ONE OF THE MANY POOR AND HOMELESS IN MEXICO CITY
I went walking around the city trying to see if I could find some new neat neighborhood or bohemian building to move into: One with lots of windows, a view and a balcony.
The area I walked in Sunday, November 23, 2008, was full of venders, Christmas shoppers and it was loud. Though I saw a couple of cool places I would consider moving into, I did not see any For Rent signs, so I continued walking in the Centro Historico.
I found myself around the backside to the Presidential Palace at the Zocalo. It was fun seeing all the Christmas lights, dazzling stars and twinkling garland. And of course some fancy lights with the Virgen de Guadalupe, religious BLING.
As I walked I was most horrified by a sight I had walked upon. Here I thought I had become adjusted to seeing the surreal in the real world in México City and seeing the many poor people in México BUT I came across a homeless man that appeared to be over the top. He was not pushing a shopping cart (have yet to see one used by a homeless person here) but dragging a small blue laundry basket (no wheels) that apparently had all this mans stuff. I wondered if I had run into the Mexican version of the Elephant Man because the base of his legs looked so large. His feet were wrapped in old clothing; I couldn’t tell if he had shoes. Though I was standing not to close to the man, his amonia like stench was overwhelming.
This guy walked in the middle of the street and not too many people seemed to pay attention to him, like it was an everyday sighting. Because this man was walking in the middle of the street, cars would stop and inch out of his way. No one honked their horns, I guess out of respect of his heartbreaking condition. This guy passed several police that let him continue his walk in the middle of the street: he evaded cars, like an old forgotten bull fighter.
