Mexico City, Mexico - Week 4 (Xochimilco-where flowers grow)

Hello Family and Friends,

This is our last week in Mexico City and we made sure to make some really good memories with new friends.

Nkoli and Danielle getting lunch.

Nkoli and her 6 year old son lives in the building we were staying in. They live in Mexico City permanently. She was so insightful about navigating schools in Mexico City and giving some perspective to what it was like being an "extranjera" (foreigner) with a young child.

We also met up with some other friends to ride wooden barges in Xochimilco. This is considered the old Mexico City. Mexico City was a collection of islands on a large lake with canals and could only be traversed by boats. However, centuries later the water was drained from most of the city to allow roadways. Incidentally the soft lake bed is why there are no skyscrapers and why so many of the buildings are leaning. Fortunately, in Xochimilco, a preserved part of the old city, boat travel is still very much alive.

Friends at Xochimilco (Left Front: Brett, Danielle, Maritza, Alex, Erin, Victor)

Maritza and Alex are another couple who we met while they were were staying in our building for two weeks. We had gone out with them the previous week for a mezcal tasting. Maritza and I both are not huge fans of mezcal as it feels like fire going down your throat. However, both Alex and Brett enjoy a little pain with their pleasure. The following day we met Victor and his 3 year old daughter while eating at a cafe in Condesa. Victor and Erin had just relocated to Mexico City for the next two years. They have been plotting to get to Mexico City for the last thirteen years and have now been able to do so. Both of these couples are just so like minded and have a love for travel. We had an absolute blast!

Singing along with the mariachi band who sang a few songs for us on our Xochimilco boat ride.

More entertainment available in Xochimilco. I took this picture from afar as snakes were not allowed on our boat (according to Erin.)

Brett and I even got a chance to visit a rooftop restaurant. It was at a Hyatt hotel and you could tell. Hyatt is always trying to do the most with their infinity pool and hanging gardens.

Rooftop infinity pool looking over Mexico City.

Hanging garden inside of the Hyatt rooftop restaurant.

Of course after we found this little gem, we were kicking ourselves for not having found it sooner. We're not sure if they had suites, but this hotel had everything from 3 restaurants, to a spa and gym.

Even though neither Brett nor I would say that we think that Mexico City is our place at this point in our travels, I did get a little emotional on our last day. I was walking Atlas home from his last day of daycare and I had to choke back a tear. For all its shortcomings, Mexico City feels nice. There are an abundance of trees and parks. The shops and restaurants were plentiful and so easy to access. We left our building and everything was right there. Atlas learned so much at his daycare. His speech has improved and he even started to brush his teeth with minimal assistance from me most of the time. Service was the best we have ever had and the people in general are just really nice. They say thank you like they truly mean it over the smallest assistance. We met some really good people who may very well make visits to see us along our travels. However sad leaving Mexico City is, we are excited to explore Medellin, Colombia.