Mexico City
The first day in Mexico CIty was all about getting a glimpse of the city, feeling the atmosphere, discovering local markets, and trying as many of the local dishes as my stomach could handle. People who know me, or who travelled with me know that I’m crazy about local markets and street food!
But let’s start from the beginning, I’m sorry but it will be a long post 😅
The beginning …
I landed ahead of our schedule time, which was actually good as the passport control took ages, only three stations open .. an hour later I met my pre -arranged driver who was waiting for me holding a board with my name (it always makes me feel so special like I am some kind of famous person 😉
When we left the airport sky was just waking up, it was still early so roads were empty. We stopped quickly at the 7 eleven as I needed to buy a local SIM card, it’s so much cheaper than paying for roaming with Vodafone. Anyway, I arrived at the hotel just a few minutes before 7 am, and I was very lucky to have my room ready!! I didn’t have much time as I booked my market/food tour for 8.30 am. Of course I made mess unpacking 😉 everything was flying around the room, quick shower, I set up my new sim, the Uber account and I was ready to go 😉
Uber Ride
I asked at the reception which part of the address (5 lines long) is the best to use when putting in Uber’s app, she said let me put it for you, so she did. As I forgot my sunglasses, I ran to the room, and I didn’t double check if the location was set properly as I was rushing. The Uber was already waiting for me outside of the hotel. 25 min later the taxi stopped in this doggy, poor looking area, people sleeping rough, some graffitis I couldn’t see the entrance to the hostel that I was supposed meet the guide at, actually there was no hostels or hotels on that street 😉
I was a bit confused, and the driver wasn’t convinced that he can leave me there. He looked actually honestly concerned. He didn’t speak much English, and my Spanish was and is almost non existing but guess what google translator saved the day! 😂 He was worried and told me that it is a dangerous area and not safe to wander around, lots of drugs and crime happens here. I checked the location on my phone. The place where I was supposed to be was around a 13 min walk from where we just stopped. The Uber driver Jose didn’t leave me wandering around just drove me to the meeting point. Before I got off he said zones 3,4 and 5 no NO GO zones, extremely helpful and good hearted person!
As I learned later, the place where receptionist sent me was in between Tepito and Merced neighbourhoods, located north from the centro histórico, are considered as areas to avoid, especially by tourists. Some of these areas are very close to touristic places, and it is easy to wander from the centre. For example, Centro Historico is separated by only one or two streets from rough parts of the city, so you can easily find yourself in an unsafe situation.
Mexico City metro system
It is very easy to navigate on the tube around Mexico City and tickets are cheap. Uber is also great and cheap. Important! Especially for single female travellers- the first two tube train carriages are for women only, the only line that has women only carriages at the back is the pink line. Some platforms have also designated areas where women can wait. It’s been done as there are unfortunately many sexual assaults, for this reason the women only space was created to make them feel safer.
I’ve got mixed feelings about it, from one side – yes it’s great, but it feels almost like segregation, perception and actions of men should be challenged and changed so women don’t have to escape the public sphere to feel safe! But let’s leave this topic and go back to markets and food!!
Omg!! I was in food heaven today!!! 😉
Breakfast @ Mercado de Presidente Rodríguez
I started my day with a cup of atole and a Pork Tamal.
Pork Tamal – corn patties filled with various meats or cheese, wrapped and steamed in corn husks or banana leaves.
Atole – traditional beverage made of corn flour, fruit, spices, and milk or water – deeply warming. Mine was rice pudding flavour but you can come across many different flavours and consistencies, depending on the person who makes them.
Lunch @ Mercado de Jamaica
Tacos, tacos and more tacos … mine were filled with shredded lamb, mint, onions, coriander, green and red sauce, and my new discovery 🌵 CACTUS 🌵 which I completely adore!! So yummy! Served with a refreshing tepache drink made out of pineapple skins!
Lunch no 2 @ Mercado de Camina
The place was called – Huaraches Ramoncita (very close to the main market – Mercado de Jamaica). In this small food place, I’ve learned how to prepare salsa, and almost cooked half of my meal by myself :P. So for my second lunch I had something very very interesting – Huarache.
Huarache dates back to pre-Hispanic times, which is an oval, corn masa cake, stuffed with black beans, usually served alongside of beef ribs. I had it with cactus, salsa, avocado, and grated cheese. For dessert I had some fresh fruits from the market. To be honest, I just bought everything that I haven’t tried before 😂 if you wonder about my stomach, everything seems ok, I really believe that you are more likely to get food poisoning in the restaurant than from the street food vendors.
More Food Exploration …
But wait my food exploration hadn’t finished there … hmmm … a few hours later … I had 1l size Margarita 😛 and I finished the day with vanilla horchata and churros, actually just one churro!! Please do not judge me! I admit that I am a foodie!
If you don’t know horchata – it is a drink prepared with Mexican dark vanilla, a dash of salt, cinnamon, and sugar added to chilled rice milk, considered as ‘Drink of the Gods’. It is apparently a beverage that originated in Egypt, and it was first made with a chufa nut and Egyptians named it ‘drink of the Gods’ for it’s nutritional qualities. So I guess it’s healthy 😛
More about Mexico City, history, buildings, markets, food – soon as now I’m off to Iztaccihuatl.
My volcanos I’m coming !!!
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