Desde Altihuetzía, Tlaxcala, México.

Another trip to Tehuacán over - sadly. How to describe the last trip. I return to an old description of the town: obsessed with image. The town changes all the time - but the changes are superficial: there is a mall, with a McDonalds, a Burger King, a Vips and probably more restaurants. And now, there's Sam's, Walmart (aka Aurrera) and of all things, and Office Depot - which is COMPLETELY empty. Ok, that's an exaggeration: there are 25 employees, just in case there happen to be ANY customers.

But the funniest - saddest - thing in the town is that the idiotic president decreed that we needed three lanes in the two main streets that divide the town. So, instead of one lane of parking - there are now three "high" SPEED lanes which are as wide as a car, but no more. A superficial change, made for the richer people (so they can get home in 10 minutes!). If you happen to be a pedestrian or a cyclist - you are dead, literally. We have to make the town look part of the 21st century - how that actually plays out for drivers, pedestrians, or locals is only thought of AFTER the change has been implemented.

There are a few of those changes elsewhere - the park by the house was "beautified" and "modernized." The corners of the Pastor Rouaix monument park are now wheel-chair accessible. The incline of the ramps is different at every corner ... and if you happen to be wheeled, rolling in or out of the park at the corners - where at least two traffic lanes intersect- the motorized vehicles will probably roll you over!

capuccino parenthesis - i'm sitting at Mision Tlaxcala hotel - overlooking the Atlihuetzía falls and drinking a Mexican capuccino. Mexican - yes - b/c i've never had this kind of capuccino elsewhere, and it reminds me of my childhood-youth in Tehuacan - allit's missing is the company.

I had another thought while rolling - or bumping over the topes on my way to Tlaxcala is that Mexico, the parts I've seen, is still a baroque, or churrigueresco country. Walls upon walls are covered in paint ... every little space of white is always covered with something. Never appreciated the paint on the walls before. Not sure I like it - but at least I have a pretty good idea of where it comes from.