Monday, February 23, 2009

Butterfly Snow

I could not stop taking pictures and video of the butterflies hanging on the trees, weighing them down in clumps. When they moved, or cascaded, you could actually hear their wings flapping. They showered down to another tree like fluffy snowflakes falling from the sky.

I hope this clip gives you a clear picture of what was happening.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

At the top of the Sun!


I happily arrived at the top of the Pyramid of the Sun. The climb included flat spots along the way, which allowed us to rest and catch our breath. As the climb became steeper, thank you inclined planes!, there were cables covered in plastic to hold onto and pull us up the steps.

In the background you can see the Pyramid of the Moon. The three of us pictured here are the members of this group that represented Illinois! I was the only teacher, but both Mrs. Sanford (Miss Aggie) and Mrs. Arvia a master gardener from Frankfort, Illinois enjoyed learning together about the culture, the people and the butterflies of Mexico!

The actual top is a mound of stones. Once we reached the flat platform area, we jumped up on the stones and climbed the last few steps. It was certainly the most awesome thing I have experienced in my life! What a view!

The Avenue of the Dead


I am seated at the top of one of the smaller platforms on the Avenue of the Dead. This kind of architecture is called tablero-talud because of steps and then flat areas. It may have been the place where the people lived, like their house! In the background is the Pyramid of the Sun which is found in Teotihuacan near Mexico City.

The pyramids of the Sun and Moon, as well as many others, are designed in such a way that on March 21 and September 21, the shadows that fall on them will look like a snake crawling down the steps. These dates are the spring and fall equinox, which means there are equal hours of day and night because of the tilt of the earth towards the sun. It is amazing to think such ancient people had the knowledge to know just how to construct these huge structures and create a snake like shadow slithering down the pyramid steps!

Shrine of Guadalupe


Earlier in the day, before the pyramids, we visited the Lady Of Guadalupe. We learned about how the ancient people accepted the Lady and how it got the native to change from worshiping their gods, and change to Christianity.

Juan Diego, a native, was visited by a girl, now called Lady of Guadalupe. Speaking in his native language, Nahautl, the girl asked that a church be built at the site of their meeting. Diego told this story to the Spanish Bishop, but the bishop wanted the proof of this event. The Lady told Diego to gather flowers, even thought it was winter and there were none. He found roses not indigenous to the area, but were found in where the bishop had once lived. Diego gathered the flowers, and The Lady arranged them on a tilma, or peasant cloth. When Diego presented the tilma to the bishop, the lady appeared.

Because it is believed that this event occurred around the beginning of December, and so December 12 is recognized as the Feast Day. The people of Mexico participate in a pilgrimage to visit the shrine over many weeks, not only on December 12. As you know, the population of Mexico City is over 12 million. This means not everyone cannot visit the shrine on December 12. The day before we viewed the tilma and the grounds, 60,000 people had arrived at the shrine! Luckily, there were very few there when we visted!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

The Pyramids, The Sun and The Moon


I did it! I climbed all 260 steps at the Pyramid of the Sun! I have some awesome pictures of me at the top, with the Pyramid of the Moon in the background. Can you believe there were even butterflies fluttering around and playing at the top with us? They were not Monarchs, but we think some type of black swallow tail butterfly.

The Avenue of the Dead, the street that runs from the Moon to the Sun, has several smaller platforms you can climb and sit on. While we were in this area a man gave a demonstration of how the ancient people painted their pyramids! The cactus plant has aphids, similar to the ones we can find on the milkweed, that they can crush and make a paint color that is bright red. The stem of a native thistle plant when wetted makes a yellow color. Cactus juice is used to set the color so it does not rub off. I have samples of both colors to show you. Archeologists have been studying the colors they have found at the ancient ruins and have concluded they come from natural plants.






Friday, February 20, 2009

Today, the pyramids!

Today we finally climb the pyramids. Yesterdays pyramids were actually ruins which we only walked around and viewed. There are 260 steps to the top of the Sun, but do not worry, there will be a cable for us to hold onto!!! Everyone is very supportive of each other, so I know we will all get to where we are going.

I will have a complete food blog for you when I return. Basically for breakfast we have eggs, lots and lots of wonderful tropical fruit (remember our rainforest fruits! yum) and several Mexican foods like burritos, beans and quesadillas. Interesting huh?

I won't tell you what looked at me from my lunch dish the other day until I can post the picture. What do you think it could be??

I will see you all very soon. Adios!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Tzintzuntzan



Hello Everyone! I´ve read all your posts and wish I had more time to respond! Yes Alli, I tasted the cactus juice, it tasted like grass...but actually not too bad! Thank you Ellen for your good wishes to the top of the pyramids! I think I am rested and won´t need to be carried to the top!!

Today we went to the ruins in Tzintzuntzan. Can you say that? It sounds like sin-soon-sahn, I can´t say it without looking at the pronunciation! The pyramids were left behind when the Purepecha abandoned the city when they were invaded. Because they left, it also meant that the pyramids remained. In other parts of the country where the native people had their pyramids, they were destroyed, taken apart, and the stones were used for other buildings. Many of those buildings were churches because the Spanish wanted to convert the natives to Catholicsm. They took the stones from their pyramids and used them to build the churches with an open worship area. This allowed the natives to remain outside the church, but brought them closer to the Spanish's religious beliefs.

One of the churches we saw had the most beautiful flower arrangements all over the inside AND outside of the building! They had just celebrated a special event and the church was decorated and colorful. The women were cleaning the floors, had removed all the pews, and were mopping and scrubbing the colorful tile floors. Many stones from the pyramids were definitely part of this building as we could see the symbols used by the natives.

In the afternoon we went to the capitol of Michoacan, Morelia. There were many buildings dating back to the 1600's, and they had amazing architecture and stone work. All the streets were cobblestone streets with stores and wonderful restaurants. It is an amazing city of two million people! I was shocked to see so many people and cars! It is the third largest city in Mexico. I have more information to share with you about Mexico City, but that will have to be tomorrow!

I will try to download some pictures, but they are kicking me out of the computer room here in Mexico City! I have some great ruins to show you from Tzintzuntzan!

The school on the island of Pacanda



Wednesday we visited the school on the island of Pacanda. There are seven islands in the lake near Patzcuaro. We took a flat bottomed boat to the island, as the lake is only two meters deep! The children were all dressed in traditional Purepecha clothing and shared their culture and language with this traveling band of teachers.

Long before the Spanish arrived in Mexico, there were many different languages and indigenous people. Today there are only three native languages, and in this region the families speak Purepecha. It sounds Native American not Spanish. Because the people do not want to lose this ancient language, they are now teaching both Spanish and Purepecha. They consider the schools to be bilingual!

I had one of the students read with me the book we made. They are very shy but did their best to communicate with the English speaking guests. We made caterpillar pencils, stamped folders and played with some toys brought by the teachers.

We were entertained by all the students when they danced and sang in the common area near their classrooms. The native dress was colorful and very beautiful.

After the entertainment, we were served a native meal. Lunch is the big meal of the day in this country. The women, or PTO as our instructor calls them, made tortillas, rice, beans, and fish. Yes, I looked down at my plate and something stared back at me! I broke off the tail and pulled back the skin... and it wasn't too bad! Oh yes, they do not use silverware of any kind, so we used the tortillas as our silverware! The women also made corn tamales that were wrapped in the leaf of the corn plant and boiled or steamed in a pot. All the cooking was done over open fires and the women would reach in and grab the tamales with their hands. OUCH! it looked very hot!

We made our way from the island to another island called Janitzio. It was all uphill to the monument on the top. Although my legs were crying, I made it to the top. (I need a trainer for the next trip, EJ??) I WILL get to the top of the pyramids if I have to crawl....but that is Friday.

On the island of Janitzio there were many shops and the people were so wonderful. A local merchant kept GIVING me things because I came back to buy more souvenirs. They are dependent on the tourists to provide them with an income.

Mariposa Day Dos!


Our group spent an almost perfect day Tuesday at the second butterfly sanctuary called Sierra Chincua. I actually rode a horse, using a guide, to the entrance of the site where all the butterflies were roosting. Those animals are certainly sure footed! I do have a picture of myself on the horse...we will use it for some comedy routine when I return!!

The butterflies were just dripping from the branches of the trees. This santuary was protected by the national police to prevent logging, just like the rainforest. People do not live there year round, so the police watch the land. There were some locals deep in the santuary. One young man showed me the tags he found from over ten butterflies. When the butterflies move down the mountain this boy would go to the roosting place and look for tags. He said someone from the Chicago was coming to buy them from him! This is one of the many ways the people of these rural regions make money. They live very simpley and are very poor.... no running water, minimal electricity.

During the time we spent watching the butterflies the frequently cascaded. This means suddenly they all fly from trees and move to another. I have several videos I will try to post.

I did learn that many of the butterflies that we saw dead at El Rosario were actually due to a deer mouse preditor. They eat the body of the butterfly and leave the wings. At Sierra Chincua we saw few dead butterflies. This is partly due to the fact that they are now moving down the mountain looking for water and nectaring sources. Many butterflies die of starvation or dehydration, how sad!

We did not have a public computer her in Patzcuaro, so I am using another teacher's computer. We return to Mexico City today, so I am unsure how soon I can blog again.

Monday, February 16, 2009

El Rosario

Mrs. Green at the beginning of her journey up the mountain to the butterflies.




This butterfly is trying to warm up by shivering.



Name that Simple Machine











These are simple machines from the silver mine, can you name them?




The Two Star Silver Mine






This is the entrance to a closed silver mine near Tlalpujahua where native people worked as slaves to mine the gold and silver. The miners worked 10 to 16 hours a day.




The life expectancy of a mine worker was ten years. Because many of them started working at the age of 15, this meant that they died very young! Most died from a lung disease caused by the silica the accumulated in their lungs.




The miners pay was in mine script. The miners could only use this miner´s money at the miner store!

Mariposa Day!



Today we walked up ramps and steps, also known as inclined planes, to an altitude of 10,000 feet! The climb itself was not difficult, it was the breathing. We took frequent breaks, and after walking an hour and a half, we reached trees where the mariposas were roosting. Actually, they were flying all around us almost the entire walk up the mountain! As we approached the top, there were tons of mariposas flying around and dotting the sky. We entered a clearing to find MANY dead mariposas that may have died from the cold or lack of food.

This picture of the mariposas, Mrs. Sanford (The Water Wizard!) and I found on our road less traveled. As we headed down the mountain we somehow took the wrong path! We found ourselves in this clearing with a stream where hundreds of mariposas were puddling (drinking)! Luckily for us, a native family came through and helped us find our way back to the main path.....I actually remembered an important Spanish word, "salida", which means exit! Phew, then the downhill walk! By the time I reached the bottom, my legs were shaking so badly! Really, my knees felt like jello! I will sleep well tonight. I took pictures of many simple machines from the silver mine. Watch for them to show up on the blog.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Village Market Place


Only on Sunday, these village people come down from the mountains to attend church and shop at the market.
There are clothes, shoes, toys, and food. Here you see the merchants selling cactus that can be used in food such as bread or juices. Cactus has been served at several of our meals! Cactus can also be used for paper, sewing, a water source, as cement for building and as a medicine.
Tomorrow I might even try some cactus juice with breakfast before we go to the colonies to see the butterflies!
Adios!

Hello from Mexico

Hi Kids! This is the Aztec Calendar I saw at the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City. The artifacts were amazing! These date from 200 b.c. to 1500 a.d.

Today we traveled up the mountain to a tiny village called Tlalpujahua to see the local market and church. I will have many more pictures of all the foods and the indigenous people.

I am traveling with 35 teachers and butterfly enthusiasts from Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Iowa, and seven people from Canada.

Tomorrow we go to the first butterfly sanctuary in El Rosario. I have spoken some Spanish successfully, and I am even mastering the money and computer issues.