MEXICANA

south of the border a foreign country step away Mexico land of mystery and romance mingled tradition and history Mexico City is the hub of this foreign country the center of the government is located in the National Palace which contains the presidential chambers the secretaries of Finance and defense the museum and the federal treasury [Music] the palace of fine arts exemplifies the cultural life of this modern city the residential districts abound in striking homes of Spanish architecture and design [Music] the boulevards abroad in tree-lined the paseo de la reforma is compared with the finest in the world beyond the statue of independent stands the magnificent Chapultepec castle and the bronze grasshopper in the courtyard signifies the hill of the grasshopper or chapel tyvek as one strolls through the old castle once occupied by the tragic couple Maximilian and Carlotta one feels the pulse of Old Mexico the castle grounds are filled with shimmering lakes and sparkling fountains beautiful botanical and zoological gardens watched over by colorful gods cathedrals rich in tradition and adorned with gold silver bronze and mahogany containing priceless parchments musical archives all unguarded unwatched for the Mexican has a deep reverence and devotion for his temples of religion woven into the colorful pattern of Mexico is the ancient civilization of the Aztec and Toltec the pyramids of the Sun and the moon stand as a monument to a great civilization of antiquity little is known of this portion of the history of Mexico as all records were destroyed by the gold hungry Spaniards generations of gold [Music] Mexico is a country of great contrasts along the modern highways we come upon natives carrying huge bundles on their backs held in place by wide straps across their forts trudging silently toward their markets in Mexico if a PHA owns the donkey for power rides if mobile owns the donkey mama rides transportation is in keeping with the ancient customs of the country oxen teens are seen pulling huge two-wheeled carts down modern highways [Music] boro trains carry unbelievably large burdens of pottery fruit grain hemp and rope the borough is the chief means of passenger and freight service throughout all Mexico tasco is a typical native town with its red tuft houses nestled closely together upon a hillside reminding one of far-off Sicily the ever-present Cathedral standing like a shining Sentinel keeping vigil over humanity below magnificent towers the music of the chimes pours forth each evening at sundown [Music] to stroll through the winding narrow cobblestone streets isn't experience long to be remembered we find the natives living even as did their ancestors many years ago their habits customs and occupations are far removed from the civilization we know [Music] old methods of carding wool handed down from father to son are still used silversmiths are still plying their artistic craft using ancient implements and tools contrary to the usual concept the Mexican people are industrious never rushed never hurried but always at work at something even though many times insignificant the marketplace is a teeming mass of pigs burrows sheepmen people vegetables fine cloth native handiwork and rope everything imaginable is displayed on the ground or hung in little booze all amid the babble of thousands of Mexicans bargaining gossiping visiting the greater portion of native buying and selling is done in the marketplace Mexico has few grocery stores [Music] in the rural districts life is quiet and leisurely the tiny settlements are swarming with smiling happy children [Music] the hillsides are lined with rows upon rows of mackay plants or century plants getting its name from the fact it blooms once every hundred years from the various branches of the maguey family are produced the intoxicating drinks of Mexico polki takia and Moscow when the plant is about to bloom the stem is cut out forming a bowl into which gathers the sap from which the berries beverages are made [Music] the old Indian sniped the end of the cactus like leaves to secure a useful needle and thread with which to do their crude sowing farming is the chief occupation of the Mexicans they plant their corn in the same manner as did their forefathers dropping the corn kernel by Colonel and covering it with their feet cultivation is still done with the old ox team and the crudely built handmade log plow the land of Mexico with its diversified climate grows the products of the world corn wheat rye barley sugar coffee vanilla cotton indigo rubber tobacco cantaloupe and rice cultivation of the rice is carried on by the same method used in the Orient terrorists Lopes peons working with Karl and large sombreros to protect them from the hot tropical Sun make an unforgettable picture [Music] many tropical fruits grow in abundance such as lemons oranges grapefruit bananas and papaya [Music] but all is not working labor in Mexico for frequently they come from the countryside villages and towns to enjoy their parades pageantry and holidays most of all they like the bullfight the national sport of Mexico the bullfight is an exciting and gala affair with its rules and regulations its skill and technique its national sporting heroes [Music] and believe me when el Toro charges into the ring it's an experience of a lifetime [Music] and when he attacks the Picador the great arena becomes a bedroom of excitement and thrills [Music] the matador cautiously attracts the attention of the bull el Toro charges the matador shows his courage ability and technique he places the bull under his complete control in mastering there is a tense moment as if total causes fury making ready for another charge the crowd roars its approval the same as we do for our own athletic hero but bullfighting is not the only sport for the children in Mexico display the same ingenuity for play as they do in our own country sliding down an old cog rail on a board for a distance of two miles at the rate of 45 miles per hour certainly is great sport unless you're little and the big boys will let you try it our last views of Mexico bring the realization that here is a country of great contrast of old customs of ancient civilization a country containing more of interest cannot be found in all the world osito and grand facade it has been a pleasure adios amigos [Music]