Home Movies (1954)

MEXICO • Continued from Poge 107 Temple of Quetzalcoatlz ; all were built before the 7th century and indicate the advanced culture of the Mayans. A guided tour to the pyramids will cost from $6 to $15 if you fall for the dodge. It is much cheaper and more fun if you hire a taxi and go down yourself. Unless, of course, you like lots of people around when you're shooting. The trip is worth while and should be included in your itinerary. Basilica de Guadalupe — (C-5). This is located only 5 miles from Mexico City. It is interesting because it is a monument to the Indian Juan Diego who is reported to have seen the Apparition of the Virgin of Guadelupe in 1531. Shoot this from above, and if you are using black and white film be sure to use a "G" filter — (dark yellow) . Churubusco ■ — (G-5) . This is a Dominican convent of the 16th century. During the American invasion in 1847, a stubborn battle was fought here, but the building is now a museum of history and art and contains many fine examples of early Mexico. Admission is 50 centavos, (6 cents) and the building is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Permission to shoot interiors will be granted. Xochimilco — (H-5). Located about 12miles from Mexico City. This is the area of the floating gardens and you can tour this area by launch. The place was founded sometime in the 10th century, it is said, and this is really a riot of color for the movie cameraman. Take plenty of film for this one — you might want to shoot more than you think. Sporting events are almost as popular in Mexico as they are in the rest of the world. The bull-fights, Mexico's national sport, are the all-consuming thing. The large bull-ring is located right in the city. Ask any cop for directions. Cost, by taxi is 35c from the center of town. When you arrive, choose a seat which will give a good view of the ring and still be in full sunlight. Sometimes, seats located near the shadow area prove to be worse than useless for movies. Take a few wide-angle shots and be sure to use your telephoto if you have one. A word of caution here: don't pan with the longer lens, because you are almost certain to get a shaky picture. Use a tripod if possible, and if the action is very rapid, increase the film speed from 16 f.p.s. to 24 or 32. Remember to compensate by opening the aperture a little wider. In any event check with your exposure meter for the right exposure. You can see jai-alai on the corner of Plaza de la Republico and Ramos Arizpe almost any evening at 7:00 o'clock. Admission is 60c and some seats at SI. 20. You won't get anything here using color film. Try black and white with at least a speed of 100 ASA. The action is very fast, and although plenty of light is available, black and white film is the only stock to use. Of course wrestling is available, and "boxeo" or boxing, as we know it. Horse racing is popular at the Hipodromo de las Americas on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. First race is at 2:00 p.m. and admission ranges from 36c to 60c — but if we may offer a suggestion: Horses are horses no matter where you go — and these nags lose just as consistently as American nags. And besides why risk straining the budget when there is much more to do and see, for free. We might repeat here that air travel, in our opinion is by far the most convenient, and more economical in the long run. Sure you can travel by car — but this takes time and you can see much more, in a shorter time, by plane. If you are going to Mexico from the Eastern part of the United States then a return trip via Pan-American from New Orleans to Mexico City is S192.50; from Miami $184,000 with $150 excursion rate depending upon the time of year. (This route, by the way. includes stop-over in Havana.) Price from Houston, Texas, to Mexico City, return, is $87.40. Those readers who arrive at Los Angeles from the west coast, Honolulu, or Japan should take the Los Angeles-Tijuana route. Now here we have a few choices. Pan American flies direct from Los Angeles to Mexico City, and the return fare amounts to $202.86. But a more economical way is to use Aeronaves de Mexico, (304% Broadway, call MAdison 6557). They charge only $122.00 return, from Tijuana to Mexico City. You can fly to San Diego from Los Angeles for $12.00. making a total of $132.00 return. That's a saving of $65 and who doesn't want to save a few dollars? Reforma. which can be reached at MAdison 65571 also flies to Mexico City from Tijuana and the price is the same as Aeronovas. We used Aeronovas de Mexico Air Lines on the way up, and Reforma re• See "MEXICO" on Poge 116 CENSOR SOUND WILL CUT any sound from any speaker TAPE RECORDERS: edit sound when making final sound track. 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