My Dad's Trip to Mexico (Part One)

My very first trip to Mexico was way back in 1973 when I spent the winter quarter of my junior year of college at the University of the Americas.  From that time on I was "hooked" on Mexico, and I was eager to make a return trip.

In the summer of 1975, after I had completed my first year of teaching, I invited my father to go with me to Mexico.

We flew to Mexico City and spent several days there.  We saw all the typical tourist sights... Chapultepec Castle, the Anthropology Museum, the top of the Latin American Tower, and the historic center of the city.

Dad at the top of the Latin American Tower

 

 

 

Dad and a much younger (and much geekier) me in the Alameda Park

 

 

At the Anthropology Museum

Although Dad wasn't a "museum type of person", he was really impressed with the place.

 

We also had some experiences that the average tourist does not have.  On the plane to Mexico City we sat next to a Mexican lawyer who was returning home after a visit to the United States.  He and I were engaged in conversation for most of the flight.  The lawyer was afraid of flying and was very grateful that our conversation made the flight less stressful for him.  He gave us his phone number, and insisted on spending a day with us.  We made arrangements, and one morning he met us at our hotel.  He drove us to the ruins of Teotihuacan to the north of the city. 

 

 

 

The lawyer and my Dad at the ruins of Teotihuacan

 

 

After exploring the ruins, he treated us to lunch at a nearby restaurant located in a cave.

 

 

Another day we got together with Ariel, a friend of mine from the University of the Americas.  His family was from Chile, but they had moved to Mexico City some years before.  Ariel drove us to Izta-Popo National Park to see the snow covered volcanoes Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl.

 

 

 

 

Dad and Ariel with snowy Popocatepetl in the background. 

The volcano has become active in recent years, and you are no longer allowed this close to the peak.  Ariel actually climbed up the snow line. 

 

Ariel and I kept in touch for a number of years after that, but unfortunately we have lost contact with each other.

 

After our stay in Mexico City, Dad rented a car, and we explored other parts of the country.  I had told him that we would not rent a car until we were ready to leave the city.  Once Dad saw the traffic in Mexico City, he understood what I was talking about.  We went back to the airport to pick up the car since it would be easier to head out of the city from there.  We managed to get out of Mexico City without too much trouble, and we were off on more adventures.