Luche Libre and Tepotzlan

¡Matalo!  

A phrase that is commonly used at a Luche Libre match but purely in jest.  It literally means, "Kill him!" but...not really.  Luche Libre is Mexico's version of the USA's WWF.  However, the participants are dressed to the "nines" in costumes and elaborate (fabric) masks to match. Replicas of the masks are a very hot item here.  We went to a

Lucha Libre match last friday with 4 classmates of mine and two of the classmate's Mexican padres (a homestay).  We had ringside seats and were in full view of the action!  One of our group was even accausted, in good fun, by two of the participants!  We witnessed about 6 matches in all which included men, women, "mini's" (small people but not dwarfs), dwarfs and referees (couldn't really tell which side they were on, they just hit and kicked the participants at will).  Of course, the action is totally fake but I was amazed at the athletic ability of the participants and their ability to perform the stunts without getting injured.  The audience yells at the participants and the participants jump up on the ropes and yell back usually telling the audience that they are drunk and don't know what they are talking about.  Everyone laughed a lot and seemed to have fun!  I did!  :o)

The next day, Reed and I took the ruta (city bus) downtown to catch a autobus to Tepotzlan which is about 30 minutes east of Cuernavaca.  The traffic to downtown was very slow due to a graduation at the military base and traffic around the zocalo (center square) from the striking teachers.  Two hours later, when our bus to Tepotzlan stopped to let someone board at

a bus stop 1/2 mile from our house, we realized that we could have already been at Tepotzlan!  Oh well, another lesson, of many, learned.

Tepotzlan, a small city of 15,000 people (elev. 5578f) is very picturesque.  Like Taxco, new buildings must have the same architectural style as the older buildings which really makes it seem like an authentic Mexican town.  The city is surrounded by mountains and forests with the main attraction being a pyramid (the Pyramid of Topozteco) at the top of one of the mountains (pic). We climbed the thousands of steps (1313 f. up and 1.24m. long--1 way), along with 100's of other visitors, to see the altar and view, which was  phenomenal(pic)!  The pyramid was built in honor of Tepoztecatl, the Aztec god of the harvest, fertility and pulque (fermented agave cactus juice).  On the

way up, a man (late 40's, early 50s) passed us as he was running up the steps!  I was flabbergasted because I was gasping for air and dripping with sweat!  On the way down, he was running up the stairs a second time--I almost dropped to my knees in homage!  WOW!

After the pyramid and a beer (of course!) we walked through the Tiangis (market) which is the largest and best variety we have seen so far.

The next day we visited the Ex-Convento Dominico de la Natividad 

(a monastery) which was built from 1560-1588.  In addition to a church, the monastery houses the regional history museum.  The arched entryway to the grounds is adorned with an elaborate seed mural of pre-Hispanic history and symbolism(pic).  The mural is created by local artists the first week of september from 60 varieties of seeds.  

After beers and lunch on a balcony overlooking the Tiangis (pic), we bought two small rugs handmade by Carmen and her family and headed home.  Yes, we made sure to get off the bus as close to our house as possible!  :o)

Coming soon:  Cacahuamilpa caverns, Karaoke with the locals and Jilotepec