“Am I in a flowerbed?”

we started the day off nice and early at 9 am this morning…ok, so not terribly early, but we were tired. We got up and headed straight for the touribuses in the south part of Mexico City, in a little place not far, called Coyocan. That is where our rather uninteresting touribus tour started. Although, I must say that we did rather enjoy the translations into English, explaining the different places. As soon as we boarded, a lovely femail voice began and said, “To the left is the house of Cortez, where he uttered the famous phrase, ‘Am I in a flowerbed?’” I don’t know if there was a context to this or if this was a wrong translation, but we did find it rather comical when it later called an organization an organism instead. Lauren and I laughed hysterically at every mistaken translation. We also found that the touribus did not go to the primarily place we had wanted to go to, Xochimilco. We were very disturbed by this, but we found that we could to down to Tlalpan and take a taxi to Xochimilco from there. So, we took a little stop right near Tlalpan. By the time we stopped, we were starving. Come to find out, that yogurt and granola doesn’t last you so long on a hot day. So, we climbed down from the top of our lovely red, double-decker touribus and took our detour to wallyworld (walmart).
As I stood in a far-too-long line with my corndogs and Lauren with her fake chicken nuggets (undercover as real, crispy chicken nuggets), the man in front of us tried his very hardest to get the attention of these two lovely American tourists. When he realized that glancing constantly in our direction was not working, he decided to try out his tap dancing skills. Still unsuccessful, he tried his singing AND dancing. He finally got to the front of the line, and must have decided that he REALLY wanted our attention, so in the very crowded, long-lined walmart, he decided he didn’t like the 3 ketchup bottles he had and went back for different ones, causing us to wait (quite annoyed at this point) for his return. The manager saw and decided to let the rest of the poor walmart shoppers continue without the tap-dancing man’s presence and ketchup bottles. From there, we proceeded to eat our lovely goods outsides on the steps of walmart like poor starving Americans in need of food. Everyone stared to say the least. Taxi time. We caught our taxi and finally headed for xochimilco.
The driver had no clue where to take us and we couldn’t seem to remember the Spanish word for “boats.” Not good. He ended up taking us to the center of Xochimilco. We found out that was wrong, then proceeded to another market in Xochimilco…only, this one had horses. For 45 clue where to take us and we couldn’t seem to remember the Spanish word for “boats.” Not good. He ended up taking us to the center of Xochimilco. We found out that was wrong, then proceeded to another market in Xochimilco…only, this one had horses. For 45 pesos for half an hour, we decided to have an adventure, and what an adventure we had! Let’s just say…there is a first for everything.
Warning:
1) if it looks painful at all, don’t try it.
2) If you “guides” ask you if you want to go faster and they are not riding horses of their own, say no. they just might jump on with you…
3) Don’t be offended if your guide and all his friends stand around and laugh at you afterwards because you’re American…
With sore legs and hurt pride, Lauren and I continued on our hike to xochimilco. We finally got there and could see the beauty of Mexico. We asked to share one of the boats with a Mexican family. They were very obliging and kind. By the end of the boat ride, there had been much laughter, much ice cream, and email addresses going around. Who woulda thought we would be friends with the people we shared a boat with for an hour and a half?!?!
Since we had only an hour to get to our bus stop, we ran to find a taxi. Thankfully he was the kind of taxi driver I like, fast and furious. He got us there in 15 minutes and half the cost of our first taxi. We got to Tlalpan, and realized this is where Café La Selva is and where Fab and Ana live. Where our bus stop was was very dark and desolate. So of course, Lauren went up to the closest, kind-looking policeman and asked him if he would like some coffee. We were happy to do so for him. we got him his coffee nad he became our loyal friend and protector. When our touribus finally came at 9:02, they wanted to refuse to let us on because it was after 9 (because THEY were late, I might add). Our friendly policeman stood up for us and practically demanded that we be on that bus. We had waited and waited. They allowed us on finally and we were able to enjoy a bus ride to coyocan. From there, we walked home, tired, exhausted, sore, and unexcited about doing laundry. Laundry time it is and sleep time as well. Looking forward to another long and busy day tomorrow!