MEXICO CITY - TRAVEL DIARY 🌹 🇲🇽
On the night of my birthday (in January), I was scheduled to fly to Mexico City for celebrations with my best friend but right before heading to the airport, I got really sick and went from 0-100 in the matter of an hour. I called my Mom who is usually not one to immediately suggest going to the hospital but upon speaking to her she said I didn’t sound good and told me to head to the hospital instead. I tried to wait it out for a bit to see if I would improve so I could make my trip but things got worse and my bff had to end up calling the paramedics. I was taking a trip to the ER and not Mexico City!
It was a grueling night to say the least but I was released the next morning and had to follow up with a specialist while our trip got rescheduled for March. As time drew near we developed some concern with the COVID-19 situation and I began to think this trip has been facing opposition for quite some time since we were trying to go the year prior as well!
When we left NYC, things were not as intense but over the week everything amplified and we began to learn about the rapid progression of the virus in NYC as well as the introduction of social-distancing. I was a bit worried about being out of the country but quickly realized some things were beyond my control and I could either wallow in worry or choose to stay present to the moment. With worry being of no use, I chose to stay present to the wonderful experience Mexico City had to offer, all while staying informed about the situation and taking safety measures like washing hands, not shaking hands & not touching my face.
As I write this post, I don’t want to come across tone deaf to all that’s happening and my heart goes out to all affected directly and indirectly by the virus. I strongly encourage you to follow all guidelines set out by government and healthcare officials and to be honest, if our trip was set for anytime after we travelled, we would've definitely canceled. I think we were lucky to leave when we did and even luckier to experience the beauty and vibrancy of CDMX.
I hope this post can serve as a little escape while we face quarantine and social-distancing around the globe and when this passes I hope you can utilize the information as a helpful resource for your travels.
MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS
Check the weather for the period you’ll be in the country. For our original dates in January the average temp ranged from 42-75 degrees F and in March it increaded a bit to about 45-81degrees. You most definitely will need a light coat or jacket if you travel to this part of Mexico during the Winter season and will most likely use it during the early mornings and evenings since it heats up around midday.
Some restaurants offer menus in English, you just have to ask “en Ingles, por favor?”
Uber is readily available. We used it to get around for our entire trip with the average cost being about $1.50 per ride. The most expensive ride we took was an hour drive to a tourist site and it cost around $17.
You can pay by credit card or with local currency. The local currency is the peso and you can exchange your money for a good rate at the airport or local approved cambio. Many restaurants take card and I found the exchange rate to be better when I used mine to pay. I kept my pesos for things like the markets and activities.
WHERE WE STAYED
This was my first time using Airbnb and I must report it was a pleasant experience. We initially had another beautiful place booked for our January trip but with change of travel dates we needed to find an alternative. I usually select places based off a combination of aesthetics, reviews and pricing and this loft located in the Juarez neighborhood fit the bill! Everything was just as pictured/described, we had no issues, the owners were nice enough to let us check in early and we felt safe for our entire stay.
The location was central and I loved the thoughtful decor, bright pink terrace with neon signs and carefully curated guide of things to do nearby and around Mexico City.
WHAT We DID
Casa Azul/Museo Frida Kahlo was by far my favorite experience and the main reason we chose to visit that part of Mexico over one of the beach regions. Located in Coyoacán (one of the oldest and most gorgeous neighborhoods in Mexico City) the house of Frida Kahlo turned museum is immaculate and filled with so much beauty & history. I will be sharing more from this activity in a separate blog post so stay tuned for that!
My second favorite activity while in Mexico City was the boat ride through the canals of Xochimilco. We booked it via Airbnb Experiences and this one operated by the friendly crew of We Are All Trajineros was so much fun! We enjoyed authentic homemade Mexican food, Mezcal & Tequila tastings, danced to tunes and listened to historical stories about the area. We even sang along to a live Mariachi band; an add-on for a few extra Pesos.
We visited this market a handful of times because you know your girl enjoys shopping! Whenever I travel I usually visit the local markets to source unique handmade accessories, clothing, artwork or home decor items. It’s a great way to support the local vendors while obtaining something to remember your trip for years to come. Pesos are only accepted at the market and only a few vendors take card so be sure to walk with enough cash and buy all the things!
Visiting the Pyramids was nice activity however all the details provided in our Airbnb Experience package were not communicated as effectively so I’m hesitant to provide a direct link to the one we used. We were picked up by a driver early in the morning to go to the site and that was a plus, however, upon arrival, we were told to pay to enter the archeological park - a detail not effectively communicated and something I assumed would be part of the package. Additionally, we were promised water/soft drinks in addition to liquor tasting but didn’t receive any water/soft drinks. After inquiring, our guide informed us that due to recent Airbnb restrictions, beverages were no longer provided and this was reflected in the price. We left early on our own because the tour seemed to drag on a bit, so I’m not sure if the group ever got to spirits tasting.
Now don’t get me wrong, the trip to the pyramids wasn’t bad but definitely not great like the Xochimilco experience. Climbing them was petrifying, tiring and exhilarating especially with the tiny steep steps. There was even a woman in heels and you can find a photo of that under my IG highlight.
In full transparency, I think you could definitely Uber to the site and do a self-guided tour at your own pace with the option to climb both of the pyramids or just one but do consider guides as this is how they make a livelihood, so doing a guided one helps supports their business.
Vintage Shopping
While wandering around the Roma neighborhood we decided to check out a couple of vintage shops. We didn’t have a ton of time that day and visited Vintage Hoe & The Ere Vintage Co. Both shops had a small mix of vintage as well as secondhand items and we came out with a couple of goodies.
WHEre WE ATE/DRANK
While we didn’t get to do everything on our list such as visit more Museums and art sites, Mexico city was such a joy to visit and definitely someplace I’d travel to again!