Hi guys!

well, mexico is madness! flying in above mexico city on the plane at stupid o´clock was quite some experince. it goes on for absolutely miles and miles. all the buildings are dead colourful. we managed to get out of the airport about two hours after we landed, having had a bit of trouble with the immigration people, and a really mean lady who didn´t appreciate our delirious laughter. (We had been awake for nearly 24 hours, but still)

we met the mexico representative of GAP, jose luis, and got a taxi to his home town of tula, about an hour and a half out of mex. city.

my god, do they go for speed bump here or what! there´s one every few metres.
we got the hotel (Very mexican) and passed out, before waking up at 5 in the morning wondering why we weren´t tired any more.

that day, we went shopping and got some mobile phones, had a look round the supermarkets etc. and then we were invited by jose luis and his wife lulu to jose´s dad´s birthday party!

so, off we went, crammed into his huge car with his two daughters. arrived at the house to find that it was a catered party for 200 relatives and friends, and people had come from the US to be there. all the tables were orange to match the house, it was amazing. all of the family were shaking hands with us and hugging us, which was nice after just being stared at in the street by all the locals because we´re white.

the food is well wierd. beans and rice, with pork, ´sheep´, some spicey burnt oxo cube tasting sauce called mole, LOADS of chilli (we even have it for breakfast and on fruit) and of course, birthday cake. the party food was really nice, and we were starving because they don´t have luch till 3 here.

so, the party was getting under way when suddenly we hear some trumpets from the driveway and in comes a mariachi band! 3 trumpets, and accordian, harp, big and little guitar and a guy in a huge sombrero with a fake gun. it was mental!
We managed to do everything typically mexican in just one day!

And I must say, it was rather pleasant sitting in the sun with a coronita and lime watching the band!

yesterday, we went to an archeological site and saw loads of statues and leant about the human sacrifice of sporting heroes, and today, we´ve been swimming in some natural springs.

the weather is really nice, about 17 degrees, so not too hot but it´s a bit chilly in the evenings like.

tomorrow morning we´re off to mexico city again to catch the bus to our placements, quite exciting, but everyone here has been really nice, and it´s quite good to be with people who can speak some english for the first few days at least!

Anyway, seeing as it´s our last night, we´re going to go and have a look round tula and get some ice cream or something, and then pack again. there are clothes all over our room!

So bye for now!