The vibrant music of "McCormick and MacLeod" set the stage for energy packed performances. The glowing smiles and lively presentations of Canadian Celtic and Highland dance brought the Mexican audiences to standing ovations. Our piper, Jim Forbes, was a major attraction and was decreed a prince by the young Mexican girls, as he sported the full dress kilt, sporran and feathered glengarry. Many were intrigued by the bagpipes, and were excited to finger out the notes as Jim blew into the pipes. They giggled at the sounds coming out of this most interesting instrument. The troupe members were showered with gifts and flowers, signed autographs, posed for pictures and proudly gave out Canadian pins to thrilled audiences.

In Atlixco, Mexico the mayor, Dr. Neftalt Salvador Escobedo Loletto, and cultural director, Prof. M. Edilberto Toledano Vergara presented the MacCulloch Dancers with the keys to the city. Later, in a cozy Mexican restaurant, a Mexican band serenaded the dancers with their beautiful voices while the mayor versed the adults on the proper procedure for drinking tequila. We were then off to perform for the warm and friendly people of Toluca in Mexico State.

The standing ovations, autographs, photos and gift exchanges continued as we left from Puebla State and travelled to Juan Rodriguez Clara, a small town in Veracruz. Here the MacCulloch dancers were given the opportunity to spend two days in Mexican family homes. Once again we were impressed by the generosity and friendliness of the Mexican people. They made us feel so welcome in their homes. They kindly pointed out which dishes had hot chillies knowing that one chilly could set a Canadian into a fit of tears and frantically fanning one's mouth.

Our first performance in Veracruz was in the small village of Villa Azueta. The following day it was welcoming to see the town people of Rodriguez Clara busily building a brand new stage for our evening performance. The troupe already had a following of fans who gleefully cheered, "Canada! Canada!" as we met them in the village square, pineapple fields and country churches. Many of them proud to point out the members who were staying in their homes. Our third day in Veracruz was spent on the sunny beach of Mocambo enjoying the hot sand and warm waves. Following our day of sun and fun, our most generous festival director, Prof. Jose Andres Sanchez Zarate, treated us to a scrumptious meal in the modern and very large city mall. We then walked along the port of Veracruz admiring the large ships and shopping in the shoreline markets.

We were then to leave Veracruz , several of our members anxious, as we were late for the party where other troupes from France, Argentina, Taiwan, Panama, Greece, Yugoslavia, Israel, Turkey and the Ukrane were already celebrating. Others were more interested in sleep. Just as we had begun we presented a final lively show in the Puebla Theater of the Arts, finishing with our signature performance of the Ceilidh, step dancers, highland dancers and sailors leaping into the hearts of the Mexican people one final time. The Puebla Festival Director, Prof. Vidal Calvario Tepox presented us with a beautifully carved eagle, all framed in sculpted wood. It will be proudly displayed in our studio, at 2502 Trim Rd., as we fondly remember the gracious smiles of the Mexican people.

Come and visit some of the following links to see some of the sites that we witnessed in Mexico; some beautiful historic churches, the largest pyramids in Mexico; the Pyramids of Cholula, pineapple fields and views of a smoking volcano called the Popocatepetl Volcano. We also learned a great deal about Mexican legends including the "Popocatepetl/Iztaccihuatl Legend".

A special thank you the our guardian angels, Vero and Jacob, and friend Moses for guiding us through our adventures in Mexico.