Getting a leeeeetle perturbed because this is my third draft. As I sat at the rainy terrace of my hostel last night, the internet went shoddy and so I ordered another Negra Modelo and started again. After the second and third time, I gave up and decided to drink my cerveza and people watch. The terrazza started filling up and a couple of jovenes sat next to me, and we immediately started chatting ~ Maria y Michelle. They’re both studying fashion design. They bought me a Mescal that arrived in a shot glass. I raised my glass to cheers, and down that bad boy PERO Maria quickly informed me that we sip on it…it’s not ashot, and es muy fuerte :) They serve orange slices with chili pepper and salt, so you munch on it all together. Pretty delicious. My new gal pals are taking me “on a proper night out” tonight…!

I arrived half dead at the hostel, and they were very gracious with my tired español. One thing I’ve appreciated so far is that even though I’m obviously una gringa, everyone approaches me in Spanish until they can tell I’m really struggling, and offer to speak in English, if they know it.

We stopped over in San Salvador and immediately I could feel a familial aspect of Latino culture that’s quite endearing. Everyone in the airport seemed to know each other, and maybe they did; between the hand shakes, arm slaps, and smiley greetings of Hola! Como estan? Here, too, in Mexico City, I’ve noticed how close y amable/kind people are, and seem a bit more relaxed than what I’m used to in LA. No surprise there. Two people are more likely to sit next to each other rather than across. I sat next to a sweet Colombian woman also traveling alone. We chatted a bit, and it was her first time flying. Between the melatonin induced coma and lack of sleep, I tried to comfort her in my piece meal Spanish, but wasn’t as empathetic as I had desired. We survived.

I went for a long stroll around my neighborhood La Condesa— an artsy, vibrant neighborhood with fun restaurants, bars, and close to a huge park, the art museum, castle, etc. etc. I frequently find myself in the same place more than once. I bought the most ripe mango! Sliced for me right then and there. There were a million options for this travel induced hunger I developed, and found the blocks and blocks of vendors selling dulces, spices, chiles, magazines, dirty magz, y MUCHOS TACOS. I was looking for one with the freshest ingredients, and ended back at the first one I saw, wth many people eating there (always a good sign). I ordered tacos de bistec y queso, and there were SALSAS on SALSAS for this salsa queen. Deliciosos!

Los colores! I could take a photo of every street.

YUM. I wish I liked it with the chili y sal, Quinn!

bistec y queso con salsa de aguacate y limón

For dinner I tried a new restaurant nearby, Lardo, which I had noticed earlier in the day. It lured me in with its foliage and green plants, open air windows, and friendly service. I sat at the bar overlooking the plancha grill, and chatted with the chefs who interpreted many things on the menu I was unfamiliar with. I sipped on some chenin blanc + later tempranillo, and started with queso pecorino. They brought out the best flat bread with herbs and OLIVE oil that tasted like it dripped from the olive branch directly onto my plate. (I had another ensalada yesterday with olive oil, and it really is top notch here! Yes, you can taste the difference). Next, a salad with asparagus, queso ranchero, zucchini, grilled baby bok choy, legumes, and a lemon vin. To top it off, the friendly couple on my left recommendedthe tablita de res (steak) con salt and a side of arugula salad with queso and juicy marinated tomatoes. I tried to leave some bread on the plate, but I just could not. It’s fun to see the common food trends all over, not just in LA.

It started down pouring and I slugged my way to a Cuban bar, stepping in large puddles with my Birkenstocks saying “WHO CARES!” to myself. The bar was pretty empty, but had a great live band. I told them I’d come back tomorrow, (because it’s not fun by yourself if there’s no one to stare at) but they lured me in with a free mojito. Twist my arm! I said, and sat down. They brought an American sized mojito the size of my head, por las chicas más bonitas, was his response to my astonishment.

This is a food photo taken by someone who is embarrassed by taking photos of food at restaurants.

pretty bathrooms! But don't flush your toilet paper :/

Can you spy the adorable coat rack in the background? They put them next to dining tables for suits 'n jackets.

Yesterday, I took a long walk to the neighborhood of Polanco, to hang out at the Loncheria Eno. I bought a fresh squeezed OJ, passed the zoo and the art museum, walked over a freeway that was jam packed. I read there for a while, and observed… I’m definitely feeling underdressed here. So many people look like they’re on their lunch break from the office life, just ordering a taco in their cute button up shirts. It reminds me of Spain a bit, along with their parks. You can see the Spanish influence sprinkled over the city, with street names, parks, and the mention of being mestizo - half Spanish/native Mexican. It’s interesting having studied their history a bit, and seeing it lived in the present day. I got late night food after my friends übered home, and chatted with the owner and his friends there. The owner was telling me of his tribe, the Yaqis, and how he was native. Another responded that he was un mestizo, not as proud. Maybe I misinterpreted, but it seems no one wants to claim the Spanish conquest.

It’s pleasantly humid here, and feels super tropical. It bounces between partly sunny and cloudy, and usually rains every day at some point. I walked through a gimongous forest (Chapultepec, which means grasshopper (which I learned from playing Spanish catchphrase with my über driver)) to get home. Apparently, the whole area of Chapultepec was a forest, and used to have a lake underneath over 100 years ago! Que loco! There are palm trees and every other kind of tree here. Even the unkempt or incomplete buildings are overgrown with some sort of plant reaching to get sunshine. The colors are vibrant, and adds to the vivaciousness of the city and its people.

it's so lush and green here!! No drought about it.

they thought I just wanted a photo of the flowers....cuties.

Hostel-nightlife damage I missed out on.

Unfortunately my hostel is stuck on the early 2000s jams that include Evanescence, 50 Cent, and Panic! at the Disco. hehe. The cafe played David Gray, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Jackson 5. I was hoping for more Spanish music…maybe I need to hop off my tourist train ;) Going dancing tonight! Turns out my hostel moonlights as a disco, which forced me to wear earplugs, dope up on melatonin, and cover my face in pillows to sleep…and now it’s Friday! Cheers to the weekend!!