First, we're doing really well and we've enjoyed every moment of our time here. It's difficult to believe it's already been almost a week! We're settled into our apartment and have gathered all of our necessities. The walls are bare, but minus that, it's quite charming. We're on a sweet street that's busy and has a wonderful boulevard that we've been taking evening walks on. Even on the same few blocks, we discover something new each time we pass.
Neighborhood French/Spanish/Mexican Food and Wine Shop, Our Apartment
School also started with orientations on Tuesday and it’s been great to meet new teachers, many who have lived all over the world.
We have the metro (subway) system pretty well figured out and it’s a steal at $.15 a ride. It’s also been fun to take the “peseros” to and from the school to the metro station. The peseros are funky old Volkswagon bus/vans that are painted green and cram in as many people as possible. Not bad for a $.25 ride!
A few highlights from the week:
We celebrated our first night in our apartment with tapas and a bottle of Mexican wine here at home. It’s quite lovely to open our towering windows that overlook a courtyard and listen to the sounds of the city (yesterday we could hear a group practicing the Halleluiah Chorus at a nearby cultural center and arts university).
There’s an unbelievable Mercado about 10 blocks away that’s filled with plump fruits and vegetables, every kind of butcher station imaginable and tons of wares. It’s a wonderful place to shop and visit with locals, who have been so patient and helpful.
Josh bargaining the price of a T-Bone
We met up with a friend from the states and her husband who lives here on Wednesday night to check out the Zocalo and Centro Historico. The buildings, including the National Palace and Metroplitan Cathedral, are beautiful and the entire area is spills with rich history. We made a night of strolling the streets (where we stumbled upon a video production set) and taking in fantastic piano/drum music and tapas on the rooftop of the El Centro Cultural de Espana – a wonderful way to visit with an old friend and meet a new friend!
El Zocalo
A few other tidbits worth mentioning: devouring tacos al pastor from the taqueria across the street ($.50 a taco, what?!), a rooftop party at the home of the director of the school, huge fresh fruit cocktails topped with chile powder and limon, a Mezcal tasting and even the little things, like setting up a bank account, cell phones and figuring out Skype. Who knew you needed three references to set up bank service and even a Blockbuster store account?!?
Josh's thoughts on the Mezcal tasting, Olivia and Sally's reaction to the Mezcal, Josh enjoying un puro (cigar) on our window ledge
Today we’re heading to Parque Chapultepec (DF’s version of Central Park) and then to a cantinal/club crawl in neighborhood next to ours. A special shout out to all of our friends at my 10-year high school reunion (can it really be?) and the Sweetcorn Festival in Adel. Wish we could be there!
Chao,
Olivia
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