Thursday, 24 February 2011
Top Gear & Viva Mexico !!
Thank you, thank you guys for nearly wrecking our holiday in Mexico. The first time I heard about this fiasco was, when the Mexican taxi driver asked Peter and I, 'From where are you visiting us? we said Britain, our driver frowned and said if we had heard about the three idiots who insulted Mexico, from a British motor-show called Top Gear? We hadn't. When we got to our hotel, the British flag was being pulled down from the pole and that same night Mexican T.V. repeated the undiplomatic and ignorant remarks. I must say, it was Richard Hammond who started it all and the other two hyenas just continued the banter. So this picture is for you guys. Here we are.. In Mexico with our Viva Mexico sombreros accompanied by..Richard Hammond our donkey! After that, it was embarrasing to own up where we came from, so for the rest of the Mexican holiday we said we came from Canada. I have heard that Top Gear has since that apologized, although it wasn't quick enough for us over in Mexico. In future, think about your fellow country-men, as you are now infamous in Mexico. The Mexican spirit is a happy one and they will forgive you and they might even invite you to visit their country so that you can sample their hospitality. I recommend Cancun, San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato, Oaxaca and if you like Tequila, you can visit the blue hills where the agave plant grows. After we 'changed' our nationality, things were a lot better for us. Although at the second hotel we stayed at, in Merida, the hotel didn't have the British flag flying either. They had the U.S. flag, the Canadian, French, German and Italian flags but no British flag. Thanks guys!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
.jpg)
.jpg)
8 comments:
Hi Maria
I don't know anything about Mexican cars. I suppose the things I associate with Mexico are the Aztecs, guitars, the 1970 World Cup and extremely spicy food (if I ever went there I'd need to find a place that served sausage and chips).
Hi Robert
I liked the Mexican sports car that was presented in Top Gear, it reminded me of the Lotus. Not all Mexican food is spicy Robert. It is a mixture of Spanish cuisine, French cuisine and native food. Chips come from potatoes and the potato was brought from the American continent, potatoes are not a European vegetable. Chorizos which are like sausages, are more delicious than our sausages and these were brought by the Spanish.
If you have never tried Mexican food you don't know what you are missing.. Guacamole, chirimole, enchiladas, tacos, refried beans, tamales are some of my favourites. Peter likes Mexican food and knows how to order a limonada sin hielo, Lemonade without ice. I was quite proud of his Spanish. I think he looks cute with his sombrero (hat) There are more than 11 tribes in Mexico, apart from the Aztecs.
The chorizos and the limonada sound OK. It's not just Mexican food I'm wary of. E.g. I won't eat liver, or have oxo gravy on my food.
I didn't know about the other tribes. Do people still identify themselves according to these tribes?
No Robert they do not identify themselves with these tribes anymore since most of them were mixed with the Spanish they use Spanish names now but judging by their features, you can still tell that these people are the same ones as the ones you find in the Toltecs or Maya sculptures. Mind you, in Guatemala you can still visit villages where the original people who lived back then before the Spanish came to the new world and they are still following in their traditions and languages like Cachiquel. They do mostly beautiful weaving in bright colours which they dye themselves onto the cloth from plants like the cochinchilla. I bought a hammock which I will put outside in the new home during the four days of summer.
A bit pessimistic there, Maria - four days of summer. But I know what you mean.I suppose in Mexico it's hot all year? Mind you, the Aztecs were very anxious that the sun should come back.
Mexico has three different climates in different areas. This is why they can grow from strawberries and apples that require a cool temperature, to hot deserts where they can grow cactus. When it comes to growing anything, Mexico is self-sufficient as they also have a template climate,(not too hot nor too cold) They got it all.
I suppose the sombreros are worn in the hottest areas, then.
Your mention of cacti reminds me of the extraordinary adaptibility of life in general. Wherever you search on the globe, whether it's high altitude or low, cold or hot, deep beneath the sea or deep underground, there's nearly always something there, growing or swimming or buzzing around.
You got it. Where the sun is unbearable, the sombreros are wide
brimmed to give you enough shade to cover your whole body when you bend your knees. I will write another thread about Merida.
Post a Comment