Callejoneada

We went on a callejoneada as a group tonight! It was not what I had expected though. The groups that conduct the callejoneadas are the estudiantinas (if you don't remember what an estudiantina is, check this entry. Anyways, I'm used to seeing the estudiantinas that pass by our house and sing right outside of Callejon del Beso. The estudiantina that conducted our callejoneada was completely different! They didn't go the route that I had expected them to, and they didn't even sing or tell the legend of Callejon del Beso at the Callejon del Beso. That was disappointing!

Well, even though I was somewhat disappointed, I still had a great time. We walked through the callejones of Guanajuato and stopped to listen to songs in the different callejones and plazas. They sang the whole time, told jokes, and more! The estudiantina definitely wasn't one of my favorite groups, but they did sing one of my favorite songs: "Besame Mucho." They actually serenaded the women with this song, so I loved it!

Here is a picture of the...well, I'm not sure what to call them, but the containers with special drinks inside. We were supposed to wait until the end of the callejoneada to drink the entire thing during the toast and then after that keep it as a souvenir:



Here are some pictures of the estudiantina:





This is the boy who told the legend of the Callejon del Beso:



After the callejoneada was over, we decided to go to a restaurant in the Plaza de San Fernando to get dessert. I bought strawberry cheesecake and thoroughly enjoyed it!!! Cheesecake is my favorite dessert, so it's definitely a weakness of mine, and I have to admit that this was some of the best cheesecake I've had. It's up there with the cheesecake factory. Ha.

Stress changed to happiness

Ok, I'm settled in my home now! Guanajuato is amazing...and so much has happened in the last 5 hours. I've felt a good variety of emotions; more than anything, I've been stressed.

My flight from Mexico City to Guanajuato left an hour LATER than it was supposed to leave, so I arrived an hour late to Guanajuato. I started stressing over getting a ride to Guanajuato because I didn't think the resident director, Alma, would be there to pick me up (I landed close to 7 pm, and ISA had specified that we had to be at the airport before 7 to be picked up). As a result, I rushed to get off the plane and rushed to find my luggage, only to find that my luggage was lost.

I started crying. Yes, I admit it, I cried. Everything was supposed to go smoothly today (well, I wanted it to go smoothly at least), and I felt like so many things had gone wrong. I was so upset and choked up that they had to speak to me in English (again) and they tried to make me feel better. Also, Alma was there, so she helped me with everything from that point. Of course, we had to file a report for my lost luggage, and we found out that it was still in Chicago at the time. That wasn't encouraging at all...

Guanajuato International Airport!

The mountain of the statue, El Cristo Rey. You can see it at the very top. (click the picture to make it larger, and you'll see the statue)

Alma and I left the airport to head to mi casa in the city. I felt much better after filing the report and finding out where my luggage was, so I was more talkative in the car with Alma. Everything came out smoothly (FINALLY! Where had that been all day?), and she told me that I spoke Spanish very well. That really helped me feel better.

Well, the city is gorgeous. My senora is so kind and generous, and she really does cook some amazing food!!! We went downtown to walk around for a little bit tonight, and I absolutely fell in LOVE with Gto. Everyone was out in the streets with their families, just walking, sitting, standing, talking...just relaxing outside. The callejones are so pretty and I just love the atmosphere. Because of the way the city is structured, it's going to take me awhile to find my way around, but it's soooo beautiful.

Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato

El Teatro Juarez

I can't wait to walk through the city during the day to take pictures! I love it so much. Well, I have my orientation and first day of class tomorrow. I'm glad everything has been great tonight. I already know I'm going to love everything about being here.