Mexico City #3

Since I last wrote I have had a few note-worthy experiences that I would love to share with you all:

1) Last Wednesday I went to Teotihuacan, the site of the most impressive pyramids I have ever seen. Walking from structure to structure, I couldn't help but imagine this city being built and inhabited by so many people so many years ago in a completely different world than the one we live in now.  In preparation for my visit, I decided to do the responsible thing and use sunscreen for the first time since arriving in Mexico- I had been cautioned that there is little to no shade to be found in Teotihuacan. In a moment of what we will call tomfoolery (a word I just discovered on thesaurus.com!) I completely forgot to apply sunscreen to my arms. My face, back, shoulders, chest, and even feet were covered perfectly; but alas, I returned to Mexico City with two gorgeously bright red arms.

Amazing cartoonist/
satirist, Rogelio Naranjo

2) I have been reluctant to take taxis in Mexico City after hearing so many warnings about riding in them from many different sources. Three nights ago, however, I was out with four people who have all either grown up or lived here for some time, and we decided to take a taxi to a bar that was a couple miles away. Now, remember what I told you about Mexico City traffic? How I've never been to a place where people drive so crazily? So here we are, speeding around a roundabout, and I guess the taxi we were in and a mini-something-or-other-shiny decided that they wanted to occupy the same space at the same time. The taxi ended up in front of the other car, inspiring the other driver to press their hand on their horn and not take it off. There must have been a red light, because after about 30 seconds the taxi driver put his car in park and got out of it to confront the driver of the mini-whatever. The five of us sat there in disbelief for a little while before we started discussing who should take over the wheel, when the driver came back and took that decision out of our hands.
3) We decided to go to this bar based on the name of the band that was playing that night- Dragula. I thought it was gonna be some awesome vampire themed drag show, and I guess in retrospect that wasn't too far from the case... I'm not sure exactly what it was, but I think it was a Rocky-Horror-Picture-Show tribute band, complete with spanking, a man in tight gold briefs, and snorkeling gear. It wasn't what any of us were expecting, but it was soooo fun to watch.

4) Two nights ago, I tried nut flavored pulque. Wikipedia describes pulque as "an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant. It is traditional to central Mexico, where it has been produced for millennia. It has the color of milk, somewhat viscous consistency and a sour yeast-like taste." This is one of the few time in my life I can say I've tried something and am looking forward to never needing to do that again.

Other than that I've been to a few more great museums, eaten more delicious food, drank a "cafe sevillano" at the cafe where Fidel and Che plotted the Cuban Revolution (a strange coming togetherness of sorts in the life of Emma) and met my first Mexican conspiracy theorist in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas. It has been an excellent visit and I'm glad I stayed in Mexico City for (at least) as long as I did!

I just left Mexico City this afternoon for Guadalajara, and I'm surprised by how much I already miss it! When I first got there, it kinda felt like any other big, sprinkling metropolis, but as I spent more time in different neighborhoods, slowed down and spent my energy in ways other than running from one tourist destination to the next, I definitely came to feel what draws people in and traps them there. Like any big city, the experience is what you make it- there's always something to do, always an adventure to be had, or opportunity to explore. In a city of about 20 1/2 million people, I'm confident if given the opportunity anyone could find their niche/community... We'll see if it sucks me back in!

A tiny taste of sprawl