So, 2009 finds us waaaay down south in sun-drenched Mexico. We arrived in Mexico City on 29 December and spent the next few days in the zocalo, meandering through the crowded streets and ducking into galleries and museums whenever we came across them. For all its hype as a veritable black hole of violent crime, we had an uneventful travel experience that included many rides on the subway and even a late-night excursion on New Year´s Eve. For a city of such magnitude (population somewhere in the vicinity of 20 million), it still retains its old-world style and charm. You cannot walk more than two blocks without coming across a church that will damn near take your breath away. Go ahead. I dare you to try. We ventured out to Teotihuacan one afternoon for a tour of the ruins and temples there. It was perfect for a day trip and also whet our appetite for Chichen Itza, which we´ll hit up in about a week.
On the very 1st of January, we took a bus out to the colonial town of Valle de Bravo. And this is where I sit now, writing of unexpected paradise. Mountainous, green and situated around a sparkling lake, this little city is a happy place. A haven for paragliding folks, the town is currently hosting one competition and preparing for the World Championships at the end of this month. My hubby is in a state of bliss and while he is soaring through the clouds, I am fully grounded and falling in love with the narrow cobblestone streets, the perpetually festive atmosphere, and the yummy tortas from Cafe El Torton next to our inn.
Yesterday we spent the afternoon hiking through the surrounding forest to witness the migration of the monarch butterflies, who come here in droves to complete their cycle of life and death. The air was thick with busy scurrying and the orange of their wings was luminous in the sun.
We divide our meal time evenly between restaurants and street vendors and have not been disappointed yet. Around the corner from our cozy little room at Posada Mary is a short street dubbed Taco Alley. The second cart on the left makes a deviantly delicious choriqueso taco. You simply can´t have just one, and for only 10 pesos each (roughly 75 cents) why would you??
By the by, the weather is marvelous and the people are wonderfully warm and friendly.
Though we´re in no hurry to go, our itinerary has us heading off to the Yucatan on the 10th. We´ve never been to Cozumel and 2009 seems as good a time as any to change that.
4 comments:
Your travels sound fabulous - I'm jealous. While you're in Mexican paradise, I'll be in the woods in Scotland next weekend. Talk about juxtaposition.
Sounds like you're doing great :)
That sounds like the perfect New Years and I'm a sucker for so many of the things you mentioned: ruins, zocalos and, of course, street tacos!
I was just watching the season premier of Anthony Bourdain's show No Reservations, which was filmed in Mexico and he showed so many awesome street food vendors. Jealous!
Sounds like you guys are having a blast! Hope you got some good pictures of the butterflies :) Keep on keeping on and have a wonderful 2009!
Oh my! Happy 2009 and many happy travels this new year. Since I am sitting here enveloped by mist and snow up high in my ivory tower, I am living vicariously through you.
i'm tardy on responding, but thanks as always for your comments.
allie: hope to see some pics from scotland! used to work with a guy from aberdeen (spelling?) and would love to visit someday - as much for the accents as for the scenery ;)
beckie: ironically, there were so very MANY butterflies that they were hard to get in focus (plus, i eschewed my dslr as "too bulky" this trip, so all's i had was my little point-and-shoot) but hubby and i ended up getting into a tiff about who got to take the pictures anyway, lol.
raina: just saw on tv that wisconsin is like -50F or something crazy, and as it seems to be moving through the states in a southerly direction, i can only conclude that it came to us from the north so canada must be pretty flipping cold as well. bundle up!
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