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Publication Date: Friday, August 20, 2004 Sister-city folks arriving soon
Sister-city folks arriving soon
(August 20, 2004) Everyone is invited to join in five evenings of fun
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli
It's Pleasanton's turn next month to show its hospitality.
The Pleasanton-Tulancingo Sister City Association will be welcoming a delegation of about 23 people from Mexico on Sept. 8 for the 21st year of the exchange. They will stay through Sept. 12.
"Once you've gone to Tulancingo and gotten a taste of Mexican hospitality, you're hooked," said Thelma Asbury, who is in charge of the visit here for the third time. "They bend over backwards. They're warm, wonderful people, and you want to do for them as much as you can."
She has five days of adventures planned, starting with pickup at the San Francisco airport and getting them settled in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Asbury is still looking for local businesses to contribute goodie bags or promotional items to go into the bags to present to the visitors at their hotel.
Then it's downtown for lunch and a visit to City Hall.
"Our mayor gives them a gift, and the representative of their mayor will give a gift to us," said Asbury. "Our historian Corinne Mavridis will doll up the Tulancingo Room at City Hall, and they get a joy out of seeing that."
Something new this year will be a trip to the Oakland A's game, complete with a tailgate party, plus the opportunity for eight people to go on the field before the game and meet the players.
"How much more American can you get?" asked Asbury. "In 21 years I can't comprehend why they hadn't taken them to an A's game."
They will be barbecuing hamburgers and hotdogs, and sister-city members will bring side dishes, she said.
The visit also includes a visit to Walnut Grove Elementary School; Sunday Mass and a breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus; and free time for shopping.
Everyone is welcome to the evening festivities. The schedule is:
¥ Welcome Reception, sit-down dinner; 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 8; Crowne Plaza Hotel; $25 per person
¥ Western Dinner Dance, a hoedown with a three-piece band, complete with line dancing and a barbecue; 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 9; Rancho Bello; $25
¥ Salon at the Pleasanton Hotel, with entertainment in the garden area, then dinner with more performances; 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 10; $30
¥ Family Dinners; call if you are interested in hosting a family; 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11
¥ Farewell Sit Down Dinner with 16-piece band; 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 12; Crowne Plaza Hotel; $30
Also on the visitors' agenda for the daytime is a tour of Filoli Garden in Woodside on Friday.
Asbury said she has been part of the Pleasanton sister-city delegation to Tulancingo 10 times.
"If you ever want to feel like a dignitary, feel like someone special, go to Tulancingo," she said. "Never have you had so much love and hugs and kisses."
Reservations for the evening events must by made by Sept. 1. For more information, to host a family dinner, or to donate promotional items for welcoming goodie bags, call Asbury at 248-2663.
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