Oh Mexico!!

Month #7 of Remote Year was spent in Mexico City. Our move from Spain to Mexico City marked our return to North America, and also meant we were now in similar time zones as home, which made so many things much easier. 

Travel Day

Travel Day from Spain to Mexico was easy. Although it was a long day, it went smooth. We left from Valencia, had a layover in Madrid, and from Madrid hopped a red-eye to Mexico City to arrive there bright and early. It was definitely our longest travel day distance and time wise but I thought it was great.

Mexico Digs

In Mexico, we were in a neighborhood called Roma Norte. Our apartment was in a great spot and my roommate for the month was my good buddy Sean. We lived right near a park that was home to many dog walkers, and we were about a 7 minute walk to our workspace. The apartment was great, and had one of the best kitchens I had on Remote Year. It also had a great TV set up with cable, which allowed me to watch Sunday Night Football in Spanish.

Workplace

Our workplace for the month was called Publico. It was a great workspace and the location we were at specifically had just recently opened. It had a great rooftop and plenty of great areas to work in. It was close to home, close to great food, and had a nice modern feel to it. It was definitely one of my favorite workspaces on Remote Year. 

Food

Mexico City was my favorite food city in all of Remote Year. Bold statement, yes it is, but it is true. I have had some amazing food on this adventure, don't get me wrong, but the food in Mexico was near and dear to my heart and stomach. Why is that? Well, it is Mexico, my favorite type of food is Mexican food, so maybe that is why, but ultimately there were so many things to like about the food in Mexico. Number one, is the taste. Everything was authentic, fresh, and served with a smile. Number two, is the price. One of my favorite meals that I ate several times due to the proximity of our work space was a place called Los Guisaditos. At Los Guisaditos I could get an order of Chicken Enchiladas, and a drink for 4 dollars. This was not a small individual plate of enchiladas, this was a huge plate of 3 enchiladas that were amazing, and it only cost 3 dollars! This was the case in most places in Mexico City. I could get a great Huevos Rancheros breakfast for 3-4 dollars. The price is right in Mexico City when it comes to food. Reason number 3, is the variety, sure Taco places are everywhere, but each one did it's own thing or had some sort of specialty. I found myself not eating the same places very much, cause there was always something new to try. Reason number 4, the breakfast options were out of this world. I love breakfast food, and Mexico City did not disappoint, I found myself eating several different amazing breakfast places during my time there.  All and all the food in Mexico City is worth the trip alone, and for the prices, you can't help but eat out, as it is cheaper than cooking for yourself most of the time. The food I ate in Mexico City, will stay with me for a long time.

Mexico City

Mexico City is a GIGANTIC city. The metropolitan area of Mexico City has a population of about 21 million people. The neighborhood we lived in did not feel that crowded, but it when you ventured just a few miles away, you could definitely get the sense of how big the city is. There is a ton of parks, museums, stores, and sites to see in Mexico City. The Anthropology Museum was one of my favorite museums I have been to. Mexico City is not as easy on the eyes as the European cities we have been to, but it was different in its own way, and I really liked that. Mexico City is a great place, and I will definitely be back there, and can't recommend it enough.

The People

I have always had a large amount of admiration and respect for the Mexican culture. After spending some time in Mexico City that has been solidified and the people of Mexico will always have a special place in my heart. They are kind, hard-working, generous, and thoughtful people and I am grateful to have been able to spend the amount of time I did there.

A Trip Back to the United States

Being in Mexico was also the closest I would be to the United States since leaving on this journey last year. It also just so happened that one of my life long friends was getting married in New York, which was a wedding I wouldn't miss for the world, so I decided to head back to Arizona for a few days before the wedding to see my family, and then fly to NYC for the wedding festivities. To be honest, it was strange being back in the states after being on this journey for 7 or so months. I have come so accustomed to not being able to speak the language, or not knowing how to get somewhere, and just overall being out of my comfort zone. Coming back to the states for a week, and not having to worry about any of that, definitely seemed weird. It was really good to spend time with my parents, and talk with them. I am close with my parents, they are two people whom I love dearly and I cherish the time we get to spend together. I was able to get out to my favorite golf course in Phoenix, and spend the day with Dad and little brother playing golf, which was exactly what the doctor ordered. I also got to see some friends, eat at some of my favorite AZ places, and enjoy the beauty that is AZ in December. Although it was a very short trip there, it was nice to see people, but was a great reminder of why I needed to leave AZ and set out on this journey to see the world. The next stop on my trip back to the states was NYC. I have only been to NYC twice before, so this would be my third and best trip thus far. There is just something magical about NYC in December, that makes you just feel good inside. My time there was spent catching up with friends, seeing people I haven't seen in a long time, and watching my good friend marry the love of his life in a beautiful ceremony, followed by an amazing reception in the Rainbow Room. One of the other things I was able to do while in NYC was to go to the 9/11 memorial. If you have never been, I can't recommend it enough. It was an amazing tribute to that fateful day, and is a place that I feel every American should visit. My time in the US went by really fast, and before I knew it, I was back on a flight to Mexico City to join back up with my Remote Year family.

Christmas in Mexico City

Once I got back to Mexico City, it was the week of Christmas. I love Christmas, not for the presents, but more for a lot of the reasons I love Thanksgiving, it is a great time to just spend time with family and friends. Although, I would not be with my family this Christmas, I had my Remote Year family to be with. We gathered for a Xmas Eve potluck, and Xmas day was spent relaxing, watching Xmas movies, and seeing a movie. It was a nice relaxing day/weekend.

The Last Week in Mexico City

The last week in Mexico City was jammed with activities, working, and trying to eat as much food as possible. Our farewell event was an awesome event which consisted of us getting on boats in the Xochimilco canals. On the boats we were served Quesadillas, Mexican Beers, and were serenaded by a Mariachi band. It was a great farewell event, and one I will always remember.

In Closing

Mexico City went by so fast, I think mostly because of my trip back home, and just overall being really busy. It literally feels like a blink of an eye. If you have never been to Mexico City, go there. Even if it is just for a day or two before you go to one of the amazing beach towns, just give it a shot, I promise you it won't disappoint. Adios!