Arriving in Mexico in September 1973, forty-three years ago, as an international student, was an exciting time for this budding Torta. My first three weeks of class at the Universidad de las Américas in Central Mexico were terrifying, exciting and overwhelming all wrapped into one. We found housing and went to work in a three-week immersion program to learn about our new digs.
Students from all over the country arrived in Mexico City and headed for the green university bus.
Week One was the study of ancient Mexico, art, people and history. Field trips to pyramids, museums and names like Aztec, Olmec, Toltec and Mayan filled my head and dreams. It was a lot to take in.
Giant Olmec head. Vera Cruz.
Teotihuacan outside Mexico City September 1973
Week Two was Colonial Mexico. We visited churches, talked revolution and looked at the impact of Catholicism on the Mexican people. Having been raised Catholic, I was intrigued by the devout faith and religious iconography, especially the Virgin of Guadalupe. (More about that in a future blog).
The pyramid of Cholula with a church on top.
The same church today. (Stock photo)
Week Three covered modern day Mexico, government, political system and recent history. We were busy from morning until night visiting mercados, villages and of course drinking cerveza.
The Cholula market.
It was an exciting time. I fell totally, madly in love with Mexico and its people. It’s why we live here today. DOS TORTAS
the adventures of dos tortas 
Great article ! See you next month:)
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Will be good to see you. Lots of new restaurants to try!
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Hey Alex, I was at the Universidad de Las Americas from January 1973 through July 1973. Missed you by a semester!! I had already fallen in love with Latin America, the history , the language, and the culture, having been a Rotary Club Exchange student in Cochabamba, Bolivia, 9-71/9-72. When I realized that 90% of the men know how to and love to dance, well, I was in! The rest is history.
So you remember the saying, “Cholula, love it or leave it?”
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I found a U of the Americas FB page! They’re having a reunion in October!
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These are really amazing photos!
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I dragged the photo album with me through many moves. Lots of blog material in it. 😉
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What a great opportunity you had! My father refused to let me go out of state and said I had to go to a state university because that’s what his taxes were for. Oh! I so wish I had just run off to Mexico!
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I only went for one school year and got scholarships and paid for it myself. After that I finish at the University of Texas Austin. It was as close to being in Mexico as I could figure out.
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Wonderful post! The photos are incredible. Thanks for sharing. Abrazos from Colombia!
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A wonderful trip down memory lane. Kinda reminds me of my first trip to Turkey with remnants of ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans round every corner.
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So right Jack. The ancients just blow your mind.
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