Day 02 - Exploring Mexicio city

18th January 2009

Saturday; our travel day, was a dramatic one indeed. I was a little excited about going away, and found it difficult to sleep, so stayed up uintil 4:30am Friday night, thinking that I would be able to sleep through most of the flight. I set my alarm for 6:00am, and then woke up at 8:15. The flight was at 11:40 from Heathrow, so I threw on my clothes, grabbed by bag and was out the door within 5 minutes.

The plan was to use the tube to get there, and there was still time, so I walked as fast as I could to the station with all my luggage, only to find the Victoria line closed for engineering works! I couldn't see a cad to hail. Next I jumped on the first bus I saw, taking me to Oval, where I got onto the Northern line. After a few stops I decided time was getting too tight and needed to just get a cab. I got off at Waterloo, and jumped into taxi that whisked me to the airport within 45 minutes; plenty of time to make check/in. Lukas and Petr (Lukas' friend from Czech Republic who I'd yet to meet) had already arrived at the airport and I was keeping them apprised of my progress. In doing so I discovered they were having problems of their own; our Petr didn't have a boimetric passport. Show-stopper. Bugger! Basically the poor lad had no idea he needed a new-style passport to enter the States, even just to catch a connecting flight. Memories of two years ago were ringing in my mind. There was nothing we could do to allow him to board with us. Luckily Petr was very determined to make it, and headed off to another terminal to see what alternative (non-US) flight options were available. Lukas & I said our goodbyes and passed through security.

Keeping in touch with Petr we've learned he's managed to find a flight on Monday morning that avoids the States, and will be with us Monday evening. Hoorah! Gives us time to get our bearings and make plans for the journey ahead, ready for when he arrives. Complete catastrophe averted!

So Lukas and I land safe & sound, and despite a few funny question from immigration about out lack of preparation (having no hotel booked and not knowing how many days exactly we'll be in Mexico) we found a map, a taxi, and then a hotel in the historic center of the city. A snack and a few beers later we were wiped out, and crashed for 12 hours.

Today we've been exploring our surrounding environment here in Mexico City, looking around the old quarter, and walking across to the financial district. Considering this city is the largest in the world (by population: 19.2 million) it is difficult to grasp it's scale, as the underlying geography is mostly flat. The Historic Center has predominantly low buildings and so you don't feel like you're in a large city at all More a medieval Mediterranean town. We did catch a brief glimpse up one of the main roads ascending up a hill to the north, revealing just how far the city extends; far!

Museum of modern art (I think) at the edge of the Historic center.

The financial district showed us the level of investment in the economy here, with skyscrapers rivaling anything in Europe.

Financial skyscrapers in the city.

We've been through the main park in the area, where Sundays it seems many people come to relax. Streets are closed off for cyclists, skaters, Segway drivers, and pedestrians - encouraging a healthier way of life.

Gringo policemen on horseback in the park.

Markets pop up all over selling goods, as people perform in the streets. There are over 50 museums here covering every topic imaginable; a city with a rich history, but one we don't have time to explore right now... We're doing a reconnaissance mission basically, as we will need to return here to fly home, we may return a few days earlier to do more fully explore this vast city.

Local man enjoying a read in the park.

The weather is warm (although showers do occur in the evening), the food good, and everyone is incredibly friendly. I am eternally gratefully for Lukas' newly acquired Spanish speaking abilities as English is spoken little here, and without him I'd be fumbling along with a phrase book and a mouth full of 'th's . He's really very good!

Petr arrives tomorrow evening, and we intend to get some research done tomorrow regarding transport options to our first destination; Acapulco, to the south on the Pacific coast. Hopefully we can be on the road Tuesday, and then the real adventure begins! From there we have no plan of any kind, except to continue southwards through Mexico, stopping at points of interest along the way. We'll figure things out as we go :) Zero-planning traveling is definitely the way to go!

A sign we encountered. The intersection of London and Prague street! Destiny?

Images from Lukas for the same day.