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“Animals are stylized characters in a kind of old saga—stylized
because
even the most acute of them have little leeway as they play out their parts.”
- Edward Hoagland -
U.S. novelist, essayist. In Heart’s Desire (1988)
BEGINNING
Like the Norsemen of the 12th & 13th centuries as they began their Icelandic
saga, we eleven began our Mexican saga thinking that we knew something about our purpose and would have
some semblance of control over our destination and emotions. We were destined to understand that we too had little
leeway as we played out our parts. We eleven were as diverse as Christmas Mountain Village in the Wisconsin
Dells is to Scottsdale Camelback Resort in the great Sonora Desert or the Coastal Region
of Virginia around Newport News. As different as delivering packages for FedEx, passengers
for Northwest Airlines or exchanges for RCI. We were Sunny, Dori, Dale and Clark. We were Mark, Susan,
Patti and Cheryl. And finally, Wade, Maranda and Jerry. We began our epic journey in early November and now fully
understand that we know not where it will end. We were not legendary figures of the heroic age of Norway and Iceland
nor even of this day and time. We were simply, eleven individuals destined to together learn: “It may be
good to be satisfied with what we have, but never with what we are,” from the smiling faces and warm embraces
we would encounter at Christel House Mexico.
Those
on this Saga did have one thing in common. We were all associated some way with Christel House back in the
States. Patti Mahl represented FedEx, Maranda Willis represented Northwest Airlines,
Dori Carlson and Susan Phillips represented RCI and all three of these great firms were 2005
Event-wide Sponsors of the Christel House Open. Dale Goodman, Cheryl O’Bryon, Clark Rowley, Mark Krause,
Sunny Bresett, Wade O’Bryon, and myself hosted Open tournaments in our respective communities. It should
be mentioned that Mark, Sunny, Wade and Cheryl all work for Bluegreen Resorts.
After
making our ways on different days and times to Mexico City, several of us gathered in the lobby of the Galeria
Plaza at about 3:00 PM, met our hosts, Becky Arnett and Cheryl Wending of the Christel House
Indy staff, became acquainted or re-acquainted, were loaded in a van for a whirlwind tour of the sights and
sounds of the city. After a few twists, turns, darting and dodging we found ourselves on Paseo de la Reforma,
the city's main thoroughfare. This elegant boulevard is lined with dozens of magnificent monuments including the
much-photographed Independence Monument, which has become the unofficial trademark of México City.
Sharing the precious space along Paseo de la Reforma are modern high-rise office buildings, embassies, luxury
hotels, colonial mansions, more monuments and shaded pedestrian promenades.
From our tour guide we learned that Mexico City represents 3,000 years of human cultural achievement.
It ranks as one of the world's great capitals and the size and grandeur of the city are staggering. It is not only
the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere, but also carries the burden of being the largest
city the world has ever known and is currently home to 8.6+ million people. It is here that in 1519 the Old World
and New World met face to face in a confrontation that would forever shape world history. Mexico City is
the exact site upon which the great Aztec civilization flourished, developing one of the greatest cities
of the 16th century. We had the opportunity to visit the National Palace (built in 1693) that still
houses the President’s Office and the Ministry of Finance and became a part of history as the tour
described the Diego Rivera murals that adorn the inner hallways of the building. While overlooking the ruins
of Templo Mayor, we all discovered that we were hungry and dinner was not scheduled until 7:30 that evening.
Our guide led us away from the ruins, skirted the Zocalo, or central plaza, away from the drumbeat of a
popular celebration or public demonstration, toward a hotel on the corner. It was there, surrounded by both modern
and ancient Mexico City, we sat on the open-air patio of the Holiday Inn and quitted our most basic
urges with appetizers and margaritas. After this refreshing break we crossed the street and entered the Metropolitan
Cathedral, which dominates the Zocalo. A blend of Baroque and neoclassical façade, the
cathedral contains five separate naves and beautiful side chapels. Due to the soft clay land of the city, the cathedral
is subject to gradual sinking, however the restoration efforts on the beautiful cathedral have saved its collapse.
After our tour of the Cathedral, we began our return to the hotel and then on to dinner. The tour guide
continued to point out all the parks, monuments and other attractions along the way. Many of us (especially Patty)
were interested in a certain Disco that was brought to our attention. The group enjoyed a traditional Mexican
dinner at one of the finest restaurants in the city, several cocktails, and traditional Mariachi performances.
The songs that were played ranged from sentimental love ballads to lively and popular music. The ladies in our
group especially enjoyed those lively ones when they were invited to dance by one of the musicians. Everyone ended
the evening in a good mood and with great anticipation of what the next morning would bring.
FINAL THOUGHT
I usually read for a while after I get into bed, however on this evening I began to review what I knew about
the Christel House mission, what the agenda indicated we should expect and what others had told me about their
experience. I remembered that the character and value formation taught to the kids were Respect, Responsibility,
Independence, and Integrity. I knew what those four words meant to me but wondered if they meant the same to the
kids. Kids that ranged from the first to the seventh grade, kids born into a culture totally different than the
one I was born into. As I drifted off, my last conscious thought was something like: were the others thinking similar
thoughts?
Of one thing I am sure. Nothing that I knew and nothing that I thought I knew had prepared me (and I believe
for the other ten members of this saga) for the emotional experience that awaited inside that big black gate which
marked the entrance to the building situated at No. 161 Kansas, Colonia Ampliacion Napoles, Mexico City D.F.
Please join us next week for Part 2 of the SAGA… THE WORLD.
JS 11/05
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Jerry Sikes,
RRP / CHA, is President of Professional Resort Operators, Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona. He has over 35 years in the
Hospitality Industry / over 25 years in Timesharing, and is the current Co-Chairman of ARDA Arizona as well as
Chairman of the Arizona Timeshare Management Association.
Jerry is a frequent guest speaker regionally and nationally on all aspects of Timeshare Management and a frequent
contributor of articles for industry publications. He writes informative and easy to read weekly columns on the
business of properly managing resorts and people, and on other issues of interest to the industry.
READ THE COLUMN
Email: boyjerry@cox.net
Web site: http://www.protimeshare.com |
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