Hello from Mexico! I hope all is well for everyone back in the states. It is nice here in Mexico and I am having a lot of fun! Here are a few highlights:
Food
I love the food here. The food is very fresh and prepared when your place your order. There are a few fast food restaurants but if you want to eat when you're on the run, you can find all sorts of food trucks and posts along the way. Going to the grocery store or Walmart (yes, they have those here) is usually quite an experience, trying to find the products that I used at home and seeing new fruits or vegetables for the first time. I tried jicama yesterday. I have been trying to find some good adjectives to describe it but it is difficult. Let’s just say, it has a grainy feel to it like a pear, is kind of watery like a watermelon, and the taste... I can't quite find the right comparison. Some people think it's sweet.
I have to admit I've spent a lot of time in the ice cream store across the street from me. It's not cold here, but there are so many new flavors and tastes here that I can't wait to try them all!
Traffic and Transportation
Traffic here is a bit loco. If you go in taxi everywhere, it can also get a bit expensive. If you have time, take one of the public transportation options; bus, van, or metro subway train. They are plentiful in most all areas and you can get where you need to be fast and cheap. Speaking of fast, everyone drives like they are on fire here. If you're walking, make sure to look twice when crossing the street.
Driving is another option, but be aware that some days, you won’t be able to drive your car. In an attempt to cut down of air pollution there is at least once a week, depending on the numbers and letters on your license plate, that you can’t drive. Risking breaking these rules can lead to having your car impounded and a pretty heavy traffic ticket.
Walking is a great option within your neighborhood. Most neighborhoods have everything you need within a mile of your house, so you can easily access grocery stores, movie theaters, banks, malls etc. within walking distance.
Weather
The weather where I am located in Mexico (Chiluca, Estado de Mexico) is very mild. I am in the mountains/hills that surround the valley of Mexico City and the air is dry and cool. The high this week has been about 72 and the low about 57. It can be chilly in the morning and late at night, and most of the ladies here are in fall fashion. It is sunny almost every day, but rains in the late afternoon/early evening. That's perfect if you like to enjoy a warm cup of tea or coffee after dinner and listen to the rain.
Entertainment
There are lots to do in and around Mexico City. There are lots of great fancy restaurants of all types that you can visit and try some local and/or exotic cuisine. There are HUGE movie theaters with VIP seating, meaning you have a huge leather recliner to sit and your own side tables where you can order from a menu and have a waiter serve you during your movie. A general admission ticket is about $4. The VIP are a little more expensive, about $10, but that's not bad compared to US movie prices.
There are skate rinks, parks, arcades, horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing, malls, places to dance, and tons of museums and art galleries. There are also several the historically sites to visit, like the Aztec and Mayan ruins. In Xochimilco, an area in the south east of the city, you can ancient take boat rides down the ancient canals left over from the time of the Aztec when Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) was built in the center of a lake. Lots of people have parties there. There are a lot of town festivals and celebrations throughout the year so you always have events you can attend. If you like sports- particularly soccer, these is a huge stadium (Estadio Azteca) in Mexico city where all the professional teams go to play. It seats over a million people, so it's perfect if you like to cheer with tons of fans! I am sure there is much more to do around here, but I am just getting acquainted with my surroundings.
Stay cool friends in the Memphis heat and muchos abrazos from Mexico!
