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.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Dulce - January 30, 2010
A lot of people have asked why we didn't bring our beloved cats to Mexico and it wasn't an easy decision to make, but Mexico is not the best place for indoor cats. Here it is difficult to have indoor cats because many of the windows here do not have screens and with the weather down here, you need to have your windows and doors open most days. We were afraid that our cats (who love to try and sneak out) would get out and be lost forever. Also, Pumpkin is 16 years old and I was really afraid of making him traveling this far and Vinnie has been his buddy for almost 11 so I didn't want to separate them. My mom graciously took them in and I really appreciate it because I know how much my sister and her love them. It is comforting to know that they are being spoiled as they are pretty much accustomed. Ryan, Dave's brother, who is staying in our house, kept Bourbon at home.
When we got here, I was missing my four-legged friends. I thought getting a fish would help with some of that need for a pet, but that just didn't cut it. We thought about getting a dog for a couple weeks and decided we thought that if we were going to get one we better get one now before the baby comes so that it could acclimate to the family and so we could acclimate to it. At my first Newcomers meeting, they had a table set up for the group M.A.I.N. (Mexico Animals in Need). Through this group, they help two rescue groups in Mexico City, one of which is called 'Happy Dogs'. One day while checking the posts on the Newcomers Yahoo group, there was a post for a newly rescued dog named 'Lobo'. He was a black lab with beautiful blue eyes. I fell in love with his picture and description. So we contacted 'Happy Dogs' and received an email back almost immediately.
We decided to go check out Lobo at Happy Dogs on the Saturday of Dave's long weekend. We printed up the extremely detailed directions and were very thankful for the time that was spent in writing out those directions. 'Happy Dogs' is only a few exits away from our exit, but the climb up the mountain that took us awhile. When we first got there, I was a little weary of how the dogs would behave and how Claire would react. Claire's recent exposure to dogs is to Ringo, Uncle Ryan's very hyper Puggle. Ringo likes to chew on Claire's clothes and use her as a springboard so she hasn't been all that keen about dogs lately. 'Happy Dogs' houses around 40 dogs and even though they were not all outside, there were still many dogs that came to greet us.
When we walked in the gate, not one dog jumped on us. They were so friendly and calm, all of them! Christine, the owner of 'Happy Dogs' said that most of the dogs just got back from their two hour walk up in the mountains. We started manuevering through all the dogs and trying to get a good look at them. When you start petting one dog, another one comes up and very politely paws at you so that you will pet them too. When you stop petting the one you were to pet another one, that dog starts pawing at you.
We found Lobo off to the side. He was very shy, but also extremely sweet. With one glance at him, I knew he was just not going to be right. He was very big. Here in Mexico, a large dog wouldn't matter so much, but thinking ahead to when we have to go home, a large dog would just not fit in our tiny Ferndale home.
Now, if you know me, you know that I can't just walk away because the one dog that we thought we were going to get wasn't exactly right (and let me tell you the guilt I felt about not taking Lobo). So I started looking around at the other dogs. Most of them were larger dogs. Christine suggested a puppy so that the puppy and Claire could grow up together. I really did not want a puppy because, like Claire, my most recent exposure to a puppy was Ringo. I did not want to go through the biting, potty training, and all the other extra things that come along with a puppy, but I did agree with Christine and puppies are irresistible.
There were three puppies there. Two from one litter who were two months old and another one that looked like part Husky that was three to four months old. I loved the Husky puppy. It was black with the markings over the eyes like a Husky. He was super cute, but one look at his paws and I knew we would be getting a large dog! I turned my attention back to the other two. Their mom, Candy, was also at 'Happy Dogs'. She looked like a Saint Bernard, but only the size of a medium sized dog. I was holding one of the puppies and she just slept in my arms. She was so sweet. She also had the better markings of the two. I looked at Dave and he knew it was all over. We decided to take her!
On the way home, our new puppy cried and cried, maybe I should say she wailed. I kept thinking to myself, "What did I do?" and that it was going to be a LONG night. As soon as we got in the car, we started talking about names and before we even got to the bottom of the mountain, Dave came up with the name "Dulce". Dulce, pronounced Dool-say, means sweet or candy in Spanish and we thought it was appropriate considering her mother's name was Candy. We stopped at the pet store on the way home and picked up a bag of dog food and two dog dishes. We obviously weren't prepared for a new dog. We got home and fed her, then got everyone ready for bed.
We fashioned up a box with a blanket and two warm water bottles in it for Dulce's bed. We put her in it and climbed into bed and the whining started! Again, the thought of "What did I do?" crept into my head. Well, obviously the box wasn't going to work. I told Dave to just let her out of the box and put the blanket on the floor. Well, that did it. She curled up on the blanket and slept there the until about 2 in the morning. Dave let her out to go potty and she came back in and went back to sleep on her blanket and slept until morning. I knew right then, that we were going to be dealing with a spoiled puppy!
The first couple of days she whined a bit, but she was very sweet, cuddly and calm. That lasted about two days! After the whining subsided, the full puppy in her came out! She started biting ankles and wanting to chew on pretty much everything, although I must say that it could be worse. She seems to be most nippy in the morning when you have bare feet or ankles and she can be diverted with a toy...eventually. She's still not as hyper as Ringo and she is still cuddly and sweet, just not when your ankle or hands are her focus. (Sorry Uncle Ryan for the Ringo digs, but that little bugger has some energy!)
Dulce has fit in pretty well. She's had her ups and downs and is still not 100% potty trained, but she is getting there. She is smart enough to know that she only goes potty in one spot of the yard and also smart enough to know that one blanket is not enough to lay on, she needs a comfy, squishy pillow or she whines. She loves to play fetch and race around the yard and bushes. She does not love to go for walks on the leash. In fact, she doesn't even budge. She seems to adore Claire, even though the feeling is not always mutual. In Claire's defense, she has ruined two of her kick balls and often takes off with her toys from her rice box, including some of the rice, but I figure it's excellent practice for Claire with the upcoming little sister!
Although, there are still days I think, "What did I do?", overall, we are pleased with our spoiled rotten puppy and hope she grows, with behavior, not in size, quickly. We can't wait for everyone to meet her in person.
Papalote Children's Museum - February 1, 2010
I am going back quite awhile here! We went to this museum on a Monday that Dave had off from work. We were told by someone to get there early as it seems that the majority of Mexicans like to sleep in and it was good sound advice.
We got there when the museum opened and had a chuckle at the numerous staff that lined the walkway into the museum, each one greeting us with "Hola". It was something out of the movies.
We were a little lost when we first entered because we didn't have a map and everything was in Spanish. We just started heading towards the back of the museum and then up the stairs to start at the furthest point.
There was a small area on the top floor that was for younger children. They had about four computers set up for games (of course, in Spanish), a spot to ride these small trains that you sit on and push with your feet, a cubby with dress up clothes and songs so you could dance and see yourself on the video screen, and a few small slides.
On the bottom floor, they had a mock 'Wal-Mart' set up where kids could go in and pretend to shop for five items. The kids were suppose to be between 3 and 8, but we figured she was close enough, and besides, shopping is her favorite pastime. Parents are not allowed in, but instead peer in through the large windows. We could see them telling Claire five items, but we weren't sure if she completely understood them. After they collected the five items, they brought it up to the cash register where someone rang it up, then bagged it for them and gave them their receipt. Claire thought this was a blast and it was her request to do this activity a second time before we left.
Things were a little different the second time though. We prepped her prior to entering the second time by reminding her that she needed to get only five items and then bring them up to the register. We waited outside the doors forever for Claire to go in! When it was finally her turn, they let in around seven kids, sat them down in a circle, and had a little pow wow with them - kind of campy. Who knows what they were telling them, but just like her daddy, Claire sat there and nodded her head as if she understood. They finally let the kids go off and go shopping, but Claire got too excited again and wanted to fill her cart with more than five items! They stopped her and brought her to the register. Then after her stuff was rung up and bagged, they wanted her to put the items back on the shelf. She didn't have to do that before! She wasn't sure where all her items went, considering she was just grabbing everything in sight, but they helped her put it all back. Then the kids were suppose to put their carts back too and wait for the rest to finish up so they could sit for another pow wow. Well, Claire had enough and she took off for the door to get out! I made Dave explain to the workers that she didn't speak Spanish! I thought she did pretty well for playing along!
There was also a huge outdoor area. It had a basketball hoop out in the middle of a pool of water. There were a ton of balls that you could pick up and try to throw into the basket. There was also tables set up for crafts, play structures, and a giant sandbox. The weather on this day wasn't the greatest. It was cold and a bit rainy so we didn't get to do very much outside. Claire really wanted to play in the sandbox, but being the mean mom that I am, I wouldn't let her because she had on a dress and tights and I knew how that would feel later.
Around the outside, they had a bubble station (much like the one at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum). We played in there awhile, but the tables were up too high for little ones to reach easily and the cold weather put a damper on this activity.
The last area that was for children Claire's age was a sort of 'environmental awareness' area. They had turtles in a large dome that you could watch swim and chicks hatching out of eggs (one chick was out and to be honest, I don't think the rest were going to hatch by the looks of them). They also had a boat where kids could "fish" using a magnetic pole. By this time, the museum was getting super crowded and it was hard to get a chance to use many of the exhibits so we decided to hit the store and the bathrooms and then head out.
Overall, Dave and I were quite disappointed in the museum, for what we paid. This is one of the more expensive museums in the city. It didn't help that it was all in Spanish and I am not saying that they should make it in English, but it just made it harder for us to understand and get the most out of it. Most of the exhibits were for older children and the exhibits that they had for little kids didn't have enough items there for all to play with. I also realize that my other experience with a children's museum is the Grand Rapids museum and it is awesome! Claire did have a good time though so Dave and I realized that as long as she had fun, it was worth the trip, at least once.
We got there when the museum opened and had a chuckle at the numerous staff that lined the walkway into the museum, each one greeting us with "Hola". It was something out of the movies.
We were a little lost when we first entered because we didn't have a map and everything was in Spanish. We just started heading towards the back of the museum and then up the stairs to start at the furthest point.
There was a small area on the top floor that was for younger children. They had about four computers set up for games (of course, in Spanish), a spot to ride these small trains that you sit on and push with your feet, a cubby with dress up clothes and songs so you could dance and see yourself on the video screen, and a few small slides.
On the bottom floor, they had a mock 'Wal-Mart' set up where kids could go in and pretend to shop for five items. The kids were suppose to be between 3 and 8, but we figured she was close enough, and besides, shopping is her favorite pastime. Parents are not allowed in, but instead peer in through the large windows. We could see them telling Claire five items, but we weren't sure if she completely understood them. After they collected the five items, they brought it up to the cash register where someone rang it up, then bagged it for them and gave them their receipt. Claire thought this was a blast and it was her request to do this activity a second time before we left.
Things were a little different the second time though. We prepped her prior to entering the second time by reminding her that she needed to get only five items and then bring them up to the register. We waited outside the doors forever for Claire to go in! When it was finally her turn, they let in around seven kids, sat them down in a circle, and had a little pow wow with them - kind of campy. Who knows what they were telling them, but just like her daddy, Claire sat there and nodded her head as if she understood. They finally let the kids go off and go shopping, but Claire got too excited again and wanted to fill her cart with more than five items! They stopped her and brought her to the register. Then after her stuff was rung up and bagged, they wanted her to put the items back on the shelf. She didn't have to do that before! She wasn't sure where all her items went, considering she was just grabbing everything in sight, but they helped her put it all back. Then the kids were suppose to put their carts back too and wait for the rest to finish up so they could sit for another pow wow. Well, Claire had enough and she took off for the door to get out! I made Dave explain to the workers that she didn't speak Spanish! I thought she did pretty well for playing along!
There was also a huge outdoor area. It had a basketball hoop out in the middle of a pool of water. There were a ton of balls that you could pick up and try to throw into the basket. There was also tables set up for crafts, play structures, and a giant sandbox. The weather on this day wasn't the greatest. It was cold and a bit rainy so we didn't get to do very much outside. Claire really wanted to play in the sandbox, but being the mean mom that I am, I wouldn't let her because she had on a dress and tights and I knew how that would feel later.
Around the outside, they had a bubble station (much like the one at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum). We played in there awhile, but the tables were up too high for little ones to reach easily and the cold weather put a damper on this activity.
The last area that was for children Claire's age was a sort of 'environmental awareness' area. They had turtles in a large dome that you could watch swim and chicks hatching out of eggs (one chick was out and to be honest, I don't think the rest were going to hatch by the looks of them). They also had a boat where kids could "fish" using a magnetic pole. By this time, the museum was getting super crowded and it was hard to get a chance to use many of the exhibits so we decided to hit the store and the bathrooms and then head out.
Overall, Dave and I were quite disappointed in the museum, for what we paid. This is one of the more expensive museums in the city. It didn't help that it was all in Spanish and I am not saying that they should make it in English, but it just made it harder for us to understand and get the most out of it. Most of the exhibits were for older children and the exhibits that they had for little kids didn't have enough items there for all to play with. I also realize that my other experience with a children's museum is the Grand Rapids museum and it is awesome! Claire did have a good time though so Dave and I realized that as long as she had fun, it was worth the trip, at least once.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Real Del Monte - February 20, 2010
This is really out of order, but I can't keep putting off the recent activities because I am so far behind. I guess my posts will just have to be out of order!
Thanks to the N
ewcomers Group of Mexico City, we noticed a tour that was heading to Real del Monte for the day. A small silver and gold mining town that started with the Spanish in the 1500s and then reopened in the late 1730s. Between 1824 and 1848, a Cornish company took over the mines, which brought the influence of architecture, soccer, the Methodist religion, and pasties to the town. Real del Monte has been declared a 'Pueblo Magico', which means it is one of the picturesque towns to visit in Mexico. It is also the most populated city in Mexico at that elevation (around 9200 feet). (We live at around 8500 feet.) Real del Monte is sister cities with Redruth, Cornwall and together they held the first pasty festival this past October. Above the city sits a Cornish Cemetary where all the headstones face towards Britain, except one, the first clown of Mexico who was so well-received by the Mexicans that he wanted his headstone facing Mexico.We set
the alarm early for Saturday morning and took off at 7:30 because we had to pick up Noel, a co-worker of Dave's who was stuck here for the weekend, then get to the church where Newcomers meetings are held by 8:50 am. We arrived at the church a little on Mexico time at 9:05, thankfully they waited for us. We took off immediately at 9:07 and, with Claire and I watching Shrek II in the backseat, we headed toward the town of Real del Monte. We stopped once for a quick, much needed bathroom break at a Pemex, finally arriving at our destination at noon!Entering the tow
n, you notice a cute, colorful little tourist town. Our tour guide, Jesica, told us that the government gives the building owners the paint to keep up the appearance (much like in the town of Valparaiso, Chile, as seen on this past week's Amazing Race). There are also MANY pastes (pasty) shops everywhere - some 30 different shops. We walked up to the town square, where Jesica told us about the pasty and a brief history of the town. Something that she said that I did not know about the pasty was that the crust was used to hold on to, due to their filthy hands, and then the crust was tossed. She also said that in Mexico, they made one side of the pasty filled with meat and the other side was a dessert, made with apples for example. I think my grandmother would be appalled by that idea!
We then climbed onto the top of the double decker Turibus that tours the small town. This might be a good place to mention that we brought the camera, but Dave failed to notice that there was no memory card in it, so we couldn't take any pictures. He took a few with his phone, but they did not give a good indication of what this town was really like. We started off on the Turibus. I was scared enough sitting on the top level with the rest of our group, but when we started to move, I was worried about my safety. Think small, narrow, extre
mely steep streets, paired with low, LIVE electrical wires that you had to duck to miss, on top of the low branches that also could decapitate you if you were not paying attention. You would think that they would test these tours out to make sure that it was safe for all passengers riding on the top of this bus, but obviously, they did not. There were a few wires that were buzzing loudly that nearly missed the top of my head. It was a little hard to enjoy the ride because I was so worried about ducking!Along this rout
e, the bus took us above the perimeter of the city. You could see inside many homes sitting up so high and you were reminded again of the hardship that these people deal with everyday. It seemed to be laundry day and when I say laundry, I mean washed by hand and hung up to drip dry. A long, tedious task for sure. We also stopped at the top of one particular mountain where we could get off for pictures and a few stands were set up with trinkets for sale (that is my polite way of saying junk). Of course, Claire had her eye on a wooden flute and would not let up with the "I wants". On the tour with us was a woman named Rose. She is from Australia and had her niece and niece's friend were here visiting and joined us on the tour. One of the young girls was also buying a flute and bought another for Claire since they were only 10 pesos each. A nice gesture that is still "ringing" in our ears!Once off the frighte
ning ride (which at one point people literally put their hands in the air as if riding a roller coaster), we took off to a pasty shop to give them a try. Dave ordered a mole verde with chicken and, seeing that there were no vegetarian pasties at this shop, I ordered a manzana (apple) pasty. Dave enjoyed his pasty, even though it was nothing like what we are used to in Michigan. I thought my apple pasty was okay, but the skins were left on the apples and there wasn't a lot of flavor to it. The crust was no where near the delicate, flaky crust that my grandmother painstakingly has labored to perfect with hers, but seeing that Crisco is not a common item here, I will appreciate the attempt. The entire tour group of 13 filled up the pasty shop and all tried one or two at this restaurant.After o
ur snack, we were on our own to shop the little town. This tourist town would be reminiscent of a small town like Frankenmuth. There is a cute square, next to the Mercado, where a group of girls were trying to catch a pigeon with a crate box, a stick, some string, and pieces of bread. This group of six girls were giggling and seemed to like the attention that they were drawing with their old-fashioned contraption. The shops were all pretty much the same - keychains, jewelry, silver, and a little bit of pottery. Nothing really worth shopping for, especially after my week of shopping with my mother-in-law and Mrs. Steurer! Claire was beginning to get REALLY crabby so we found Rose and Jesica and let them know that we were going to let Tom-Tom take us home, but first Dave stopped and bought a box of sixteen pasties to bring home and freeze.The drive home was only about 2 hours and Claire and I both dozed off for the majority of it. It was great to get home, although Dave and I both ended up burned in some spots. It was a long day and kind of a disappointing one overall. Maybe I had too high of expectations or maybe I was just overwhelmed by the long drive and traffic. Nonetheless, another town to mark off on our list!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Noise!
I think anytime you move to a new place there are new sounds that you have to get used to. In Ferndale, it was the darn train, which I never really got used to. Here there are so many more sounds that it is almost impossible to get a good night's sleep.
First, there is the cars. Now, we are pretty fortunate. Our home is at the end of a street in a cul-de-sac, but still there are many cars that drive by at all times of the night. I might also mention that our bedroom sits facing over the street. Okay, so big deal, everyone has cars that drive past their house. The other problem with the cars is that people here feel the need to honk their horns incessantly, at all hours of the night, but mostly at five in the morning. Not to mention that, of course, they can't park their cars without making sure that it is locked by clicking the remote two or three times!
Second, for some unknown reason, there is a rooster that lives in our neighborhood. I understand that back in the day, when there was no such thing as alarm clocks, that roosters were invaluable to farmers to wake them up to get their day going, but in a suburban neighborhood, really? This loud and cheery rooster likes to start crowing at around five in the morning, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't also like to crow in the middle of the night or even day. Quite a confused rooster and it may not live too much longer considering this is one of my number one sleep robber.
Third, the dogs. EVERYONE in our neighborhood has AT LEAST one dog. Now, again, in the burbs in America, the dogs usually go inside at night to sleep in their beds (like our new dog, Dulce), but not here. The dogs here are always outside and ALWAYS barking. Next door, the dog barks so much, all the time, that we have named it "Barky". No one ever tells the dog to be quiet or brings it inside and I have NO idea how this dog hasn't gone hoarse. I guess years of practice. To paint a little more of a picture, let me tell you about who lives behind our house. There are three sheepdogs, who love to howl, and four golden retrievers live next to them. When one dog in the neighborhood decides to start barking, they all bark, and heaven help us when a stray walks by! We are hoping to keep Dulce as a non-barker and so far so good!
Fourth, the noises in the house. Now I know that every house creaks and makes some noises, but like I have said earlier, this house does not have a furnace. Instead, it has a lot of radiators and little, built-in electric heaters throughout the house. These radiators love to make these loud clicking sounds. I don't notice them during the day, probably because I am not sleeping, but during the quiet night, these conduit radiators release an extremely excessive clicking sound. We have been able to hide this noise a little by placing a blanket over the source. These radiatos click and knock whether they are turned on or not.
Lastly, would be the parties. The Mexicans know how to throw a party! There are quite a few weekends where someone in the neighborhood is throwing some bash. There is always a DJ and they play until at least 2 in the morning. Last weekend, Dave and I both incorporated the songs into our dreams and when he went to put the puppy out at three, it was still going strong, just without the DJ.
I know that every neighborhood has these issues, maybe not all of them, but definitely some of them, but I am looking forward to my quiet, Ferndale neighborhood with just the train!
First, there is the cars. Now, we are pretty fortunate. Our home is at the end of a street in a cul-de-sac, but still there are many cars that drive by at all times of the night. I might also mention that our bedroom sits facing over the street. Okay, so big deal, everyone has cars that drive past their house. The other problem with the cars is that people here feel the need to honk their horns incessantly, at all hours of the night, but mostly at five in the morning. Not to mention that, of course, they can't park their cars without making sure that it is locked by clicking the remote two or three times!
Second, for some unknown reason, there is a rooster that lives in our neighborhood. I understand that back in the day, when there was no such thing as alarm clocks, that roosters were invaluable to farmers to wake them up to get their day going, but in a suburban neighborhood, really? This loud and cheery rooster likes to start crowing at around five in the morning, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't also like to crow in the middle of the night or even day. Quite a confused rooster and it may not live too much longer considering this is one of my number one sleep robber.
Third, the dogs. EVERYONE in our neighborhood has AT LEAST one dog. Now, again, in the burbs in America, the dogs usually go inside at night to sleep in their beds (like our new dog, Dulce), but not here. The dogs here are always outside and ALWAYS barking. Next door, the dog barks so much, all the time, that we have named it "Barky". No one ever tells the dog to be quiet or brings it inside and I have NO idea how this dog hasn't gone hoarse. I guess years of practice. To paint a little more of a picture, let me tell you about who lives behind our house. There are three sheepdogs, who love to howl, and four golden retrievers live next to them. When one dog in the neighborhood decides to start barking, they all bark, and heaven help us when a stray walks by! We are hoping to keep Dulce as a non-barker and so far so good!
Fourth, the noises in the house. Now I know that every house creaks and makes some noises, but like I have said earlier, this house does not have a furnace. Instead, it has a lot of radiators and little, built-in electric heaters throughout the house. These radiators love to make these loud clicking sounds. I don't notice them during the day, probably because I am not sleeping, but during the quiet night, these conduit radiators release an extremely excessive clicking sound. We have been able to hide this noise a little by placing a blanket over the source. These radiatos click and knock whether they are turned on or not.
Lastly, would be the parties. The Mexicans know how to throw a party! There are quite a few weekends where someone in the neighborhood is throwing some bash. There is always a DJ and they play until at least 2 in the morning. Last weekend, Dave and I both incorporated the songs into our dreams and when he went to put the puppy out at three, it was still going strong, just without the DJ.
I know that every neighborhood has these issues, maybe not all of them, but definitely some of them, but I am looking forward to my quiet, Ferndale neighborhood with just the train!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Claire
One of the most asked questions since we have been here is, "How is Claire?" Well, Claire is great! It took a couple of days for her to figure out that this is our new home and that we will be staying here for awhile, but now when we say home, she asks, "Our Ferndale home or our Mexico home?"
She loves playing with all of her new toys from Christmas and her new rice box. We also have been coming up with a few craft projects. It's just hard because when I find a craft to do, we don't always have the materials and finding them can be a wild goose chase. She absolutely loves painting and that can keep her busy for quite a while! I was trying to figure out what to do with her numerous paintings. I hated throwing them away, but didn't really want to keep them all either. So we created an Eric Carle-esque picture using several pieces of her art. I cut out the pieces and she glued them on the paper. This week we also found a birthday present for Grammy, but didn't have wrapping paper to wrap it with so we made our own. This was a great project as it took almost an hour to paint the paper! After it dried, she got to put stickers on it and I have never been happier for an excuse to use stickers. I get tired of wearing them on my clothes! She also recently has learned how to use scissors and she loves cutting up paper.
Overall, she doesn't seem very affected by the move. I would love to see her playing with more kids, but we need to find them first. I'm glad she can be outside more because she truly loves it. Our backyard here is very similar to home and she loves just running around.
I'm interested to see how she does with our upcoming trip back home in March. Hopefully, it doesn't confuse her and she is excited to come back "home".
She loves playing with all of her new toys from Christmas and her new rice box. We also have been coming up with a few craft projects. It's just hard because when I find a craft to do, we don't always have the materials and finding them can be a wild goose chase. She absolutely loves painting and that can keep her busy for quite a while! I was trying to figure out what to do with her numerous paintings. I hated throwing them away, but didn't really want to keep them all either. So we created an Eric Carle-esque picture using several pieces of her art. I cut out the pieces and she glued them on the paper. This week we also found a birthday present for Grammy, but didn't have wrapping paper to wrap it with so we made our own. This was a great project as it took almost an hour to paint the paper! After it dried, she got to put stickers on it and I have never been happier for an excuse to use stickers. I get tired of wearing them on my clothes! She also recently has learned how to use scissors and she loves cutting up paper.
Overall, she doesn't seem very affected by the move. I would love to see her playing with more kids, but we need to find them first. I'm glad she can be outside more because she truly loves it. Our backyard here is very similar to home and she loves just running around.
I'm interested to see how she does with our upcoming trip back home in March. Hopefully, it doesn't confuse her and she is excited to come back "home".
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Loving the House?
I have almost been here for a month and I have to say that I am starting to feel as if I am under house arrest! We have one car (a manual nonetheless, which I cannot and will not drive on these extremely steep hills) and Dave is working longer hours here. I am used to him getting home quite early from work, but here it is customary that people get home between 7 and 8. Dave has been getting home before that on most nights, but by the time he gets home and we eat dinner, there's not a lot of time to go out and do anything with Claire's bedtime.
I am let out on the weekends, but an 11 hour day with a two and a half year old can be ______ (fill in the blank). Once in a while we head out after Dave gets home, but then we (Dave and I) forgo dinner and are usually crabby! And there really is no such thing as fast food around where we live. We have a Mr. Sushi and that is about it.
I am also worried about Claire because before we left Michigan, she was a VERY social child. Now, there is no interactions with other children. There is a playgroup that meets every Monday, but remember, I don't have a car. It is quite a distance away so taking a taxi might not be the best idea either, although I am starting to think that we may just have to do that at least once a month. I have tried to work on preschool activities for her, but with just one child, it is hard to get motivated to make lesson plans and to accomplish many preschool activities, since preschool is mostly about socialization!
We have done a lot of painting and the rice box has really come to be a favorite in the last couple of days. She loves her Playdough and books, but there really is only so many books you can read in a day (especially with a limited supply and no library). Unfortunately, even taking a walk around here is not very feasible. Our house is at the bottom of a huge hill and by the time we walk up to the top, Claire (and I) are so exhausted, that is as far as we get! Then Claire insisted that I carry her back home. There are also very few sidewalks to use. Most people are parked on them or they are under construction. Not to mention the main reason that I don't like taking a walk, the cars drive SO fast and crazy!
We are working on getting a car, but it is a slow process here. First of all, they do not lease to people it seems. They lease to companies and Dave is trying to work with the leasing company that gets cars for BASF, but this is not a guarantee. Second, they do not sell too many used cars around here. Most people drive their cars until they die. Lastly, it is not like we have $15,000 laying around to buy a new car. Dave went today to see if we can open a bank account here in Mexico and then hopefully, also get a loan, but again, no guarantees. I do hope we get a car soon, but I also hope I feel comfortable driving around on these crazy streets. Until then, I will be here, in the house, with my two year old, twiddling our thumbs! :)
Needless to say, we are hoping to get a car in the future. We are looking into leasing because it is the optimal
I am let out on the weekends, but an 11 hour day with a two and a half year old can be ______ (fill in the blank). Once in a while we head out after Dave gets home, but then we (Dave and I) forgo dinner and are usually crabby! And there really is no such thing as fast food around where we live. We have a Mr. Sushi and that is about it.
I am also worried about Claire because before we left Michigan, she was a VERY social child. Now, there is no interactions with other children. There is a playgroup that meets every Monday, but remember, I don't have a car. It is quite a distance away so taking a taxi might not be the best idea either, although I am starting to think that we may just have to do that at least once a month. I have tried to work on preschool activities for her, but with just one child, it is hard to get motivated to make lesson plans and to accomplish many preschool activities, since preschool is mostly about socialization!
We have done a lot of painting and the rice box has really come to be a favorite in the last couple of days. She loves her Playdough and books, but there really is only so many books you can read in a day (especially with a limited supply and no library). Unfortunately, even taking a walk around here is not very feasible. Our house is at the bottom of a huge hill and by the time we walk up to the top, Claire (and I) are so exhausted, that is as far as we get! Then Claire insisted that I carry her back home. There are also very few sidewalks to use. Most people are parked on them or they are under construction. Not to mention the main reason that I don't like taking a walk, the cars drive SO fast and crazy!
We are working on getting a car, but it is a slow process here. First of all, they do not lease to people it seems. They lease to companies and Dave is trying to work with the leasing company that gets cars for BASF, but this is not a guarantee. Second, they do not sell too many used cars around here. Most people drive their cars until they die. Lastly, it is not like we have $15,000 laying around to buy a new car. Dave went today to see if we can open a bank account here in Mexico and then hopefully, also get a loan, but again, no guarantees. I do hope we get a car soon, but I also hope I feel comfortable driving around on these crazy streets. Until then, I will be here, in the house, with my two year old, twiddling our thumbs! :)
Needless to say, we are hoping to get a car in the future. We are looking into leasing because it is the optimal
Monday, January 25, 2010
Cooking, Food, and a New Discovery
Cooking here hasn't been an easy task. First of all, I am used to Dave cooking! He used to get out of work at 3 so he had time to stop at the store, if we needed something, and still get home with plenty of time to start dinner.
Second, we had to start our kitchen staples from scratch because the only food we could bring had to be stuffed into our suitcases and there wasn't a lot of room for it. That means we had to repurchase all of our seasonings and spices, along with everything else that you keep in your pantry. Many times I would go to make something, only to realize that I was missing an ingredient or two, and without a car to run to the store, I had to change my plans.
Third, finding foods that we are used to using wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be either. Things that you would think would be readily available, like corn meal, is non-existent here. Also, the word vegetarian is not in their vocabulary so there are no veggie burgers, chicken nuggets, etc. Dave tried to explain to the people at his work that I was vegetarian and they just didn't get it. A few other items that you can't find here are Crisco (they have shortening, but it's not the same), baking powder, real baking soda, and flavored "milk" creams. The majority of cream sold here is the powder variety.
Fourth, we now live at about 8000 ft., which is higher than Denver. Cooking at this altitude is a lot different than cooking at home. It takes longer for water to boil and, yet, the water evaporates at a quicker speed. Also, baking here is a whole new experience. Even following
the high altitude directions does not correct the issue. When I made Dave's birthday cake, I added the extra egg and more flour as directed, but the cake still spilled over the sides and was not as moist as it should have been.
Fifth, the converting! It gets really annoying trying to convert everything, but some, you just can't convert so you just have to guess. Grams to teaspoons or tablespoons, milliliters to cups, Celsius to Fahrenheit. It turns one meal, into an online searching game that just leaves me frustrated! In other words, cooking here has been a small feat...for me. :)
On Saturday morning, I was checking my email and I had an email with the latest posts from the Newcomers Group. I was looking over the posts and one caught my eye. It read, 'looking for rice flour'. It wasn't so much the post, but the response that got me yelling up the stairs to Dave. One person responded that their was an American grocery store, Aladino's, in Interlomas. I told Dave that no matter what, we were going to go find it after the zoo that day. We did some looking online at maps and at their Facebook page to find their exact location.
So after the zoo, our first stop was a Sanborns. This is an extended version of Barnes and Noble. The have books, newspapers, magazines, music, cafe, and other gifts. We used our Tom Tom to navigate us to the nearest Sanborns, which happened to be in the area Polanco. Traffic is crazy down there (not like it isn't everywhere) so once Dave found a spot, he parked and ran to find the store, while Claire and I sat in the car. Claire reminded me that she has a Map at home in her Backpack and it could tell us which way to go, but she left it at home. (We realize that Dora has taken over our lives!)
With our new Guia Roji book of maps ($245 pesos), we headed off to the Interlomas area in hopes of finding Aladino's. We found a shopping center on the map and plugged it into Tom Tom and just prayed that the store was near the shopping center. We found our destination and, low and behold, across the street from this fantastic mall, was what we were looking for!
We parked in the mall parking garage and walked across the street. The store itself seems to be in a newer development, with some of the stores not even completed. We walked in and right away, I felt at home. The first thing I found was Nestle Toll House milk chocolate chips. I haven't been able to find these in any of the stores we have been too. Claire immediately grabbed them out of my hands and plunked them into the cart. Then I took a glance at the price, $95 pesos, or around $7 a bag. I almost died! I had just bought the same item at Target before Christmas for $2.50! They stayed in the cart for comfort, but later went back on the shelf, as even though I love the milk chocolate chips, I could live with semi-sweet. (By the way, we found milk chocolate chips at a new Wal-Mart on Sunday!)
They an aisle of baking supplies; pans, food coloring, sugars, baking tools. Then I found the Aunt Jemima Corn Meal, Arm and Hammer, and Calumet brands on an end cap. Now Mexico does have baking soda, but according to my new friend, Susan, it is just not the same. I like to cook with what I know because I HATE wasting food and really hate it when things don't turn out right. Now the ironic thing that many people can't understand is that Mexico stores do not carry corn meal. They have corn flour, not corn meal. My only guess is that it seems that many Mexicans do not bake. They normally just buy their breads and sweets at the grocery or other specialty store. I, on the other hand, have been craving corn bread since I got here! So those immediately went into the cart.
We continued through the store and mostly went through sticker shock. Next was the cereal, which was also around $7 a box, and it was mostly the sugary kind anyways. The stores here carry Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, Cocoa Krispies, and a pretty good variety, definitely not the long aisle like what we are used to at Meijer, but cereal was not on the top priority list. They also had an aisle of "real" chips. I say real because Dave bought a bag of Doritos before I got to Mexico and when we opened them there was a noticeable difference. The chips were thinner, spicier, and just not the same as the Doritos at home. Again, good to know that these chips were here, but not on the priorities list.
The next stop was the canned and jarred aisle. Here they had Manwich, pickles, dressings, and other familiar names. This is also where we ran into the only other customers in the store with a, "Hi, How are you guys?" Yes, in English. Another American family trying to decide what was the most important things that they needed at home. We also came across the Crisco in this aisle. Now, again, Mexico apparently has shortening, but it more dry and doesn't hold up as well. These were all items that were going to be on my mother-in-law's list when she comes in 17 days, but not anymore!
Coming to the end of that aisle was the most beautiful site I have seen yet in Mexico. A little green box in the freezer section labeled Morningstar Farms! Veggies burgers, sausage patties, and meal starter crumbles. We had brought as many of these as we could in a small cooler inside our suitcase, but since Dave contacted the company to see if they distribute to Mexico and the answer was no, they have been under ration. Being a vegetarian for over 15 years, people often ask me what I eat. It's very simple. I eat all the things that everyone else eats; tacos, sloppy joes, burgers, chicken nuggets, meatloaf. I just need some help from my friends in the little green box to make some of those possible. At this point, seeing the vegetarian food was too much for me and I teared up a little. Coming to a foreign place is one thing, you adjust the best you can, but seeing familiar foods and brands, made my day.
The last aisle had seasoning packets like Hidden Valley Ranch and Lawry's Brand packets for Enchilada sauce (another thing that I haven't been able to figure out in the stores). They also had International Delight cream, shampoos, and cans of drinks like Country Time Lemonade. Now these are not things that we would normally buy when going out shopping, but that day, they made it into our cart. In all, our grocery list consisted of corn meal, baking soda, baking powder, Crisco, veggie burgers, veggie crumbles, Hidden Valley Ranch dressing packet, yeast, enchiladas sauce packet, French Vanilla International Delight, and Country Time Lemonade. Some of these items we purchased two of so we could pass them on to Susan and her family. It was a hefty price tag in the end, but knowing that these items were there was priceless.
Also, another positive about the day was the area. Not only was there a really nice mall there, but we also got our Costco shopping done and noticed a Best Buy and other great stores all in the same vicinity.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Zoologico de Chapultepec
Saturday morning we decided to get up and head down to the Mexico City Zoo. It opens at nine and we got there around 9:30. We parked in the Anthropology Museum parking lot, which is right across the street. A safe and easy place to park and cost less than $5, so it was pretty reasonable.
The walk to get to the zoo was a bit far, but a pretty and nice walk through the Bosque de Chapultepec. Here the vendors were setting up there stalls. People were also starting to rent the paddle boats to roam out on the lake.
We got to the entrance of the zoo and we were so early that they weren't even selling maps yet. So we set off on our own and followed the signs to the pandas. The Mexico City Zoo is the second zoo that has successfully bred pandas, besides China. Another problem with getting to the zoo so early was that not all the animals were out in their habitats yet. Only one panda was out. What was interesting was that it seemed as though they grow a portion of the bamboo at the zoo. A worker was cutting some down, I can only assume to feed to the pandas.
We walked through two sections of the zoo and then decided it was time to take a brake, have something to eat and then finish up the zoo. By this time, the information desk was open so Dave went and grabbed a map for 5 pesos (less than $0.50 US). We ordered a Dominoes Pizza, but seeing as it was going to take ten minutes, and we were starving, we also ordered fries from McDonald's. We scoped out the rest of the zoo while eating and Claire couldn't wait to see the elephants, since we do not have them at the Detroit Zoo.
After lunch, we headed off to find the bathrooms and the elephants. We came across the bathrooms and had to pay 4 pesos to go in. The bathrooms were very clean and well-maintained. I think many people think of Mexico as a dirty country, but all the bathrooms that I have gone into here have been very clean and they have hand sanitizer everywhere, in fact, we had to put some on before we could even enter the zoo.
So with lunch and potty breaks taken care of, our little navigator told us to head to the elephants. Dave and I thought we were lost for awhile because we couldn't find them, but then realized that their exhibit was there, just empty. We tried to ignore Claire in hopes that she would forget about the elephants with everything else to see, but we finally had to break it to her that there were none at the zoo.
The last part of the zoo we went through was the bird area. They have a large human birdcage that you can walk into where the birds fly around free. As it was getting late in the day and we were all getting tired, we opted out of that part and looked for the exit, but not before we stopped and got a McDonald's ice cream cone for Claire!
Before going to the zoo, I looked up a few websites that had information on it and found some reviews too. Half of the reviews were really good, but the other half said that the zoo smelled, the habitats were sad and pathetic, and the animals were treated poorly. I must say, that I didn't agree with these reviews. Of course, not all of the exhibits were as large as they should be, but they all were very clean (as was the rest of the zoo) and most animals were eating fresh fruits, veggies, and we saw one zookeeper feeding some of the smaller monkeys a slice of bread. There were two areas were smelly; the ducks and I can't remember the other animal, but both ARE stinky animals and I didn't expect it not to smell.
We left the zoo and took the long walk through the vendors, which were in full swing at this point. The bad reviews also complained about these vendors, but they didn't harass us as we walked past, like the reviews said. It was just amazing to see SO many vendors and they were mostly selling the same things - balloons, puffed snacks, toys, candy, Mexican wrestling masks, drinks, and hats. We made it back to the car and shed a few layers of clothes seeing as when we got to the zoo, it was probably in the low 60's, but when we left, it was closer to 80. Overall, a good trip for all.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Rest of the Weekend and a Continuation of Dave's Birthday
Saturday morning we unpacked a little more and then headed to Home Depot to get a few more household items. It seems like we are starting all over from scratch with this house. We still needed a broom, mop, bucket. Things that I already have at home, but now have to repurchase here because they would've weighed too much to bring. (I found out that Susan and her family got to pack up a large moving truck with all their house belongings, including their grill, outdoor furniture and everything! There house also was not furnished, but it sure would've been nice to not have to worry how much "weight" we got to bring.)
After Home Depot, I took Dave to the mall that Susan and I went to the day before. We walked around a bit more, checked out the view, and grabbed a Starbucks. This is also when we walked all through 'Idea', the IKEA ripoff, and got a few more organizational items. It's nice to know that we have a store like that around! It was getting past naptime so we headed home. On our way home, we saw a market right below the mall. It was super crowded, but good to know that it is there every Saturday and if we get there early enough, it shouldn't be too crowded.
After nap, Dave and Claire finally went to El Globo and then to the park in the neighborhood. While they were gone, I quickly unpacked some more, baked a chocolate cake, and hung up decorations to celebrate Dave's birthday. He was surprised (and so was Claire) when they returned. We had leftover sushi and desserts. Claire got a cupcake (she only ate the frosting off the top), and Dave and I shared tiramisu and a chocolate dessert with raspberries on top. Delicious!
The rest of the weekend, we spent unpacking and doing a little more grocery shopping. We got it all put away though by the end of Sunday and it feels so nice to have most of our belongings from home!
After Home Depot, I took Dave to the mall that Susan and I went to the day before. We walked around a bit more, checked out the view, and grabbed a Starbucks. This is also when we walked all through 'Idea', the IKEA ripoff, and got a few more organizational items. It's nice to know that we have a store like that around! It was getting past naptime so we headed home. On our way home, we saw a market right below the mall. It was super crowded, but good to know that it is there every Saturday and if we get there early enough, it shouldn't be too crowded.
After nap, Dave and Claire finally went to El Globo and then to the park in the neighborhood. While they were gone, I quickly unpacked some more, baked a chocolate cake, and hung up decorations to celebrate Dave's birthday. He was surprised (and so was Claire) when they returned. We had leftover sushi and desserts. Claire got a cupcake (she only ate the frosting off the top), and Dave and I shared tiramisu and a chocolate dessert with raspberries on top. Delicious!
The rest of the weekend, we spent unpacking and doing a little more grocery shopping. We got it all put away though by the end of Sunday and it feels so nice to have most of our belongings from home!
Dave's Birthday!
Well, I am about a week behind on blogging, but I will try to keep up from here on out. When Claire and I got home from the Newcomers Meeting, Dave was already home and sorting through boxes! Yes, the shipment did end up coming at the end of the second week. What a great relief!
We started right away with getting all of Claire's toys and clothes out. She was so excited to see all of her things again and so were we! After two weeks of Mr. Potato Head, tea party, and Legos, we couldn't be happier to see all of her toys!
We started unpacking some boxes and got through pretty much all of Claire's stuff and the kitchen boxes. Then we decided to get ready to go out for Dave's birthday! We were going to go get Mr. Sushi and some desserts from El Globo, a bakery nearby that sells a lot of different delicious pastries and breads. We got dressed (I actually put on some makeup) and then the lights went out.
In true, Friday night fashion! I couldn't believe that for two Friday nights in a row, we had no electricity. We thought, oh well, we are leaving anyways, but when we got out to the car, we realized that we couldn't go anywhere because the car was inside the gate that is powered by electricity! Now, I thought, "There has to be a way to get out of the gate, even if there is no electricity", but Dave couldn't figure it out. Now, in his defense, it was raining and it was getting dark and the flashlight just wasn't helping enough. (Yes, we bought a rechargeable flashlight after last Friday's outage and an extra candle!)
So back inside we went. Claire had already eaten so I used the charged computer to let her watch part of Shrek. She was already exhausted from the long day and her short 30 minute nap so she was ready for bed early anyways. She went to bed and Dave ordered Mr. Sushi over the phone.
So Dave and I had a romantic candlelight dinner eating California rolls, Mango rolls, Miso soup, and Tuna (for Dave). Afterwards, we pulled a couple of our Costco chocolate chip cookies out of the freezer and had dessert. Then we headed upstairs to watch Arrested Development on our portable DVD player. Not exactly the way we had planned the evening, butWell, I am about a week behind on blogging, but I will try to keep up from here on out. When Claire and I got home from the Newcomers Meeting, Dave was already home and sorting through boxes! Yes, the shipment did end up coming at the end of the second week. What a great relief!
We started right away with getting all of Claire's toys and clothes out. She was so excited to see all of her things again and so were we! After two weeks of Mr. Potato Head, tea party, and Legos, we couldn't be happier to see all of her toys!
We started unpacking some boxes and got through pretty much all of Claire's stuff and the kitchen boxes. Then we decided to get ready to go out for Dave's birthday! We were going to go get Mr. Sushi and some desserts from El Globo, a bakery nearby that sells a lot of different delicious pastries and breads. We got dressed (I actually put on some makeup) and then the lights went out.
In true, Friday night fashion! I couldn't believe that for two Friday nights in a row, we had no electricity. We thought, oh well, we are leaving anyways, but when we got out to the car, we realized that we couldn't go anywhere because the car was inside the gate that is powered by electricity! Now, I thought, "There has to be a way to get out of the gate, even if there is no electricity", but Dave couldn't figure it out. Now, in his defense, it was raining and it was getting dark and the flashlight just wasn't helping enough. (Yes, we bought a rechargeable flashlight after last Friday's outage and an extra candle!)
So back inside we went. Claire had already eaten so I used the charged computer to let her watch part of Shrek. She was already exhausted from the long day and her short 30 minute nap so she was ready for bed early anyways. She went to bed and Dave ordered Mr. Sushi over the phone.
So Dave and I had a romantic candlelight dinner eating California rolls, Mango rolls, Miso soup, and Tuna (for Dave). Afterwards, we pulled a couple of our Costco chocolate chip cookies out of the freezer and had dessert. Then we headed upstairs to watch Arrested Development on our portable DVD player. Not exactly the way we had planned the evening, but we had the rest of the weekend.
We started right away with getting all of Claire's toys and clothes out. She was so excited to see all of her things again and so were we! After two weeks of Mr. Potato Head, tea party, and Legos, we couldn't be happier to see all of her toys!
We started unpacking some boxes and got through pretty much all of Claire's stuff and the kitchen boxes. Then we decided to get ready to go out for Dave's birthday! We were going to go get Mr. Sushi and some desserts from El Globo, a bakery nearby that sells a lot of different delicious pastries and breads. We got dressed (I actually put on some makeup) and then the lights went out.
In true, Friday night fashion! I couldn't believe that for two Friday nights in a row, we had no electricity. We thought, oh well, we are leaving anyways, but when we got out to the car, we realized that we couldn't go anywhere because the car was inside the gate that is powered by electricity! Now, I thought, "There has to be a way to get out of the gate, even if there is no electricity", but Dave couldn't figure it out. Now, in his defense, it was raining and it was getting dark and the flashlight just wasn't helping enough. (Yes, we bought a rechargeable flashlight after last Friday's outage and an extra candle!)
So back inside we went. Claire had already eaten so I used the charged computer to let her watch part of Shrek. She was already exhausted from the long day and her short 30 minute nap so she was ready for bed early anyways. She went to bed and Dave ordered Mr. Sushi over the phone.
So Dave and I had a romantic candlelight dinner eating California rolls, Mango rolls, Miso soup, and Tuna (for Dave). Afterwards, we pulled a couple of our Costco chocolate chip cookies out of the freezer and had dessert. Then we headed upstairs to watch Arrested Development on our portable DVD player. Not exactly the way we had planned the evening, butWell, I am about a week behind on blogging, but I will try to keep up from here on out. When Claire and I got home from the Newcomers Meeting, Dave was already home and sorting through boxes! Yes, the shipment did end up coming at the end of the second week. What a great relief!
We started right away with getting all of Claire's toys and clothes out. She was so excited to see all of her things again and so were we! After two weeks of Mr. Potato Head, tea party, and Legos, we couldn't be happier to see all of her toys!
We started unpacking some boxes and got through pretty much all of Claire's stuff and the kitchen boxes. Then we decided to get ready to go out for Dave's birthday! We were going to go get Mr. Sushi and some desserts from El Globo, a bakery nearby that sells a lot of different delicious pastries and breads. We got dressed (I actually put on some makeup) and then the lights went out.
In true, Friday night fashion! I couldn't believe that for two Friday nights in a row, we had no electricity. We thought, oh well, we are leaving anyways, but when we got out to the car, we realized that we couldn't go anywhere because the car was inside the gate that is powered by electricity! Now, I thought, "There has to be a way to get out of the gate, even if there is no electricity", but Dave couldn't figure it out. Now, in his defense, it was raining and it was getting dark and the flashlight just wasn't helping enough. (Yes, we bought a rechargeable flashlight after last Friday's outage and an extra candle!)
So back inside we went. Claire had already eaten so I used the charged computer to let her watch part of Shrek. She was already exhausted from the long day and her short 30 minute nap so she was ready for bed early anyways. She went to bed and Dave ordered Mr. Sushi over the phone.
So Dave and I had a romantic candlelight dinner eating California rolls, Mango rolls, Miso soup, and Tuna (for Dave). Afterwards, we pulled a couple of our Costco chocolate chip cookies out of the freezer and had dessert. Then we headed upstairs to watch Arrested Development on our portable DVD player. Not exactly the way we had planned the evening, but we had the rest of the weekend.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Newcomers Group
So last Friday, Susan picked Claire and I up at 8:15 to head to the newcomers meeting that was at 9:30. Even though it is not "far" in miles, with traffic, this trip can take over an hour. It was interesting to see a new part of Mexico that I hadn't seen yet (past the grocery stores) and it was even nicer that Susan was driving her automatic, instead of Dave in our manual!
We arrived to the meeting and it was not exactly what I expected. I signed in and paid my dues for the year and took a look around. It is held in a church common room and there are tables set up all around the room. Some people are selling stuff, some are helping out a cause, and some are handing out information. There weren't a ton of tables filled, but the ones that I checked out were the animal rescue group (of course), the girl scout table (which was selling some sort of "treats", but they were not the true girl scout cookies), and a woman who was selling French children boutique clothing. There was also a table set up for the oatmeal that I brought in per the group's request for a local hospital.
The center of the room was set up with smaller circular tables for you to sit at. Susan, Claire and I chose a table and grabbed a snack. Susan introduced me to some of the woman that she knew and some that she just met. There definitely seemed to be cliques, but I didn't expect anything less than that. There are always going to be people who tend to gravitate to certain people.
The meeting started after about a half hour of mingling. Again, not the meeting that I am used to sitting through! They started with announcements, then a woman from a local charity spoke. This charity helps children who are in abusive homes. They give them a place to stay, go to school, and get some counseling. They have a teacher on staff and she talked about how a nutritionist is now coming to help them balance the meals for the children. All of their food is donated so for a while, if they received sausage, that is what they would have for days. Now they are trying to get a variety of foods donated. Of course, in the middle of this woman's presentation, Claire had to go to the bathroom so we left (the front of the room), found the bathrooms and then headed back. By the time we returned, they were going to play Bingo for charity. Susan and I opted to skip out of this and instead headed to the English used bookstore that they have on the premises.
Susan found some books for her girls and, of course, Claire couldn't leave without a few, even though the children's selection wasn't the greatest. We left with a Zoo Book on otters, The Lion King, and a Duck Tales book!
After the meeting, we started heading back and stopped at a mall to have some lunch. This mall is much better than the other one that is close to us. Mostly because of the variety of stores that they have and the unbelievable view! It sits up high on this mountain and you can see really far (as long as the smog isn't too bad!). This is has a Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, pet store, kid's play store (think Jungle Java meets Creative Arts Studio all on a smaller scale), Idea (an IKEA rip-off), and a fabric store. It also has a ton of restaurants like California Pizza Kitchen, Chili's, Shakey's, an Argentine, Mexican, and Italian restaurant, which is where we chose to eat.
The restaurant (Italianna's) wasn't very busy and in true Italian restaurant fashion, gives you bread to snack on while you are looking over the menu and waiting for your meal. What's awesome about the bread though is they give you oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it in, which is the way we eat it at home! Yum! We both ordered four cheese pizzas and chatted more about the differences between the States and Mexico. By the time we left, Claire was just a second away from meltdown. Time to get home! She fell asleep on the short ride home and never got a longer nap because when we got home, Dave was there and so was our shipment!
We arrived to the meeting and it was not exactly what I expected. I signed in and paid my dues for the year and took a look around. It is held in a church common room and there are tables set up all around the room. Some people are selling stuff, some are helping out a cause, and some are handing out information. There weren't a ton of tables filled, but the ones that I checked out were the animal rescue group (of course), the girl scout table (which was selling some sort of "treats", but they were not the true girl scout cookies), and a woman who was selling French children boutique clothing. There was also a table set up for the oatmeal that I brought in per the group's request for a local hospital.
The center of the room was set up with smaller circular tables for you to sit at. Susan, Claire and I chose a table and grabbed a snack. Susan introduced me to some of the woman that she knew and some that she just met. There definitely seemed to be cliques, but I didn't expect anything less than that. There are always going to be people who tend to gravitate to certain people.
The meeting started after about a half hour of mingling. Again, not the meeting that I am used to sitting through! They started with announcements, then a woman from a local charity spoke. This charity helps children who are in abusive homes. They give them a place to stay, go to school, and get some counseling. They have a teacher on staff and she talked about how a nutritionist is now coming to help them balance the meals for the children. All of their food is donated so for a while, if they received sausage, that is what they would have for days. Now they are trying to get a variety of foods donated. Of course, in the middle of this woman's presentation, Claire had to go to the bathroom so we left (the front of the room), found the bathrooms and then headed back. By the time we returned, they were going to play Bingo for charity. Susan and I opted to skip out of this and instead headed to the English used bookstore that they have on the premises.
Susan found some books for her girls and, of course, Claire couldn't leave without a few, even though the children's selection wasn't the greatest. We left with a Zoo Book on otters, The Lion King, and a Duck Tales book!
After the meeting, we started heading back and stopped at a mall to have some lunch. This mall is much better than the other one that is close to us. Mostly because of the variety of stores that they have and the unbelievable view! It sits up high on this mountain and you can see really far (as long as the smog isn't too bad!). This is has a Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, pet store, kid's play store (think Jungle Java meets Creative Arts Studio all on a smaller scale), Idea (an IKEA rip-off), and a fabric store. It also has a ton of restaurants like California Pizza Kitchen, Chili's, Shakey's, an Argentine, Mexican, and Italian restaurant, which is where we chose to eat.
The restaurant (Italianna's) wasn't very busy and in true Italian restaurant fashion, gives you bread to snack on while you are looking over the menu and waiting for your meal. What's awesome about the bread though is they give you oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it in, which is the way we eat it at home! Yum! We both ordered four cheese pizzas and chatted more about the differences between the States and Mexico. By the time we left, Claire was just a second away from meltdown. Time to get home! She fell asleep on the short ride home and never got a longer nap because when we got home, Dave was there and so was our shipment!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
New Friends
Before coming to Mexico, I had talked to my mother-in-law's good friend, Carol. She and her husband have done many international assignments - Mexico (twice), Sweden, and Italy. Through Carol, I learned about the "Newcomers Group of Mexico City". It is a group for new arrivals and long time residents to help people meet other English speaking families through social and charitable activities. I had perused their website many times prior to arriving here, but as soon as I got here, I decided to join up.
Right away, they set me up with their Yahoo group. Through this, I put out a message letting them know that I was new and where I lived. Within a few hours, I received two emails from people that live in my area, Susan and Ginger.
On a side note, many people thought that I would be living in an "American" neighborhood and had preconceived notions that I was going to be surrounded by Americans. In actuality, there are around 300 people signed up for the newcomers group and there are 23 million + people in Mexico City! So not a large number in comparison. Also, I found out that there are even fewer people that live in our area because the majority of the newcomers live in the downtown area of Mexico City. When you tell people where you live, they give you a quizzical look and say, "Where?", similar to when I tell people that the majority of my family lives in Burnips.
So the first email I received was from Susan. She also comes from Michigan! Her husband works for Ford and she lives down the road from us! It doesn't get more exciting than that! She has two daughters aged 10 and 13, who go to a British school called Greengates. The most ironic thing is that Susan and her family live in one of the homes we looked at and it was our number one choice! I can't remember the number of the house in the blog (I want to say #12), but it is the one with the fish tank in the wall. Susan and I emailed back and forth a bit and she said she would be happy to take me and Claire to the Newcomers meeting on Friday, Jan. 15th.
Ginger, the other person who emailed me that day, also lives in the vicinity. She lives right across the street from Superama. This is Ginger's second stay in Mexico. She was here before for four years back in 1998. She is married to a Mexican man and they have two boys aged 3 and 2 months. Ginger called me and we talked for an hour about just about everything. She is a great resource to know and speaks fluent Spanish. I felt very lucky to have found these two woman within the first two weeks of living here!
Right away, they set me up with their Yahoo group. Through this, I put out a message letting them know that I was new and where I lived. Within a few hours, I received two emails from people that live in my area, Susan and Ginger.
On a side note, many people thought that I would be living in an "American" neighborhood and had preconceived notions that I was going to be surrounded by Americans. In actuality, there are around 300 people signed up for the newcomers group and there are 23 million + people in Mexico City! So not a large number in comparison. Also, I found out that there are even fewer people that live in our area because the majority of the newcomers live in the downtown area of Mexico City. When you tell people where you live, they give you a quizzical look and say, "Where?", similar to when I tell people that the majority of my family lives in Burnips.
So the first email I received was from Susan. She also comes from Michigan! Her husband works for Ford and she lives down the road from us! It doesn't get more exciting than that! She has two daughters aged 10 and 13, who go to a British school called Greengates. The most ironic thing is that Susan and her family live in one of the homes we looked at and it was our number one choice! I can't remember the number of the house in the blog (I want to say #12), but it is the one with the fish tank in the wall. Susan and I emailed back and forth a bit and she said she would be happy to take me and Claire to the Newcomers meeting on Friday, Jan. 15th.
Ginger, the other person who emailed me that day, also lives in the vicinity. She lives right across the street from Superama. This is Ginger's second stay in Mexico. She was here before for four years back in 1998. She is married to a Mexican man and they have two boys aged 3 and 2 months. Ginger called me and we talked for an hour about just about everything. She is a great resource to know and speaks fluent Spanish. I felt very lucky to have found these two woman within the first two weeks of living here!
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