Macroplaza...not so Macro...

On Friday, a few companeros and I headed to the Macroplaza, toted as the "third largest plaza in the world". Ann-Marie, Chris, Eric and I hopped in a cab, and since I spoke the most Spanish in the group (eek!), I asked to be taken there...

We drove though an area that I hadn't been through before, and arrived in a park surrounded by cobblestone streets and gothic buildings. Standing in the center of the Macroplaza was a HUGE obelisk (named "the big red wall" by our group). We wandered through the plaza and into an outdoor mall of sorts. Every 12 feet or so, there was a shoestore (una zapateria), a 7-11 (they're EVERYWHERE) or a TelCel kiosk (selling cellphones and SIM cards). Repeat. Twelve more feet, same three things. Over and over and over for several blocks.

the big red wall

Moral of the story: the Macroplaza wasn't so big. We easily covered it in two hours...oh, well.

My Spanish definitely got some practice as Chris picked up a cellphone. The true test came while standing in a long line at Office Depot (yup, they've got those here, too): a Mexican guy came up to me with a gluestick he'd intended to purchase, but needed to get back to work. In rapid Spanish, he asked if he could give me money to pay for his item, since I was next in line. The nervous look on my face, followed by my request to speak mas demasiado (more slowly) told him that I'm not exactly fluent. I was super-proud of myself when I worked my way through it, figured out what he was asking, and made the purchase.

The best part of the Macroplaza, since it wasn't nearly as Macro as it claimed to be, was the crosswalk signal...it's freaking animated. No joke. When it's safe to cross, the signal is a guy (a white guy, no less) who walks. As the time decreases, he speeds up...he runs!

(my apologies for the sideways, shaky video...but you get the picture)

SPANISH INSTRUCTION UPDATE: My first meeting with the professor is on Tuesday (el martes), and I'm obviously super-excited. I've picked up a little book that's ALL Spanish to practice with, and have been pushing myself really hard to practice while we're out and about (to the point that I won't let Spanish-speakers speak for me). Hope you'll all still be able to read these posts when they're in full Spanish... ; ]