Mexican Independence Day

This weekend was exciting. The 16th of September is Mexican Independence Day and the kids got Monday and Tuesday off of school.
On Saturday we went to a Regatta de Globos, which is when people make these tissue paper balloons that are inflated with hot air and let go into the sky. We had seen one of these balloons before, so we were very excited to see more. The hot air comes from some kind of fuel burning at the bottom of the balloon. Sometimes, in the case of smaller ones, it is toilet paper dipped in paraffin, but for larger ones it is cloth or something else soaked in gas mixed with oil. Being tissue paper, of course they are very flammable and often times burn up a few dozen meters above the ground and the fuel rockets flaming to the earth. This event would never happen in the US. Here are some of our favorite balloons. You can tell that some take hours and maybe days to assemble.

Dave calls this one "The Mexican Space Program"

On Monday, we attended a part of the celebration called El Grito. We went to the plaza in Ajijic at about 10pm, ate some tacos, bought some funny glasses and headgear and waited for the main ceremony to begin. It had been raining all day, so we found a good spot under the gazebo to watch. I didn't understand almost any of it, but at one point we started to chant "Viva" after which the announcer would follow with "Mexico". I was glad in the end that we went to see it even though it was raining and we had 4 grumpy, tired kids with us.

On Tuesday, we woke the kids up early to participate in a parade in Chapala that featured all the schools in the area. I didn't really understand the purpose, but then again, what is the purpose of any parade? Jane and Riley both got put in the front row so I was able to get these good pictures, one of the benefits of being short. Others that participated in the parade: military, police dogs, school bands, and children and old people in traditional costume.





I also took pictures of some of the more impressive school uniforms. My favorite is the one with high heels that (I think) for a secretarial training school.

After the parade, since it was a holiday for the kids, but not for Dave, Laura and I took the kids to a museum type place in Guadalajara. It was a lot like the children's museum at the Gateway in Salt Lake, or one that we went to in New Orleans a few years ago. Although much cheaper. Adults were 40 pesos and kids, 25 (about $4 and $2.50). I wish Disney would open a park here. It would be a steal.

The highlights:
Legos and plastic food




giant pin toy

zipline


and everyone's favorite, bungie bounce.



Overall, a fun weekend. Viva Mexico.