winonaamanda's
overseas journey
EVERY STEP IN YOUR PATH IS AN ADVENTURE
The first two songs I heard by the time I arrived in Mexico City were Amigos por Siempre and La Bamba. I played Amigos theme song on my spotify when I was trapped in Ciudad de Mexico Friday's afternoon traffic from Benito de Juarez Airport to Santa Fe. The other one I heard live played by a group of old men wearing sombrero and full of Mexican music tools while I was enjoying my first taco in Mexico. Mexican dish has been so popular these days, thus in following chapter I will share some experiences regarding taco. UNO |
Coyoacan Means fox. That’s why there’s a fountain in the middle of the park in which there’s foxes statue in the middle of it. This is the place where you can hang around when you’re in Ciudad de Mexico. The first thing I did in this area was visiting Frida Kahlo Museum. For the entrance ticket you can buy it on the spot or online with cc and with student ID you’ll get a great discount. The museum used to be Frida and Diego Rivera house. Frida was an artist, painter and poet. She's not famous for her political ideology as a communist but how she could paint the pain with beauty. She and her husband were close to Leon Trotsky. Entering the museum gave me a flashlight throw back. The museum stored her stuffs; her iconic dresses she made by herself, her paintings, her tools, her furniture and her memories captured in photographs. After spending enough time in Frida’s house and stole her diary (I bought cost a fortune diary of Frida Kahlo), we stopped inside the traditional market. Because it was raining outside. I didn’t mind to window shop in a traditional market. There were a lot of cute piñatas, I wanted one for my birthday but how can I bring that home stop me to buy. Some stuffs were familiar some other were totally new to me. Thank God we had a mexican girl with us so we can ask her. One of my friends bought an interesting handmade toy named boyfriend catcher, another bought sweets. As soon as the rain stop, we got out and got in the bar across the road. Coyoacan is a historical district in Mexico that you don't want to miss if cultural experience is what you're looking for. In this area you can also find various Mexican dish. I bought churros with chocolate filling, for God sake that was the most yummy churros I’ve ever tasted; churros Jordan. | Teotihuacan It almost 3 pm and I bet we would not have enough time in Teotihuacan but we finally got there. One of the most iconic destinations in Mexico along with Chichén Itzá in Yucatán. It was a little cloudy but the dry wind concealed us. In this site there are 2 types of pyramids namely luna pyramides (the moon) and sol pyramide (the sun). The lunas are smaller than the sol. There were some luna pyramides and only one sol pyramide. I would love to observe the luna pyramid ruins around the sol but I need more time and less people around so I followed my fellows hiked up to the sun pyramid. At a glance of my quick observation, I could see the structure of the pyramids and one of the markedly materials was pebbles. After minutes we reached the top of the main pyramid. I'd like to sit and watch the earthly scenery. These Aztec people were wicked. They could build this amazing construction precisely and so people in Egypt with the other pyramids also ancestors in Indonesia who established Borobudur. The smart civilization in the ancient past can always amaze me. There are a lot of cactus and souvenir stalls around the site. The souvenirs were quiet affordable and you can bargain. Tourism site will not complete without eatery. There, we chose one of the family restaurants; El Ranchito. We preferred to the outdoor table because the whether was good approaching sunset and there was live music with a guitar acoustic. I ordered pescado con arroz (fish with rice) and a cup of hot chocolate. The beverage was awesome. I could taste cinnamon flavor there. Teotihuacan is a must visit site while in Mexico. Visit early in the morning would be good, and go in a weekday would be better. Prepare for sunblock and small change is necessary. |
"I often have more sympathy for carpenters, shoemakers, etc., than for that whole flock of stupid so-called civilized talkers they call cultivated people."
-Frida Kahlo
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TRES | 15 September is Mexican independent day. I was so lucky I'm in Mexico during the time. That day is not a national day off in Mexico, but the following day instead. So, at school there're student bazaar with loud music, mexican foods, red-white-green balloons and all the stuffs to celebrate the annual independent day. It was such a perfect day to chill-ax with fellas under the heating sunlight, enjoying queso empanada and gelato. After school six of us were heading to reforma by uber. Yet, the mad traffic made us went by underground train instead. Most roads were closed for vehicle in the city because there were sea of people heading to watch the fireworks party. I had dinner with queso e rajas quesadilla at el Califa restaurant before going off to the crowd. In the folk fiesta we were having so much fun. We were dancing -salsa dance I guess, running, and seeing posters by social activist proposing for justice. Approaching the square, we were almost full team, look after each others in the middle of thousand Mexicans. In addition there were so many cops with their brigade preventing mass chaos. It was such a beautiful night. In the gate of the open square, only three of us excluding me who decided to enter the square to watch the president's brief speech whereas the rest of us enjoyed fireworks in a quiet and perfect spot afar. After that, we walked the streets across the beautiful Palacio de Bellas Artes and then arrived in a cafe. The walk took almost an hour, some of us would stay the night and few would go back to the hotel. Buenos noches and happy independent day! |
CUATRO | There are plenty of pleasure when you stayed at backpacker hostel in Mexico. First, the vibe of real traveler. You'd meet a lot of foreigner with backpacker typical, and brought to a real Mexican atmosphere through hostel simple but eye-catchy decoration. Second, the area surrounded. I stayed in Mexico City Hostel close to Paseo de la Reforma and just across the street there is a local pub. One night I walked alone to that small pub (it was in the second floor) attracted by familiar song. I got there and there was a gigs by local band. Come as You Are (Nirvana) was the last song I heard before they performed their own mexican songs. Third, it's dirt cheap- but still clean and safe. I had spent my last hours in Mexico for unforgettable journey. I packed my luggage in the early morning and got in our rented car. Four of us planned to get away from this capital to small towns where in the previous day I had spent my time to explore the City including the magnificent Chapultepec castle. |
I make a little note listing few other interesting things about Mexico. Press the button above! | |
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July 2023
September 2016
July 2014