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Today was our first full day in Mexico City!!!
Yesterday we flew into Mexico City about 7pm Mexico time. We decided to catch a cab. All of the books that we have read say that make sure you get an authorized taxi else they will kidnap you and take your organs! Wicked! So this was going to be the interesting bit!
Got out of customs and headed to the authorized taxi stand. What we had to do was go to an office stand and tell them where you want to go and pay for them there. They will then give you a ticket and then someone will take you to the taxi. We got onto the cab all fine, and the guy how showed us to the cab said, "Where is my tip? I am your bell boy", we said we didn't have any small change, he said "Would you like me to get you some change", by that time we just wanted to get rid of him so we just gave him 20 pesos, which is like US$2.
When the taxi took off the cab driver didn't really know where the hostel was, and he tried to get us to go to another hostel - probably his mates. Sarah said we had a reservation, and that pretty much stopped him in his tracks!
Got to the Hostel after having to pull over at one stage an compare directions, and found that the hostel didn't have any record of our booking!! Wicked! Fortunately they had enough room for us for the 5 nights.
The Hostel is basically a converted house, very cool. Its on a very cute street about 15 mins on the trains from the city center. We checked in and then walked around the streets to find some food.
We found a little burger stall on the corner of a street. Very cute, it was basically a trailer with a BBQ and a deep fryer on it. We both got burgers and it came to a grand total of $44 pesos - a staggering US$4.40! We kind of stood out like a sore thumb and a couple of people came up and started having a conversation with us. Well Sarah really - they looked at me and I just pointed at Sarah! haha
When we got back, there were 2 people Australians that had been worked at the Venice Beach Cotel, where we had stayed in Venice. So that was pretty random!
Last night we just sat around the court yard and drank 940ml bottles of Corona! Well we only had 1 each - lots of beer! And they only cost $25 - 30 pesos each. So don't worry we will have one for you guys tonight!
Today we caught the metro train to the city center. The metro is about 6 blocks from the Hostel. When you enter the metro you pay 2 pesos to enter and you can catch as many trains as you need for that until you need to get out.
We caught 2 trains to the city center which was an experience. Once again we stood out like sore thumb - and we had to be on the look out for pick pockets - lucky that didn't happen to us.
Got into area called Zocolo, where they have the Palacio Nacional - which is the parilment buildings, the massive Mexican Flag and the Catedal Metropolitana - a massive cathedral.
We got off the metro and the area around there is massive! And so busy with people and markets etc.
We firstly went to the Catedal Metropolitana, and it's huge! it starting to be built in 1573 and took 2 and half centuries to complete! And I can see why! We later found out that it actually built on about 3 or 4 other Aztec temples.
Next on the list was Templo Mayor, which are ruins from the Aztec times and was the centre of Tenochtitlan which was the centre of everything when the Aztecs where around. This was very surreal - considering that it is in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world!
Next we went to the Parliament buildings and saw the dramatic murals by Diego Rivera, he was married to Frida Kahlo. A very cool place, and very relaxed security considering this is where the El President is.
Now back at the hostel, going to kick back and have a few more beers.
Tomorrow we are going to Coyoacan - this is where Frida Kahlo lived. Very cool.
Take it easy, and our love to all.
Shaun
previous travel blog entryComments or Questions for the Author
Jill Alice says:
Kids, Sounds wicked looks like you are doing OK and shaun just keep pocking your finger at sarah and enjoy the beers. You'll get fat!!!!! Love you both heaps Mike
Adrienne says:
Hope you continue to enjoy your travels in Mexico.