November 21, 2008

Do you know what happens when you almost touch the sun? Well, I do....you get burnt!! It's a good burn though and well worth it. Today, Lynda and I climbed to the rim of the active volcano that is located about 1 1/2 hrs from Toluca, Mexico. Jesus, our driver, drove us (in our luxury transporation - seriously....it's a brand new car with sun roof and leather interior) as far as he could to the bottom of the foot path. The drive itself was a bit of an adventure. No other luxury cars on that road for sure. Pavement for the first 45 minutes and rough gravel for the last 45. By the time we had reached the parking lot, the air was noticably thinner and it was obvious that breathing during the climb was going to be a bit of a challenge...but since we're in such great shape - we went for it. To heck with training for a climb :) Happily, I'm here to report that we lived to tell the tale and what a memory we created in the process. The plan was to take 50 steps up the path and then pause to recover your breath...in short order the 50 became 25 and soon later it became 10 but....eventually we made it all the way and what a view we were met with! I don't think I've mentioned in any of my blogs that I've had a bit of an intestinal issue for the past week or so. It's really no big deal and i feel fine but when I need a banyo...I need a banyo! Sadly, there are no bathrooms on the volcano so I had to make the best of a bad situation and find a place to create my own. Please don't use your imagination too hard on this picture as I don't think it would have been a pretty one for anyone coming up or down the path. Happily, there was no one and so I was able to finish my "job" and get going again. Lynda, good Girl Guide that she is, had the most amazing little pellets of cloth. Magically, all you have to do is put about a tablespoon of water on them and you can have a veritable bath with one of these magic little wipes. I think that was the best bathroom I've ever used...although it was a little stressful not knowing if or when someone would round a corner. If they did, I'm sure they would have been frightened off immediately. Seriously though, the view from the rim was outstanding. The skies were so clear when we arrived and by the time we left a low cloud was beginning to settle into the crater where there are two lakes nestled amid the massive cavity. How lucky we were again to have the cloud wait till we managed to make our way to the top! I think this trip might even have to be titled, "Suerte". Suerte is spanish for lucky. We've been so lucky at every turn of our travels!

Making our way down the volcano was easier than the climb but perhaps more dangerous. I lost my footing near the bottom of the trail (getting sloppy and not paying close attention to where my feet were placed). The trail was loose gravel and very slippery as a result. I didn't go down too hard (just to one knee) and since I had jeans on it was no problem. I suspect we'll both be a little sore tomorrow just from the climb alone.

The other part of that climb that I really must mention is that here everyone thinks it is winter, but I just think it is really a cool and sunny day. So....I carried my sweater just in case but didn't need it for the entire hike. I loved the cool wind that was blowing and the sun really is hot when you're that close to it! I have the burns to prove it. Interestingly, I was the only person who didn't need a parka on the trip up the mountain! Even Lynda was bundled in her sweater with hood up. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that though as I've seen her at Headwaters under a mountain of blankets when it's really quite beautiful in my mind. She's sitting over my shoulder reading as I type and says I have to tell you that all the people here have down filled parkas, scarves, and boots (Jesus even had gloves) so she says that I'm the odd man out in this picture and once you see some of our pictures you'll know she is telling the truth. There were a few people climbing the mountain (some hikers from Switzerland were even dressed in their ski pants for the cold weather - but I think they were way overdressed~!) and we did take a photo with one group of young people who couldn't believe that I was 1/2 naked. They were all bundled up and freezing and there I was at 15,000 ft altitude in my sleeveless shirt and loving it. They came to see the volcano but were more impressed with the gringo who was obviously a few bricks short of a load in their mind. Anyway....it was an amazing thing to do and what a memory it will be!

By the time we made it back to civilization, we were starved so went for lunch in a great little local restaurant with Jesus and the total bill for all three of us was around $10....how great is that?! I must stop here and make sure you all know that Jesus isn't the guy in the Bible....you pronounce his name Hayzeus but it's spelled Jesus. Although, he has been a bit of a saviour so maybe he is connected to the big guy in the sky. I think I mentioned earlier that there was some kind of divine intervention in our meeting him but really, I think he's just a guy.

After lunch we felt revived enough to tackle another mountain so headed for Teotenango. Surely the volcano was training enough for any physical feat we may want to undertake. In fact, we're discussing entering the Ironman this year but every bike we've tried to ride has no tires or no seat so our training is a little weak in that area. And the lakes at the top of the volcano were a tad nippy so we weren't able to stay in them for very long. Instead we've decided to do all of our training in the hotel shower where it is nice and warm and there is little chance of drowning.

Teotenango is an amazing archaeological site. It is about 3000 years old and in amazing condition. To access it however, we had to climb another mountain. Seriously though and most amazingly, neither of us felt overly stressed by that climb. It was extremely high (probably about the same as climbing Giants Head from my house - maybe even higher than that) but neither of us had to stop the whole way up. So either our training in the morning had taken hold very quickly or the ancestors of that amazing place were carrying us on their shoulders. (Jesus by the way, remained in the car so he can't have any credit for any of our climbs today) Once we arrived at the site, there were so many pyramid like structures and stairs (super steep and super high risers so difficult to climb). You could almost see what the site would have looked like a thousand years before when the Aztecs were in residence. One of the pyramids was the site of the human sacrifices and that was an odd feeling to explore being on those same stairs leading up to the alter at the top. I asked Lynda to lie down for a photo but she wouldn't do it - go figger?? I thought she would be game for that for sure but nope....she didn't like the idea at all. I wonder why??!! Coming down was so amazing for both of us. We had no idea how far up we had climbed until we were into our decent that went on forever. In fact, I burned out my pedometer today...it actually stopped working because I put on too many miles!!! Yikes!!! Penticton Steps Out - Okanagan College will be in the lead after this trip!

Jesus has been so helpful but it really is so funny too. Remember, he has no English. Today, I was so curious about all the field of dead corn everywhere we went. Finally, he stopped the car on the side of the highway, got out and picked a cob of corn (that is actually Maiz) and explained that it is left on the stalk to dry before it is picked for processing. The kernels are used (like dried beans) by rehydrating in soup (Pazoli is a national soup that they eat every Thursday in Mexico) or by grinding into corn flour for tortillas. I had no idea that they left it on the stalk till it was dry...and it looks very odd to see field after field of dead corn stalks.

Back at the hotel, Lynda and I went into the mall beside our hotel and had a delicious treat. A little shop had a coffee called Cafe de Abuela (coffee of the grandmother) so both of us decided to give it a try and yummy!!! Much like the rice pudding that ended our lunch....I was tempted to lick out my cup after it was all gone. At lunch, I actually did lick my plate from the rice pudding, it was that good! For dinner tonight we tried something totally new in the mall. It was just a cup of cooked corn (off the cob) topped with a dab of butter, some light sour cream, a blob of mayonaise, and sprinkled with grated white cheese. You could add your own hot sauce, lime juice or chili powder and salt. It was great! Maybe I'll make some for a Mexican party next summer :) We purchased a map and are beginning to think that Mexico is a great place to travel. Our fingers are flying from coast to coast as we vision what might lie ahead for us.

Tomorrow morning we're off to Mexico City (about 45 mins away) where we'll spend the day and then return to our very comfortable hotel here. On Sunday a.m. we'll catch a bus for wherever the next leg of our journey turns out to be.

Till next time,
Lorrie