Tues 8 Sept - Mexican history and parks

We started and ended today with wifi frustrations at the hotel. For fans of the IT crowd this might seem familiar...at 5pm today I went down to reception and encouraged them to "turn it off and on again". Success. But earlier... We ended up using free wifi in the park. So much better!

Our aim was to walk to Chapultepec park and the Museum of Anthropology but it's not easy. Paseo de Reforma is a heavy traffic route and we got side tracked by this monument to the 1902 Revolution (at Plaza de la Republican).  Famous heroes, like Pancho Villa, are interred in the base of the arch. 

It took a bit of negotiating to get back to main Passeo de Reforma and a charming local guy asked us where we were from and seemed delighted we were visiting his country.  Viva Mexico. 

It was clear that the walk was further than we expected and Lisa's sunburned feet needed to be protected fofrom a big day, so we caught the local bus to the national Museum of Anthropology. 

The crest of Mexico is based on an old omen of the great city's being located where the native people found an eagle eating a snake near a cactus. Hello Mexico City. 

The museum is huge and has some strict rules - maybe a few too many...

We just did the highlights... Teotihuacan, Aztecs and Mayans and even then we skipped heaps in the 2+ hours we were there. It's a bit too much to take in with 1 visit but fascinating. 

Stone carvings are very detailed and murals are colourful and clear. 

The Teotihuacans believed in human sacrifice and also a plumed God. You see this guy and feathers and human bones feature regularly. 

And lots of steles carved...

This is how they believe Mexico City looked pre Spanish times (1500's). It was an island in the valley of water. The central plaza sort of still exists and was where Di started her walking tour yesterday.

The Aztecs moved into the area after the Teotihuacans and then Spanish took over from them. Aztecs worshipped the sun, built on the Teotihuacan learnings but seemed to only be in this area for 150 years. 

And this giant carving came from under the plaza in the picture above. It's about 4 metres across!

No lions in South America but we think this could have been based on a jaguar. 

The Mayans were the most advanced and civilised of all. The culture lasted 4,000 years and was quite scientific and artistic. 

Lisa's dog, Lucky, is almost identical to this guy...very cute. 

We found it a bit tough to keep going (Di's brain was hurting) so we went outside in time for this amazing demonstration which we think must have been some sort of old ritual for boys showing off!

They have no harnesses, just tie the rope around their waist and spin from the wound rope at the top of the tower...all the way to the ground. Takes at least 5 minutes maybe more.

Across the road we wandered into Chapultepec Park, which is huge and lovely. We think this was the old palace grounds for the presidents of Mexico.  Fantastic place and must be popular on Sunday's. 

The stall holders all sell the same stuff and we just couldn't figure out how they made money...but it was colourful. And handy. We were a bit peckish and plantain chips served us well. And the squirrels benefited too. 

Lisa the soft touch...

Our plan was to go up to Chapultepec Castle but the guards expected Di to leave her backpack in some lockers about 1km away from the entrance. No thanks. So this was a close as we got.

Around 2.30pm and it was time a break and lunch. We hopped back on a local bus which took us very close to home. 

A surprisingly perfect lunch at our neighbourhood baguette cafe. For $70MXN pesos we got minestrone, salad caprese with bread, red wine and a mouthful of a sweet treat. Delicious. 

But where had the time gone? It was close to 4.30pm before we were back in our hotel room to continue our struggles with wifi.  So apart from a modem reset our solution was to drink the rum Lisa brought with her from Cuba. 

Oh dear a bit too much rum...by the time we were ready for dinner at 7.30 we both felt a bit sloshed. 

So went an ordered food and a piña colada to wash it down at nearby Cervezia De Barrio.  A headache may be on the way... But all delicious with nice food. 

Finished with coffee and more food we did not need and ventured back to our hotel for the night.

Buenas noches. 

Mon 7 Sept - Mexico City walking

The day started slowly and so did I. No need to rush as the walking tour starts about 1km away at 11am. A leisurely breakfast and stroll to get there. So even after leaving the hotel around 9.15am I still had plenty of time to wander. 

On the way to the historic centre I noticed every shop seemed to be scrubbing and cleaning to get started for the day. I learned later in the tour that Mexican culture expects people to clean their houses every day!  Hence they don't mind small homes. 

It certainly was evident in the streets. For a mega city it feels quite clean. 

Whilst waiting and wandering I was approached by these guys to read a statement for the TV in Spanish, saying hola, soy Australiana, mi lliamo Dianna. And then something about Independence Day and Viva Mexico.  I feel sorry for whoever gets to listen to my Spanish!

Our tour started here, at the Metropolitan Cathedal at 11am sharp with Alexandra. A young graduate who did heaps of historic research so knowledge was excellent. Her English was good to. 

This cathedral was built on Aztec ruins.  When the Spanish arrived they just knocked down nearly all of the city which had been here 500+ years. Some evidence remains underneath. They even had the hide to use the stone blocks from the Aztec temples!

Similarly the bell in this church towers came from melted down Aztec metals. 

Our group were ALL airline staff here in Mexico City for 36 hour layover. 5 KLM and 1 Air France and me.  Dutch group below. The building to the left has a congregation of people who write and print cards and letters - but you can't take photos up close as rumour is they still do fake IDs and passports. They say Che and Castro both got fake passports made here. 

Alexandra explained so much about the old buildings and history that I am going to have to read up more. 

This place stuck in my mind as it was the first mental home for women. We took a sneak peak inside (now health department offices). The doors were fantastic and the carvings sort of tell the purpose. 

Some other famous and memorable buildings (in order) Include the archive museum, Postal Palace and Palace Belles Artes. 

This beautiful and important concert hall is sinking 6cm a year! Mexico City is built on a drained lake and so quite a few old buildings are sinking and others lean slightly due to earthquakes.  They are struggling for a solution. 

Lots of shopping in this district and each street seems to have its own specialialty. Such as jewellery, mobile phones, and this one which specialised in gowns for 15 year old debutants. OMG they look like cakes!

But the highlight of the day must be the topless protesting, against political corruption, to mamba music. Lots of bits jiggling. They wanted to get attention and certainly got mine. 

Our tour made a quick stop into an 80 year old bakery, which evidenced that Mexicans love their sweets (with upcoming diabetes issues...). It all looked fabulous. Might be on the menu for coffee and cake later...

 And then finished at the oldest church in the Americas - Church of San Francisco. 

A quick lunch...at a chain restaurant as I needed the loos and the food was predictable and cheap. I had thought maybe a nicer cafe but I found one which seemd to want about $120MXN pesos for a ham and cheese sandwich + add on drink cost.  Nope - I walked out. My whole lunch with a bottle of water cost $55MXN pesos or $7.  I am happy to spend more on dinner and drinks when Lisa arrives tonight.

Back to the room just after 3pm to get out of the sun and recharge batteries - mine and the camera!

Blogging for an hour and a short nap. The sun, altitude and what I feel was 10km of walking helped m siesta nicely.

Lisa arrived later than expected. Coming from Cuba all bags were checked by sniffer dog and lucky Lisa drew the "random bag search" card too!  After and hour or so of catching up (about Cuba and Lisa's bad sunburn) we headed out for dinner where I had seen the locals eat. 

No English spoken here so we tried our best in Spanish. All good as what we had was great. Although my tacos arrived with a fried piece of cooked cactus which was not my style. The fresh juice were yummy but we still need a beer later. 

Everything was made fresh.

Then a short stroll mainly to find beer but also to see the Palace Belles Artes at night. 

Our first choice for beer would not serve it without food. We were stuffed so we opted to go to Wings &Beer and had a local beer each. No Corona, and no Sol meant we drank El Tecate instead.

Finished our night with a coffee and small chocolate from local 7/11. Yep, we can still sleep because it's been a big day for both of us and more tomorrow!

Buenas Noches. 

Sun 6 Sept - A long day that finished well in Mexico City.

The long haul day started early as I needed to leave for the airport by 6am. It was sad to leave Hans but once I was on the way the practicalities kicked in and the excitement too. 

I reflect that it really didn't take that long to get to LA - just a long time to get through queues and on the plane. The 14 hour flight went fine and then ended up being a bit stressful in LAX for transit to the United flight to Mexico City (another 3.5 hour flight).  

Whilst we landed on time, with nearly 2 hours spare for transit,  we had a "jet bridge" issue then a customs issue (they took a girl off our plane and made us all wait).  The result was just 1 hour to clear immigration, collect my luggage, transfer my luggage (hot bag coming through) then RUN from Tom Bradley terminal B (equivalent to terminal 3) to terminal 7. Along the footpath, near the shuttle buses. Not very scenic!  Then back through security and find the gate. 

The United staff gave me an orange express pass but each time other people looked at my boarding pass they queue jumped me ahead.  It was tight.  I pushed, puffed and also got a bit red and sweaty. 

...but made it :-) and amazingly so did my luggage. 

The plane as half empty, I had 3 seats so took the opportunity for a few hours of snooze catch up. 

Mexico City processing was better than LAX and with a pre arranged hotel transfer I was checking in an hour later. The room is at the front but not terribly glamorous views. I did like the drive in. Almost Asia in parts - run down but colourful buildings, crazy wiring, lots of markets and people on the streets everywhere. It is a Sunday so everyone seems out and about.

Me too. I need to move - LAX running aside - so I joined the locals and went for an afternoon wander in a lovely park nearby called Alameda Central. Not  blending in but strolling and enjoying the lovely afternoon. 

Mexicans seem to appreciate buskers and most draw a great crowd here, including these funny clowns. The crowd was all giggling so I couldn't help laughing too.

The Beatles?  They tried...I gave them a few coins. 

Btw the Peso is about 10:1 to Aussie dollar so eating fresh food seems cheap here. I had to try some...yummy. 

To finish off i wandered past some very lovely buildings. This is the postal palace.  Still in use. But more on that in my walking tour tomorrow...

An hour or so back at the hotel frustrated by the wifi - waiting for a break in the rain. I then went looking for a casual dinner. BBQ chicken wings and Dos Equis beer for $10 Aussie was delicious and relaxing. Place was called Wings&Beer.

But then the rain started again. And we are in thunderstorm season. Mexico City was built on a drained lake so guess what? It floods pretty quickly. Made it the 250ms back to the hotel but with soaked feet. But as Hans always says "it's just a little bit of water".

Buenas Noches. 

Sat 5 Sept - Packing and prep

Having done virtually no packing or prep for Mexico it helped that I'm not leaving until Sunday morning. I started it all today.  

Online check-in, last minute shopping (for socks), packing and pedi too.  Add in a gym session and home cooking and it turned out to be reasonably busy. 

All this helps to distract me from crying ...as from tomorrow morning I won't see Hans for 2 months. Once I'm on my way I will be fine as I am very excited about my holiday with Lisa in Mexico. Lots of cool stuff to do and see ...but in the quiet moments it's  a bit tough.