March was a complete whirlwind. The first week was all about resting and packing after having two sets of visitors in February and leaving to come to Michigan on the 9th. On Sunday, the 7th, I took a nasty fall down the stairs while carrying the dog. I landed mostly on my tailbone and had a hard time walking and sitting. Claire and I left on a Tuesday and arrived into Detroit around 7:30 pm. Thanks to Uncle Ryan for picking us up! The plane ride was extremely difficult due to Claire's "restlessness" and my inability to sit properly, but I was very excited to be back in Michigan.
The following day was haircuts and driving to Grand Rapids. When I got into Grand Rapids, I had this unsettling feeling. After people had heard about the fall, many said that I should head to the doctor's. I felt that I should've gone as soon as it had happened, but it was later afternoon on Sunday and we were still unsure of the medical care here in Mexico. So Wednesday night, my mom went with me to the hospital. They monitored the baby for quite some time, although to be honest, I wasn't too worried about the baby, mostly my behind! Upon listening to the baby's heartbeat, they noticed an irregularity. They sent me to have another ultrasound and told me to follow up with my doctor the following day.
So, on Thursday I called my doctor and they told me that I had to come back to Detroit to have an echocardiogram for the baby. It was not what I wanted to hear (or do). I had planned on spending the first two weeks of our visit in Grand Rapids and now it was being cut short. The appointment was scheduled for Monday, after I went to the OB in the morning.
Friday was Claire's birthday party with my family. It was a nice quiet night with cake, ice cream, and treats brought from Mexico. She got lots of nice gifts and it reminded me of how we spent birthdays when I was a child.
Can't for the life of me remember what we did on Saturday, but I remember it being a late night because Sunday came way too soon! On Sunday, the Provos were celebrating Vivian's birthday and even though we wanted to go, it was during the two weeks that we were going to spend in Grand Rapids so we didn't plan on attending. Well, since I had a doctor's appointment early Monday morning, we decided to go. We left bright and early on Sunday because the party started at 10:30 am! We had a great time at her Fancy Nancy birthday party. Claire had the best time eating cotton candy, cake, and chocolate fountain treats. This is also the last time Claire will ever have cotton candy, and she knows it! She was a crazy person afterwards so hopped up on all that sugar. Thanks again Provos! :)
Monday morning, I dropped Claire off at Becky's So thankful that we have the best child care provider in the world! It was so comforting knowing that Claire would be there with her and it was one less thing to worry about. I headed to my 8:30 OB appointment, which was a huge waste of time frankly. They looked at me and said, "See you in a week and a half." Then I had lunch with Nicole and she went with me to my echocardiogram. Another pretty big waste of time. They saw the same thing that was detected in Grand Rapids and just said to have my doctors keep an eye on it, but that it would most likely work itself out (which in the long run, it did). At the time of all of these appointments though, they had me pretty scared and worried.
After the echocardiogram, I picked Claire back up and we drove back to Grand Rapids AGAIN! It was a much calmer rest of the week, thankfully. I was to head back to Detroit on Saturday with Claire, but after carting her around so much already, I decided to leave her in Grand Rapids and make the trek by myself.
Saturday was the fundraiser for my godson, Braedon. It was the main reason that I came home in March. I was so thankful that I hadn't brought Claire with me as Saturday and Sunday were packed and I am glad that I didn't have to worry or deal with her! The fundraiser was a long day, but a big success. Sunday was Braedon and Evan's birthday party. It was at a glow-in-the-dark putt putt place. Lots of fun and I was stoked that I got to hang out with my buddy while he putt putted, again, without Claire!
On Monday, I attended a 2 Sisters workshop at the MISD with Nicole. It was AWESOME! They are the most interesting and enlightening speakers I have ever heard. Made me sad that I wasn't in a classroom applying what they were talking about, but at the same time, I could really enjoy the presentation knowing that I didn't have the pressure of trying to remember everything they said and trying to take obsessive notes.
After the workshop, I made the final journey to Grand Rapids. Yes, three times in two weeks that I made the back and forth trip! I stayed until Thursday evening. That night, I had a Grey's Anatomy date with Shelly! I don't think we had a moment of dead space lingering in the air! We never even watched Grey's because we ended up talking, but that is typical of Shelly and I!
Friday came and I had another doctor's appointment. This was my regularly scheduled appointment. Same old thing ~ weight, pee in a cup, listen to the heartbeat, and measure the belly. Besides the heart issue, all was good! Then I spent the rest of the day at Ryan's house (our house on loan) to search for all the last minute things that we still needed in Mexico. At four, I met up with the ladies from AOLV, my previous teaching position for drinks (except me) and some catching up. From there, I headed to Maggiano's for dinner with my Gamma Phi sisters. It was a busy day! I didn't get home until late, but it was nice to catch up with everyone.
Saturday was spent getting ready for Claire's birthday party at Dave's parents on Sunday. I baked the cake and put together all the little details. Later that night, I went out for one last hurrah with Nicole and Jaime Ray. I think this was the night I introduced them to Bravo! at The Village!
Sunday was Claire's birthday party with the rest of the family and friends. It was a rainy day so we were all stuck in the house, but the kids had fun making visors and playing. It was a butterfly/bug theme and Claire's favorite part was the dirt cake with gummy bugs in it! She had a fantastic time!
Our last day in Michigan had finally come and it was another busy one. Claire had a dentist appointment in the morning, her first! She did AWESOME! I wish I had videotaped it. She absolutely loved the dentist visit and talks about going back all the time. When it was time to pick out a surprise, she picked out a toy mirror that the dentist uses to look inside your mouth! I hope she always enjoys going to the dentist. I know it's my most feared place to go so it was a little difficult to be the one to take her! After the dentist, we went to Target one last time! I can't tell you how much we miss Target in Mexico. It used to be our Friday night hang out! Then another quick birthday celebration for Claire at her favorite pizza place, Buddies!
I spent the rest of the night and the next day (5-7 hours total) packing. When you have so much to bring back, it is a totally different type of packing. You aren't worried about leaving behind your sunscreen, you are worried about which items you have to leave behind and hopefully get it there someday. It is very stressful and exhausting. I have gotten pretty good at packing though. One tip ~ kids shoes go inside adult shoes and you have to fill the kids shoes with something, no empty space!
I thought it would be hard going back to Mexico, especially the airplane ride with Claire, but in actuality, it was nice to get back and relax after such a busy few weeks in Michigan! And the airplane ride wasn't anything like the one to Michigan because I was getting better at sitting once again!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Our Second Visitors - Amy and Vinnie!
So less than a week from when Dave's mom left, Amy and Vinnie came to stay with us. Amy is Dave's cousin and Vinnie is her Irish (now) husband. They arrived late on Wednesday night. Dave had to work on Thursday so I was the lowly tour guide. Unfortunately, Amy had arrived with a nasty cold which put her out of commission most of the day. When she was up and feeling a little better, we headed to the one of two places I feel like I can navigate myself to, besides the stores in our neighborhood, the Sky Mall (La Cuspida). This mall overlooks the mountains and a greater part of the Mexico City area. The stores there are not that great, but there are many restaurants and it's worth going there just for the view.
On Friday, we went to the other place that I have driven to, the Pyramids. (On a side note, I hate driving in Mexico City and pretty much refuse to drive anywhere, yet, I have driven over an hour out to the Pyramids twice.)
Teotihuacan is an enormous archaeological site of some of the largest pyramids built in the Pre-Columbian Americas. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teotihuacan) This was my first time to the pyramids so I wasn't sure what to expect. It is a huge complex and we parked in the first parking lot that we came to, which was close to the museum and the area known as the Citadel. Between the Citadel and the Sun and Moon Pyramids is the Valley of Death. I have to admit that I wasn't that interested in going to this tourist site, but once you get there, you are overwhelmed with the enormity of the place.
By this time, I was almost 5 months pregnant and starting to show! We climbed several small structures in the Citadel and dodged all the natives selling crafts and other trinkets. Then we hiked the mile down the Valley of Death to the Sun and Moon Pyramids. Claire climbed almost to the top of the Sun Pyramid. She stopped one landing short of the top, partly because I was afraid for her to go that high (the last leg is pretty much straight up) and also because she was tired. She stayed with Vinnie while I climbed to the top to meet up with Amy. There is a spectacular view and even though I am afraid of heights (and swear to never even go up the Eiffel Tower again), I enjoyed the view and just stayed clear of the edge!
I was so thankful to go the first time with Amy and Vinnie because they were so helpful in getting Claire up and down the pyramid. Going up is actually the easy part, it's looking down and trying to walk down crumbling steps without railings that is super scary. We all started heading towards the Moon Pyramid when Claire started complaining about wanting to go home. I knew this was my clue to head back towards the entrance with her. Overall, she was good and did so much walking, but as the day wore on, it started getting hotter and I knew she had to be getting tired. Amy and Vinnie headed off to the Moon Pyramid, while I hiked back with Claire on my shoulders through the mile long Valley of Death, again. (Now we know that there are several parking lots and it is quite easy to drive to them so you are not walking this mile while pregnant with a child on your shoulders!) We checked out the very quaint (and by quaint, I mean small) museum that consists of four rooms of artifacts (They have just barely scratched the surface of this archeological site) and waited for Amy and Vinnie to return, which was surprisingly a short amount of time considering they climbed another pyramid!
Saturday started off as it normally does when we have visitors (and sometimes even when we don't have visitors), we headed to Bazaar de Sabado. Amy and Vinnie loved checking out the vendors and I think the big purchases were Mexican wrestling masks for Vinnie's friends! After the bazaar, we headed to the neighboring city of Coyoacan. We parked near a plant nursery and decided to try and fit in the Frida Kahlo museum which is nearby. Claire had fallen asleep, so Dave, Amy, and Vinnie went and bought basil plants (something that I had been hunting for since we arrived) and then on to the museum. When Claire woke up, we navigated our way to the museum as well.
The Frida Kahlo museum is one of my favorite museums for several reasons. First of all, it is a small museum that is situated in the house that Frida grew up in and later shared with Diego Rivera. Second, it is such a quiet, calm place that it doesn't even feel like a museum. The house is an old hacienda that has several rooms with paintings by Frida, photos of Diego's travels and work, and photos of Frida when she was a child. It also has many of her belongings and it is set up as it most likely was when she was alive. Her studio has a large library, desks with art supplies, her bed that she spent a large majority of her time in, and the kitchen and other rooms are also staged. It was so nice to sit in the courtyard and chill for a bit before heading home.
Sunday was our last day with Amy and Vinnie. We headed down to Xochimilco, which is a series of canals and all that remains of the ancient Lake Xochimilco. You travel on trajineras (boats) that can hold between 20 - 30 people. When we got into the town heading towards the canals, we were bombarded with men on bicycles trying to flag us down. Dave was doing his best to ignore them and concentrate on driving, but they just kept looking in the car windows and showing us lanyards with pictures of boats around their necks. I said, "I think they are trying to lead you to the boats." So we picked one of the guys and followed him to his parking lot. They gave us a driver and we went to pick out our boat. This was our first time to Xochimilco and we were not versed on how much it should cost. They pretty much took advantage of this fact and we paid an arm and a leg for our boat ride. We have later learned that there is another area that you can leave from that has a set (and much cheaper) price. The other area also has a large market area that sells Mexico's finest! We also did not know that you could bring all your own food and drinks so Dave and Vinnie bought a bucket of beer to bring along with us.
We set off on the canals with a traveling time of two hours. Also, with you out on the canals are vendors selling flowers, fresh grilled corn, and other trinkets and mariachi bands that will tie up to tour boat and play you some songs for a small fee. We traveled down the busy canals that are lined with plant nurseries and refreshment stands selling ice cream and drinks. We passed an area of trees that were covered with old dolls and stuffed animals hanging from the trees. Legend has it that a young girl died there and was said to haunt the place. Shortly after her death, a man purchased the land and when a doll washed up on shore, he believed it be a sign of her spirit so he hung it in the tree. He started collecting more and more of these dolls to appease the girl's spirit. Later, he also passed away in a mysterious fashion and was found dead in the same vicinity that the girl was found. Now, if you go to that area, you are suppose to bring a doll as a peace offering and the place is still considered haunted. (Here is a link to the story: http://www.suite101.com/content/the-island-of-the-dolls-a169586)
It was a great day out on the water, although a little chilly. Amy got suckered into purchasing some jewelry from a vendor that hopped on board our boat. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the experience.
On Monday, Dave, Claire, and I had to head into Mexico City to meet with the company lawyer to sign some forms for our Visas and since Amy and Vinnie were continuing their vacation by staying at a B and B in downtown for a few days, we all went together. After a short stop at the Visa office and another photo shoot for Claire's Visa, we drove into the Centro Historic district to drop Amy and Vinnie off. They stayed at a great B and B for a few more days enjoying the closer proximity to many of the sites of Mexico City.
We enjoyed their stay with us, especially since Amy is also a vegetarian!!! They were great guests and it was nice to have another couple to hang out with for a few days.
On Friday, we went to the other place that I have driven to, the Pyramids. (On a side note, I hate driving in Mexico City and pretty much refuse to drive anywhere, yet, I have driven over an hour out to the Pyramids twice.)
Teotihuacan is an enormous archaeological site of some of the largest pyramids built in the Pre-Columbian Americas. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teotihuacan) This was my first time to the pyramids so I wasn't sure what to expect. It is a huge complex and we parked in the first parking lot that we came to, which was close to the museum and the area known as the Citadel. Between the Citadel and the Sun and Moon Pyramids is the Valley of Death. I have to admit that I wasn't that interested in going to this tourist site, but once you get there, you are overwhelmed with the enormity of the place.
By this time, I was almost 5 months pregnant and starting to show! We climbed several small structures in the Citadel and dodged all the natives selling crafts and other trinkets. Then we hiked the mile down the Valley of Death to the Sun and Moon Pyramids. Claire climbed almost to the top of the Sun Pyramid. She stopped one landing short of the top, partly because I was afraid for her to go that high (the last leg is pretty much straight up) and also because she was tired. She stayed with Vinnie while I climbed to the top to meet up with Amy. There is a spectacular view and even though I am afraid of heights (and swear to never even go up the Eiffel Tower again), I enjoyed the view and just stayed clear of the edge!
I was so thankful to go the first time with Amy and Vinnie because they were so helpful in getting Claire up and down the pyramid. Going up is actually the easy part, it's looking down and trying to walk down crumbling steps without railings that is super scary. We all started heading towards the Moon Pyramid when Claire started complaining about wanting to go home. I knew this was my clue to head back towards the entrance with her. Overall, she was good and did so much walking, but as the day wore on, it started getting hotter and I knew she had to be getting tired. Amy and Vinnie headed off to the Moon Pyramid, while I hiked back with Claire on my shoulders through the mile long Valley of Death, again. (Now we know that there are several parking lots and it is quite easy to drive to them so you are not walking this mile while pregnant with a child on your shoulders!) We checked out the very quaint (and by quaint, I mean small) museum that consists of four rooms of artifacts (They have just barely scratched the surface of this archeological site) and waited for Amy and Vinnie to return, which was surprisingly a short amount of time considering they climbed another pyramid!
Saturday started off as it normally does when we have visitors (and sometimes even when we don't have visitors), we headed to Bazaar de Sabado. Amy and Vinnie loved checking out the vendors and I think the big purchases were Mexican wrestling masks for Vinnie's friends! After the bazaar, we headed to the neighboring city of Coyoacan. We parked near a plant nursery and decided to try and fit in the Frida Kahlo museum which is nearby. Claire had fallen asleep, so Dave, Amy, and Vinnie went and bought basil plants (something that I had been hunting for since we arrived) and then on to the museum. When Claire woke up, we navigated our way to the museum as well.
The Frida Kahlo museum is one of my favorite museums for several reasons. First of all, it is a small museum that is situated in the house that Frida grew up in and later shared with Diego Rivera. Second, it is such a quiet, calm place that it doesn't even feel like a museum. The house is an old hacienda that has several rooms with paintings by Frida, photos of Diego's travels and work, and photos of Frida when she was a child. It also has many of her belongings and it is set up as it most likely was when she was alive. Her studio has a large library, desks with art supplies, her bed that she spent a large majority of her time in, and the kitchen and other rooms are also staged. It was so nice to sit in the courtyard and chill for a bit before heading home.
Sunday was our last day with Amy and Vinnie. We headed down to Xochimilco, which is a series of canals and all that remains of the ancient Lake Xochimilco. You travel on trajineras (boats) that can hold between 20 - 30 people. When we got into the town heading towards the canals, we were bombarded with men on bicycles trying to flag us down. Dave was doing his best to ignore them and concentrate on driving, but they just kept looking in the car windows and showing us lanyards with pictures of boats around their necks. I said, "I think they are trying to lead you to the boats." So we picked one of the guys and followed him to his parking lot. They gave us a driver and we went to pick out our boat. This was our first time to Xochimilco and we were not versed on how much it should cost. They pretty much took advantage of this fact and we paid an arm and a leg for our boat ride. We have later learned that there is another area that you can leave from that has a set (and much cheaper) price. The other area also has a large market area that sells Mexico's finest! We also did not know that you could bring all your own food and drinks so Dave and Vinnie bought a bucket of beer to bring along with us.
We set off on the canals with a traveling time of two hours. Also, with you out on the canals are vendors selling flowers, fresh grilled corn, and other trinkets and mariachi bands that will tie up to tour boat and play you some songs for a small fee. We traveled down the busy canals that are lined with plant nurseries and refreshment stands selling ice cream and drinks. We passed an area of trees that were covered with old dolls and stuffed animals hanging from the trees. Legend has it that a young girl died there and was said to haunt the place. Shortly after her death, a man purchased the land and when a doll washed up on shore, he believed it be a sign of her spirit so he hung it in the tree. He started collecting more and more of these dolls to appease the girl's spirit. Later, he also passed away in a mysterious fashion and was found dead in the same vicinity that the girl was found. Now, if you go to that area, you are suppose to bring a doll as a peace offering and the place is still considered haunted. (Here is a link to the story: http://www.suite101.com/content/the-island-of-the-dolls-a169586)
It was a great day out on the water, although a little chilly. Amy got suckered into purchasing some jewelry from a vendor that hopped on board our boat. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the experience.
On Monday, Dave, Claire, and I had to head into Mexico City to meet with the company lawyer to sign some forms for our Visas and since Amy and Vinnie were continuing their vacation by staying at a B and B in downtown for a few days, we all went together. After a short stop at the Visa office and another photo shoot for Claire's Visa, we drove into the Centro Historic district to drop Amy and Vinnie off. They stayed at a great B and B for a few more days enjoying the closer proximity to many of the sites of Mexico City.
We enjoyed their stay with us, especially since Amy is also a vegetarian!!! They were great guests and it was nice to have another couple to hang out with for a few days.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
VIP Movies
Let me give a quick description of the VIP movies. Many of the theaters in Mexico have two different types of theaters - the regular movies and the VIP movies. They only have a few theaters that are VIP and the rest are regular theaters. When you go to purchase your tickets for the VIP theater, they show you a screen with seats for you to choose where you want to sit.
Now the first time that we went, Dave and I got to our movie just a little before the movie started and it was opening weekend, so we didn't get to sit next to each other. He sat behind me. In a regular theater, that wouldn't have been too big of a deal because you are still close, but at the VIP theater, there is so much room between the rows that he had to walk up to my seat! Makes it difficult to share popcorn! We recently got to experience this wonderful treat again when my mom came to visit. We saw The Jones' (or Amor con Contracto in Spanish). It wasn't the best movie, but it was good enough to see at the VIP theater!
Okay, now to do my best to explain how awesome the VIP movies are! The theater is filled with about 50 lush, leather seats. The seats are so large that you could almost sit two people in them. And they recline! Each seat has it's own little pull up table and like I said, there is a ton of room in between each row. The rows start with a single seat (which is where I sat) and then there is another table, with a little lamp between the seats, then the rest of the row is filled with double seats that you can lift the armrest up and have a REALLY large seat. (I wish I would've brought the camera to take pictures, but I had no idea that I needed to bring a camera to a movie!)
Once at your seat, a waiter comes to take your order for food and drinks. They have the usual, popcorn, nachos, candy, but you can also order crepes, sushi, sandwiches, and other delights. And when I say drinks, I don't just mean the carbonated kind! Dave and I ordered a combo deal of popcorn, nachos, and two pops. The pops and popcorn were huge and the nachos were stacked so that they could fit the most chips possible in the container and, of course, it came with jalapenos!
The price of the VIP movies is the same price as regular movies in the States and the combo deal cost around $10! I wish we could get to the movies more often, but without someone to watch the girls, it is a rare occurrence. I know Dave took full advantage of all of our leaves back to the states to view quite a few movies and soccer matches!
Now the first time that we went, Dave and I got to our movie just a little before the movie started and it was opening weekend, so we didn't get to sit next to each other. He sat behind me. In a regular theater, that wouldn't have been too big of a deal because you are still close, but at the VIP theater, there is so much room between the rows that he had to walk up to my seat! Makes it difficult to share popcorn! We recently got to experience this wonderful treat again when my mom came to visit. We saw The Jones' (or Amor con Contracto in Spanish). It wasn't the best movie, but it was good enough to see at the VIP theater!
Okay, now to do my best to explain how awesome the VIP movies are! The theater is filled with about 50 lush, leather seats. The seats are so large that you could almost sit two people in them. And they recline! Each seat has it's own little pull up table and like I said, there is a ton of room in between each row. The rows start with a single seat (which is where I sat) and then there is another table, with a little lamp between the seats, then the rest of the row is filled with double seats that you can lift the armrest up and have a REALLY large seat. (I wish I would've brought the camera to take pictures, but I had no idea that I needed to bring a camera to a movie!)
Once at your seat, a waiter comes to take your order for food and drinks. They have the usual, popcorn, nachos, candy, but you can also order crepes, sushi, sandwiches, and other delights. And when I say drinks, I don't just mean the carbonated kind! Dave and I ordered a combo deal of popcorn, nachos, and two pops. The pops and popcorn were huge and the nachos were stacked so that they could fit the most chips possible in the container and, of course, it came with jalapenos!
The price of the VIP movies is the same price as regular movies in the States and the combo deal cost around $10! I wish we could get to the movies more often, but without someone to watch the girls, it is a rare occurrence. I know Dave took full advantage of all of our leaves back to the states to view quite a few movies and soccer matches!
Our First Visitors - February 11 - 19th
Well, to say I am behind on my blogging is an understatement. I guess I better shorten up my entries and just get them done!
Our first visitors to come stay were Dave's mom, Mary Jo, and her friend, Carol. Carol is a former ex-pat herself, staying in Mexico twice, Sweden, and Italy. She and her husband, Al, have been tremendous help with giving us expectations and ideas for this assignment. If I hadn't had the chance to talk to them, I am not sure I would have accepted to come to Mexico.
Dave's mom got in first on Thursday. (Carol was coming from Cancun and would arrive Saturday afternoon.) We didn't do too much on Thursday and Friday because Dave was working during the week and we only had one car at the time. On Friday night though, Dave and I got to go out to a movie (Valentine's Day) at the VIP movies, while Grandma watched Claire. I am creating a separate entry to describe the VIP movies! It sure was nice to get out by ourselves since that was the one and only time that we have gotten to do that since moving here.
On Saturday, we took Dave's mom to Bazaar de Sabado. We had quesadillas made in the in the center of the bazaar. Fresh and delicious! After the bazaar, we went home to wait for Carol's arrival. Carol took a cab to our house and we enjoyed an evening of catching up!
On Sunday, we woke up to flowers and pastries from Dave for Valentine's Day. Claire got gifts from Mom and Dad, and, of course, Grammy! We decided to head downtown Mexico City to see the Zocalo (the main plaza). The Zocalo is where the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, and Templo Mayor is located. Mass was being said at the Metropolitan Cathedral so we couldn't see it extensively, but we were able to walk in and see a good portion. Next to the Metropolitan Cathedral is Templo Mayor. It is part of the original Aztec city. It was discovered, and part of it was excavated, in 1978. Some of the ruins can be seen from the Zocalo, but there is also a great museum that you can go to, but there just wasn't time to that day.
Our last stop in the Zocalo was the National Palace. This building is still used by government. You must show your passport to get in, but didn't we know this, so Carol sweet talked the guard and he let us in. In the palace, there are large murals painted by the famous, Diego Rivera and beautiful gardens.
Since it was Valentine's Day, there were many people out and about. There was a large, white heart shaped balloon that was filled with smaller red balloons. As usual in the Zocalo, there were native tribal dancers performing for the crowds and the many vendors that sell tribal masks, stone carvings, food, and many other items.
After our tour around the Zocalo, it was time to eat! We had heard about the many wonderful restaurants in Condesa, so with our trusty former ex-pat, we set out to find the neighborhood and find a decent meal. Finding the area of Condesa wasn't so difficult, but trying to decide on which restaurant, and then one to eat at on Valentine's Day, was a little bit of a challenge. We decided on a seafood restaurant and got a seat right away. I never thought I would find delicious fish and chips in Mexico, but Claire and I shared a yummy meal! It was a full and busy day with a good finish!
Monday was a low key day. Carol and Mary Jo rented a car so we weren't stuck at the house all week. We headed up to the "Sky Mall" for a spectacular view and a chance to just get out and walk around.
Tuesday we headed to one of Carol's favorite places to shop...BMT. BMT is a pewter manufacturer that sells awesome serving dishes, picture frames, crosses, and other pieces for your home at great prices. It is located on an inconspicuous neighborhood across from a school in a house. There are only four rooms of pewter, but they are packed and it can be quite overwhelming on your first trip. I picked up a few pieces that are now a part of our growing collection.
On Wednesday, we headed out to Metepec (a town near Toluca and also Carol and Al's previous residence in Los Encinos). The Metepec area has many famous artists that create the popular Tree of Life sculptures. These are usually small trees with intrinsic details that depict Adam and Eve and then also a theme (Noah's Ark, Musicians, etc.).
We met up with one of Carol's friends, Nancy, who showed us around the town and introduced us to some of these artists. We were able to go into their homes and see first hand their work in progress. One of the artists was working on a piece commissioned by a Phoenix music museum. It was an enormous Tree of Life and, of course, the theme was musicians. It stood taller than 6 feet. The curator's wife liked the Tree of Life so much that she was having one commissioned for herself. I purchased a small cross that was designed similar to the style of the Tree of Life, but have yet to purchase one of these myself. A good one can be quite pricey.
On our trip around town, we also stopped at a basket warehouse that Carol referred to as the "basket lady". And I thought BMT was overwhelming! This warehouse was two large rooms PACKED with all types of baskets and weaving. The best craftsmanship of these items that I have seen in Mexico so far. Not knowing when I would get the opportunity to get back to this warehouse, I picked up all I could with the money that I brought! the prices were extremely reasonable and it was hard to choose which items to get!
After shopping, we headed back to Nancy's for lunch. we met her husband, Bill, and sat down for a delicious meal of broccoli soup (which Claire still raves about), salmon, rice, and flan. Nancy and Bill moved to Mexico thirty years ago with their children and have enjoyed living and operating their own businesses in Mexico. This day was definitely a high-light of Mom and Carol's visit.
Thursday was a wind down day since they were leaving on Friday. Our "Newcomers" group has a smaller group that meets up in our area called "The Northsiders". There was a coffee held on this Thursday morning so I went with our friend, Susan, without Claire, an opportunity I never get otherwise! It was a great chance to get out and meet the other English speaking women that live in the area (although most are German or Colombian).
That night, we went to eat at a small Italian restaurant in our neighborhood called Pizza Pizazz. We were told that it is owned by an italian women and her Mexican husband. The pasta and sauces are all fresh and the pizzas are scrumptiously made in a wood burning oven. It was a great finish to their trip!
Friday came too quickly and a taxi came to take them to the airport. At least we knew we would see them in just a few weeks during our return to Michigan.
Our first visitors to come stay were Dave's mom, Mary Jo, and her friend, Carol. Carol is a former ex-pat herself, staying in Mexico twice, Sweden, and Italy. She and her husband, Al, have been tremendous help with giving us expectations and ideas for this assignment. If I hadn't had the chance to talk to them, I am not sure I would have accepted to come to Mexico.
Dave's mom got in first on Thursday. (Carol was coming from Cancun and would arrive Saturday afternoon.) We didn't do too much on Thursday and Friday because Dave was working during the week and we only had one car at the time. On Friday night though, Dave and I got to go out to a movie (Valentine's Day) at the VIP movies, while Grandma watched Claire. I am creating a separate entry to describe the VIP movies! It sure was nice to get out by ourselves since that was the one and only time that we have gotten to do that since moving here.
On Saturday, we took Dave's mom to Bazaar de Sabado. We had quesadillas made in the in the center of the bazaar. Fresh and delicious! After the bazaar, we went home to wait for Carol's arrival. Carol took a cab to our house and we enjoyed an evening of catching up!
On Sunday, we woke up to flowers and pastries from Dave for Valentine's Day. Claire got gifts from Mom and Dad, and, of course, Grammy! We decided to head downtown Mexico City to see the Zocalo (the main plaza). The Zocalo is where the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, and Templo Mayor is located. Mass was being said at the Metropolitan Cathedral so we couldn't see it extensively, but we were able to walk in and see a good portion. Next to the Metropolitan Cathedral is Templo Mayor. It is part of the original Aztec city. It was discovered, and part of it was excavated, in 1978. Some of the ruins can be seen from the Zocalo, but there is also a great museum that you can go to, but there just wasn't time to that day.
Our last stop in the Zocalo was the National Palace. This building is still used by government. You must show your passport to get in, but didn't we know this, so Carol sweet talked the guard and he let us in. In the palace, there are large murals painted by the famous, Diego Rivera and beautiful gardens.
Since it was Valentine's Day, there were many people out and about. There was a large, white heart shaped balloon that was filled with smaller red balloons. As usual in the Zocalo, there were native tribal dancers performing for the crowds and the many vendors that sell tribal masks, stone carvings, food, and many other items.
After our tour around the Zocalo, it was time to eat! We had heard about the many wonderful restaurants in Condesa, so with our trusty former ex-pat, we set out to find the neighborhood and find a decent meal. Finding the area of Condesa wasn't so difficult, but trying to decide on which restaurant, and then one to eat at on Valentine's Day, was a little bit of a challenge. We decided on a seafood restaurant and got a seat right away. I never thought I would find delicious fish and chips in Mexico, but Claire and I shared a yummy meal! It was a full and busy day with a good finish!
Monday was a low key day. Carol and Mary Jo rented a car so we weren't stuck at the house all week. We headed up to the "Sky Mall" for a spectacular view and a chance to just get out and walk around.
Tuesday we headed to one of Carol's favorite places to shop...BMT. BMT is a pewter manufacturer that sells awesome serving dishes, picture frames, crosses, and other pieces for your home at great prices. It is located on an inconspicuous neighborhood across from a school in a house. There are only four rooms of pewter, but they are packed and it can be quite overwhelming on your first trip. I picked up a few pieces that are now a part of our growing collection.
On Wednesday, we headed out to Metepec (a town near Toluca and also Carol and Al's previous residence in Los Encinos). The Metepec area has many famous artists that create the popular Tree of Life sculptures. These are usually small trees with intrinsic details that depict Adam and Eve and then also a theme (Noah's Ark, Musicians, etc.).
We met up with one of Carol's friends, Nancy, who showed us around the town and introduced us to some of these artists. We were able to go into their homes and see first hand their work in progress. One of the artists was working on a piece commissioned by a Phoenix music museum. It was an enormous Tree of Life and, of course, the theme was musicians. It stood taller than 6 feet. The curator's wife liked the Tree of Life so much that she was having one commissioned for herself. I purchased a small cross that was designed similar to the style of the Tree of Life, but have yet to purchase one of these myself. A good one can be quite pricey.
On our trip around town, we also stopped at a basket warehouse that Carol referred to as the "basket lady". And I thought BMT was overwhelming! This warehouse was two large rooms PACKED with all types of baskets and weaving. The best craftsmanship of these items that I have seen in Mexico so far. Not knowing when I would get the opportunity to get back to this warehouse, I picked up all I could with the money that I brought! the prices were extremely reasonable and it was hard to choose which items to get!
After shopping, we headed back to Nancy's for lunch. we met her husband, Bill, and sat down for a delicious meal of broccoli soup (which Claire still raves about), salmon, rice, and flan. Nancy and Bill moved to Mexico thirty years ago with their children and have enjoyed living and operating their own businesses in Mexico. This day was definitely a high-light of Mom and Carol's visit.
Thursday was a wind down day since they were leaving on Friday. Our "Newcomers" group has a smaller group that meets up in our area called "The Northsiders". There was a coffee held on this Thursday morning so I went with our friend, Susan, without Claire, an opportunity I never get otherwise! It was a great chance to get out and meet the other English speaking women that live in the area (although most are German or Colombian).
That night, we went to eat at a small Italian restaurant in our neighborhood called Pizza Pizazz. We were told that it is owned by an italian women and her Mexican husband. The pasta and sauces are all fresh and the pizzas are scrumptiously made in a wood burning oven. It was a great finish to their trip!
Friday came too quickly and a taxi came to take them to the airport. At least we knew we would see them in just a few weeks during our return to Michigan.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Bazaar del Sabado
Bazaar del Sabado is in San Angel, a small community south of Mexico City. You would never know that there was a bazaar, until you turn off the main road onto cobblestone streets lined with artists and booths. At first glance, it looks like you will never find any place to park, but two out of the three times we have gone, we have parked with the same people for 30 pesos and the other time, we found a spot right on the street for free. The key is to get there fairly early though.
The main square of this little town is filled with artists and all their works. Most of it is paintings, but some have sculptures. It seems that the artists have their spots where they set up shop every week.
There is a main building that actually houses the bazaar. It's an old home that is set up in a square shape. All the vendors are around the outside rooms and there is a nice restaurant in the center. Some of the things you will find inside the bazaar are silk flowers, homemade dresses, jewelry, Tree of Life structures, awesome pottery, marmalade and other treats and other upscale items. This is truly a mecca of art and every vendor has something completely different to sell, which is not usually the case when going to a Mexican market.
The restaurant in the center looks fabulous, although we have never eaten there. Instead, we opt to get the quesadillas that are made in one corner of the courtyard/restaurant. They make the tortillas fresh right on the spot and the quesadillas are made to order. You can order just cheese or get a little more adventurous and get mushroom, chicken, huitlacoche (corn mold), cactus and shrimp, and a few other options. This stand is also where Dave gets his harchata drink that he shares with Claire! You can choose to sit in a small restaurant area to eat these or get them to go.
Behind the building is a large tented area that has many more stalls. Here you will find some of the more traditional items in Mexico - more pottery, jewelry, bead work, clothes, scarves, pewter, and other trinkets. There is also a guy who sells these awesome percussion instruments. There is some duplicating of items in the tented area and also along the streets, but for the most part, this bazaar/market is the best because it is not stall after stall of the same items, just sold by different people. There is just a lot of fantastic art here.
We also discovered this past week that there is a whole second square a block away! More artists and more stalls. You can easily spend three hours here looking at everything.
The area that the bazaar is in also has many stores with more art, furniture, purses, and I even found quilt and yarn stores. The whole area is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. It's calm, inspiring, and cultural.
The main square of this little town is filled with artists and all their works. Most of it is paintings, but some have sculptures. It seems that the artists have their spots where they set up shop every week.
There is a main building that actually houses the bazaar. It's an old home that is set up in a square shape. All the vendors are around the outside rooms and there is a nice restaurant in the center. Some of the things you will find inside the bazaar are silk flowers, homemade dresses, jewelry, Tree of Life structures, awesome pottery, marmalade and other treats and other upscale items. This is truly a mecca of art and every vendor has something completely different to sell, which is not usually the case when going to a Mexican market.
The restaurant in the center looks fabulous, although we have never eaten there. Instead, we opt to get the quesadillas that are made in one corner of the courtyard/restaurant. They make the tortillas fresh right on the spot and the quesadillas are made to order. You can order just cheese or get a little more adventurous and get mushroom, chicken, huitlacoche (corn mold), cactus and shrimp, and a few other options. This stand is also where Dave gets his harchata drink that he shares with Claire! You can choose to sit in a small restaurant area to eat these or get them to go.
Behind the building is a large tented area that has many more stalls. Here you will find some of the more traditional items in Mexico - more pottery, jewelry, bead work, clothes, scarves, pewter, and other trinkets. There is also a guy who sells these awesome percussion instruments. There is some duplicating of items in the tented area and also along the streets, but for the most part, this bazaar/market is the best because it is not stall after stall of the same items, just sold by different people. There is just a lot of fantastic art here.
We also discovered this past week that there is a whole second square a block away! More artists and more stalls. You can easily spend three hours here looking at everything.
The area that the bazaar is in also has many stores with more art, furniture, purses, and I even found quilt and yarn stores. The whole area is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. It's calm, inspiring, and cultural.
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