Mein Auslandssemester in Mexiko
Mein Auslandssemester in Mexiko
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15/09 - Eve of Independence Day

A bɔra kɛnɛ kan: 05.10.2017

As one of the few, Claudia and I have decided not to travel over the weekend of the national holiday in order to experience the Día de la Independencia in Mérida as 'locals' and not as tourists - the right decision as it turned out throughout the day.


Pozole: THE typical dish for Independence Day
Pozole: THE typical dish for Independence Day


My first highlight of the day was already the lunch. Just as it should be for Día de la Independencia, Toñis cooked a huge pot of delicious Pozole for all of us, which we all ate way too much of during a very extended lunch. Pozole is a stew with corn and meat (maybe a little comparable to gyro soup), served with lettuce, onion, and radishes - all very finely chopped. On this occasion, I shocked my roommates again when I told them that in Germany we also simply take a bite of radishes and eat them with bread or something like that. Apparently, Mexicans perceive the taste of radishes comparable to onions, so the question came up directly: 'Do you also eat whole onions?!' Always entertaining, these small but fine cultural differences.


From left to right: Antonio, Claudia, Mateus, me, Eduardo, Hugo
From left to right: Antonio, Claudia, Mateus, me, Eduardo, Hugo

In the evening, Claudia and I went to the city center with Antonio, Mateus (also two exchange students), Eduardo, and Hugo (Mexican friends from the university) - of course, it was also bathed in national colors.

Mérida decorated for Independence Day
Mérida decorated for Independence Day

Mérida
Mérida's old town shines in green white red


After a cozy dinner with one or two cocktails, we made our way to the square in front of the government palace, where at 11:00 p.m. the 'Grito de Independencia' followed as the highlight of a solemn speech by the Yucatán governor.

Claudia and I in front of the cathedral not far from the government building
In front of the cathedral, on the way to the government palace


And what we experienced there left us speechless. When all the people on the square shouted 'Viva México' three times in a row with incredible passion and then sang the national anthem, Claudia and I stood amazed in the midst of the crowd and had goosebumps - impressed by the national pride of the Mexicans.

In the midst of the crowd in front of the government palace
In the midst of the crowd in front of the government palace


As a conclusion to the official celebrations, there was a large fireworks display, before the many bars and pubs in Mérida continued the celebration until the early hours of the morning.

Fireworks for Independence Day in Mérida
Fireworks for Independence Day in Mérida


Fireworks for Independence Day in Mérida
Fireworks for Independence Day in Mérida


Jaabi

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