A section of pedestrian bridge fell on this empty pesero during the quake. No one was hurt. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
I’m sorry I didn’t check in sooner, but I left for California for a few days to hang out with my family. (I already had the trip planned.) The quake was a doozy, though — people here are still talking about it.
I was just getting off the elevator when it happened. The door opened and I went to put my key in the door, and the door hit me in the forehead. I thought: What the…? Am I dizzy? Just then a young guy came downstairs and grabbed my elbow. “Vámanos, vámanos!” I stared at him. “There’s an earthquake, señorita, we have to go.” Feeling numb, I ran down five flights of stairs, holding onto his arm with one hand and clutching a stack of copies I’d made with another.
The building was still swaying when we got to the parking garage. One of the cleaning ladies, who was also in the parking garage, fainted. She later told me her brother-in-law’s family died in the earthquake in ’85 because they were unable to get out of their building.
After the quake was over, the power was out and the phones didn’t work. I finally got a hold of Crayton about 1 1/2 hours later. I cried when I heard his voice.
I’m still a little shaken up, even though it was a week ago. If Crayton stirs just a little bit in bed, I’m up immediately, thinking about the roof caving in. This whole thing also has me seriously wondering whether we should move into a lower floor apartment building. We’re on the fifth floor now, and I really don’t want to run down five flights of stairs again when the next quake hits.
And I’m wondering, honestly, how much more of this I can take. Crazy drivers I can deal with. Mexican bureaucracy, ok. But earthquakes? I don’t want to die in a stairwell, crushed by a falling wall. For the first time, I thought seriously about moving back to the States.
There are earthquakes there, too, though. And I don’t want to be afraid of something that may not happen. I’ll probably start looking at apartments when I get back from my trip to New York next week, which I was planning to do anyway. Now I have a bigger excuse.
That was what started my planning to move back to Canada after the ’85 ‘quake. I had nightmares of being in the Pemex building when a quake started and phoning Enrique to tell him what side of the building to look for my body. Or not being able to get to Enrique and our baby daughter. And you imagine the sidewalk being pulled backward while you’re walking. I couldn’t lean against the front of my desk while I taught, anymore. I had to sit down properly.
But Lesley, do you live in a low-rise area? Is it older? Those seemed to be the areas that were relatively unscathed back then. It was the newer buildings, higher that were damaged or destroyed.
Are you finished what you went to Mexico for?
xo Daphne
Daphne: God, that’s awful. I live in the Roma, which is one of the areas most damaged by the ’85 earthquake. There are several old buildings here still standing, but they’re among the one- and two-story variety.
In regards to your last comment, I don’t think I’ve finished what I came to Mexico for. I’m still figuring out what that is. So I’m not leaving quite yet.
Oh gosh! That sounds soooo scary! I experienced an earthquake in Ixtapa, Mexico on the 11th floor of a high-rise hotel that woke me up at 5 in the morning. I didn’t know what to do!!! I was afraid to get in the elevator and afraid to climb down that many flights of stairs. I was in shock and just paced back and forth in my room. Luckily all was OK, but it was VERY scary. So glad to hear you and Clay are safe and sound.
I don’t know if this helps with visceral fear, but the traffic is at least ten times as dangerous as earthquakes (probably one hundred times, even in the unlikely event of another 1985 in the coming generation).
One could be safer by committing to being just a bit more guarded crossing the street or more careful about taking a ride with a friend who’s been drinking. The improvement would be mich bigger than any possible earthquake safety improvement.
Thanks Brian. That does make me feel better. God knows how many times I’ve almost been hit by a car, and yet that doesn’t scare me as much.
I am so glad that you and Crayton were not hurt and that your apartment and offices are still standing. It is scary, but as you pointed out, you don’t want to live your life in fear! Just take wise precautions and keep on enjoying life! Tell Crayton Happy Birthday from me. I seem to have missed an entire week. Maybe he can celebrate now that things have settled down.
Glad to hear everything is OK…
HOLA!
The minute I heard about this I thought of you and Ben. I had Ben’s e-mail on my iphone and immediately sent him an e-mail. I was in Flrida at the time. I am glad you and others are fine.
Please contact me when in New York, I live in the West Village/Soho and I know people in realestate. If I can help you in any way. Also maybe you will have time for a little dinner. Looking forward to hearing from you…Norma (917) 539-8055 this is my cell number and my e-mail is norma823@aol.com
Thanks Norma! I’m busy with a conference this week but will shoot you an email early next. Hope you’re feeling better.
It will be very sad if you leave Mexico City, your readers will really miss your chilanga adventures. Wouldn’t you consider moving to Coyoacan or San Angel which are much less eathquake prone areas of the city? I hope you are feeling better!
Aw, thanks Vicente. I’m not ready to leave yet. I appreciate your comment, a lot. I’m not sure yet where we’d move. Coyoacán and San Angel are beautiful but they’re a little too far from Crayton’s job. We’ll see.
Stay safe and well Lesley!
I live in Mixcoac on a 3rd floor, is a nice and safe area, well communicated with the rest of the city. My husband and I just moved to a new apartment there, and we noticed that we don’t feel the earthquakes too much, compared to our old building in Colonia del Valle.
As you say, maybe a lower floor and a newer building could be safer.
Thanks Agridulce. I hear the market in Mixcoac is really nice. The only thing is that it’s a little far from my husband’s job. We’ll see. I appreciate the tip.
eeeek! I’m just really GLAD (Thank the high heavens GLAD) you’re well and earthquake safe 🙂
Thank you again Lesley for the time despite the earthquake!
We were in Mexico City (doing some of East Mexico’s tours) just after the devastating Guatemalan quakes in November. We also spent some time in Oaxaca, where a decent shake was felt one night. Our American tour companions all woke and thought of their safety procedures (or forgot them and went outside onto the third floor balcony for a look!) but we were the only ones who slept through it. It was odd given we were the only ones not used to quakes, coming from down under ! Surprisingly, I hadn’t heard about this quake until I read this post
It was a biggie. I’m ashamed to admit that I’m still a little scared that I’m going to wake up in the middle of the night and find the house shaking. I don’t think I’ve ever slept through an earthquake in my life — I wish I could! On an unrelated note, thank you for taking an Eat Mexico tour. Hope you enjoyed it.