¿Dónde está el flag?

Well, we finished our first week of classes at EGADE!! One class a day for 4 hrs is a bit trying, but at least theoretically, that gives us more time to “study.” Today, EGADE sponsored a tour for the Thunderbirds of the main TEC campus as well as some sights around Monterrey. TEC is awesome! The campus is complete with a Starbucks, gym, a rock-climbing wall, 2 pools, a football (yes, that’s American football) field, interesting and eclectic architecture (and students), as well as geese, ducks, peacocks, and even deer roaming around on campus! We definitely didn’t have animals roaming around SDSU… maybe a couple strange frat boys, but nothing like this! Actually, it’s pretty funny, because at the gym in TEC, they won’t let you in without sleeves… no tank tops! Please! Not quite sure what the rational behind that one is?!

After walking around the campus we piled into a tour bus where we drove to the ‘downtown’ district. Complete with a Riverwalk (larger than that of San Antonio’s), cool buildings, beautiful churches and statues, and amazing history we soaked up the afternoon sun touring around downtown.

With one last stop on our brief tour, we drove to the Bishop’s summer house… not too shabby! It actually was the sight (according to our tour guide), where the last Mexican stronghold was defeated by the Americans to claim Texas, New Mexico, California, and Arizona. 100 years later, some eccentric Catholic dude decided that place would be a nice spot for a summer retreat. Haha. Interesting.

We continued up the hill (a VERY steep hill), to the summit of one of the surrounding hills to the sight of one of Mexico’s largest flags – displayed proudly over the city of Monterrey. Only, there was no flag! There was the biggest flagpole I have ever seen in my life, but no flag. Apparently, during a particularly strong rainstorm, the water washed away the ink of the eagle in the center of the Mexican flag, which then left the Italian flag flying proudly over the city of Monterrey! Somehow, I think our tour guide was probably making that story up too! Regardless, the views from the top were amazing!!! There was even Ranchera (like Mariachi), music piped in to set the mood! I believe as we were leaving, La Cucaracha was playing in the background. Ahhh, gotta love Mexico….