Radisson Paraiso Mexico City

For my last day in Mexico - and my birthday - I decided to treat myself and not to return to the Centro Historico. Insteat I went to the more upscale Zona Rosa. A nice place, really, with dozens of good restaurant (and not that expensive), clean pedestrian streets, pink-colored pavement (hence the name) and a friendly, lively ...

... the south route too late so we were stranded in the city and it was dark. Doireann was not a happy camper. We were both hungry and the thoughts of struggling to get ourselves home was like a mountain in front of us. We eventually flagged one down who hadnīt a clue where we were heading but agreed to take us as close as he could. Any time he stopped at a light he wound down the window and asked the cab driver beside him where our address was ...

... this part was underground by the time of the invasion.
After admiring the temple I went back to the hostel. At dinner I met a bunch of people who were going to climb the biggest tower in Latin American and get a view of the city. I went with them, shame it was night time because it would have been cool to see the city in the day. It was still cool at night, the lights stretched on forever, hit a mountain, and curled up the mountain and around. Then I would ...

... to a nearby coffee shop to figure out whatīs going on. The server told me that it had been the past day when the government declared closings of all public places of gathering including municipal buildings, schools and museums and suspended public events until further notice. My mood sank, what bad timing to be a tourist in the city.

The Internet had been down in our Hostel and we werenīt getting any new information about the situation. While it ...

... so much about Frida Kahlo and Diego Riviera, both huge figures here. And we also saw some of the Day of the Dead celebrations. Day of the Dead is a massive celebration at the beginning of November when Mexicans believe that the souls of the departed return to visit the living. People build alters, make offerings to their departed of their favourite foods, etc. to encourage the souls to visit and hear the prayers and wishes of the living. Orange marigolds or Flor de Muerto ...

... most of the 20th century. After the soap factory became obsolete, the Reyes family converted the factory into a climbing hostel. This place was amazing, and is without a doubt, the most fascinating and unique place that I have ever slept. The factory is two stories. Downstairs, there are couches, climbing storage, and a dining room, all surrounded by the old factory equipment, like pipes and giant ovens. Upstairs, there are about 15 bunk beds. See ...

... our flights out of Mexico. Since we'd booked our now flights to and from London last minute to replace the flights we couldn't take, they'd been booked as e-tickets and we still had not had a chance to print off the tickets themselves, so as things stood, we could provide no evidence that we definitely would be catching a flight out of Mexico. Thankfully however, Nicki had not yet chucked away our useless return tickets from Mexico, and thus having presented these to the ...

... night tossing and turning trying to find a good spot and sliding off the plastic mattress. I was woken by a sharp poke on the foot. Get up man, its 8 am, the tour leaves in an hour, shouted Shannon. Inside the windowless dorm, no light penetrated and midday seemed like midnight. It caused all kinds of problems with my sleeping habits. but i rose, ate a free breakfast of eggs, cornflakes and fruitsalad, provided by the hostel, and ran 5 blocks to a ...

... share their sweets. I am now in the college e-mailing and it has been agreed that I can have extra Spanish lessons up until Christmas. The Spanish is improving slowly and I am getting used to not having a clue what us going on and to just follow everyone else! ha!! not something I am used to right?? Anyway must go, thank you all for your e mails, I am thinking and missing you all. I will reply to your emails when I can. Gemma x

... burritos and corona. The burritos are not the same as the ones I would make, these ones actually have flavor. I'm not sure what the flavor is but it tastes nice. So did the coronas, all three of them. By now the 1 hour of sleep on the flight caught up so I call it a night. Travel Tip: When choosing a taxi be sure to take one that has no panel damage, this may indicate that your driver is safer than the taxi with dents on every panel!