Futbol and Virgens

Yesterday we went to see the Mexico versus El Salvador futbol game at a local bar, as recommended by our Spanish teacher for the full experience.  It certainly was a full experience.  I’m sorry to say we only registered a small amount of the banter with the noise level and various other distractions.  Mexico beat El Salvador 4-1, and the crowd was raucous from the beginning through the end.

The game was stopped for the first nine minutes to exterminate a bees nest in the goal box.  The bees proceeded to swarm the media/filming station on the side, and surrounded a large microphone for a while.  The level of extermination was impressive, and about a third of the field was covered in a chemical fog.  Then, after each goal or attempt, the goal box would give off more chemicals.  Poor goalie.

This is a picture of downtown Guadalajara I took the other day.  The October Festival began yesterday, and it really kicks into gear tomorrow, with the procession of the Virgen of Zapopan.  It is a syncratic festival, merging prehispanic, indigenous, and catholic beliefs.  People dance all through the night and then travel with the Virgen at 6 am from a central cathedral to Zapopan, in a procession of thousands (I’ve heard different numbers, but it’s definitely in the teens at least).  We plan to rouse early tomorrow and make it on time.  No promises, but hopefully I’ll post more information, pictures, and videos of the event soon.