The lost cellphone

I walked to Wal-Mart today, and on the way back I sat down on a sidewalk. When I was a few minutes from the house, I realized I'd lost my piece-of-crap cellphone. It may be a POS, but it would be a hassle to get another, and it did have 2 contacts in it already (one of which is a business English course company I may begin working for).

I trudged back to the spot where I'd sat and lo and behold, there the pathetic thing was, turned over and covered in a light film of dirt. Needless to say, we were happily reunited & I promise to appreciate my little Alcatel more.

So not like me to lose stuff like that. I remember losing my first cellphone though. I was upset and distracted after hearing about a family illness. Nothing like an upset to distract me and make me lose my mind and important objects. :( .... This is too depressing for the last post of the year, but tomorrow I'll detail New Years Mexican style.

3 borrachos, 3 bars

Yesterday we met up with a friend/ex-roomie from VanCity. He lives in Mexico City now. Also expecting visits from 2 other friends/ex-roomies.


It was like going back in time: laughing about the same stuff, too much beer, random dances - except this time it's in Mexico.

In da hood

I hope my father isn't reading this... he might burst into flames at the sight of the above photo.



The baby hot dogs are grow-w-wing!

Museo Nacional de Antropología, the Alameda, and the Zócalo

Museo Nacional de Antropología. Extensive and informative.

Foreigners have to pay 50 pesos. Locals waltz on in without paying a centavo.






Craftsmanship for LSD users. Those are tiny beads.


The sun stone, "unearthed beneath the Zócalo in 1790." It's much larger than this picture shows it as being.




The voladores once again. This time, in the daylight. I tried to upload a video to better show their performance, but it's taking f o r e v e r. So.... no.



Goodies being sold outside the museum:


The green stuff is cactus and cilantro.


Next, the Alameda. It's a market with snacks, games, amusement park rides, and a lot of Santas.


Busy busy.


Fresh cotton candy was being made, but some of it got away and attached itself to wires, lines, and poles. The pink, blue, and purple sugary clouds of Mexico.


Lastly, we took a stroll through the crowded Zócalo at night. It was filled with people playing with 'rocket balloons' which can be bounced and propelled upward. They even have an ice rink here! It's like Russia all over again.

Feliz Navidad!

December 24 is the main day of celebration in Mexico. Before that, Mexicans have posadas, which are basically house or street parties. Over the past few weeks I've seen streets blocked off with huge speakers in the middle, and houses with green lasers and blasting with music. The neighbours never complain and the parties go on until the wee hours of the morn.

We had a dinner on the 24th, and the kids opened their gifts after dinner.

Not much happens on the 25th, but lots of businesses are closed.

This is Mexico

Metro ticket office. Not tequila.


Most of the buses here are pretty basic. Seats. Windows. A floor. It's common to see people crowded onto the bus and standing in the stairwell, perhaps jumping off mid-motion.

Now and then you'll bump into a party version bus, replete with stickers, a pimped out driver's seat, and speakers bustin' out Aventura or party music.


Piñatas every everywhere. Of every colour and shape.







I live with a lizard!


And puppies! The mom had 5, but only 3 have survived. I can't wait to see what baby hot dogs running around looks like.


Appreciate your dryers people. My clothes have dried pretty quickly here so far, even though it's winter and quite cold out at times. I remember my jeans and towels taking three days to be semi-dry in Taiwan.



Mexico, I apologize in advance for all the photos I will take of confused people looking at me, wondering why I want a photo of them (and without offering to pay).

Around town

A camouflaged bird common to the city:

First pyramid sighting: the Museo Xólotl.


Even the dogs get depressed by the traffic here.


Pay the man, and a little bird will pop of the cage to then choose a miniature card from the blue box. I think it's supposed to be your fortune or a blessing, but I'm not too sure.


Cyclists on a pilgrimage to see the temple of Guadalupe:


More pyramids! Welcome to Teotihuacan.

This is the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. It isn't as popular as the main pyramids, but it's definitely worth checking out. We had a great tour guide, but it was all in Spanish so I couldn't catch everything.

The public speech and echo demonstration and explanation were very cool. There were also quite a few shots at gringos with their Disneyland and Mickey Mouse "culture."


It was sweltering out and I was ill-dressed for hiking pyramids (spontaneity of plans). We bypassed the Calle de los Muertos in order to preserve energy.

To the left, the Pyramid of the Moon. To the right, the Pyramid of the Sun.


Sight set upon the Pyramid of the Sun.







At the very top, there's a little circular something (the technical term). If you're willing to wait, push, and shove a little, you can put your finger upon the circle. They say it will give you energy.

I can't recognize my own hand. But, I have narrowed it down to two.


We didn't climb the Pyramid of the Moon because it was way too hot out.

A little more modern architecture:




Centro (downtown), the Zócalo:




Plaza Garibaldi, the famed mariachi hangout. Tourists, locals, drunks - anyone who wants to hire a mariachi player for a serenade or two - this is the place for you.


Colourful, concrete houses outside DF in the State of Mexico: