I've been really looking forward to writing this particular blog because, if you know me, you know I love to travel. I had visited Mexico in the past (Playa del Carmen, near Cancun) but the stay was relatively resort-like and I wasn't able to experience the true Mexico that I got the opportunity to experience this time around. I'm so glad I took this trip. The memories that have accumulated in my heart will lasts forever.
I wanna start off by saying that Mexico is a beautiful country. It's such a shame what the media and other factors play into its image but I absolutely adore it.
Off I went...first stop.. Guadalajara, Mexico.
If you're wondering why I chose Guadalajara specifically it's because a friend of mine lives there and one of my good friends here in NYC was planning on visiting her, so it was the perfect time to ride that wave. Orale guey!
The flight is about 5 hours directly from New York and I flew Delta, AeroMexico. Service was fantastic on the way back, as most international flights are.
I arrived at Guadalajara with temperatures well into the upper 70s. It was a nice change from the cold weather of NYC. Reunited with the amigos and my trip had begun....tequila shots anyone???
I wanna start off by saying that Mexico is a beautiful country. It's such a shame what the media and other factors play into its image but I absolutely adore it.
Off I went...first stop.. Guadalajara, Mexico.
If you're wondering why I chose Guadalajara specifically it's because a friend of mine lives there and one of my good friends here in NYC was planning on visiting her, so it was the perfect time to ride that wave. Orale guey!
The flight is about 5 hours directly from New York and I flew Delta, AeroMexico. Service was fantastic on the way back, as most international flights are.
I arrived at Guadalajara with temperatures well into the upper 70s. It was a nice change from the cold weather of NYC. Reunited with the amigos and my trip had begun....tequila shots anyone???
The first day there was more of a relaxed type of day. I enjoyed the rooftop pool and catching up with my friends. I had to prepare myself for the sightseeing ahead. Five days in Mexico can go by so quickly...
Guadalajara has both a city feel and a small town feel to it, although it's far from little. There's so much to see and do and the food is amazing. I heard the food would be great but I wasn't expecting it to be as delicious as it was, but I couldn't help myself. Tacos are my weakness!
I just love eggs so I have to mention huevos rancheros which is a signature dish in Mexico. It's basically Mexican style eggs and they can be a bit spicy. I was so obsessed I think I must've eaten these everyday. There's something about that sauce! (sighs)
We visited a small town called Tlaquepaqle where my eyes were fixated on the umbrellas hanging from the air. I thought it was so beautiful, had to capture it. Here, you can go shopping, eat at the best restaurants, and drink some margaritas while you're at it. Dining out is highly recommended in Mexico, as there are so many restaurants to choose from. I kind of felt like I was in Europe, Everything is all beautifully decorated. New York needs some pointers (just saying.)
I also, got to try a signature drink called Cazuela. It's similar to sangria only there's even more fruit and tequila involved.
In Mexico, whenever someone passes away, they celebrate their life with music, food and dancing. Funerals are a happy time for Mexicans as they are not afraid to die. I found this really interesting because I believe we would all live fulfilled lives if we all thought of life that way. For this reason you will notice skeletons everywhere. They are called "Calacas" which is Spanish for skeleton. It is the figure or skull of the skeleton used for decoration during the Mexican Day of the Dead festival (similar to our Halloween.)
FYI: We rented a Fiat so that we would be able to sightsee without the hassle of transportation. Renting a car in Mexico is no easy task so if you're planning on visiting I would recommend setting it up before you arrive. Save money and time.
My friend is a huge fan of Vicente Fernandez "The King of Ranchera Music." In Guadalajara his home is open to his fans which means you can literally visit his ranch and walk around his complex. I thought this was pretty awesome and it really shows his love for his fans. Occasionally he will come out and greet his fans and have small talk. We visited the ranch three times (stalker much) but it was well worth it to see my friend as happy as he was to have met one of his idols. Vicente has earned grammys upon grammy awards and is also a well known actor in Mexico and worldwide.
Right next door to his ranch is his restaurant where we engulfed ourselves in margaritas and guacamole...YUMMMMM. There was live mariachi and the food was, well, amazing.
Besides saturating our livers in tequila there was a purpose for my visit to Mexico. As a descendent of Indians and being part Peruvian (Incas) I have a strange closeness to tribal history and learning about my ancestors. I had read that the Incas were very similar to the Aztec Indians and so my SOUL purpose of this trip was to visit the ancient Aztec ruins of Teotihuacan. Located in Mexico City, it is about an hour flight from Guadalajara. If driving it is about an eight hour drive. I will never forget the feeling I felt standing right in front of such beauty and history. To enter Teotihuacan you must first purchase a ticket which is about 3 US dollars and you are able to enter and climb these pyramids if you like. I chose to take the climb even though I was a little sick from accidentally drinking the water! At that point, running on little to no sleep and an upset stomach, I did not care. I was determined to climb to the top. There are two huge pyramids which represent the sun and the moon. I chose to enter the sun and opted out of the moon only because there were so many people. The wait alone was about 2 hours.
The steps were so steep and dangerous there were ropes on the sides to hold on to and police guards there to help you up and down. It took about an hour to get to the top and the view was breathtaking.
If you take a closer look you can see the moon pyramid ...
I enjoyed my stay in Mexico and I love that I really got to explore around this time. Staying in resorts are awesome, don't get me wrong, but there's something to learn when experiencing life outside of the normal. I got to meet a lot of new faces and hopefully these friendships will continue on. Adios!!!