Monday, October 23, was when Prash and Harneet returned home. I was sad, but happy that I got a week with my little brother that I was not expecting to have. After dinner and some delicious crêpes for dessert, courtesy of our favourite biker, the duo were on their way back to the land of rain, maple syrup, and beavers.
After spending all of Tuesday working, we headed out to visit the Diego Rivera museums that we were unable to go to over the weekend due to time constraints. Our first stop was at the Mural Museum. The entrance was 30 pesos (~2 CAD) plus 5 pesos (~.33 CAD) for photography. The disappointing part was that only one mural was available for viewing as the other rooms were undergoing renovation.
The mural available for viewing was Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central or Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park. It was created between 1946 and 1947 and is 51 ft × 15 ft in size. The mural features numerous characters from 400 years of Mexican history, gathered for a stroll through Alameda Park. There are colourful balloons and well-dressed people among darker elements such as a confrontation between an indigenous family and a police officer, a man getting shot, and La Catrina holding the hand of a ten-year-old Diego in the center and grinning at the viewer.
Diego Rivera’s Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central
Close-up of La Catrina in Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central
Day of the Dead Altar in the Diego Rivera Mural Museum
Since it was just one mural we saw, we were done quickly and had time to go to the Studio Museums of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Juan O’Gorman. The entry fee was the same as the Mural Museum, except it was 30 pesos for photography here. The buildings house a collection of artifacts, tools, and personal belongings of the artists.
Mexican painter and architect, Juan O’Gorman, who was also a personal friend of Diego Rivera’s, was in charge of the construction project of the buildings. Diego purchased the property and turned it into a home for himself and Frida, and both created many of their masterpieces here. Diego Rivera lived here until his death in 1957.
Day of the Dead Altar at the House Studio Museum of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo
La Catrina Made of Rice and Beans
Diego Rivera Studio
Frida Kahlo Studio
Terrace of the Frida Kahlo Studio
Juan O’Gorman Studio
Checking out Juan O’Gorman’s Entre la Filosofia
Museum Model
After spending a large chunk of the day at the museums, we had a late lunch and headed home. The next day, Thursday, was a long and fun day at Six Flags – a large amusement park with numerous fun rides and heart attack-inducing roller coasters. This was our most expensive day out yet at 1,550 pesos (~103 CAD) per person for the entry. We went with the option that included the VIP pass and Festival of Terror.
We were smart enough to start out with the Rio Salvaje ride that took us under a waterfall, resulting in us (mostly me) being soaked. Where we failed was in renting a locker and putting our sweaters there beforehand since those things take forever to dry. We went on two roller coasters together, and after seeing my life flash behind my tightly-shut eyes on the second one, the Medusa, I was done. Phil soldiered on and took on the Superman roller coaster before his coaster-quota was filled.
Why does getting soaked in real life never look as good as it does in movies?
Six Flags Plaza
La Catrina at Six Flags
Heart Attack Material
The Festival of Terror started at 7:00 PM and kicked off with a parade of undead creatures. Our VIP passes were a godsent when going through the haunted houses in the evening because the lineups were incredibly long. We managed to get through all ten houses consisting of mummies, zombies, clowns, insects, experiments, slaughterhouse, rituals, coven, area 66, and Stranger Things with minimal wait times.
Getting Ready for the Festival of Terror
After a late dinner of tacos at the park, we called it a night and headed home.
