FRI AUG. 11, 2006

HAD TO CONDUCT VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS IN MEXICO CITY. ALSO HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET UP WITH ROBYN. SHE'S A REALLY TALENTED BUNDLE OF ENERGY FROM CANADA. I WAS ROLLING WITH MY HOMEBOY SHERRICK OFCOURSE. CAN'T LEAVE OUT THE SHERS. YUH DUN KNOW!!

FIRST CRAZY THING THAT HAPPENED TO KNOW THAT MY DAY WAS GONNA BE LESS THAN PERFECT? A FIGHT BROKE OUT BETWEEN TWO GUYS ON THE METRO JUST AS WE GOT INSIDE THE TRAIN AND SOMEONE PULLED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE TRAIN WAS JUST ABOUT READY TO LEAVE. SO THEY HAD TO TAKE THE GUYS OFF AND READJUST THE BRAKES. RIGHT THEN AND THERE SHERRICK WAS A BIT SKEPTICAL. I MEAN JUST THE NIGHT BEFORE WE WERE TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT THERE WAS A BIT OF UNREST IN THE CITY THAT CAUSED EVEN WORSER TRAFFIC DELAYS BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL SITUATION. BEING THAT I HAD ALREADY BOUGHT MY BUS TICKET AND MY BUSINESS WAS SUPER IMPORTANT, I DIDN'T CARE. IT WAS DO OR DIE. IN ADDITION, I GO BY MY GUT FEELING AND IT TOLD ME THAT ALL WOULD BE WELL.

SECOND CRAZY THING? EXITED THE METRO AND HEADED FOR THE BUILDING. THE ENTRANCE WAS CLOSED SO LUCKILY FOR ME SHERRICK KNEW WHERE THE OTHER ENTRANCE WAS SO WE HEADED THERE. HMM.. PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE BULDING AND COPS HEAVILY GUARDING THE BUILDING. FIRST THOUGHT OF SHERRICK AND I WAS THAT MAYBE IT WAS A BOMB SCARE (THINKING ABOUT THE POLITICAL UNREST AND IT WAS A GOVERNMENT BUILDING). I WASN'T SCARED AT ALL, I WAS PISSED AS HELL THAT I GOT THERE EARLY AND THEN THIS CRAP IS HAPPENING. TURNS OUT THERE WAS A TREMOR IN THE MORNING AND THEY EVACUATED THE BUILDING FOR TEH SFAETY OF THE EMPLOYEES. MAN I WASN'T HAVING THAT. I MEAN THEY DIDN'T SEND THEM HOME SO THAT MEANS THEY PLANNED ON CONDUCTING BUSINESS ANYWAYS. SO I WAS THINKING LET'S GO AHEAD DAMMIT!!! I HAVE MUSEUMS AND SITES TO SEE AND Y'ALL TAKING UP MY DAY... WELL I GOT MY THROUGH SOMETIME AFTER 11AM.

AFTER ALL THE DRAMA WE WENT TO THE MUSEUM BELLAS ARTES. THAT WAS INTERESTING. ROBYN AND HER MEXICAN FRIEND GADI MET US AFTER THEN WE HAD LUNCH AT SANBORNS. DELICIOUS FOOD, GREAT SERVICE, NON SMOKING AMBIENCE, GOOD COMPANY, IT DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THAT. HEADED TO ROBYN'S CRIB AFTER AND I WAS AMAZED. TALK ABOUT PLUSH.

GOT BACK TO TAXCO AROUND 8:30PM THEN MET UP WITH THE GANG FOR DINNER AT THE CHINESE RESTAURANT KOWLOON. DELICIOUS FOOD AND GREAT COMPANY. WENT FOR A LITTLE DANCING AT CLUB EXCALIBUR THEN WE WENT OUR SEPARATE WAYS.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND WHO LACKS IT

FIRST UP: I LOVE U JANICE!

NOW THEY ARE CERTAIN ETHNIC GROUPS THAT LACK COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THIS IS COMING FROM A GRITTY OBSERVATION OF THE *. IT SEEMS THE CHILDREN ARE RAISED TO FOCUS ON BOOKS, STUDYING AND STUDYING BOOKS. NOT BAD AT ALL, NOT DISSING THE METHODS. BUT DARN IT, WHEN THEY BECOME YOUNG ADULTS AND STEP OUT INTO THE WORLD (LIKE MEXICO) THEY ARE SCREWED.

IMAGINE TALKING TO SOMEONE AND THEY JUST FREEZE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONVERSATION AND THE AWKWARD SILENCE BEGINS. A MERE OBSERVATION AND COMPLAINTS I HAVE RECEIVED FROM MANY A FRIENDS. I SUPPOSEDLY CAN SOLVE IT ALL.

GOOD THING ABOUT 'EM, THEY DRESS FUNKY AS HELL (ANTE UP BITCHES AND GIMME ALL YOUR SHIT!) OKAY SO I WON'T JUMP 'EM BUT I SURE ENJOYED THE THOUGHT.

WHO AM I REFERRING TO? I'LL NEVER TELL.

LOST ART OF PERSONALLY WRITING A LETTER YET INTRIGUED BY ONLINE CONVERSATIONS

Who really knows me can tell that I am one of the biggest and corniest nerds around, and I am proud of it godammit. Which leads to the title of this here entry. I get really excited when I talk to my friends online. Blessings to the computer age. Without online conversations how am I gonna know what is going on with my lazy ass family and friends who can't be bothered to send a snail mail, not even a fletching birthday card. It was made for people like them to keep in touch with people like me (who are willing to correspond via snail mail).

So yeah, the generation born 1990 and after take shit for granted cuz they don't have any idea of signing up for penpals and having to wait at least a month or two to get a darn reply. I am from Jamaica and I had friends from as far as Ireland, I sometimes forgot what I asked in the darn letters, lol. I am a Gen Yer by the way. (U know, from the Spice Girls and Vanilla Ice age. What Pussycat Dolls and Eminem are to you youngins)

Anyways, I like to write my little letters, send post cards, etc. I am very proud of legible penmanship (thanks Vaz Preparatory School). Don't allow the intimate art of handwriting to die.

WED, AUG 2, 2006 - OAXACA

Got up ot take a shower around 8am. Sher advised me there was no hot water, but the water is great. I almost turned into a popsicle. Sher is from Portland, Jamaica where they have really cold tap water, so he is used to it. The tap water in Portmore, where I live is warm. Took that shower anyway. Walked to the Zocalo around 9am. Settled on a restaurant called Cafeteria Tayu for breakfast. Saw alot of tourists inside so that means the food would be great. I had chilaquiles con pollo frito and it is served with pan de yema and hot chocolate. It was so delicious. I could taste the corn in the tortilla.

Before that we had a mezcal shot (thanx to Sher), well more like mezcal taste, at one of the many mezcal stores in the vicinity. I ended up buying a bottle of the cream type later in the day. Moka flavoured, can't wait to have it.

Catedral Oaxaca was intersting, Sherrick just had to go there. He was looking like a cute little tourist with his head down in the map and pointing me into various directions, lol. We lost our path a few times but it was well worth it.

Saw the famous Camino Real hotel and Coffe Beans that were mentioned in Sherrick's Mexico guide book. Had lunch at Burger King.

Paid for a guide trip to Monte Alban at 3pm where there are ruins of pyramids. Was so amazing to hear about the history and to be there in person. Met two girls from England that were in our tour group who are travelling around Mexico for a month.

Chilled in the Zocalo when we got back and reasoned about life, realtionships, etc. Sher is a real intelligent chap. We dined at a sidewalk cafe in the Zocalo called Amarantos. I had tacos fritos de pollo con guacamole and drank a beer.

It rained when we were heading back to the hostel around 9pm, was so hard to get a cab. Got to the hostel and gabbed about how awesome the day was, did a little more reasoning about life, etc. I sent and replied to a bunch of text messages before finally falling asleep.

TUES, AUG 1, 2006 - OAXACA

Went to D.F. for a meeting at 11am, found out the guy had cancelled.

Anyway hopped on the metro back to Tasquena to purchase tickets for Oaxaca. I was rolling with my amigo Sherrick. We had to transfer to the Tapo station to catch the bus if we wanted the student discount. Tapo is really nice and huge. Got some great restaurants also.

Arrived in Oaxaca close to 11pm, stayed at Posada Tanguyuu, it is a hostel close to the Zocalo. It was 100p each person per night for the room.