Closer than a cabin, not a hotdish in sight

Oh hey! Quick site update – you might notice the ol’ site has got a new lick of paint. In addition to a fancy new logo, there’s a monthly newsletter and (starting in March) a monthly webinar. I’d love it if you joined the newsletter – I promise it’ll be very low commitment. Curious why this is happening? Check out the explainer post.

Anyways! We’re in Mexico City! And we brought friends! We’re psyched to explore Mexico City some more, and to enjoy a break from the endless and very cold winter we’ve been experiencing this year.

We landed in CDMX around 2pm and got settled at our Airbnb. Despite a minor mishap last time, we booked the same Airbnb again because of the amazing rooftop deck. And, good news – the swordfish has moved, and also lost his most stabby bits!

We didn’t arrive with any real plans, so we set out to wander. We started out with some Super Tacos on the street, and then a lap of the Hipodromo. The Hipodromo is prime dog-spotting territory, and we were very satisfied with the crop of doggos on display. Continuing with some “greatest hits”, we got some churros and chocolate, then hopped on the subway for the Zocalo or city center.

Emerging from the subway, we walked into a pretty magical moment as the massive Mexican flag was lowered, and local folks just relaxed in the gorgeous early evening sun. We popped into the cathedral on the square, watched some indigenous dance performances, and did a lap of the archaeological site, pausing every few minutes to exclaim “this weather! this city! it’s all perfect!”

After a few false starts, we popped up to a rooftop terrace overlooking the square for a drink and to watch the sun set. Then we set off wandering down the pedestrian-only Avenue Francisco Madero looking for some more food. We were briefly sidetracked by the outdoor exhibition of Rodin and Dali sculptures.

Tacos, elotes, and some fried plantains made a great first course. Kat had a brief moment of panic when ordering plantains, thinking she’d accidentally ordered an entire bunch. The very nice lady understood though, and a crisis was averted.

Needing one more bite before bed, we stopped at another taco stall for a huarache. The lovely lady doing the cooking was excited that we were excited, and spoke slowly enough for us to have a nice conversation. She narrated each of the items she was making, and the different ways items could be served. The man selling shoes in the next stall kept checking in to make sure we were enjoying our food.

Ubering home, we relaxed in a perfect evening on the rooftop, with 60 degree temperatures and clear skies.

There’s a war going on in Ukraine right now. It’s all anyone is talking about on Twitter, on Slack, in texting threads, and so on. Being here is a good reminder that for most folks in the world, the machinations of the great powers and the daily drama of the richest countries have very little relevance. Folks here are just kind, working hard, and doing their best. Travel helps us connect with the humans behind the headlines. No, it doesn’t cure all ills – Putin is gonna be a sociopathic terrorist either way – but it sure can’t hurt.