Back in town
Trip Start
Apr 09, 2008
1
41
115
Trip End
Apr 19, 2009
Mexico City,
Central Mexico and Gulf Coast,
Mexico
Thursday, August 21, 2008
> that there is always something happening in the Zocalo, either there are protests, or one day a fun run, another the national marathon. Some dys it seems nothing is happening and the police have just decided to close all the roads for a laugh but I don't think awhole day went by without some occurance.
> the metro system, seemingly connects the entire city and is open quite late. The cost of travel from any station to any other regardless of journey time or number of connections is 2 pesos or 10 pence. Journey times vary during rush hour but it was quoted to me that you can travel from one corner of the city to the other in only 20 minutes
View ofthe zocalo from the top of a big building
.> the final theme was the food. I was warned about mexican food before I arrived but it did not prepare me. There is surely nothing like it in the world. Dotted throughout the city are stalls, like market stalls, except that they sell the most delicious tortillas and fast food you have ever tasted. Like the best mexican restaurant in england but at a fraction of the price and available whenever you want. Sure there is the risk of a tummy ache or something but the flavour is so good it doesn't matter. I was even adding healthy dollops of chilli sauce by the time I left. Mexican food is similar to the stuff we see in england but not the same at all. No burritos or hard shell tacos for example. Mainly tortillas, quesidillas, tortas or enchiladas all great.
On the first day in the evening I met up again with Ben from Palenque. We went to an Irish bar with some English teachers he knew in the city. (English teachers not teachers of english). After we went to a club but I got tired and went home at about 4 or so. Stupidly I left me jacket. I was really gutted when I realised because I loved that jacket. It was my pillow when none was provided and kept me warm on the freezing busses. But there was nothing I could do about it.
The next day I met up with some friends of friends that also lived in the city and we went to visit the floating gardens in the far south
Marathon preparations in the Zocalo
. You hire a boat for about four hours and the driver takes you on a tour around the islands. You can buy food and drinks and take them on the boat with you so by the end of the cruise we were all half drunk giggling and playing stupid games. A great day.The next morning I met up with one of the guys from the boat trip, David, and we went together to the Pyramids north of the city on a guided tour. The tour also stoped at the Guadalupe, the sight of an appearance of the virgin where several churches have been built. The pyramids were huge apparantly the sight contains the third biggest pyramid in the world.
On the Tuesday I went for a walk in the city to get my barings and work out where things were. I saw the park and the CBD with highrises and some interesting benches. That night I arrived back at the hostel in time for a good amount of drinks in the bar and I made a number of friends.
On Wednesday I went with one of the guys in my dorm to the Chaputepec park a huge park in the city and the anthropology museum which was really facinating to start with but soon got repetative with each room about a slightly diferent tribe but with essentially the same exhibits
creepy doll island
. Arriving back at the hostel the two of us joined some of the friends I had made the night before on an evening out at the wrestling, "Luche Libre" (free fighting). It was great just like WWF but up close and with a feeling of normaility because it happens here three times a week. After the wrestling some of the girls were going to a strip club and we decided to tag along. It was great fun but quite expensive. If you are wondering I didnt pay for the girls but some of the people at my table did, their reports were interesting.On Thursday in the morning I joined a free walking tour organised by the hostel of the central plaza and was happy I hadn't had a look around there before. After this I took the tube back to Chaputepec again and visited the FREE zoo there. It was great they had pandas and other bear and loads of big cats and monkies. Some of the cats I thought had rather small cages but otherwise it was great. On the way back to the Zocalo I took some photos of the peculiar benches. That evening after a shower I walked over to the Plaza Garibaldi which is famous as a great place to hear mariachi bands. After a beer or two I headed back to the hostel.
The next morning I joined another tour from the hostel and went to the plaza de las tres cultures, interesting because in one plaza you can see the ancient city, the spanish/ catholic influence and modern mexico. This is actually also the case in the Zocalo or main plaza but I decided not to mention this. After this I left the tour and ascended one of the tour buildings that is open to the public to take photos of the city. As usual there was something going on in the square this time skateboarding, BMXing and later a rock concert.
I wasted my last day eating my final mexican meal. Using the internet and sorting out provisions for the travelling I was about to undertake. I also visited a few of the smaller parks and squares I had missed out before, just to sit and read or study. I went with two guys to the cinema, we watched some film called "Te busca" in Spanish about assasins that can bend bullets. The film was aware it was corny but still I cannot recomend it. The next day I had to be up at an absolutely ridicules three in the morning so I got very little sleep before heading to the airport.
