out.
We left San Miguel de Allende at around 1100H and then we continued our trip to Guanajuato, which is almost one hour drive from San Miguel de Allende.
Well, our experiences at San Miguel de Allende was also a religious pilgrimage which was very memorable to me. I got to see the famous corral pink church of San Miguel de Allende and I got to visit some of it's beautiful places of historical importance. It was nice to stay there for quite a while and we had so much fun looking at the children throwing empty eggs with confetti and breaking them at each other's heads
Please read on for my other adventures at Guanajuato. Thank you very much for taking time to read my blogs. I am trying my best to recall all my memorable experiences and I hope you all enjoyed it. Sorry for the delayed blogs though. "Adios, mi amigos mi amigas. Via con Dios!"
Queretaro: Looking Colonial To Me
FEBRUARY 20, 2012: We had a relaxing night at Best Western Inn in Queretaro, after a two hour very long drive from Mexico City. We arrived at downtown Queretaro last night close to 0100H and the place was dead like the ones I saw in "The Walking Dead Series" in AMC Channel, but minus the zombies. Hehehe.
We're the only one driving around last night on the wee hours of the morning because we were looking for a hotel. It seems that all of the bed and breakfast hotels around downtown were close so we decided to go back to the highway and checked in at Best Western Inn Hotel where I spotted during our entrance to the downtown.
Before that Ricky was driving me around the dead town and showed me some of the key places we will be roaming in the morning. He showed me the aqueduct which is famous for this place built by the Indians to provide water for the town which once was a desert place, now a booming city because of the big industrial companies that invested here like Samsung, Volkswagen, Modelo Beer Co., Siemens Labs, etc.
Today, we woke up at 0900H still nursing our soreness and fatigue from the long drive, but when we started taking our warm shower we immediately perked up and was ready to start our trekking.
We first took our stuff down to the car parked at the basement then went up to the lobby to take our continental breakfast which consisted of bread, jams, coffee, orange juice, scrambled egg and ham, mashed pinto beans and picadillo tomatoes. After our breakfast we checked out then drove to the downtown area.
When we got near the downtown we looked for a parking place which was abundant to the place. We spotted an underground parking then we started to roam around. I've noticed that the downtown appears colonial. I then remembered the colonial place in Maine, USA when I went there but this place has a Spanish twist. The establishments were all painted in white and is usually one storey and they're all adjacent if not close to each other. We seldom see a two-storey building here.
This place appears different from the other places I've been in Mexico. A very unique place on it's own. It seems that each state or city in Mexico had established their uniqueness from each other.
There were establishments with columns and pillars which is reminiscent of a colonial era and also a mixed of a Teotihuacan culture which thrived in this place long time ago. Agriculture and mining were the primary source of income as well as industry from the industrial companies that mushroomed from the outskirts of the city. No wonder Queretaro has the highest GDP of all states of Mexico.
We continued our walk at the plaza near the San Francisco Church and started clicking my camera for pictures to collect for my online albums. We checked if the church is open but apparently that time it was close so we decided to roam around first within the downtown area then take the Turibus after.
We started our journey from the church going south. After one block we saw a small chapel which was open. It was the Church of Santa Ana. When we get in a beautiful altar had captivated us. Actually it was not the main altar. There were several altars built on all sides of the chapel lined adjacent to each other. The altar was made of hard wood and are painted in gold which was shimmering from the rays of the sun that crept from the smoked stained colorful windows.
There was an old man, a janitor I think, mopping the marbled white and brick-red tiled floors and we said our "Saluds!" and "Holas!" to him. We then continued to check the different altars that we saw earlier. Facing North, I started to check the one at the right side going to the altar and did it counterclockwise. There were six big altars placed together to fit along the walls of the North side and each altar appears elegant because it was gilded all over it.
Each structure has it's own theme from Jesus, to Mother Mary, To the Lady of Guadalupe, and the tree important male Angels that guards the heavens. The carvings were very intricate and meticulous and I can't stop my "Oohs!" and my "Aahs!" upon inspecting each altar. I also prayed a little bit for my intentions that day and also included my intentions for my friend I am trying to help through prayers.
After were done inside the church we decided to roam the streets of Queretaro and took a lot of pictures for the beautiful structures and buildings we saw. We also visited a lot of churches within the downtown area. It seems that there were churches in each block we trekked. It was very fascinating!
When were tired walking we decided to take the Turibus for an hour. The guy in the bus had explained extensively the history of the place and the important buildings every time we stopped. I was listening intently to the guide but I can't catch some of the words he was explaining because he was talking very fast in Spanish.
The ones that fascinated me during the tour was when we stopped at the Aqueducts. It looks so magnificent from the hill we were at. According to history the aqueducts were built by the Indians to supply water for the agricultural lands that had sprawled in this city before. Now the aqueducts still supplies water but for residential use only.
The tour ended at 1300H and we have to leave in an hour going to San Miguel de Allende to spend the night there. But before that we decided to eat at a restaurant that served a very authentic "gorditas", which was staple in this place.
The "gorditas" were very delicious and tasty. I finished three of them and I enjoyed the pickled carrots, jalapeno peppers, and yellow onions also. We were so full when we left the restaurant.
After a hearty lunch we went to where we parked the car and left Queretaro after a very nice day's walk around colonial downtown. We headed to Highway 57 and continued driving south going to San Miguel de Allende.
Another unforgettable adventure and memorable experiences had been spent and so far my stay in Queretaro had surpassed my expectations. I never expected seeing a colonial place in Mexico such as Queretaro and it surprised me a lot to see how clean and organized the place.
I learned how to say the expression "Via con Dios." and "Gracias! Muy amable." I like it so far because I am learning a new culture everyday although it is in one country but every state has it's different and distinct culture to pinpoint at.
Even food and languages or I may say dialect has it's distinct characteristics in each place I've been in Mexico. But no matter where I am at, I am enjoying a lot as well as learning a lot from my observations, sojourns, and every day experiences.
We're the only one driving around last night on the wee hours of the morning because we were looking for a hotel. It seems that all of the bed and breakfast hotels around downtown were close so we decided to go back to the highway and checked in at Best Western Inn Hotel where I spotted during our entrance to the downtown.
Before that Ricky was driving me around the dead town and showed me some of the key places we will be roaming in the morning. He showed me the aqueduct which is famous for this place built by the Indians to provide water for the town which once was a desert place, now a booming city because of the big industrial companies that invested here like Samsung, Volkswagen, Modelo Beer Co., Siemens Labs, etc.
Today, we woke up at 0900H still nursing our soreness and fatigue from the long drive, but when we started taking our warm shower we immediately perked up and was ready to start our trekking.
We first took our stuff down to the car parked at the basement then went up to the lobby to take our continental breakfast which consisted of bread, jams, coffee, orange juice, scrambled egg and ham, mashed pinto beans and picadillo tomatoes. After our breakfast we checked out then drove to the downtown area.
When we got near the downtown we looked for a parking place which was abundant to the place. We spotted an underground parking then we started to roam around. I've noticed that the downtown appears colonial. I then remembered the colonial place in Maine, USA when I went there but this place has a Spanish twist. The establishments were all painted in white and is usually one storey and they're all adjacent if not close to each other. We seldom see a two-storey building here.
This place appears different from the other places I've been in Mexico. A very unique place on it's own. It seems that each state or city in Mexico had established their uniqueness from each other.
There were establishments with columns and pillars which is reminiscent of a colonial era and also a mixed of a Teotihuacan culture which thrived in this place long time ago. Agriculture and mining were the primary source of income as well as industry from the industrial companies that mushroomed from the outskirts of the city. No wonder Queretaro has the highest GDP of all states of Mexico.
We continued our walk at the plaza near the San Francisco Church and started clicking my camera for pictures to collect for my online albums. We checked if the church is open but apparently that time it was close so we decided to roam around first within the downtown area then take the Turibus after.
We started our journey from the church going south. After one block we saw a small chapel which was open. It was the Church of Santa Ana. When we get in a beautiful altar had captivated us. Actually it was not the main altar. There were several altars built on all sides of the chapel lined adjacent to each other. The altar was made of hard wood and are painted in gold which was shimmering from the rays of the sun that crept from the smoked stained colorful windows.
There was an old man, a janitor I think, mopping the marbled white and brick-red tiled floors and we said our "Saluds!" and "Holas!" to him. We then continued to check the different altars that we saw earlier. Facing North, I started to check the one at the right side going to the altar and did it counterclockwise. There were six big altars placed together to fit along the walls of the North side and each altar appears elegant because it was gilded all over it.
Each structure has it's own theme from Jesus, to Mother Mary, To the Lady of Guadalupe, and the tree important male Angels that guards the heavens. The carvings were very intricate and meticulous and I can't stop my "Oohs!" and my "Aahs!" upon inspecting each altar. I also prayed a little bit for my intentions that day and also included my intentions for my friend I am trying to help through prayers.
After were done inside the church we decided to roam the streets of Queretaro and took a lot of pictures for the beautiful structures and buildings we saw. We also visited a lot of churches within the downtown area. It seems that there were churches in each block we trekked. It was very fascinating!
When were tired walking we decided to take the Turibus for an hour. The guy in the bus had explained extensively the history of the place and the important buildings every time we stopped. I was listening intently to the guide but I can't catch some of the words he was explaining because he was talking very fast in Spanish.
The ones that fascinated me during the tour was when we stopped at the Aqueducts. It looks so magnificent from the hill we were at. According to history the aqueducts were built by the Indians to supply water for the agricultural lands that had sprawled in this city before. Now the aqueducts still supplies water but for residential use only.
The tour ended at 1300H and we have to leave in an hour going to San Miguel de Allende to spend the night there. But before that we decided to eat at a restaurant that served a very authentic "gorditas", which was staple in this place.
The "gorditas" were very delicious and tasty. I finished three of them and I enjoyed the pickled carrots, jalapeno peppers, and yellow onions also. We were so full when we left the restaurant.
After a hearty lunch we went to where we parked the car and left Queretaro after a very nice day's walk around colonial downtown. We headed to Highway 57 and continued driving south going to San Miguel de Allende.
Another unforgettable adventure and memorable experiences had been spent and so far my stay in Queretaro had surpassed my expectations. I never expected seeing a colonial place in Mexico such as Queretaro and it surprised me a lot to see how clean and organized the place.
I learned how to say the expression "Via con Dios." and "Gracias! Muy amable." I like it so far because I am learning a new culture everyday although it is in one country but every state has it's different and distinct culture to pinpoint at.
Even food and languages or I may say dialect has it's distinct characteristics in each place I've been in Mexico. But no matter where I am at, I am enjoying a lot as well as learning a lot from my observations, sojourns, and every day experiences.
The Long Drive To Queretaro
FEBRUARY 19, 2012: After we dropped off the two guys at Marriott from our whole day walk at the pyramids, Ricky brought me to his apartment to rest a little bit because he was very tired from today's activities plus he did not slept well because he was partying with the two guys at Puebla last night and went home at 0500H.
I told him to rest before we leave tonight. I also fell asleep when we got there because I felt tired also from walking a lot at the pyramids. At 2100H, we woke up and prepared for our long drive to Queretero.
We passed by Marriott Hotel first to bade goodbye with the two guys then after that, Ricky and I started our journey to Queretero. We left Mexico City at 2200H. I was so excited to start our travel down south of Mexico to experience another place and immerse with their culture.
The freeway from Mexico City was a little congested and when we reached Highway 57 going south the traffic was not that evident anymore. Along the way Ricky and I were talking about our experiences regarding our recent travels. We also talked about our impressions of the two guys we just drove to Teotihuacan today. We also tell jokes at each other and laugh at them even if they are not laughable. We were like crazies driving without directions.
As we continued driving south the road become darker and darker. There were eighteen wheeler drivers who drove like maniacs despite of their limit to only drive 90 kpm. I saw some huge trucks driving 120 kpm which even overtook us who is driving the limit of 110 kpm. There was no state patrol manning the freeway either. Good thing the road was straight and in excellent condition. No dirt roads or bumpy ones.
As the night gets deeper we appeared so tired and it gave a toll on both of us. The drive became boring and we look very soporific. I turned on my iPhone and set the music to continuous play so that we can be perked up by the groovy songs of Madonna and Black Eyed Peas. The ones we kept listening all the time was Adele's "Someone Like You" which was Ricky's favorite.
Halfway, after one hour of driving with the limit of 110 kpm at Highway 57 going south to Queretaro, I instructed Ricky to just exit at the nearby Pecmec Gasoline Station so that we can check the tire's air if it is still okay and that we can gas up again for a full tank to avoid inevitable accidents and running out of gasoline.
Then after that we continued our trip. The night was getting dark and the Highway 57 was still busy with all the vehicles driving south. A lot of big trucks and 18 wheelers can be seen at night hauling their deliveries to their respective destinations. I've also seen buses coming and going from different directions trying to bring their passengers to their respective destinations.
The distance of Queretero from Mexico City is 199 kilometers and it will took a single car to drive 2 hours or more normally to get there at an average speed of 110 kph. We arrived at Queretaro at around 1230H and the place was already dead at that time.
We appeared very tired and sleepy already. Ricky had missed his exit and we were roaming around the freeway trying to locate the road to the center of the city. Finally, we hit the streets and we were driving around the city trying to locate for an available bed and breakfast hotel. Ricky was driving without direction and without knowing where he is and that irked me so much.
Because I was very tired already I got irritated and complained to him to stop roaming aimlessly on the road. I told him to go back to the freeway and look for the Best Western Inn I spotted a while ago.
He then turned around and try to maintain at the side road of the freeway so that we could not miss the hotel. We finally found the hotel so we immediately checked in and retired. I was already in a foul mood and poor Rick has to suffer about my bitchings.
I apologized to him and he also ask sorry to me. And we were okay again after that. I took a hot shower after that and slept very tightly to nurse my fatigue and general body aches. I had a good respite.
Queretaro appears like a colonial place and I can't wait to explore it the next day. It looks dead when we got there after midnight and it will held it's surprise for us until the morning will finally arise in order for us to enjoy more and get intrigued of it's magnificent existence.
The two hours and thirty minutes drive was well worth it to be here in Queretaro to discover the secrets and beauty it has to offer. Despite of our mild argument I am glad that Ricky and I had patched up our own individual differences. After all it was a very good drive.
I told him to rest before we leave tonight. I also fell asleep when we got there because I felt tired also from walking a lot at the pyramids. At 2100H, we woke up and prepared for our long drive to Queretero.
We passed by Marriott Hotel first to bade goodbye with the two guys then after that, Ricky and I started our journey to Queretero. We left Mexico City at 2200H. I was so excited to start our travel down south of Mexico to experience another place and immerse with their culture.
The freeway from Mexico City was a little congested and when we reached Highway 57 going south the traffic was not that evident anymore. Along the way Ricky and I were talking about our experiences regarding our recent travels. We also talked about our impressions of the two guys we just drove to Teotihuacan today. We also tell jokes at each other and laugh at them even if they are not laughable. We were like crazies driving without directions.
As we continued driving south the road become darker and darker. There were eighteen wheeler drivers who drove like maniacs despite of their limit to only drive 90 kpm. I saw some huge trucks driving 120 kpm which even overtook us who is driving the limit of 110 kpm. There was no state patrol manning the freeway either. Good thing the road was straight and in excellent condition. No dirt roads or bumpy ones.
As the night gets deeper we appeared so tired and it gave a toll on both of us. The drive became boring and we look very soporific. I turned on my iPhone and set the music to continuous play so that we can be perked up by the groovy songs of Madonna and Black Eyed Peas. The ones we kept listening all the time was Adele's "Someone Like You" which was Ricky's favorite.
Halfway, after one hour of driving with the limit of 110 kpm at Highway 57 going south to Queretaro, I instructed Ricky to just exit at the nearby Pecmec Gasoline Station so that we can check the tire's air if it is still okay and that we can gas up again for a full tank to avoid inevitable accidents and running out of gasoline.
Then after that we continued our trip. The night was getting dark and the Highway 57 was still busy with all the vehicles driving south. A lot of big trucks and 18 wheelers can be seen at night hauling their deliveries to their respective destinations. I've also seen buses coming and going from different directions trying to bring their passengers to their respective destinations.
The distance of Queretero from Mexico City is 199 kilometers and it will took a single car to drive 2 hours or more normally to get there at an average speed of 110 kph. We arrived at Queretaro at around 1230H and the place was already dead at that time.
We appeared very tired and sleepy already. Ricky had missed his exit and we were roaming around the freeway trying to locate the road to the center of the city. Finally, we hit the streets and we were driving around the city trying to locate for an available bed and breakfast hotel. Ricky was driving without direction and without knowing where he is and that irked me so much.
Because I was very tired already I got irritated and complained to him to stop roaming aimlessly on the road. I told him to go back to the freeway and look for the Best Western Inn I spotted a while ago.
He then turned around and try to maintain at the side road of the freeway so that we could not miss the hotel. We finally found the hotel so we immediately checked in and retired. I was already in a foul mood and poor Rick has to suffer about my bitchings.
I apologized to him and he also ask sorry to me. And we were okay again after that. I took a hot shower after that and slept very tightly to nurse my fatigue and general body aches. I had a good respite.
Queretaro appears like a colonial place and I can't wait to explore it the next day. It looks dead when we got there after midnight and it will held it's surprise for us until the morning will finally arise in order for us to enjoy more and get intrigued of it's magnificent existence.
The two hours and thirty minutes drive was well worth it to be here in Queretaro to discover the secrets and beauty it has to offer. Despite of our mild argument I am glad that Ricky and I had patched up our own individual differences. After all it was a very good drive.
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