It was a fantastic day... just check out the sky!
Sarita and I came across this gorgeous park. 
They even had the singing fountains -
After several hours at the park we headed back to the hotel for a little siesta before our appointment with Pepe. Remember how i mentioned it is real loud and we have trouble sleeping? Well let me explain, our hotel is apparently on the "main drag" where blaring music or horns are the tunes of the evening. Diagonal from our hotel is a popular plaza for music groups to perform their talent 
or not so great talent from late afternoon until the very wee hours of the night. 
This particular band was the one that woke us from our beauty sleep with the bass turned up, our windows were literally rattling so hard i thought they would pop out of their frame all the while the floor and bed started vibrating.
Sarita and I came across this gorgeous park. They even had the singing fountains -orchestra music played as the fountains spouted off in unison.
This place was a huge draw to families with small children and lovers as much as it was a hangout for teenagers and their friends. Everyone sprawled out in the green grass and so we did the same. 
We journaled, took pictures, wrote up pages of observations, and came up with a game plan for things to discuss with Pepe.
This place was a huge draw to families with small children and lovers as much as it was a hangout for teenagers and their friends. Everyone sprawled out in the green grass and so we did the same. We journaled, took pictures, wrote up pages of observations, and came up with a game plan for things to discuss with Pepe.
After several hours at the park we headed back to the hotel for a little siesta before our appointment with Pepe. Remember how i mentioned it is real loud and we have trouble sleeping? Well let me explain, our hotel is apparently on the "main drag" where blaring music or horns are the tunes of the evening. Diagonal from our hotel is a popular plaza for music groups to perform their talent or not so great talent from late afternoon until the very wee hours of the night. This particular band was the one that woke us from our beauty sleep with the bass turned up, our windows were literally rattling so hard i thought they would pop out of their frame all the while the floor and bed started vibrating. So since sleep was not an option, "if you can't beat em, join em!"
I think they were trying to do a cover from Metallica.... I felt like i was at a bad karaoke party. Pepe met up with us at the "rock party" and we headed off to his favorito coffee place. 
We riddled him with questions about his life here in Zacatecas for the next two hours, then went wandering around the main strip....
Oh and i almost forgot to mention the nightly multiple callejonada's that come parading down the street..(literally). 
Usually they have small cups for vodka or tequila that is flowing freely to any participant or larger cups to accompany the beer. They follow the sidewalks, playing their drums and instruments (loudly) while throngs of people follow after them, singing and drinking their way around the city. It is quite the spectacle!
I think they were trying to do a cover from Metallica.... I felt like i was at a bad karaoke party. Pepe met up with us at the "rock party" and we headed off to his favorito coffee place. We riddled him with questions about his life here in Zacatecas for the next two hours, then went wandering around the main strip....Oh and i almost forgot to mention the nightly multiple callejonada's that come parading down the street..(literally). Usually they have small cups for vodka or tequila that is flowing freely to any participant or larger cups to accompany the beer. They follow the sidewalks, playing their drums and instruments (loudly) while throngs of people follow after them, singing and drinking their way around the city. It is quite the spectacle!
We are suffering for our work, can't you tell?
yay for fruit and veggies! Fresh avacados and handmade tortillas? delish! 
A word to the wise... make friends with the tortilla making lady, she will hook you up! And then the crazy little guy running the front desk let us borrow a very large knife, you should have seen the charades to explain the word for "knife"....
It is pretty warm bordering on hot in the afternoons but it cools off in the evenings. The daily hustle and bustle of the day dissolves into a cacophony of honking, car alarms, street bands, blaring car music, shouts and laughter from passing partygoers. After three almost sleepless nights we finally found earplugs... the greatest invention known to mankind if you ask me. And everyone is in such a better mood when they get sleep, go figure. =) 
This is the view from the balcony of our room.... 
Before meeting our interpreters and families... 
This is Sarah or "Sarita" my research partner.... 
she should be in a boot for her tendonitis...*ahem* however, she managed to talk her way into getting one AFTER the trip so she is forced to sidestep or walk backwards up inclines which is most streets here. Sorry Sarita!
However it does make it easier to have a conversation. ;) 
We finally made it to the top and a fantastic view greeted us with amazing weather and a rockin cool breeze. I now have a really attractive farmers tan, thanks to the sun's vicious rays and according to Sarita, my inability to apply sunscreen properly. 
At the top we found an old monastery with a mausoleum and an observatorio along with many food stalls and overpriced tourist trinkets for sale. 
We were able to check in early to the hotel and pretty much passed out asleep 
until the stirrings of hunger pangs drove us from our rooms in the wee afternoon hours in search of comida. 
This is such a gorgeous city. Everything is so colorful!! I love it! After lunch we hit the banks for currency exchange and wandered around. 
Sarah and I explored random streets to see where we would end up... maps are for the unadventurous..... or the not so bright sometimes. but you never know what you will find....
Like we stumbled upon the museum dedicated to DIEGO RIVERA!!! (thank you Union for my ID, I got in for 5 pesos whereas the swiemo had to pay 10 pesos more because she didn’t have it. and no a california driver's license doesn't work.) It was a fantastic 4 floor dedication to the mastery and progression of his work….up until the Mexican muralist movement of the early 1900’s. Sorry…moving on. After a short siesta, Christina and I went up to the lookout of the city... 
After dinner we wandered the streets in awe of the festive nightlife and random serenades of the traveling musicians dressed in all sorts of costumes as people strolled around the park otherwise known as "lover's lane". The whole town lights up at night.
Umm Sarah... our drinks just cost the equivalent of 14.5 tacos....
I guess we are not eating this week... ;)
