Before this trip both Lance and I didn't really know what to expect from Mexico; all we've ever heard of is pretty beaches and drug cartels. Let me tell you, wow wow wow there is so much more to this beautiful country!
We visited Mexico City (D.F), Puebla, and Chignahuapan which are all located in central Mexico. My grandfather (my dad's dad) grew up in Chignahuapan, so there was tons of his family to see and meet.
It was so fun speaking spanish everywhere! To be honest, I was a little self conscious, and I think that made me speak worse, but I could get by. Very glad I had my Tia and Lance to help me when I said "como como?" after I didn't quite understand something haha. Most embarrassing moment of the trip was when I was looking for a bathroom, and Edgar, Tia's (3rd?) cousin said in spanish "Oh yeah, go to the right and I think there's some trees you can go in" and I said "Okay!". In my defense, I really had to go and I just heard "they're on the right". After a couple seconds I realized what he had said and turned around and laughed haha.
Anyways, I think I'll do a couple of posts since there are a lot of pics.
On Wednesday night, Lance and I flew into Mexico City. We stayed in an airbnb (which was awesome by the way!) in a neighborhood called Condesa. The neighborhood was great! Felt a little bit like New York. We walked around and ate at a yummy taco place for dinner.
The next day we went to El Museo de Antropologia. All I can say is WOW! So many artifacts from all of the different indigenous cultures! And they're all just RIGHT THERE in front of your face! Lance and I were surprised that a lot of things weren't even protected with a glass case.
^^ Walking to the museum. There were tons of soccer balls on display, didn't realize until now that I took a pic of the ball with a giant butt on it haha.
^^Cousins!
^^Aztec calendar/altar where they would rip peoples hearts out as a sacrifice to the gods. From what I understood, the Aztecs really believed that you needed death to continue life? So they needed to kill people to appease the gods? Pretty terrible, but cool in a museum!
^^All of the carvings were people stabbing other people haha.
^^We thought this guy kinda looked like Obama...I think it's the ears.
^^Translated: Offerings of children with deformed heads. There was another display of straight up baby sacrifices.
^^This killing altar with a convenient bowl/pathway for the blood to drain out.
^^They would bend people over this stone, face up so it was easier to carve their heart out.
^^Aztec basketball aka Tlachtli. Did you know, if you passed the ball opposing the movement of the sun (west to east), that was automatic disqualification. And when you're disqualified in Aztec times, they kill you.
^^The ball was huge and made out of tree sap (so rubbery?)
^^Actual Olmec head!
^^Learning so much!
^^Felt like we were on the set of Indiana Jones!
^^The would bury people with death masks
We loved the museum!!Right when we walked outside, we saw people doing la danza de los voladores aka flying people dance. People climb to the top of a pole, wrap their rope around the top and fly around the pole until they reach the ground.
We then walked across the way to Chapultepec.
But not before we got a snack! Online I was reading that I should try Dorilokos aka bag of doritos with a tonnnn of stuff in it. Like gummy bears, peanuts and cucumbers. I had to try it. It wasn't good.
Chapultepec is a large park area with vendors, a lake, and even a zoo. It's actually the largest city park in the western hemisphere. At the top there's a castle that used to be an imperial residence when Mexico was occupied by Spain.
^^We had a beautiful view of the city.
We then took the subway to the main city square called the Zocalo. The metro was so easy! and cheap! Only 5 pesos to ride (about 25 cents).
There's a lot to see and do at the zocalo, but it all closes around 5. When we got there, it was about 4:30 and we were starving. We decided to try and find somewhere to eat. There are two sides to the area, the touristy side, and the very very non-touristy side. We ended up walking to the non-touristy side and could not find anything to eat. Only street food.
We ended up finding a place on the second floor of a building and it hit the spot. We got chicken soup, rice, and a main dish.
We were all pretty tired, but there was still stuff to see! We got an uber back to our apartment and asked if he would take us to see a couple places on the way.
^^Palacio de bellas artes. They do tons of performances there. My grandma even said that Justin Bieber performed there!
^^El Angel de Independencia
And that was only day 1! Loved Mexico City!
So glad you got to see Mexico City! I've been there about 15 times on mission trips and was familiar with most of the places you went. Love the zocolo! We were actually having dinner in an upstairs restaurant when the Mexican president was being inaugurated.
ReplyDeleteNo way! That's awesome!
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