Day 1 - Arrival

15 Oct 2011
Day 1
Arrival

Overall first impressions:
"oh wow. Pablo wasn't joking when he warned me about his driving...." "holy crap everyone drives like crazy people, that jeep just cut off three lanes of traffic to turn" "its soooo damn green"  "the people selling things in the middle of the road, while traffic is moving must be insane, or daring... both?" "I LOVE THIS PLACE" "the doors and gates are so damn unique, how fantastic are they? I love them." (which is why I'm going to post like 10 photos of fences and doors lol) "I love this place"

Today was the big day.  I woke up at 5 am (ewwww) to get ready and get to the airport. Showed up and sat around until they loaded us - which they did really fast.  We landed 35 minutes early in Phoenix (yay!) but had to wait in the plane until our gate opened up (boooo).  I of course forgot the time change and decide I was going to have a leisurely breakfast and was one of the last people boarded on my flight to Mexico City.  Which turned out to be a good thing.  They 'downgraded' the plane to one with just 6 seats, not 10 seats, per row.  I got an upgrade out of that, moving from row 26 to row 8 (wooot!).  When I first loaded I was a bit uncomfortable with the fact that my 'seat' was taken and I was stuck in the middle of two strange men.  But as I figured no point in causing a fuss its just a damn seat (and for those of you who know me you'll all gasp in disbelief there) I took it happily.  I chatted briefly with a 66 year old gentlemen who was in my seat (=P). Turns out he was pretty sick - in the sense he needed oxygen and lots of medications and was wheelchair bound.  He was returning to Mexico to visit with family.

Well after the flights I finally landed in Mexico. I was really surprised at the lack of "nerves" I experienced.  I kept waiting for the anxiety, panic, and general "oh my god what the heck am I thinking" feelings to kick up. Disembarked, went through customs which was a really long line and got my luggage.  After doing that I finally was free!! I met up with my friend Pablo who picked me up at the airport (Thank You Again!). I got pointers, tips, and directions from him and a ride to my hostel.  I am staying at the Hostel Cuija Coyoacan.  It is amazingly clean, well designed, and offers great amenities.  I've been here half the day so far and I have no complaints.   After settling in a bit I decided to venture out.  I choose a relatively easy task of going to the market.  I figured food would become a priority.  I went to a very close market and bought some basic food staples for the evening.  Since it was still early yet I decided to just walk around town and headed to a super market about 6 blocks further from the first one.  I was hoping they would sell mobile phones (prepaid), but they didn't. I took several photos of really random things along my walk, but I figured it would just get me started.

Now my plans are to heat up some ramen noodles (nom nom), veg out and relax for the night.  I will head out to a near by park tomorrow and try to find a route to get me to the school as well.  I will also probably take a taxi to a store where I can buy a prepaid mobile phone and a portable wireless internet access point for my laptop.

Fence/Gate

Look at how vibrant these are!! This is on someone's roof top garden.

More gates... lol 

I thought this dog was going to eat my face off...

One end of the street I'm staying on

Pretty pretty

More gates. :D

Gates....

I never see these except in grocery stores around Christmas time and they grow on TREES here!

Minus the tagging the mosaic is awesome

Outside my hostel

My teeeeeny tiny room (I've got the bottom one against the far wall)