Bienvenido a México. This blog will replace my previously ongoing blog http://leroyinargentina.blogspot.mx/ which has 141 entries and more than 3,000 views. The purpose of this blog is to document my experiences while in Mexico City this year. Here is my profile from the University of Washington website.
First impressions about Mexico City:
1) Quality of Life: This is actually the third time I´ve been to Mexico City, and I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. Before I would always stay in the downtown area which is crowded and gritty, but on this third trip I've discovered that the city is actually very liveable with lots of green spaces and nice neighborhoods. I was not really expecting that. I can also walk to work, which is amazing. The best part about Mexico City is the food, the people, and the cost. You can eat amazing food for super cheap, and everyone is really nice. They also don't stare at me or hassle me. They are just doing their thing. Not sure if you've been to Puerto Vallarta or Cabo, but you get constantly harassed there. Here it's not the case. Mexico City is a self-sufficient city that doesn't need tourists.
2) Quality of Food:
Everyone said "Don't eat the street food!" Americans said it, Mexicans said it. Everyone said it. Up until now, I have had no problems with any of the street food that I have eaten. I'm trying not to get cocky, but so far so good (knock on wood). I accredit this to my previous trips to Mexico and Mexico City, which I believe have fortified my intestinal flora and given me the necessary resistance. Not eating street food in Mexico is like telling someone to go to a movie and telling them to keep their eyes closed. Street tacos are amazing. My current count is 33 tacos.
Tortas are amazing
This actually wasn't amazing, but it looks good.
Pozole was amazing
You really can't experience Mexico City without experiencing street food.
3) Stereotypes
Stereotypes come from somewhere, and I couldn't resist taking this picture of 10 men pushing a broken down bus out of traffic. However, I will say that my Law Firm completely breaks the stereotypes about Mexican working hours. I was expecting soft 8 hour days. Rather, most people get in at 10 am and stay until about 10 pm or later. Yes, they take an hour or two for lunch, but they stay insanely late. I was not expecting that whatsoever.
4) Teotihuacan
5) Domingoeando
On Sundays you domingoear (to Sunday) with your friends or family. Popular places include parks like Chapulepec or plazas like Coyoacan. The number of vendors with balloons, cotton candy, ice cream, toys, and knick knacks is impressive.
I was suprised to read in the newspaper that the issue concerning most Mexicans isn't violence or the economy, it's corruption. Many Mexicans believe that there is money and an appropriate budget, but the implementation of that budget is not always efficient and by the time the money gets to its destination, it is not as much as it should have been.
7) California Street
Yup, still taking California Street to walk to work. It's about a 30 minute walk.
About 30 minutes by car (much longer by public transportation) is Xochimilco. It's a park where you rent boats with your family or friends, and gently float around on a Saturday or Sunday. Mariachi boats will come up and dock to your boat and will play for about 100 pesos per song.
9) Rush Hour
Good luck at Rush Hour. You are on your own. On the metrobus, the front area is designated for women only, so the men duke it out at the back of the bus. During peak times, it is normal for 5 to 10 buses to pass you by as you simply cannot squeeze onto the bus. When you finally do squeeze on, you have to physically force your self on using whatever leverage you can from the door jam. People litterally body slam their way onto the back of the bus. If getting on the bus was difficult, getting off is no easier as there is a complete impasse of people between you and the door with no room to maneuver. I tried to take a picture to capture the chaos, but it doesn't even come close to doing it justice.
Mexico is relatively cheap. The pesos is 12.5 to the dollar and the prices are roughly the following depending on how nice of a place you are at (in pesos):
Tacos: $5 - $39. $5 being the cheapest I´ve seen at 5 x 25 tacos. $39 being at the other end of the spectrum as the most expensive tacos I´ve seen in DF
Beer: $13 - $60.
Rent (USD): $350 - $800. I´m in the middle of the spectrum at $450
Gym (USD): $40 - $110. In the US, gyms are for everyone so the cost is driven down by volume. Think 24 Hour Fitness $30 memberships. In Mexico it´s a luxury, which drives up the price. The cheapest I´ve seen is USD$40 and it goes way up from there. I did, however, find a CrossFit gym for $65/ month, which I am going to sign up for. Given the normal buying power of the dollar, I expected to find gyms much cheaper than they are.
Taxis: Really cheap. A 15 minute ride is about $5 USD.
That´s it for now.
