Well, we had another setback. The planned trip to the factory wasn't possible, since the factory didn't have time to arrange it. All of the museums in the city are closed on Mondays, so we had to find something we could do that was open. I decided we would go to Xochimilco, (so-she-meal-co) which is the site of the floating gardens, an area where the folks used to grow crops on floating vegetation islands. Two of our students had been attacked by a bout of Montezuma's revenge, so I got them some Lomotil and told them we'd be back for them after lunch.
We set out for our destination at 9:00 and it took us and hour and forty-five minutes to get there. The driver made a couple of wrong turns and it took about 35 minutes to get straightened out.
This is the group shot for the morning. Everyone got on board one of the boats that are poled by a guy at the back. They generally have a cover and a table with chairs or benches down both sides. Vendors will sell you food, beer, drinks, and many other thngs. You can also eat while aboard as it is a leisurely trip across to the other side and back.
This is the afternoon traffic jam, but is typical of what we experienced in the morning. It took us forever to get to the gardens.
We eventually got on the southboard street that took us to the area of the gardens. The train to the side there is a light rail train with rubber tires. Stations all along the way have symbols that tell the many illiterate people who ride these cars when they are in the right station. A nice quiet ride, from what I hear. At least the train can't get lost.
On the water you encounter many other boats. All are brightly decorated and they occasionally bump into one another. One guy seemed to go out of his way to run into us several times.
One of the many vendors who work the waterways. This guy was selling homemade souvenirs and a good selection of blankets and wall hangings. They pull along side and deal without coming into the boat.
This guy is selling silver jewelry. He was unique in that he boarded our boat from another boat. He apparently just moves from boat to boat all day. He had a good speil and apparently some good prices, since a couple of the girls bought rings or earrings. After he made a sale he stepped onto another boat heading the other way. Almost like he walks on water.
The area used to be a garden spot and it has now continued that tradition by producing and selling nursery stock. Apparently, you could get to this site by either boat or from the land in a car.
We passed by a load of folks, mostly women, from a church group. They had a marimba player aboard and struck up a tune and several couples danced. Here we can see a young guy dancing with a little old lady. Notice there are two pole men on this big boat.
After we had eaten chicken tacos and some kind of mystery meat plate lunches and drank about a case of beer, we returned to the dock. I called the hotel and found the two sick guys to be responding well to the drugs. We said we'd come by and get them and then we would head for Teotihuacan to see the pyramids. I took us an hour and five minutes to get back to the hotel, a distance of about 13 miles.
Everyone dashed into the hotel and changed clothes and got ready to head for the pyramids and we got underway at 2:30.
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May 27, 2003
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