Blamblog - Brett Lamb's Blog

Sunday, March 11, 2007

More Mexico

Here are a few more pics from the second half of my second trip to visit Amber in Mexico last month:

The MetroBus (dedicated bus lane) on Avenida Insurgentes. Mexico City seems like it would be the perfect place to cycle .... but nobody rides bikes. They don't walk much either, even though the walking is quite nice. Also, in Mexico, Scotiabank & HSBC are in love! If you see a Scotiabank (they're everywhere in Mexico), HSBC is either right next door, across the street or around the corner. If you see HSBC but there's no Scotiabank ... check your map, you're in Texas!

(above, left) Frida Kahlo's blue house has been transformed into a so-so museum and gallery. (above, right) On the other hand, Trotsky's house has been preserved in much the same state as when he was assassinated and is worth a visit.

(left) The view from the apartment where we were staying, looking towards the city's historic centre (way, way off in the distance). One thing that's really hard to find in Mexico: a decent cup of coffee. It's really easy to end up with some really bad coffee ... but the fresh-squeezed orange juice makes up for it.

Also, watch out for cold hot dogs cut up and mixed with ketchup. They might be listed as 'sausages' on the menu ...

(above) Later in the week, we went to Taxco, a touristy -- but not too-touristy -- mountain town.

Taxco has a cable car imported from Europe. You can ride it to the top of one of the hills. We went up even though heights scare me and I worry about jets.

(above, right) On the way up, you pass right by some houses but we didn't see anybody watching telenovelas through the windows.

We did see dogs sitting in piles of their own filth on the tops of houses. That's always nice but if it were me, I would worry about the poo and pee seeping through the ceiling. Especially if it was a big dog because they can poop a lot.

(above, right) The reward! When you get to the top of the hill, you get to see the giant golf ball!

There's also a great view of the town and surrounding valley. Our hotel is somewhere in the middle of all that. The big, white building on stilts in the foreground is a new-ish grocery store.

(above, left) There was a Chupacabra at the hotel. We had to tip him constantly. (above, right) The pool and courtyard in th hotel was really comfortable ... if you could navigate the crazy streets and get to it.

After Taxco, we had a few more days in Mexico City. We took the subway several times during the trip and their trains are the same ones used in Montreal, right down to the rubber tires. Once you've seen the crowds in the Mexico City subway, you'll never complain about the TTC again.

Our last trip was to the Antropological Museum which has extensive exhibits about Mexican history and culture. Everyone recommended it to us and so I'm recommending it to you. It's worth the visit for the turtle pond alone!

And that's it. My flight back was cancelled and I spent and extra night in a hotel and had to get up at 2:30 am to fly out the following morning (which was late departing). Then I got back here and it was winter again.

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