Day cinco

The next morning we spent some time by the Angel, it was Sunday so Reforma was closed and everybody was riding bikes and skating. We then took them to an Antiques market, where i knew they would both be in "old smelly furniture heaven." Dad found some very graphic ancient artifacts which he took photos off and giggled like a 5 year old and then said "lots of bottoms and bosoms in here!"

We had lunch at a great french restaurant called cluny's in a place called San Angel. The streets still have original cobble stones and it feels much older than the rest of the city. I think by this point we were all a bit "food-ed out" as we put it. The food is really really good and the sweet German wine that I chose was even better. I left feeling like a little fat piggy.

We then went down town again and took some amazing pictures of the church. Because of the lakes that used to be under mexico City, the ground is quite unstable and when you walk into the church you can see that it is wonky and all to one side because it is actually sinking. It is an incredible church but quite busy and touristy. Because this week is 100 years since revolution, they have put on the most incredible light show in the square. The church was lit up with all different colours and it looked amazing. On the way home I got a nice cuddle from a horse and then we went back to their hotel and order room service, which was horrible, apart from dad's mushroom soup, which of course was the best mushroom soup ever.
It was really horrible saying goodbye at the airport, I get anxious their anyway because i have had to say goodbye to Jose many times there. I think they had a really good time and they were completely surprised by Mexico City. It was so nice to have them here, I love spending time with them. They are very generous and kind and i am luck to have them. love you both lots x
p.s my favourite quote of the trip - "Leanne, I want you to explain that i am growing a beard for Movember (prostate cancer month) not because I want to look like a wally"

Day cuatro

We decided to take them to a place called Xochimilco, which is a district south of the city, which is famous for its canals. Of there were loads of traffic on the way, but when we arrived Jose and I couldn't quite remember our way to the part where you take the boat canals from. There were men all around the car trying to get us to come to their boats... basically a very typical Mexican situation, it is chaotic and a little bit intimidating of you are not used to it. At some point we were following a man around on a bike that claimed to be from the tourism department... who knows. We got to one canal area that seemed suspiciously small and .. well we were the only ones there. We clambered onto the boat which seemed to be in a state of decay. After the gave us a price of 1400 pesos for an hour and a half we said on ya bike mate and then we all clambered back out. I could see that my parents we a little dubious of the situation and at this point I just wanted to drive away, or better said, make Jose drive away. Eventually we got to a nice launching area, we agreed on a good price and away we went on the rickety boat down the canal. It turned out to be fantastic time. Lots of boats full of families, attached to their boats that had mariaichi bands. There was food and music everywhere, the weather was great and we took some very colourful pictures.

After the boat ride we went home, but on the way home we were driving along Reform when a bus pulled out without signalling or looking so we had to brake and then a few seconds later.... bump. My first thought was "I can't believe this, the one time we drive with my parents we have a crash." Nobody was hurt because it wasn't very bad but i got out and it was one of the construction trucks that has about 20 men hanging off the back. He was trying to change lanes and so wasn't looking ahead and so he went into the back of us. Somehow there wasn't a scratch, which was lucky because we were in a hire car. First bumper crash in Mexico City! We then went and had a sleep, Jose and i watched a Mexican version of Ricky Lake, episode: "you adopted me and then you treated me badly" very entertaining.
We then went to the zocaolo to have a look at the church and what not but the crowds were rather big and i think my mum was ever so slightly terrified of crossing the road Mexico City style "find a space and then run for your life".

We finished our day at our favourite Chinese restaurant "P.F Changs". The food is excellent and the waitress spoke English for my parents which resulted in a 15% tip. We shared all of our food which included Dan Dan noodles, duck, chicken and shrimp... we decided to take it easy on the meat.

day tres

Unfortunately Jose had to work on the friday but I took mum and dad on the open top Tourist bus, which may sound cheesy, but the price is great and it's the best way to see lots of different places without having to worry about parking or public transport... which are always my biggest issues in this city.
First they came to see my apartment, and then we took a taxi to the Auditorio where the buses leave from. The taxi driver spent 20 minutes talking about the corruption and drug trafficking problems in Mexico... luckily it was in Spanish!
We saw all of Reforma, Condesa, Roma, Downtown, Polanco and other parts that I didn't know. It was very hot, although we were the only whites smothering ourselves in SPF 30.
We had lunch in a mall called Antara at a restaurant in 50 friends, not the most traditional but it was good to see a salad! Dad then got told off by the security guard because he was taken too many photos of the fountain outside.
That evening, we first went to an irish pub called celtics in Polanco for a light drink... Jose ordered a litre of dark beer.

 We had dinner in a fantastic restaurant called Puerto Madero. We had too wait a while but we got talking to a nice couple who guessed we were not Mexican because my parents were commenting on how warm it was, she guessed Canada first, which which although is not completely true, we have been there over 6 years now so it was a very good guess. Dad absolutely loved the food and expressed his joy at every moment possible. He had fish which he said was the best fish he has ever tried in his life. Me and mum shared some white wine and the boys had red. The service was great, although embarrassing when the waiter came up to me with a serviette because i had creme burl all over the back of my hand, I sort of give up trying to be classy! I think we were all very full and maybe a bit tipsy and giggled all the way home. Excellent day :-)

day dos

I have just realized that all my posts about my parent's trip will be in reverse order... but I guess it doesn't really matter!
The first day we went to a district in the city called Coyocan. It is one of the oldest establishments in the city and really has a small town fell. We got a bit lost on the way but we finally made it and started the day with a really excellent breakfast of eggs, beans, bread, coffee... lots of coffee.
We walked around the town which is so pretty and the highlight is definitely the church. It really is one of the most beautiful that I have seen, the details and painting inside are incredible. We had nieces, which are typical fruit sorbets from Coyocan, although i had an ice cream that was choco choco chips, what can I say, I have a sugar problem.
We then went to the Friday Kahlo museum which I wasn't sure if they would like it because they had never heard of her. They absolutely loved it and my dad is convinced Frida was a hermaphrodite.

I then had to go to my afternoon classes which I managed to get out of, although my parents were able to see the school and meet some of the people that I work with. I love hearing my dad say "Buenoz diazzz" to everyone.
That night we went a spontaneously chosen restaurant in La Condesa called Jolie.. I think. It is was advertising New Latin Food and looked very cozy. The chef is from Argentina (of course) where he travelled from Buenos Aired to Mexico City and learned lots of recipes from all over Latin America. The food was absolutely excellent, My mum had an amazing lamb dish, dad had tuna, Jose had chicken and I   had fish. Me and mum had two Tom Collins and then we got some watermelon shots on the house. The interior is very cool, lots of old furniture and paintings and watching all the waiters trying to say the specials in English was really rather very entertaining.

Parents in the City

I can't believe that my parents have already come and gone.... time goes so quickly :-(
Apart from time going to quickly, the trip with my mum and dad was really good and I am so glad that were able to come to come to Mexico City and see mine and Jose's life.

They arrived on Wednesday night, mum told me they would land about 7.45 so i assumed that they would be through at about 8.30. Of course I had a public transport nightmare. I left my class 15 minutes early just to give me a head start at about 6.30. I decided to take the metro instead of the metro bus because I thought it would be quicker.... very wrong. I waited in a very crowded station for about 15 minutes before a train came but when it did, I was almost taken down my 1000 very determined pushy Mexican ladies, needless to say I couldn't get on. I then waited another 15 minutes and the exact same situation happened again. I went barging through the station so mad and frustrated I'm sure people thought that I was about to committ murder. I got outside in the middle of rush hour, nothing but traffic and full taxis. Finally i managed to get a taxi... it's condition was a little conspicuous but 45 minutes later he had me to the airport, 10 minutes before my mum and dad came walking through.

Our building

Our street

That night we took them to an Argentinian restaurant called Quebracho, where we had excellent meat and two bottles of delicious red wine.... I accidentally didn't make it to me morning class at 7am, oh well.

finally a relaxing weekend!

yay so this weekend was so relaxing, which was great for me, but not so good for my blog. Friday we watched half of a lame movie on TV then went to bed. Saturday I had to makeup a class at 9am... of course I was 10 minutes late but I think that's ok in Mexico hehe. Then we went to the mall and watched a movie called Biutiful with Javier Bardem. It is a movie from a Mexican director called Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who also made Amores Perros, 21 grams, and Babel. It was quite intense and a bit eery but very clever. The only problem is everyone speaks in accents from Spain which was proving to be quite the challenge, even Jose said at times it was difficult to understand. I have no idea if it is in cinemas in Canada, maybe at more alternative-ish cinemas.

On Sunday we went into the mountains that surround Mexico City to a place called Ajusco. It is about an hour drive going up and about 30 minutes coming down. So close yet you feel like you are so far from a city. It actually feels quite Veracruz like, along the highways and in the smaller towns. People selling so much food and drinks, fruits and vegetables. They have ranch style restaurants, horse riding and you can walk through the woods. We ate a restaurant that served the best food, so traditional and tasty. We laid on the grass and slept in the sun, and then we went to a place that sells strawberries and cream! There are some amazing views of the city but yesterday was a particularly smoggy day unfortunately so it was hard to see but i took some okay pictures. Last night we watched Toy Story 3 which we got for free from our points that we have collected from the department store Liverpool. I love that movie and Jose laughed the whole way through too.

So it is Monday again, I hate that the weekend goes so fast but I am also very excited for this week because my mum and dad are coming to visit on Wednesday!!

4 day weekend!

On Saturday morning we got up quite early, well actually Jose woke me up "Leanne if you want to go to Xalapa you are going to have to get up right now" definitely feeling the effects of the wine, somehow we packed and got ready in about 20 minutes and were on our way to TAPO, the bus  station. We managed to get tickets but had to wait 2 hours at the bus station. We arrived to Xalapa and went straight to Coatepec, where we went to a favourite pizza place called Roma. We ended up having 2 pizzas... but they are so good its hard to stop at just one! That night we went out with Zazyl to a place called Rabbit's.... not the classiest place in Xalapa, actually far from it but that is kind of what gives it its charm. W head a lot of fun dancing and enjoying out 80 peso litter drinks and some hotdogs along the way... a classic Xalapa night. The next day we were with Jose's mum, aunt and grandma for a bit, Jose's grandma says the funniest things. We were having breakfast and his mum and made tamales and eggs and beans and then some fried bananas, which were so nice but Jose doesn't like them, His grandma was completely shocked and said "How?? you don't like fried bananas?? you are Veracruzano!!! its is tradition" Jose's mum told her yes mum but he was born in Mexico City, he is Chilango (A person from Mex City) and she is like ohhhhh well there you go!!! por eso!! she really does believe that if you were born out of the state of Veracruz, even if you have lived there for years and years, it makes sense that you don't like fried bananas. 

On Monday we went to a small town called Naolinco. We went two years ago when we were living in Xalapa with my friends from the extranjero school. It was Dia de los muertos (day of the dead) and it was really foggy and cold and magical... or scary haha but a great place to be on that day. Really made me think of all the good memories from our year in xalapa and I though a lot about my friends that i was there with... quite a nostalgic day! 

Monday we just spent the day in Coatepec, then we went for dinner at our favourite Argentinian restaurant called La Forja, for those who know this place... lots i think haha two things that have changed, they have expanded the place so there is now like an outside patio area, but they took down the original wall with all the comments and now have a new one. Also the owner who we always remember as drinking lots of wine and smoking lots is now married, and brought his wife and 2 month old baby into the restaurant.... how things change! He did remember us which was quite nice although I think i prefer the restaurant when it was really small and he was a wino talking to everyone but constantly slurring! 

I had a really really nice weekend, I really have a soft spot for Xalapa and seeing our old apartment and all the places we used to go made me feel quite sad but in a good way. Sometimes being in the city really makes me crave small town Mexico but I realize that its nice to have really good memories of a really great year! 

Friday night

So we ended up going to a really nice restaurant here in Mexico City called El Corazon de Alcachofa (Heart of Artichoke) on Friday night. It is a beautiful restaurant on a street called Masarik in Polanco. They have a wine expert who helps you choose your bottle of wine.. even if you don't plan to buy a bottle, his pony tail sort of draws you into feeling you should also drink wine and grow long hair. Anyways the food was also nice, Jose had steak and I had ravioli with goat cheese and spinach, we also shared a greek salad which was actually not very traditional but none the less very tasty, I actually forgot my camera but here in a  picture of the outside: