Thursday, 8th October, Mexico City: the Bishop, the Wrestler and the 50 year marriage veterans
We’re back on it! A fabulous day and what a way to end our time in Mexico City.
Sadly, I haven’t got time to write a full update, but here are my bullet points:
- Interview with the Bishop of Mexico City, Excmo. Sr. Dr. Florencio Armando Colin Cruz (the Cardinal is the big man here in Mexico – and a frontrunner for the Big Job recently, apparently, and he has 3 henchmen Auxiliary Bishops, of which Colin Cruz is one) Absolutely sensational interview. I had tears in my eyes at times. We asked him about the Catholic ideal of Love, what makes a great marriage, how the church prepares couples for marriage – and supports them in times of marital problems. He delivered superbly eloquent, articulate and flawless answers. Totally sold (I told him that he should polish his elbows and get in line for the Head Man job) even though I’m not a Catholic. In fact the closest I get is a very lapsed father.
- To Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadelupe. This is a very very important place for Catholics as it is the site of the only Church-recognised apparition of the Virgin Mary in the Americas. I’ll do more homework on this and update this. A woman shuffled past the half mile of crazy vendors of every notion of religious relic (“genuine pieces of the cross”) – and past us – on her knees to get to the church.
- That was in the far north of the City and the next interview was in the far south. And this is the biggest city in the world. Mike and I are down with the Mexican Metro. Looks and smells just like the Parisian one. So do the armpits.
- Interview a luchador. It was one of the things we really wanted to do here in Mexico City and it looked like it wasn’t going to be possible, but at the last minute, he comes good. “Crazy Boy” is his name and we grilled him on his fascinating life of two halves: the fame, adulation and fawning groupies of his masked existence, and the total anonymity and search for real love of his private life.
- To a Mexican housing estate to interview a couple who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this Saturday. Tears all round as they talk about how they’d die without each other – what would be the point in going on? – and how much they love the family they have created. Deeply moving and very wonderful. Again, a strong sense of faith plays an important part in their marriage, and a very strong worth ethic.
- To Reuters to pick up the footage they sent out to newspapers and TV stations nationwide. We get there by Metro and as we surface onto Reforma, the main road through town, we land smack in the middle of a huge demonstration by the electricians of Mexico City. The atmosphere was electric. We were shocked. (Sorry, too good to miss) Hundreds and hundreds of riot police waiting for trouble.
- DATE NIGHT! Somehow in the midst of the busiest day we’ve had in weeks, we manage to get to an Italian restaurant for a little marriage time. We squabbled quite a bit earlier in the day (Mike: “we should’ve taken the Metro” when we’re stuck in thick traffic on the way to the Luchador. Me: “Should’ve! Should’ve! It’s always bloody “should’ve” with you!” Rational, as ever.)
- The journalist from El Universal, Mexico’s national paper, calls for a phone interview. It’s difficult because it’s our first interview in pure Spanish (though our Spanish is far from pure). So it takes an hour and a half – Mike does the whole thing. At 1am, I lose my cool and start shouting about going to bed. Again, rational.
