Yesterday we found out that the Periferico is a “freeway” that makes a big loop around the city. So we thought it would be a good idea to drive that road and see what we see. So after stopping at a few auto parts stores on the way, we were off track and still hadn’t even got to the Periferico, well actually we had past our “entrance.” We started getting hungry. On the way home from the race track the other night we had spotted a Chinese food place, so we tried to see if we could find again. We did!! We’re so excited, by now we’ve kind of both been craving this. What was funny, the thing that made us take note of this place in the first place was that their banner said it was “Panda Express” - but when we walked in - the food looked good, we placed our order and sat down to look over the menu anyway, and realized that it isn’t “Panda Express” at all. It got us in there though. Still the food was good & definitely satisfied the craving! We did find it interesting that with our meal, they also brought out limes and bolillos (Mexican bread) - the limes we didn’t mind at all, since we usually add it to just about everything we eat anyway - but we didn’t even touch the bread, it just didn’t seem to go. I wasn’t able to finish my plate, so we asked for a box, and when she gave us a bag to put our box in, we put our bolillos in the bag also - especially since we realized we were charged for the take out box.
*Side note about being charged for the take out box - we’ve also found that when we go to the bakery down the street, we’ve been getting charged for the bag to bring the bread home in.
After lunch, we got back on our way - this time we actually got on to the periferico. We passed through the Xochimilco area again and then were headed northbound up towards the Chapultepec area, close to where the Hipodromo (race track) was. It started getting dark a while back and we were seeing the freeway in the opposite direction getting pretty jammed up. But now, it seems we were hitting the part of town that was rush hour jam packed in both directions. So we decided to bail and see about taking a more direct road home. We’re going to have to save this route for another day.
It really did feel great to be on the road again in Charlena exploring. The city definitely doesn’t seem as intimidating and confusing when armed with a detailed street map! We own a Mexican atlas, that has 2 page spreads of each of the states as well as the Distrito Federal, but we’re borrowing a detailed street atlas of the city from one of his cousins & it makes finding our way soo much easier! I love maps!
We found our way home, and it may sound a little silly - but we were quite proud of that! Now we know for sure, we can get anywhere in this city.
Since we were out and about today, it’s reminded me of a few things I’ve been meaning to jot down - observations, a few things for the senses:
Electricity here in the city is LIVE and LOUD. You can hear it buzzing from the wires above your head. When you’re at a park, or stopped at a stop light with your windows down. It’s quite loud.
Public restrooms are few and far between, usually there are none or if there are - you have to pay to use them. The exceptions would be in larger “chain” stores - these usually have them and for free, like over there. And in some cases you need to pay to use a “public restroom” and also for some toilet paper. So just a tip - make sure you always carry toilet paper with you! This is a lesson that I’ve drilled into my head since Allison (Josue’s 5-year old niece) was showing us the contents of her purse & in it was “papel del baño,” a little doll and some candy - you know, all the necessities a girl needs!
Traffic is thick here in the city, but even then you hear people saying that “with no traffic like this, you could get there in 20 minutes.” People use their horns here as much as they use the gas petal or brakes. If you are stopped at a red light, expect to get honked at, obeying “semaforos” (street lights) and street signs seems to be only optional.
It’s been fun… it’s been a lot of fun, navigating through the city. We’re looking forward to riding the metro and driving around more, exploring this city definitely takes time and we're thankful to have this chance.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Monday. 01.24.11 To the mechanic’s with Raul and Chedraui
Today, we were going to borrow Tio’s car to go to Chedraui, but when we were leaving “Tio” Raul came over to borrow it as well. Turns out he was going to a mechanic, so we asked to tag along. We ended up taking our car, because Tio’s car was acting a little funny. It was nice to have Charlena on the road again, she’s pretty much been parked since we got to the city.
After we were done with his stop for the mechanic, we dropped him off at home and the two of us left again to go to Chedraui, the local thriftier supermarket. One thing we’re still not used to is how and what it’s custom to tip for here. In some places there are “parking attendants” in places where you have to pay for parking and in places where parking is free, and they don’t seem to do too much, but they wait as you’re backing up to ask for a tip. It’s interesting.
After we were done with his stop for the mechanic, we dropped him off at home and the two of us left again to go to Chedraui, the local thriftier supermarket. One thing we’re still not used to is how and what it’s custom to tip for here. In some places there are “parking attendants” in places where you have to pay for parking and in places where parking is free, and they don’t seem to do too much, but they wait as you’re backing up to ask for a tip. It’s interesting.
Sunday. 01.23.11 Hipodromo con los Tios!
Today we went to the racetrack with our Tios. This was the first time either of us had been to the tracks. As far as gambling goes, I liked it better than feeding a slot machine all my money. It was fun, we were there for over four hours, and felt like we got the idea. But still gambling’s not really our thing. It was neat to check it out and see Tio in his element, but it’s not really the kind of thing we’d seek out again too soon anyway.
We were pretty much making our bets on which horses we liked better. Tio seemed to have a science down to his bets. He was averaging out their stats and making all kinds of calculations. But at the end of the night, none of us came up with a winning bet. But all was well, we still had fun anyway.
Once we got back home to our part of the city, we went to Iztapalapa centro to get something to eat. Tios had a particular restaurant in mind to take us to, but it was closed. So we went instead to the restaurant next door and had pozole and flautas.
We were pretty much making our bets on which horses we liked better. Tio seemed to have a science down to his bets. He was averaging out their stats and making all kinds of calculations. But at the end of the night, none of us came up with a winning bet. But all was well, we still had fun anyway.
Once we got back home to our part of the city, we went to Iztapalapa centro to get something to eat. Tios had a particular restaurant in mind to take us to, but it was closed. So we went instead to the restaurant next door and had pozole and flautas.
Hipodromo with Tios!
Studying to make our bets.
Thinking of home... this one's for you Alberto!
Friday. 1.21.11 Riding the Metro to Zocalo
Today we went out on our own into the city, looking for the historic district. We’ve been wanting to get to know the city transportation system more, so today we took the Metro. We bought our tickets and once we went through the turnstile, and down the stairs, it suddenly felt so foreign to both of us. Both of us growing up in the southwest, neither of us have ever been on a subway, well actually I just got corrected, Josue has been on this metro before, but when he was little, so this was my first time, and his first on his own. It felt kinda cool. With a gift from Tia in hand, a pen with a roll out map of the city metro system, we both felt plenty comfortable that we’d find our way around. And we did. We arrived at the Bellas Artes stop and walked towards Zocalo. Stopping in on one of the museums. This one was free - it used to be a school for engineering, that’s now been turned into a museum.
Zocalo is a big “downtown” area with historic buildings, churches, a big square in the center, and in general it’s a tourist stop to walk around and see. This afternoon when we were there, we saw lots of street vendors, selling handcrafted items and different performers. After walking around for a while, we came across these dancers that were dressed in native headgear and indigenous clothing, dancing to tribal drumming. We saw plenty of people taking pictures so we didn’t think anything of it. And walked around to get a better view to take pictures. When one of their girls who was just starting to walk around collecting tips, even after Josue had just dropped in a tip, tells us “no fotos” that we’re not allowed to take photos of them. When he asked why, she just turns and walks away from us.
So we’re thinking, this is a public place, a tourist stop at that, we’re going to keep taking pictures. A little while later, another man from their group comes up to us, again telling us to not take pictures. Not asking us to not take pictures, telling us not to. Again, we ask why? He starts saying stuff about their safety and with the internet now, people will put their pictures up, and that he has to back her up. Josue asks him, how do they expect for people to know this when they’re doing their act in a public place, especially if they don’t have any signs posted or anything backing them up. Basically it came down to that he was insulted by how little we had tipped, that it didn’t make them feel comfortable to let us take their picture. The crap of it, was Josue was reaching in his pocket for more, when she told us no fotos, the first time, and instead of talking to us when we asked why - she walked away. What it’s all about is that for the right price, their “safety” is no longer an issue! What a joke! We talked to the guy, who ended up calling that first girl over to explain her side to us, with complete respect we listened to them, asked our questions, and listened to their response. It was just a bogus reason. We just left because it wasn’t worth arguing. We walked 30 feet over, and encountered another group of tribal dancers, who had no problem with us taking their pictures! To me, I took it for blatant greed. Why put on a show, in a public location, especially a tourist destination, if you’re going to put up a stink if people are taking your picture? If you have concerns for privacy, maybe you should think twice about performing in public! They asked us, how would we like it if people were taking our picture in public, and we didn’t want them to? Josue told them, at best we could ask them not too, but in all fairness, if we’re out in public, they have every right. It’s not like they’re crawling in to our back yards, violating our privacy after all, it’s in public. It was interesting, to say the least!
Anyway - we found our way to where we wanted to go and back home! It was a good trip. The way over there on the metro was real calm, the seats were taken but there was plenty of standing room, it was comfortable. The way back home, we must’ve caught rush hour, because the trains were packed! We were like sardines in there, the standing room was tight, and when we’d get to a stop we got pushed around like if we were in a mosh pit! Not like I would exactly know what that would feel like, but that’s how I imagine it would feel! Just minus the music!
When we got home, the family asked how it went. We told them about our little encounter with the dancers who told us not to take their pictures, and Josue’s cousin said - “well if they don’t want people taking their picture, they should go dance in their house instead of out on the street!” ESTOY DE ACUERDO!! (I agree completely!)
Zocalo is a big “downtown” area with historic buildings, churches, a big square in the center, and in general it’s a tourist stop to walk around and see. This afternoon when we were there, we saw lots of street vendors, selling handcrafted items and different performers. After walking around for a while, we came across these dancers that were dressed in native headgear and indigenous clothing, dancing to tribal drumming. We saw plenty of people taking pictures so we didn’t think anything of it. And walked around to get a better view to take pictures. When one of their girls who was just starting to walk around collecting tips, even after Josue had just dropped in a tip, tells us “no fotos” that we’re not allowed to take photos of them. When he asked why, she just turns and walks away from us.
So we’re thinking, this is a public place, a tourist stop at that, we’re going to keep taking pictures. A little while later, another man from their group comes up to us, again telling us to not take pictures. Not asking us to not take pictures, telling us not to. Again, we ask why? He starts saying stuff about their safety and with the internet now, people will put their pictures up, and that he has to back her up. Josue asks him, how do they expect for people to know this when they’re doing their act in a public place, especially if they don’t have any signs posted or anything backing them up. Basically it came down to that he was insulted by how little we had tipped, that it didn’t make them feel comfortable to let us take their picture. The crap of it, was Josue was reaching in his pocket for more, when she told us no fotos, the first time, and instead of talking to us when we asked why - she walked away. What it’s all about is that for the right price, their “safety” is no longer an issue! What a joke! We talked to the guy, who ended up calling that first girl over to explain her side to us, with complete respect we listened to them, asked our questions, and listened to their response. It was just a bogus reason. We just left because it wasn’t worth arguing. We walked 30 feet over, and encountered another group of tribal dancers, who had no problem with us taking their pictures! To me, I took it for blatant greed. Why put on a show, in a public location, especially a tourist destination, if you’re going to put up a stink if people are taking your picture? If you have concerns for privacy, maybe you should think twice about performing in public! They asked us, how would we like it if people were taking our picture in public, and we didn’t want them to? Josue told them, at best we could ask them not too, but in all fairness, if we’re out in public, they have every right. It’s not like they’re crawling in to our back yards, violating our privacy after all, it’s in public. It was interesting, to say the least!
Anyway - we found our way to where we wanted to go and back home! It was a good trip. The way over there on the metro was real calm, the seats were taken but there was plenty of standing room, it was comfortable. The way back home, we must’ve caught rush hour, because the trains were packed! We were like sardines in there, the standing room was tight, and when we’d get to a stop we got pushed around like if we were in a mosh pit! Not like I would exactly know what that would feel like, but that’s how I imagine it would feel! Just minus the music!
When we got home, the family asked how it went. We told them about our little encounter with the dancers who told us not to take their pictures, and Josue’s cousin said - “well if they don’t want people taking their picture, they should go dance in their house instead of out on the street!” ESTOY DE ACUERDO!! (I agree completely!)
Bellas Artes exit
Zocalo
The dancers before we were told not to take pictures.
The dancers who don't mind pictures!
Sunday. 1.16.11 Xochimilco
Today we went with the family to Xochimilco. It was a nice day out, to an excursion destination that is all Mexico! In the morning Paulita and the girls made tortas to take. When we arrived there, we first got down to check out prices and how it worked. Then went back to get our stuff, picked up some drinks and ice from the little store close by.
I’m not sure if they picked it out on purpose, but the boat we got to ride on today was named “Sarita.” And our “driver’s” name was - something really cool, but we’re really bad with names and can‘t remember. He was very nice, even though Josue kept messing him up at different times, when he was trying to dock, Josue would push us back off. “Ay Guero!”
So, basically Xochimilco is a series of canals, what’s left of “Lake Xochimilco.” The remains of what life was like here during the ancient Mesoamerica times. The canals run between the “chinampas,” which are small plots of land for growing vegetation. Anymore it functions mostly as a tourist attraction. The boats, that you ride on to tour the canals are so colorful and decorated so vibrantly, are all named after women or Xochimilco. They are quite comfortable with plenty of seating. They are wide and it’s a smooth ride, like a pontoon. The “driver” moves the boats forward and steers the boat with a really long wooden stick, that he uses to push off the floor of the canals, and steers it by positioning the stick on certain rafters of the roof of the boat to turn directions. Also, they push off of other boats when there are “traffic jams.”
The ride is really smooth, we’re drinking beers and the weather is nice - super relaxing. Then if you get hungry you could always flag down one of the many boats that are selling freshly cooked food. Since we brought tortas with us, we didn’t need to do that. But just for the “antojo” (craving) the kids did call over a lady who was selling “elotes” (corn on the cob), and since she was there Josue & I had to order a grilled elote.
Also, going by in their own boats are musicians selling you a song or serenade, if you want to be romantical - there were Marimba guys as well as Mariachis. The marimba has a cool sound, but for something like this, the mariachis just sound and fit so much better, it sounds more festive!
Perhaps, the closest thing to compare the experience of the canals to, it kind of looks like a more colorful version and bigger boats, to what the canals in Venice, Italy look like, if you’ve ever seen that portrayed on movies or in pictures.
Reminders of home - Tia Yola is our little Mexican version of “Peanut” - she’s so little and cute, happens to trip and fall a lot, and also messes up words and titles of things. Today, when we got here, Tio Arturo bought little Arturito a little toy bat, like the flying kind of bat. Bat=MURCIELAGO in Spanish, but apparently Tia Yola has a hard time saying it and gets all tongue tied, and her grandkids were having fun messing with her, making her say it again… she kept saying: “murcieGaLo.” And it seemed to click to me and Josue about the same time who she reminded us of.
Our tour took two hours round trip. It was nice and relaxing. Afterward, we took all the stuff back to the cars, then walked around the shops for a while. But first a fresh fruit stand caught our attention, where they were making fruit cocktails, or what they called salad of shredded cucumber or carrots or jicama. We got one with both cucumbers and carrots - which was doused in fresh lime juice and chile pikin (powdered chile). Soooooo good and refreshing! One of the best snacks to buy here in Mexico.
While I was walking around, “window shopping” - Josue saw a performance of these natives that climbed a pole, connected themselves to the top with ropes and played music while hanging upside down and swinging as they lowered themselves. I missed most of it, but caught the end. It looked pretty cool, they were called “Los Voladores de Papantla” (the flyers of Papantla).
After walking around for a while, we head back to the cars and wait for everyone to get back so we can head home.
On the ride home who knows what got it started, but something set my allergies off, to where my eyes were burning and crying and I couldn’t stop sneezing. Once back at home, Tio Arturo instantly crashed on the couch from a long day, Paula and her family packed up to go home, later Tios went to church, and we settled in to a movie.
It was a good day!
I’m not sure if they picked it out on purpose, but the boat we got to ride on today was named “Sarita.” And our “driver’s” name was - something really cool, but we’re really bad with names and can‘t remember. He was very nice, even though Josue kept messing him up at different times, when he was trying to dock, Josue would push us back off. “Ay Guero!”
So, basically Xochimilco is a series of canals, what’s left of “Lake Xochimilco.” The remains of what life was like here during the ancient Mesoamerica times. The canals run between the “chinampas,” which are small plots of land for growing vegetation. Anymore it functions mostly as a tourist attraction. The boats, that you ride on to tour the canals are so colorful and decorated so vibrantly, are all named after women or Xochimilco. They are quite comfortable with plenty of seating. They are wide and it’s a smooth ride, like a pontoon. The “driver” moves the boats forward and steers the boat with a really long wooden stick, that he uses to push off the floor of the canals, and steers it by positioning the stick on certain rafters of the roof of the boat to turn directions. Also, they push off of other boats when there are “traffic jams.”
The ride is really smooth, we’re drinking beers and the weather is nice - super relaxing. Then if you get hungry you could always flag down one of the many boats that are selling freshly cooked food. Since we brought tortas with us, we didn’t need to do that. But just for the “antojo” (craving) the kids did call over a lady who was selling “elotes” (corn on the cob), and since she was there Josue & I had to order a grilled elote.
Also, going by in their own boats are musicians selling you a song or serenade, if you want to be romantical - there were Marimba guys as well as Mariachis. The marimba has a cool sound, but for something like this, the mariachis just sound and fit so much better, it sounds more festive!
Perhaps, the closest thing to compare the experience of the canals to, it kind of looks like a more colorful version and bigger boats, to what the canals in Venice, Italy look like, if you’ve ever seen that portrayed on movies or in pictures.
Reminders of home - Tia Yola is our little Mexican version of “Peanut” - she’s so little and cute, happens to trip and fall a lot, and also messes up words and titles of things. Today, when we got here, Tio Arturo bought little Arturito a little toy bat, like the flying kind of bat. Bat=MURCIELAGO in Spanish, but apparently Tia Yola has a hard time saying it and gets all tongue tied, and her grandkids were having fun messing with her, making her say it again… she kept saying: “murcieGaLo.” And it seemed to click to me and Josue about the same time who she reminded us of.
Our tour took two hours round trip. It was nice and relaxing. Afterward, we took all the stuff back to the cars, then walked around the shops for a while. But first a fresh fruit stand caught our attention, where they were making fruit cocktails, or what they called salad of shredded cucumber or carrots or jicama. We got one with both cucumbers and carrots - which was doused in fresh lime juice and chile pikin (powdered chile). Soooooo good and refreshing! One of the best snacks to buy here in Mexico.
While I was walking around, “window shopping” - Josue saw a performance of these natives that climbed a pole, connected themselves to the top with ropes and played music while hanging upside down and swinging as they lowered themselves. I missed most of it, but caught the end. It looked pretty cool, they were called “Los Voladores de Papantla” (the flyers of Papantla).
After walking around for a while, we head back to the cars and wait for everyone to get back so we can head home.
On the ride home who knows what got it started, but something set my allergies off, to where my eyes were burning and crying and I couldn’t stop sneezing. Once back at home, Tio Arturo instantly crashed on the couch from a long day, Paula and her family packed up to go home, later Tios went to church, and we settled in to a movie.
It was a good day!
Reminders of home... "Diana"
"Alex & Sandy"
Marimba Music
Houses right on the canals
Mariachi Serenade
Alex this one made me think of you & your friend.
Another one for you Alex.
The best snack! So refreshing!
Just an average parking lot in Mexico.
Long day!
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