The drive to the National Museum of Anthropology from Condesa, a leafy, upscale neighborhood in Mexico City, is normally a ten-minute one. Because of a large farmers protest march on Reforma, a main artery of Mexico City, the ride took an hour and twenty minutes. The following day, after a one-hour drive to Topototzlan, the drive back took forty minutes longer because of a taxi drivers protest march on Reforma. Taxistas were protesting Uber´s permission to pick up riders at the airport.
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MANIFESTACIÓN EN LA CALLE REFORMA – MÉXICO |
Allowed by a leftist-leaning government, protest marches take place approximately half the year in D.F. The traffic can be terrible, but it is the only thing not to love about this magnificent city of 23 million people.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY – An extension of Chapultepec Park, this superb museum covering almost twenty acres is almost as impressive for its architecture as it is for the centuries of art and artifacts inside.
The monumental building is a long rectangular courtyard with an enormous pond and exhibition halls ringed by gardens, many of which have outdoor exhibits of reproductions of ancient temples, wall paintings, etc. The courtyard is partially covered by a gigantic, concrete “umbrella” supported by a single decorated column.
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EL ¨PARAGUAS” – MUSEO NACIÓNAL DE ANTROPOLOGÍA – MÉXICO |
THE CASTLE IN CHAPULTEPEC PARK – EL CASTILLO
It is a short walk across Reforma to “El Bosque de Chapultepec,” the largest city park in Latin America. The forested park, which supplies oxygen to Mexico City, covers 1,695 acres. Chapultepec Park contains ancient ruins, museums, a zoo, botanical gardens, a lake for boat rentals, and set up on a rocky hill, Chapultepec Castle. This is where the Emperor Maximilian and his wife Carlota lived and reigned from 1863 until 1867, when Maximilian was executed as an “usurper.” The history is fascinating.
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CASTILLO DE CHAPULTEPEC |
Chapultepec Castle, now a museum, is filled with beautiful rooms containing gorgeous furnishings and stained glass windows. Carlota´s bathroom, with its graceful, white marble bathtub, delicate floral wall tiles and peacock blue silk chaise, is the prettiest I´ve seen anywhere. (Unaware of chamber pots, a curious tourist asked me why there wasn´t a toilet in the bathroom).
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BAÑO DE CARLOTA – CASTILLO DE CHAPULTEPEC |
THE BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE is on the way to the pyramids, and Alejandro (“Alex”) Guillen, our guide and driver, suggested we make the stop. Before the Spaniards arrived in 1519, indigenous people had been worshiping an important mother goddess at a temple on a small hill in what is now Mexico City. In 1531, after the Spanish had destroyed the temple, Juan Diego reported his three visions to the local bishop. A chapel was subsequently built where the temple had once stood, and immediately attracted throngs of worshipers.
To accommodate the many pilgrims, work on a basilica began in 1695 and was completed in 1709. Because Mexico City was built on a lake, the foundation of the old basilica is visibly sinking. The modern basilica, completed in 1976, holds the original portrait of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the cloak of Juan Diego and ten thousand worshipers. The circular floor plan allows everyone a view of the portrait.
THE NOT-BEAUTIFUL NEW BASILICA NEXT TO THE OLD ONE. LA NUEVA BASILICA A UN LADO DE LA VIEJA BASILICA – ESPACIO PARA 10,000 DEVOTOS. |
TEOTIHUACAN – An hour´s drive from Mexico City and important to arrive early to avoid crowds. Covering 11 square miles, Teotihuacan, at its zenith and with 125,000 inhabitants, was the largest city in Pre-Columbian America. Connected by the Avenue of the Dead (“Calzada de los Muertos”), the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon were both constructed circa 300 AD. The complex of Teotihuacan is all original – no reconstruction.
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SON CHRISTIAN, WIFE AMY AND CHILDREN – JUST BEFORE CLIMBING THE PYRAMID OF THE SUN. HIJO CRISTIAN, SU ESPOSA AMY Y SUS TRES NIÑOS ANTES DE SUBIR EL PIRÁMIDE DEL SOL. |
The weather was perfect, in the low 70´s, when we arrived about 10 in the morning, so climbing to the top of a pyramid wasn´t daunting. In order to help protect the pyramids from deterioration, this is the last year that tourists will be able to climb up them. My family and I chose the Pyramid of the Sun, because at 215 feet high and with 248 steps, it is the highest pyramid in the complex, would have the most dramatic views, and looked excitedly space age. It was also the closest one to the parking lot we were using.
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PIRÁMIDE DEL SOL |
The Pyramid of the Moon, at the north end of Tetihuacan, is 141 feet high with a shape that mirrors the mountain (“Cerro Gordo”) behind it.
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VISTA DEL PIRÁMIDE DE LA LUNA DEL PIRÁMIDE DEL SOL – VIEW OF THE PYRAMID OF THE MOON FROM THE PYRAMID OF THE SUN |
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AVENUE OF THE DEAD WALKING TOWARDS THE PYRAMID OF THE MOON CALZADA DE LOS MUERTOS CAMINANDO HASTA EL PIRÁMIDE DE LA LUNA |
The climb up three million tons of cobbled together stone was not a very strenuous one. At the very top of the pyramid and having in mind human sacrifices (knives inserted through the back between the fourth and fifth rib and a beating heart removed in seven seconds), there was a medium-size homeless dog lying peacefully in the sun. Her teats indicated having nursed multiple litters of puppies and I wondered why she had climbed up 248 steps … escaping from male dogs … hoping for food… hoping to be taken home … or simply an adventure.
There are estimates of from 1 million to 5 million homeless dogs living in Mexico City.
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CALLEJERA TODA ARRIBA DEL PIRÁMIDE DEL SOL |
I highly recommend Alejandro Guillen, former professor of anthropology and history at the University of Mexico as a guide. “Alex” is not only extremely knowledgeable (he is the only guide in Mexico to receive the highest rating of “Distinctivo M” from the government), he is charming and fun to spend time with. [email protected] http://www.travel4life.com.mx/
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SAN VICENTE, NAYARIT |
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(SANTA) ELENA -CLÍNICA EN SAN VICENTE, NAYARIT |
STERILIZATIONS IN SAN VICENTE, NAYARIT – NOVEMBER 22-25:
Male dogs – 19; Female dogs – 54; Male cats – 23; Female cats – 54 TOTAL: 150!
PLUS 1 pregnancy terminated for cat with 4 fetuses
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WAITING FOR SURGERY – CLÍNICA EN SAN VICENTE – ESPERANDO CIRUGÍA |
DONATIONS AT CLINIC IN SAN VICENTE: 1,800 pesos
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RECUPERANDO DESPUÉS DE ESTERILIZACIÓN – CLÍNICA EN SAN VICENTE, NAYARIT – ON RECOVERY TABLE |
The Marchig Animal Welfare Trust was established in 1989 by the late
Madame Jeanne Marchig of Geneva, because of her deep concern for nature and animals and in memory of her husband, the painter Giannino Marchig. The objects of the Trust are to protect animals and to promote and encourage practical work in preventing animal cruelty and the relief of animal suffering. |
DONATIONS TO PEACEANIMALS:
The Dahl Foundation – $10,000 USD
Hadene Klassnik – $100 USD – “In loving memory of CHARLIE GIRL – Dearest companion who will be missed so much. With all my love.”
NOTE: Sterilization cost per cat or dog for PEACEAnimals is approximately $11.35 USD. Monthly donations in any amount from animal lovers will be a big help to the clinics. Automatic bank payments are easy to set up via the internet. Monthly checks also appreciated. Please consider.
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DR.PACHECO – CLÍNICA EN SAN VICENTE |
The mission of PEACEAnimals is to end the future suffering of cats and dogs. The most efficient way to do this is via a massive, free spay/neuter clinic. In 2016, PEACEAnimals sterilized 5,403 cats and dogs.
PARA FOTOS,/NOMBRES Y INFORMACIÓN DE LOS PERROS EN EL CENTRO DE ACOPIO QUE NECESITAN HOGARES:
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BOLSAS DE PEACEANIMALS EN VENTA
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La Cruz Inn – at the plaza in la Cruz, Nayarit
Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens (gift shop)
Salon Divas- Melchor Ocampo 51 – Bucerias
November 29-December 2 – La Peñita, Nayarit – Pets for Life
December 6-9 – San Pancho, Nayarit – Pets for Life
VACACIÓNES/CHRISTMAS VACATION
January 3-6 – Parque los Coyules – Calle los Coyules- esquina Calle la Capilla – Barrio Santa María, Puerto Vallarta
January 10-13 – El Porvenir, Nayarit
January 17-20 – Puerto Vallarta – TBA
January 24-27 – San Blas, Nayarit – PETS FOR LIFE
February
March – Tomatlán, Cabo Corrientes
April
December – sponsored by the SPCAPV
January – sterilization of 30 animals sponsored by Steve Stowell
February – anonymous donor – plus 11 additional clinics –
which totals 360 cats and dogs @ $3,250 USD
March – sponsored by PEACEAnimals board member, Trisha Aljoe
The clinics take place in the cultural center on the first Sunday of every month. Registration is at 7:30 AM. The island is overrun with cats and kittens.
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CLÍNICA EN SAN VICENTE |
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Please “like” PEACEAnimals on FaceBook.
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http://www.peaceanimals.org/volunteer_1/volunteer_duties
WE NEED DONATIONS OF USED AND NEW KENNELS FOR CATS AND DOGS OF ALL SIZES. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE USED OR NEW COLLARS AND LEASHES TO DOG OWNERS WHO BRING THEIR PETS TO THE CLINICS.
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PEACEANIMALS VET TEAM – EL EQUIPO DE PEACEANIMALS – DR. ANTHONY, LESLIE, DR. POLI Y DR. PACHECO
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NECESITAMOS LUGARES PARA NUESTRAS CLÍNICAS EN COLONIAS Y PUEBLOS. PRECISO: BAÑO, ELECTRICIDAD, AGUA Y PARA ESTACIONARSE.
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