Literal doesn't mean literate....

OK, so in Intro to Theatre this semster, I have my students do a final project. They read a play that we have not covered in class and they choose from several options: playwright, actor, designer, publicity, etc. and do that job for the play they choose. Top two plays are: A Raisin in the Sun and Death of a Salesman...ugh...if I never see another project on either of those, I...but I digress... A student did a publicity campaign on A Raisin in the Sun. I ask them to do a short presentation where they tell me what their target audience is and their theme for the campaign (which is supposed to be in line with the director's concept). She got up and said, "my target audience is everyone because everyone should see this play...sigh...whatever. Then she held up her poster. It had a 5-year-old's drawing of a yellow sun, and below the sun was lettering on it for the title, date, time, etc. She said, "well, my theme is, well, there's a sun on it..." I thought good god...yawn, lame... THIS IS NOT THE BEST PART.

After class I was carrying the poster to my office and the graphics design prof and a music prof were standing outside my office. I said sarcastically, "look, this is from my star pupil." The graphics guys goes, "where is the raisin?" The music guy goes, "right there." Ready??!!! She had ACTUALLY DRAWN A RAISIN UNDER THE SUN on the poster. OMG!! If I had seen that in class I would have fallen out of my chair in hysterics. Maybe I'll post a picture one day. I'm so glad I'm on winter break....

Burning Man II, the sequel...

I got the grant for Burning Man 2010. If I can only find a student that wants to go. Can you freakin believe that??!!!! What I wouldn't have given for a chance like that... I'm going if I have to hold a gun to someone's head and force them to go....

French couchsurfer...

I was talking to my friend last night and she scolded me for not blogging about my "bizarre life." She's right. I need to be a little more regular.

About 2 months ago, I got an email from a French couchsurfer that was going to be in South Carolina for an extended stay. He asked if we could get together for drinks. I said sure, but I was directing a play and very busy (sheesh, I had no idea). Then after the play was over, I got the flu or something that is still lingering. So, on the last night before he left for Paris, he emailed me and said that he was cooking dinner for his host and a friend, and would I join them. I asked another couchsurfer that had actually spent some time with him to come along too.

So let me tell you about this guy. He is in his early 30s. Get what he does for a living??!!! He advertises on CraigsList to teach French and cooking. Some rich lady in Bennettsville, SC paid him to teach her French and cooking for 3 months. He cooked for us and words cannot describe it...but it's the kind of cooking that takes 3 hours just to make "a leetle sauce to put on your rice. Eets nuhsssing, really..." It was exquisite. We had whole pears poached in wine for dessert.

Say what you will about the French, and this guy was really French, they don't bathe like we do (I'm not so sure we have to to the extent that we do), they smoke...a lot, they have an attitude (although he did not really, and who cares when he can cook like that), but can they cook??!!! Oh, yes they can. Also, it was so lovely to sit and listen to a Frenchman speak again. At one point he and I were left at the table. We had a lovely chat and he got up to go smoke outside. He said, "my bad habeeet." I said , "Oh, your French..." He laughed and told me in Europe you can't smoke everywhere like you used to be able to. He said, "I like South Carolina. You can smoke anywhere." Sigh.....

The friend of his is also probably in her early 30s. Get what she does for a living?! She cooks on chartered yachts. She also imports and sells Swedish Gustavian antiques (oysterwhite.com). Sheesh...and her home is GORGEOUS! She is Canadian and came to SC to be close to the ocean and I-95 and to find a home that she could afford. So, she ended up in Benettsville. Weird. I felt so, un-South Carolinian. It was fabluous.

All for now. I'm catching up on laundry after the Thanksgiving trip. More later...really....

After Burn...

This is going to be difficult...Every time someone asks me about Burning Man and I try to tell them, I burst into tears. So here goes... It was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had. It is truly how the world should work, as far as I am concerned. You have to go there in order to get it. I am a life long burner now.

It is:
art cars
men in dresses
leg warmers
"it's pretty!"
dust
dust
dust
community
dust
love
truth
the Temple
installations
boobs
healing camps
music
mankini attacks
astral hair washes
good new friends
dust
welcome home

Pre-Burn...

Well, the trip back to SC was uneventful, but when I got home, it made up for it. There were...um....issues with the condition of my house. One of the students that was going to go to Burning Man dropped out. Most of that student's travel expenses were non-refundable. I've been preoccupied just getting it all together. I have not been very excited about the trip...

HOWEVER, now that things are fairly settled, I'm getting a little more excited. There will be no internet or cell phone coverage on the playa when everyone gets there, but if you want to see the build of the man, go to www.burningman.com and hit the "building Black Rock city" link on the left. When I look at that, I get excited.

The preparations for this first trip have been really involved. I think next year will be easier because next year we will know how to ship, where to buy water, etc. etc. Thanks especially goes to my neighbors, Christopher and Jana, without whom I would be suicidal. It costs about $1000 a person to go to Burning Man, FYI, and that doesn't include the cost of actually bringing art to the playa.

We are journaling and video-documenting. There will be a big presentation later in the semester. And I promise to blog extensively when we return. We leave at 5:30am on Monday 8/31 and return 9/8 at 11:30 pm. I have to pick up the students at 4:15am. I don't know if it is even worth sleeping. (I hope I live through this...).

Think of me and my hot pink fishnets out on the playa.....

As an addendum.. Getting to Belize from Mexico

As I was preparing for this trip, it was impossible to find information from transportation companies about getting from Mexico to Belize. I had to search travel blogs. I wanted to add my experience because it can be done. I think bus companies go in and out of business in Mexico and Belize. Also, the taxi companies are constantly fighting the bus companies, so things change.

Because I was in Mexico City, I took a plane on Aviacsa airline from Mexico City to Chetumal, Mexico. Aviacsa went out of business 4 days after my flight, but there are other airlines and nice ADO busses that can get you to Chetumal. Here is a website that lists cheap airlines: http://www.attitudetravel.com/lowcostairlines/latinamerica/#map. Chetumal is a very small town with a small airline. When I landed, I asked the taxi stand where I could get a bus to Belize City. I had read on the web: http://www.larpman.com/transportpages/buspages/busouth.html. Make sure you ask for an AIRCONDITIONED or EXPRESS bus and go to the main bus terminal (which I did not do). Otherwise, they will send you to the mercado where there will be a line of chicken busses (old school busses) and one will leave for Belize City every half an hour or so (see picture). The chicken bus cost me $6 us. I understand that if I had gone to the main terminal, there were about 3 air-conditioned, express busses a day that go to Belize City for $8 us. Sigh... The express will take between 2-3 hours. The chicken bus takes 5-6 because they stop at every driveway. Oh well, I got there and it was an adventure.

Once I got to Belize City, I stayed the night. I think if you took the morning express, you could make it further into Belize in one day. In Belize City, I took a plane on Tropic Air for $43 us to Dangriga. There is another airline, Maya Island Air, that is a little more expensive. You can fly out of the International airport (more expensive) or the municipal one. It may save you money to spend more on the flight if you have a connecting flight from the International as taxis to and from the 2 airports are about $25 us.

Once in Dangriga, go to the bus terminal and there is a chicken bus that runs at least twice every day between Hopkins (and other smaller towns) for about $5 us. The Hopkins bus leaves at 10 ish and 5pm ish for the 40 minute trip to Hopkins.

To get to Tobacco Caye, take the morning bus from Hopkins to Dangriga. Walk north to the Riverside Cafe and get a water taxi for about $35 bz (Belize dollars) to Tobacco Caye. They leave every so often depending on how many people are waiting. It's best to go in the morning because more people will be there (hence cheaper for you) and the weather will be much better (hence calmer seas).

Getting back to the US:
I went back by way of Cancun because I got a cheap AirTran flight to Atlanta. You can take express busses from Belize City to Cancun, but Maya Island Air had a brand new flight from Belize City to Cancun for $199 us. I had my fill of chicken busses. Then AirTran from Cancun to Atlanta was about $135. I think, if I'd chosen to take busses, I could have done it through ADO in about 2 days.

Hope this helps!

So my trip is over...

What a fabulous trip! I'm at a loss for adjectives...So, some random thoughts:

- Everyone should visit a third world country. It makes you either appreciate what you have or get rid of it. We are so decadent. It makes me realize that my trivial sh*t (material and mental) really isn't all that important.

- The people in Mexico and Belize were SO lovely. When I flew into Cancun and was assaulted by noisy, obnoxious, rude Americans, it made me ashamed.

- I'm going back, and to other countries in Central America...maybe Guatemala next summer? Because anyone can travel cheaply. You might have to take a chicken bus or two, but it's more of an adventure.

- Couchsurfing is absolutely the way to connect with other cultures and my own. The couple of unpleasant stays were far exceeded by the wonderful ones.

- People are inherently good. This trip restores my faith in humanity.

- Plastic (and Disney, but I digress) is evil. Because there is no reliable trash pickup in Belize, the trash on the beach is overwhelming. What can they do? No more plastic for me.

- Go to Kiva.org and help a third world entrepeneur. I am.

- EVERYONE should be bilingual. I am trying... Yo pracitco.

Stay tuned for the BURNINGMAN adventure on this blog!!!!

Tobacco Caye...

This was the view from the beach on Tobacco Caye.....beautiful!!!

Tobacco Caye is an island paradise that sits on top of one of the most beautiful reefs in the world. You know what they build up the sea wall with on Tobacco Caye? GORGEOUS conch shells. Because there are hundreds of them. I took another chicken bus at 6:45am to Dangriga, 40 minute trip, not so bad. Then I took a water taxi with a couple from Denmark on a 45 minute trip to the caye. The seas were pretty rough and it was a little scary. Thank the gods for ginger pills!

I stayed in a guesthouse, $30 us that included meals of fresh fish and coconut rice. I took a boat out to 3 snorkling locations on this beautiful reef and this is a partial list of what I saw: manta rays, sting rays, yellow rays, fan coral taller than me and purple, brain coral, sea cucumbers (I even held one - creepy), sea urchins, 5 barracuda (eek!), a spotted moray eel (also creepy), parrot fish, angel fish, conch, and a zillion neon colored tropical fish. And I totally fried my butt because I guess that is what stuck out of the water the highest... It was absolutely worth it. I wish Jacob had been there. He would have loved it. From the dock, I got to see glow worms and dolphins.

So now I'm back in Hopkins by myself in the guesthouse and generally by myself on the beach. Today was a little stormy, but it cleared up so I had to sit in the sun and drink more rum...dammit. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so I guess I'll have to read this Dean Koontz book I found and drink more rum and orange juice.

On Wed, I get on the bus at 6:45am to ride to Dangriga. From there I take a 15 minute plane ride to Belize City and from there I take a 45 minute plane ride to Cancun. I'll stay with a couchsurfer in Cancun for one night, then to Atlanta. I'll stay with a couchsurfer for one night in Atlanta and then to Branson on the 17th. I'll probably post one more time at the end of the trip for some final thoughts.

I guess I'm ready to get back to MO, but I really hate to go now that it's at the end. More later...more rum....

Belize....

This was the view from my guesthouse room in Belize.

Well, I have no regular access to the internet here in Belize so this may be the last post until I get back to Mexico or the US. No pictures either, sorry, because it is absolutely, Corona commercial beautiful!

My trip -

I flew from Mexico City to Chetumal. In Mexico City, it was 70 degrees F. When I landed at the very small airport in Chetumal, it was 90. Mexico City's airport is huge and very strange. You wait in a hall (a big one without chairs) (I got there 2 hours early) for them to "announce" your flight and gate of departure. It sounds just like a fast food speaker. Then, you go through security to get to a hall with chairs. I could have gone through and found out my gate on the screens in the big hall WITH the chairs. So I flew Aviacsa. Mexican airlines are MUCH nicer than American ones. They feed you lunch. They are very clean. You get mints. They are somewhat bilingual.

Let me back up and say I spent a delightful, wonderful, incredibly entertaining time with my couchsurfer host Saul and his friend, Luiz. I really laughed the entire time I was with them. They practiced their English and I my Spanish (kind of). They showed me such wonderful parts of the city that I would not have experienced elsewhere. Most all my couchsurfing experiences have been really great, but this one took the prize. I hope I have made lasting friends with them.

So, I landed in Chetumal, where I asked in Spanish (and I did a damn fine job, thank you) where I could get a bus to Belize City (which in normal time is only 2 and one half hours). So they told me to go to the mercado and ask for a bus...eek. I did, and found a row of...ready...school busses painted in bright colors. My mother is going to shit when she sees the pictures. 4 and one half hours, 300 sweaty Belezians, 2 borders crossings later, I arrived. Yes, it was a $6 chicken bus. You get off the bus at the Mexico border (which is not the Belize border) and pay $10. Then get back on. THEN you get off the bus with your luggage and go through customs at the Belize border, where they ask you all the "why are you here" questions and stamp your passport. We stopped at EVERY hole on the way. I stayed in a very scary place in Belize City. However, they had cable, air cond. and the owner, a Taiwanese woman (single mom with a 15 yr old son, weird), bought me a Belize beer and we sat and gossiped and laughed for a couple of hours. She told me, "you no go on right bus! You ask for air condition bus! You ask next time! Only $8!" Really?! Well, I loooked for an airconditioned one and didn't see any. Sigh... Now I can say I have traveled on a "chicken bus."

This morning I got on a VERY SMALL plane (pilot and 6 people) and flew to Dangriga. Great pictures of the coast of Belize. Then I bought a cab to take me 30 min to Hopkins. THAT was totally worth it as I have had enough chicken busses for one trip! My cabana here is wonderful. Honestly, I was sitting in a chair, drinking pineapple juice and rum, looking at an honest to god Corona commercial view of the Carribean. It's tough, but someone has to do it. Then I had to get up and go lay in a hammock and read Neil Gaimen short stories and fall asleep. Then I had to go to a restaurant (that is really someone's house) and eat a whole (head and all) fried snapper with beans and rice, and plantains, and watch Michael Jackson's memorial on TV with 6 other Belizans in the restaurant all commenting on the shebang. Then I had to come here and whine to you people about how rough it is to be me right now! :-) The Belize people are incredibly friendly and it is very safe because it is such a small town.

I will stay here tonight and 2 more nights. Then I plan to go to Tobacco Caye for 2 nights or maybe 3, to snorkle and drink rum and look at the Carribean. I'll come back to Hopkins for 2 or 3 days. I plan to catch a bus to Dangriga (30 min, a chicken bus, means 1 hour). Maya Island Air JUST added a flight from Belize City to Cancun, where I'll stay with one more couch surfer. Then to Atlanta, then to Branson.

So you may not hear from me much because I'm paying for my time while drinking a Belize beer. And let me say, from a non beer drinker, it is VERY good. It is so hard to be me.... More later.

On my soapbox...

It is a sad comment on the US that on a beautiful avenue (Paseo de Reforma), in a beautiful park, our embassy sits like a fortress. I'm ashamed. Are we keeping someone out or are they afraid to let us out?! I'll post a picture when I get back to the states.

Finally...some sightseeing in Mexico City

OK, no pictures to post because I have been so busy "doing" that I have no time. I spent 2 and a half hours at Templo Mayor yesterday...woweee.... And yes, my feet are killing me. Since Fridas I have visited-

July 3
Museo Nacional de Antropologia - where I met a couple from Alabama. See, I was not the only hillbilly in Mexico City! Wonderful Mayan and Aztec artifacts. Great lunch at the museum restaurant.

Castillo de Chapultepec - This was the incredible palace where the Mexican emporers lived until the 1940s. Beautiful stained glass, gardens, and it sits on a hill (which I walked up by the way, only to find there was a tram once I got up there) overlooking the city. Such extravagance! eesh!

Bosque de Chapultepec - Chapultepec means "grasshopper" by the way. My current couchsurfing host thinks that is the funniest thing - "groundhopper, that is funny." Probably a beautiful park that is full of small booths with food and stuff. You cannot see the park for all the selling.

The botanic gardens - Absolutely gorgeous! Even in the pouring rain (every day but yesterday, in the afternoons)

Museo de Arte Moderno - I spent 2 and one half hours in here too. Wow, too much to talk about. It was wonderful. Mexican modern art. They were really ahead of the crowd in certain respects. I got to see Frida s " Two Fridas"

All the above are the in Chapultepec area. Yesterday, I went to the Centro Historico. But first, let me talk a little about Mexico Citys subway. It is fabulous! 2 pesos per ride. It is color coded and much easier to figure out than NYC or DC. So yesterday July 4 (Happy Birthday, Jacob) I saw -

Templo Mayor - Unfortunately, I will not be able to visit Teotihuacan, too little time. This was wonderful and I am glad that I at least got to visit this one. It is an Aztec temple that was the most important in the area. Mexico City has been built on top of most of the temple grounds, but there is an archeological dig around the main temple. The ruins are just breathtaking and the museum is incredible too. I swear, I took 200 pictures.

Catedral Metropolitana - You know me, not much on religion, but this cathedral was really soemthing to experience. It took 200 years to build. You want to talk about extravagence? Probably why I am not so keen on religion, but I digress from the travelogue. Their form of catholicism is really interesting because of all the mysticism and icons. This cathedral shares the square with the Templo Mayor (interesting juxtoposition of religions). Outside of this in the square, there were many Indian groups dancing and burning copal. I got to see a shaman heal a man...really incredible.

Palacio de Belles Artes - for Rivera s murals. I did not "con permissio" to take pictures because you have to buy that and I did not know that, but I snuck some anyway. This is Mexico City s main performing arts center. The surrounding grounds are another huge park with many vendors.

Museo Mural Diego Rivera - and that is what it contained, his mural that was saved and placed there after an earthquake. There was also an exhibit of a Mexican female tapestry artist that taught at the university (cannot remember her name now). Beautiful. In the park outside this museum, there were about ten pairs of old men playing chess and about 3 times that watching them. It was so quiet. Very cool!

Museo de Arte Popular - wonderful museum of Mexico s popular arts! Day of the dead figures, textiles, religious art, folkart. Really wonderful.

So today, I am going to visit 2 mercados in the Centro de Historico. I hope to finish souvenir shopping there. Then tomorrow I fly to Chetumal, then I HOPE I can find a bus to Belize City. Supposedly you can go to the bus terminal and just buy a ticket. Yikes! This may be the most harrowing part of the trip, especially since I do not speak Spanish so well. However, I already have one night booked in Belize City at a hotel, so they expect me. And the lady at the hotel in Hopkins, Belize (where I hope to end up) has given me some very good information. Wish me luck! At least Belize is English speaking.... More when I get somewhere and settled.

Frida´s Kitty

And this kitty was lounging and enjoying the sunshine in the courtyard of Frida´s place...

PS I also went to Wal Mart in Mexico City today. Can you believe it? To buy groceries. The devil is everywhere.......

Museo Frida Kahlo

This was Frida´s parent´s home. If you saw the movie, you saw a replica of this house. It was beautiful! And the art...and her letters...and Diego´s letters...and her corsets that she wore and then painted... Wonderful!

Ciudad de Mexico...

Holy sh*t! This place is enormous! So I get off the plane. I get through customs just fine. I go to the baggage claim and they can't find my bag....no wait, it's just sitting over there. Then I get it and walk out to find the taxi stand and am accosted by seven, yes seven men all talking very loudly y mui mui rapido to me in Spanish. "Taxi, senora?" I said yes and then they grabbed my bag and were off. I was supposed to call my hosts to tell them I was comingso that someone would be at the apartment. OK, none of the taxi men spoke English. I called my host and he spoke to them in Spanish. However, the man with my bag knew the word, "tip." I didn't have any pesos yet so he was very happy to get "dollores." My driver was very nice and spoke English a little. He had me speak what little Spanish I know to him and then he would correct me. I didn't burst into tears once, but I wanted to.

My hosts are lovely. They made me dinner. They get home from work about 8:30 or 9p. My host calls taxis for me so that he can chat with them about where he lives. I couldn't do it.

Today I went to the Centero Nacional de las Artes and met with the director (nice man and very handsome) and a woman who wrote a book on carpas. The carpas in Mexico are very different from the carpas in Texas. She did not know much about the Texas carpas and nothing about Toby shows (big surprise). They were very nice. I will go back tomorrow to look at pictures. They are producing a CD with information about carpas, as well as the book the woman wrote. I will get one when it is finished. My cab driver got lost on the way home and I had to call my host and have him explain how to get to his apartment. My Mexican phone bill is going to be big... I didn't burst into tears today either, but I sort of wanted to, but less.

After 104 degrees in Texas, the weather here is lovely! Mid to upper 70s. I have to wear a jacket. I see now why there is no air conditioning. They don't need it. It rains every afternoon and that's OK. Mexico City is very high in altitude. I have had a sort of small nagging headache and my throat is very dry. No, it's not the swine flu. One of my hosts said that is from the smog and altitude. It isn't so bad and I'm sure I'll be better in a day or two.

I will move couchsurfing locations July 2 because that host lives closer to the attractions that I want to see. I can take the subway from his house (God help me) to several things. Then I've decided that I will stay in a hotel in the historic district my last two days here because I can walk to several museums from there. Hotel catedral. $40 per night with breakfast (it's so cheap here).

I can't even think about the bus ride from Chetumal to Belize City because I WILL burst into tears... If I get through this, Burningman will be a breeze... At least I speak "art language." Hasta luego, for now...

Crazy SIUC people in Austin...

Go to my post about Austin and how I met all the alums from my grad school. Here we are.... the girl to my right is the girl I was couchsurfing with.

San Antonio - the fun

This is me in front of the Alamo. I saw the Alamo, the riverwalk, etc. from the back of a recumbent(sp) tandem bike. I stayed with a lovely woman and her husband. They travel Europe by tandem bike. The riverwalk's new section was open and there are various art installations that I got to see from the back of a recumbent bike. Wonderful! Who knew San Antonio was such a cool city?

I also visited the San Antonio Art Museum. Really, it is more of an art/natural history museum as they had mummies, etc. Their Latin American collection is quite good (go figure). They had a great series of installations that related to the new sections of the river walk, that focused on water. Very cool!

The fiesta store. So, in San Antonio, there is an event kind of like Mardi Gras, but it celebrates the independence of Texas. There are queens, etc., and all kinds of decorations and customs centering around this fiesta. The store was wonderful and some of you will be reaping the benefits.

On my way to Houston to fly out to Mexico City, I stopped in Luling, Texas to see an old mill at the San Marcos River. Then I stopped in Schulenburg to have Kolaches (Czech pigs in a blanket). This town is a big Czech community. Weird.

So tomorrow, I'm off to Meh-hee-co...eek. I'm a little scared. You won't be getting texts or calls from me, but I hope I can post to this blog from time to time. Hasta luego. I'll sleep on my back so they won't harvest my kidneys...Oh no! I'm sleeping in a hammock in Belize....ai-yai-yai.....

San Antonio - the work

Wow, when I spoke with the folks at the Benton Latin American collection in Austin, they told me that everything on carpas was in San Antonio. They were right! I found some wonderful stuff in San Antonio:

The Institute of Texan Culture - part of UT and they had wonderful pictures of Carpa Cubana and Carpa Garcia. The librarian there was very nice to me and they had already pulled information. It was sitting out when I got there. Through them I found out about the -

Conservation Society of San Antonio - who had scrapbooks of "La Chata." She is a female Toby or pellado character. She was quite famous in San Antonio and had her own show. They also had some info on carpas in San Antonio. Through them, I found -

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center - They restaged carpas about 20 years ago and are getting me the email of the director. Talking to him and comparing restaging a historic form will be interesting.

Witte Museum - This was THE place. I met a wonderful woman, Michaele Haynes, that is the curator at the museum. They absolutely opened their arms to me. They have the old Hertzberg circus collection. Part of that collection is a carpa collection of Carpa Cubana and Carpa Montsavais. They have costumes, receipts (good for us historians!), etc. Plus I LOVED Michaele, and her husband, and am hoping to come back to the Witte to do more work. Very cool museum if you get a chance to get there.

The Garcia Family - (see picture). They are the grandchildren and grand nieces/nephews of the Carpa Garcia. The older woman on the right was a contortionist, singer and dancer for the carpa...Virginia Garcia. They made me mole and sang songs in Spanish and told jokes in Spanish. It was one of the most lovely afternoons, I have ever had. Thank you Pancho and Evelyn.

Ahhhhhhaustin....

What a great time. I'm not so sure that I really "needed" to come to Austin, even though I did find some interesting information on Cantinflas (Mexican Toby in film - see him in Around the World in 80 Days) and the folks at UT Austin were very nice, but I am SO glad I came here. I met the nicest people (that I will see again) and ate the best tacos, and did the greatest things...

So in Austin there is a 3 acre pool that is made of underground springs: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm 102 degrees in the air, 68 degrees in the water.... Heard some great and not so great music. Saw the largest urban bat coloney in the world: http://www.austincityguide.com/content/congress-bridge-bats-austin.asp Went to the Austin Museum of Art where there was a great show about art and memory: http://www.amoa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ex_exhibitions Today am headed to the Mexican/American Cultural Center before I head out to San Antonio: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/macc/

And let me just say (after my weird experience in College Station) how great couchsurfing is... Why haven't I been doing this before now?!

Austin - women's restroom at Beerland...

Woweee what a town! Cross stitch and cocaine: "Please don't do cocaine in the bathroom."

Just like Nashville, only without all my baggage. It also really reminds me of Asheville, but a whole lot freakier - in a good way.

So, here is Austin weirdness: I couchsurfed with a great woman who was hosting other couchsurfers that were artists. So we go to their opening before Beerland (and other establishments). We meet their friends (5 of them) that either live here or have come to see the art show. Guess where they all went to grad school? Yep, SIUC, just like me. THEN as we're walking down the street at 2am, they see 3 other RANDOM people from Carbondale, IL. Weird Weird Weird!!! Talk about the universe throwing some folks together.... More later. It's on to San Antonio tomorrow for more fun and study...

Day 2 - A & M

Freakin hippies....

So, A & M had nothing and I hope this was the worst couch surfing experience that I'll have on this trip.

Day 1: Houston

So if you ever get a chance, you should fly out of Branson, MO on AirTran or SunCountry. Now, I'm biased because my sister is in charge of marketing, BUT they actually come out on the tarmac and wave good-bye to you as you are taking off. When you fly into Branson, they come out on the tarmac and say "Hi, welcome to Branson..." This, compared with the Atlanta AirTran staff who basically looks at you mean, if they look at you at all. Also, the inside of the Branson airport is gorgeous.

I got to Houston - 94 degrees and rented a Prius. It was only $5 more a day than their cheapest car. I'll be driving all over this big state, so maybe the savings in gas money will pay for it. It's very weird, pushing buttons to start a car, but drives great! I'm not sure navigating a new city and learning how to drive a hybrid was a great idea, but I lived through it.

I stayed with a lovely couple in Houston, Brad and Lynn last night. They decided one day that Wisconsin was too cold and just up and moved to Houston to work with a theatre company. They are world travelers that told me they loved Mexico City. That was good to hear, as most everyone else are bearers of doom and paranoia... They really helped to alleviate some of my nervousness. They also said there is a small place on the Pacific coast of Mexico that I "HAVE to go to" because it is "absolutely you." After they showed me pictures of this out of the way meditation/hippie/clothing optional beach, I'm almost sorry that I had already gotten reservations in Belize. What is it with my friends insinuating that I am a nudist??? :-) Oh well, another trip for the future. I may never stay home now.

Stay tuned for Day 2 in College Station...

Hasta luego, babies....

I'm off tomorrow, flying to Houston. I'll stay with a couchsurfer host that is a playwright. Cool, huh? Then the 18th, I'm off to Texas A&M to study at the Cushing Library. I'll be staying with a grad student for a day or two. More later...

Frankly, I'm a little scared, but it should be an adventure.

My first aid kit for Central America

This is my first aid kit for Mexico and Belize. After much research (Drs', websites, books, friends), I am including the following (left to right beginning with the first row):
Moleskin for blisters
earplugs
acidophilus pearls - don't need the fridge. take a week before I go to help my stomach get ready for Mexico and it's water.
ibuprophen - I get migraines
Rx malaria meds - I have to take these 1 week before, during and 4 weeks after
Rx dysentary meds
hunters bug stuff with at least 25% deet
first aid kit with: bandaids, pepto-bismol tablets, neosporin, benedryl
Sting-Eze (that stuff really works) for wasp, bee, scorpion stings
peppermint oil (stomach upset)
sunscreen (this is 4, but I also have 15 and 8, 30 for face)
Rx Tamiflu - swine flu anti-viral
Back row - the rest of the Rx malaria stuff
Hand sanitizer
Vitamin C - immune help
ace bandage - last time I hiked I twisted my ankle
toilet paper
Ginger pills for air/sea/bus sickness
Airborne - for immune help
Charcoal - for Montezuma's revenge
Food enzymes - for stomach health
Grapefruitseed Extract pills - for stomach health
Garlic pills - nature's antibiotic
Not shown - multi-vitamens, steri-pen (ultraviolet water purifier)

After all this I may have to go naked since I can't fit anything else in my backpack.

Belize links

Toucantrail.com is a great link for accommodations in little tiny places in Belize. Also gives you lots of information about what to do, etc. We'll see how correct the descriptions are as I am trying to decide between Tipple Tree Beya, Yugadah Inn, and Jungle Jeanie by the Sea in Hopkins. Any suggestions?

My arm still hurts....

dammit...

SHOTS!!!! and not the good kind...

I HATE needles. I had to get 3 shots to go to Mexico, no...not Mexico, but Belize: Hepititus A, Tetnus (including Diptheria and Whooping Couch [there has been an outbreak in Florence]), and Typhoid. I don' t know if the shots or the $251 price tag hurt worse. I also have malaria meds, swine flu anti-viral, and dysentary meds ($50). I also got (because this is really what I believe in) $100 worth of natural remedies for air-sickness, Montezuma's revenge, etc. I don't have any money left to travel... Oh, that doesn't count the DEET bug spray, Pepto-Bismol tablets, and sunscreen...

So, for those of you ignorant like I was, you call the DHEC office in your state and they will give you the name and number a a doctor who is authorized to give you all of your vaccinations depending upon where you are going to travel.

I SWEAR I'll be better about posting - So whaddya know about Couchsurfing?!!!

OK, let me tell you all about it... Couchsurfing is a network of people all around the world who offer their couch to travelers interested in connecting with people. I have been offering my couch for about a year now. I plan to couchsurf, staying on other people's couches, through Mexico and Texas this summer. The website is couchsurfing.com. You'll find me there as Vicious Hillbilly.

This is more than just a site for a free place to stay, this is a site dedicated to getting people together (and not like that, you dirty minded persons...). We have become so fragmented with spending hours alone in a room in front of our computer screens. This site actually puts live people together. And who knows better about a new place than a person that lives there? So, often couchsurfer hosts will take you out on the town to explore where they live.

So, you're thinking, but what if they're ax murderers? Well, couchsurfing.com has put together a pretty good rating system. I believe they want us to be safe. I generally don't surf or host someone that has no reviews (friends, vouchers, etc.) You also have to have a verified address using a credit card. It is free, but they ask for a $25 donation using your credit card so that they can verify you.

I have hosted surfers, been hosted by a couchsurfer, and just hung out with other couchsurfer types. If you plan to travel, even if you have bags of money to do it, you should check this site out. I'm going kayaking in San Antonio with a couple that is hosting me. Who knew they had a good river there?

Whew...sorry

So, I have just finished directing 2 plays and the semester. No posting for me lately. Of course, now that the swine flu has swept Mexico...what a crock. My 95 year old Grandpa asked me if the university was paying for my trip. I said, "yes." Then he said, "are they paying for your funeral expenses?" sigh.... I plan to post frequently as I am now (almost) completely devoted to this trip. Stay tuned...

Books

FYI - My experience with guidebooks - so far. I purchased Lonely Planet's Guide to Central America on a Shoestring and DK's Top 10 Mexico City first.

Guidebooks:
DK guide is great with a pull out map. It is small and highlights 10 of the top things to do in Mexico City. Actually, I wasn't really planning on staying in Mexico City past doing the research at the university, but after I bought this guidebook, I decided to allot 4 or 5 days for sight-seeing. I know there are people worried about Mexico City, but it can't be any worse than Detroit or Chicago or Florence. Our per capita crime rate in this town is the same ratio as New York City. Nice huh? So back to the book, DK explains to the public transit system and has more suggestions than just the top 10 (like a great list of a range of hotels) . I like it. I'll use it. It was $12.

Lonely Planet - So this is supposed to be the best for those on a budget. And there's a lot of info, however, in my experience so far, there is not much specific info on transportation, specifically buses or planes. It says (along with the rest of them) that the bus system is the way to go in Mexico and Central America, but it doesn't say which bus line or how much, etc. Maybe it's because they go in and out of business. It just tells you that there are lots of buses and to use the executive class or the 2nd class ones because they are cheap and more comfortable. The book is large and I won't be able to take it with me, but probably will take copies of specific pages, especially about Belize. It provides a lot of useful general information and was a good investment, especially since, if the summer all turns out well, I will want to explore other Central American countries. It lists for $25.

I just recently purchased The People's Guide to Mexico by Carl Franz and Lorena Havens and LOVE IT! It provides a lot more specific information and suggestions. Plus they have a website and I actually have been conversing with one of the authors via email. He has been traveling in Mexico since the 60s and actually saw some carpas. And it's funny and I always appreciate humor. It seems to me to be a guide for regular people with answers to questions that regular people might want to ask. It's big too and I won't be able to pack it, but will carry copies of some info with me. Lists for $25.

These books provided good information. The most up to date information, however, is found on travel blogs and the web. There you can find the names of bus companies, small airlines, etc. I am glad I purchased the books, but next post or so, I'll talk about the websites I've visited. See the sidebar to your right for links to published sources that I will update. Adios for now!

¡hola amigos y amigas!

OK, enough of de Español. So here I am with a brand new blog to chronicle my journey from South Carolina to Mexico. I received a research stipend for the summer to study Mexican tent shows (carpas Mexicanas) in south Texas and Mexico. I plan to write a book on Toby shows with a chapter on carpas and the Pellado character because I find they have a direct relationship to Toby shows. As well, there is little formal scholarship about them.

Maybe I'm finally having a mid-life (it hurt to type that) crisis, but I have never really been out of the country for any length of time. I'm tired of waiting for someone to travel with, so I just decided to go on my own. You know me, I love a challenge. So, Mexico, in the summer, as an Español beginner should be pretty fun. Plus I'm trying to do this conservatively, financially speaking.

I probably should have started this blog earlier because the research for the trip has been really interesting and difficult. I started taking Spanish lessons in the fall in hopes that the research award would follow. It did! The Spanish class experience has been really interesting. I took 3 years of college French and was never able to really converse, though I can read a little and understand a little. As I was practicing Spanish though, my French would come back unexpectedly. My conversational Spanish class ended in December, but I have been using the Rosetta Stone a little and Pimsleur's tapes a lot, and they have really helped. I believe I can speak more Spanish now than I every could French. Maybe that's because I want to?

My plans are to fly to Texas from Missouri around June 17 and visit: Texas A&M, Austin, and San Antonio. I will then fly into Mexico City about June 29 to do research at the library at the university in Mexico City. I have been corresponding with them through an interpreter. I also really want to visit several art museums, sites, etc. while I'm there. Then I will head to Belize around July 6 to lay on the beach for a week (I hope). That's the plan...

Finding information has been interesting...so until I leave, for those interested, I will include you on this journey of finding out what I'm doing and when and how. Then, even the smallest town that I plan to visit, Hopkins, Belize has 2 internet cafes. You get to see the whole thing...well, maybe not the whole thing....