The highlights

As I mentioned in the last posting this city is just so overwhelming and rich in sight and sounds. I recognize it is a little strange to be so enamored with such a massive, overcrowded, polluted place...but what can I say, it speaks to me.

Basically we have done so much in three days that I feel I have been here a month. Most of the time has spent walking around or hopping from place to place via metro. On the first full day we explored the centro, the center of the city and the area in which are hostel is located. According to my trusted tour book the Zocolo, the central plaza, is the second largest public plaza in the world after the Red Square in Moscow. The Zocolo is quite an impressive site with the national palace on one side and a huge Cathedral on the other. The main crazy fact about this area is that since Mexico City was built on top of a lake, the city is sinking and the church is somewhat crooked. The view of the Zocolo is really beautiful at night too, with the back lights of the city and faint glow of red and green lights, the colors of the Mexican flag, as a backdrop on the National Palace. Our hostel happens to overlook this incredible view. In fact, right now I am staring out at the ancient crooked Cathedral...

We have also explored a variety of chaotic markets, parks and plazas. There is artwork everywhere and a variety of ornate architecture. The Palacio Bella Artes and the National Post Office are two buildings that stand out in particular for their grandeur and highly intricate interiors. Yesterday we took the metro out to a famous but highly worthwhile tourist attraction of Xochimilco, a place where you can float down canals in brightly painted boats. The photos that I took should later give a better idea of the mystique of this place. Yet the boat tour itself wasn't even the best part of the day. It was the whole adventure of finding the place and exploring the surrounding neighborhood. Xochimilco is located about an hour away from the Centro by metro. We took two different metro lines, a light rail and still walked 15 minutes or more to get there. The neighborhood surrounding is fairly nice but was amazing how different it felt from the interior of the city. It reminded me more of a smaller Latin American town. I enjoyed exploring this neighborhood very much and also I had one of the best, cheapest meals thus far in a restaurant run out of somebody's home.

Today we did another classic but worthwhile tourist activity, the Pyramids of Teothuacan. These pyramids were built in over 2000 years ago and remain entirely a mystery. All literature and archaeological records we have is entirely speculative...so that is interesting. The Aztecs found the Pyramids and based much of their theology on what they believed Teothuacan to represent.

Now I have one side note that is entirely unrelated, but worth sharing. When I was in Chile and Bolivia, I wrote extensively about the political climate. In both of those countries political propaganda was everywhere and I did not have to look hard to run into protests. Since I've been here I saw one small protest, but what strikes me is how I have seen almost no political grafiti, signs, or symbols. There were a few more painted political messages written on the outskirts of the city but literally nothing in the center. This of course makes me wonder if their isn't a political and social movement climate or if it is more tightly controlled than in other countries...I am guessing it is the latter. I know for a fact that Mexico has had its fair share of social unrest. Just last year the country was in full uproar over the presidential election. People filled the Zocolo for weeks at a time to protest the announcement of Calderon's victory of Obredor. Yet today there is almost no evidence of this movement.

Of course, I don't claim to have seen all, and I am aware that there are places in southern mexico in particular that are flooded with social movements. I just wonder what about Mexico City and what I am personally witnessing that is so different that other places which have very similar political struggles.

Mexico City six years later

Hello everyone, while I'm not quite in the Southern hemisphere I figured this would be as good as a place as any to write about my travels in Mexico City!

Mexico City holds a very special place in my heart. It was here, six summers ago that I fell in love with Latin America. As a curious 17 year old I made a personal vow to never lose touch with Latin America and the Spanish language. So far, I have kept that promise.

Six years later, I see Mexico through slightly different eyes. Of course I am older and have accumulated more life experiences. In the grand scheme of things, the city is equally exciting. I'm a sucker for the colors, smells, faces and general chaos that makes up this Latin American metropolis. I am no less in awe of the architecture and still feel I don't truly comprehend the size of this place.

Yet, there are many things that look and feel really different than last time. For one, I feel surprisingly comfortable and safe. The obvious reason is that I have more experience traveling and living abroad. I also speak Spanish and have more confidence in my ability to speak to people and maneuver the city.

Also, I have really noticed this time just how incredibly friendly people here are. I'm sure it is in part because I can speak Spanish and therefore have had an easier time developing relationships. I speak to people in the street which I would never have dreamed of doing five years ago. However, I now have more places to compare. In my other travels I have always encountered nice people but this trip I am feeling something more intense from Mexicans. There is a true warmth that radiates from MOST people that I meet. Street vendors are not overly aggressive, people are always willing to help when you ask and in general they always want me to feel welcome.

Tomorrow or the next day I will blog a bit about some of the things we have seen in the past few days. I am having a blast traveling with my brother. He is the best travel partner I could ask for! Besos, hasta manana!