Wrapping Up-Tlaxcala-2009

Of course, it is always difficult to leave new “family” and friends behind, but, nevertheless, we had to say our “good byes” to our friends in Tlaxcala this past winter after spending over three months with many of them. So, I decided to do a “video wrap up” which featured our last activities, including two wonderful farewell dinners   If you haven’t experienced a “Mexican bus ride,”  stay tuned for the last half of the embedded video and ”brace yourself” for the ride down the mountains into Mexico city.  We do hope to see all of our “amigos” again next winter around the end of January 2010.  Wow, another decade ending . . . . . . oh, here it is –

Stephen, a “Genuine Tourist,” reporting from Baraboo, WI

 

 

 

Tlaxcala Zócalo Weekends

One is almost always pleasantly surprised when “haunting” the Zócalo in the pleasant city of Tlaxcala, MX. Here are a collection of videos and still photos primarily taken on weekend while visiting the Zócalo.  Stephen, Genuine Tourist, posting from Baraboo, WI, USA

Tochimizolco — Children At Play

During our recent trip to Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, I volunteered my spouse, Patricia, to do dental hygiene work at a medical mission in Tochimizolco, Puebla    We ”joined up” with the team in Puebla and took a chartered bus to Tochimizolco where we spent about 3 days seeing about 600 patients.  Of course, many of the patients came from many miles and had to spend hours waiting in long lines.  However, the team assigned numbers to every patient during intake, and the patients worked with the system very well and were able to legitimately jump in and out of various lines based upon their assigned numbers.  In the meantime, many children were waiting upon their parents (or were themselves patients).   The children were delightful and well mannered.  Many of them received photos of themselves from staff who had served them the previous year. 

While waiting, the children were able to participate in various activities either arranged by staff or on their own.  Some of the activities were formally developed in order to rehearse for a performance for the medical team on the last day.  Here is a video of some of the children in some of their activities.

Stephen, a “Genuine-Tourist” reporting from his easy chair in Baraboo, WI, USA

 

Tochimizolco–Dental Mission

Just before we returned to the USA on April 30th,  we participated in a medical/dental mission with members of the Methodist churches from the states of Arizona and Kansas, USA.  It was the 20th year the clinic was visited by a team of doctors and dentists in Tochimizolco, a small community about two hours south of Puebla.  During the four days the team was in the village, they saw about 600 patients.  Some doctors were pleased to be able to diagnosis illnesses that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.  Dentists and Hygienists were pleasantly surprised to see young people with good dental health because of the years of education and service by dental teams. 

My spouse, Patricia, was one of the two hygientists, and I assisted in the distribution of reading glasses to elderly.  I hope to have a lot more videos and photos about this fine work on this blog and in the Yahoo Group of “Tlaxcala Tourism,” but for the moment, the following video will have to do –

We hope to return again next year. 

Dalmatian Puppies and Children´s Toys

OR

¨Genuine Tourist¨  Visits a Mexican Dairy Farm

New Puppies on Dairy Farm

We made a couple of trips to Texolco, MX, a small village a short distance from Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, to share in a families pre-Easter celebrations.  They celebrated largely by eating food, food, and more food!  They operate a dairy farm with just 5 milk cows which is constructed in the European style of having the animals close to them in an adjacent structure.  Of course, they also have a dog or two, and I thought I would take a closer look at the new Dalmatian puppies, BUT, the mother of the puppies had other ideas and guarded them from me.

Don´t Tread On Me says the Mother

Actually, this was my SECOND encounter with the mother of the puppies.  On the first visit, I decided to take a closer look and walked toward their ¨safehaven¨ among the straw bales.  However, the mother was behind me and saw me move in the direction of HER puppies.  So, out of nowhere I felt a bite on my right hand, which didn´t puncture the skin, but did tell me in no uncertain terms to go no closer. 

If you are interested in a closer look at our activities ¨down on the farm¨ in Texolco, MX, go to this YouTube video.