Bicentenario!

September 15th was Mexico's bicentenario so in honor of that, those of us in el Centro del Día had Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off.

Some of us wanted to go to Zócalo to celebrate and hear the grito (the reenactment of the independence cries). However, Ramón convinced us that was insane because there would be about a million people there (only a slight exaggeration). So we all agreed to swing by Zócalo to see how crowded it was but not go in and then go to a concert at Paseo de la Reforma.

At about 5:30, we left the apartment to start heading to centro. We were a pretty large group: me, Mona, Rubi, Felix, Matthias, Alí, Yazmin, Ramón, Andrés). We had decided in advance (well in advance) that purses were a bad idea, so we shoved everything we'd need into pockets, shoes or bras (it's convenient and works really well).

me, Mona and Rubi before leaving

On the walk to the metro, we paused so some people could get some tacos. The rest of us used the opportunity to take lots of pictures.

Rubi wearing the awesome flag that Alí gave us for our apartment (we decided to bring it with to help us celebrate)

me and Rubi

Alí and Mona

Felix and Andrés eating

Matthias and Alí watching a parade on TV

The girls! (Yazmin, Mona, Alí, Rubi and me)

the guys (Felix, Matthias, Andrés, Ramón)

We took the metro to Allende so we could see the crowd at Zócalo. The entire centro was super crowded. 

There is a tradition of children spraying stuff (that appears to be shaving cream but I'm not sure what it is) at each other. If you look carefully, you can see it in the background of this picture. 

One of the first things we did was buy (well Rubi bought) Mexican flag facepaint. 

Mona putting the facepaint on Ramón

Yazmin had these amazing green, white and red fake eyelashes

the green didn't want to go on the first try

all better

Me and Ramón

most of us (Matthias and Alí went to the airport to see Matthias' sister). From left to right: Yazmin, Mona, Rubi, me, Ramón, Felix, Andrés

The bad thing about the facepaint is it gets your hands super dirty. Thanks, Rubi, for wiping off your hands on my arm

Then we walked by the line to get into Zócalo. Damn! It was insane. I don't have pictures of the whole thing because that would take way too many pictures but here are some. 

Then our walk to the concert continued. It was so weird because streets that are usually packed and nearly impossible to cross were basically empty of cars. 

I have no idea why Felix decided to pick up Andrés

Then we passed a mini-concert and Felix and Mona started dancing. 

At one point, we were waiting for Ramón while he used the bathroom and this guy started talking to Rubi. The conversation was in Spanish, but here's the translation. the man "Where are you from?" Rubi: "England" Man "You are very beautiful" Rubi "Umm... thank you" Man (to Mona) "And you?" Mona "No. And neither is she" (Mona missed the second question which made for a very interesting response). Luckily Ramón got back before the guy could start to get really creepy. 

me and Mona before the creepy guy started talking to Rubi (which happens quite frequently)

Next, we passed a parade. 

Throughout the night, Ramón kept telling us not to get lost. One time I said "but it's fun!" then he just gave me a look so I added "for the first 10 seconds). Well, me and Rubi discovered that was true. Mona, Yazmin and Felix paused to take a picture and Ramón and Andrés went on ahead and at first we decided to stay with Mona, Yazmin and Felix, but then we decided to go catch up to Ramón and Andrés. So we skipped along (yes, literally) and it was really fun. But then we realized we didn't see them. And when we turned around we didn't see the others either. But a few minutes later, we saw all of them waving at us. It turned out we passed Ramón and Andrés and didn't notice.


The next thing we passed on our way to the concert was people in stilts and people dressed up as light up bugs. Go figure!

Rubi and Yazmin with one of the bug-people

Then we finally got to the concert. It was obscenely packed. We tried to push up closer to the stage, but it was one of those crowds where it always pushes in different directions and you're terrified that you will fall over. Luckily, I didn't, but Mona and Yazmin both did. And I came super close to falling on top of Yazmin. Needless to say, we decided to get to a less crowded area. So we fought our way back and stayed there for a little bit, but then over there started to get crowded so we went back again. Also, some parents brought little kids there. I have absolutely no idea what those parents were thinking. It was hard enough to keep an eye on yourself let alone a small child too! And I can't imagine trying not to fall (especially farther up) with a kid on your shoulders.

Mona asked a kid in a tree to record a video of the crowd for us. Here it is: 

Now for the most ridiculous part of the night. During the concert, the guys in front of us were smoking what I thought was pot and it kept blowing in my direction because of the stupid wind. After a while, I started to get hot and thirsty but didn't really think anything of it. Then just after the concert ended and el grito was about to begin, I started to get super duper light-headed. So Mona escorted me to the Red Cross tent. Also, apparently when I'm light-headed, my Spanish gets worse. Good to know. Anyway, the Red Cross took my pulse and blood pressure and both were normal so they had me lay down and gave me some water. Meanwhile Mona went back to tell the others I was in the Red Cross tent and Ramón confirmed it was indeed pot. And Mona and me ended up being inside the Red Cross tent during the grito and during the fireworks. I felt really bad that she was missing them too. Stupid pot smokers. And before this experience I had absolutely no desire to try pot. Now I have negative desire to try it (if that's even possible).

The others wanted to go to a party but I was still a little off from the jerks smoking pot so I just went back to the apartment and rested.