Consulting in Mexico Brought us Again to Mountainous Areas

 Yes, most of the mushroom farms we did consulting work for, were located in mountainous areas...

Here, Pieter is smiling happily in our new surroundings on Saturday, February 19, 1994 at our very first consulting trip to Mexico. On our way to one of the Champiñones Monteblanco farms outside of Mexico City, called Rancho El Corralito.

Approaching the mushroom farm...

A very nice layout for a mushroom farm and complete with garden!

Having a closer look

Very well maintained!

Taken during a different trip, from the car...

Together with Juan Carlos I did go to four of their locations on that Saturday, the ones around Mexico City. 

Just to get an idea of how we will start the training for next week.

Juan Carlos told me that it meant a lot to those Mexicans; part Indian and part Spanish, that a blonde blue-eyed Dutch was coming to work with them, at their level. Showing them how it is being done by using my hands and verbally explaining to them 'why' and 'how'.

For both of us, no reservations but it seems that still in many countries people look up to Europeans as being superior. What a pity but at least the two of us have worked on that in many countries for evening it out.

~

In the afternoon, Agustín and his wife Carmen took us both to the Highlights of the National Museum of Anthropology of Mexico City or Museo Nacional de Antropología which was very interesting!

It made us want to eat, and love, our Aztec soup, once back at our hotel and we went to bed early.

A lovely day!

Sunday, was a lazy day for us with swimming in the heated pool at the Camino Réal Hotel.

We also walked to a nearby Church for attending Mass. 

On Monday, we both started our work and I had the back up of Juan Carlos, IF I got stuck with my Spanish, and it went well, with a few times his help.

After work we had a quick change at the hotel and Agustín took us to Carmen's Parents; Don Victor and Doña Conchita. We enjoyed a lovely dinner and talked a lot about his almost 45 year old mushroom business with now 3 of his children running it.

Their etiquette was impeccable, as their servants served the ladies first and the lady guest(s) before their own ladies and then the gents.

That was a real honor and it's all so obvious in our work, as compensation or as an extra appreciation. 

It sure builds a fine and lasting friendship with such people.

We went home feeling grateful.

On Tuesday, after work, we had the BEST experience that we've ever seen so far... Agustín and Carmen came to pick us up at the hotel for a beautiful Mexican Folklore Ballet 

That was a superb dance group!

The Ballet was in Mexico's Palace of Fine Arts a wonderful, beautiful architectural marvel in itself. 

And there you are, as two humble market gardeners' children, enjoying such a famous group in all its exotic colors... More beautiful than anything you could ever see on T.V. 

Palace of Fine Arts in the Historic Center of Mexico City has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another spectacular evening, above all expectations of Mexico City.

A city that already amazed us...

On Wednesday, after work, Juan Carlos took me to his home for introducing his wife and baby-daughter to me. A very pleasant meeting and good for both parties to know who is working with whom.

On our route from the mushroom farm we saw a pilgrims tour. Every village makes yearly a pilgrimage on foot to Maria of Guadalupe. They walk about 100 km on foot with a few small trucks in-between for food, water and blankets. When evening sets in, they sleep alongside the road, against houses on the pavement and rolled inside blankets... also in groups beneath the trucks if they park them alongside the road. Entire caravans and they do block the traffic for a moment when passing by.

It was very impressive!

Related link:

Our 1st Time Working in Mexico and stay at Camino Real Hotel Mexico City | previous post

Working Alongside a Retired Portuguese Style Bull Fighter... in Mexico | Juan Carlos Fuentes with whom I worked