“I want to go around the world” – Bjørn

After a delay of nearly 7 hours can I finally see Bjørn, my Brother, walking out of the automatically-doors in the Airport in Mexico City. Bjørn is now living in Kuala Lumpur but is arriving to celebrate New Year with Morten, Gaby and Me in Mexico City. After I have been showing Morten and Gaby some parts of Mexico City will Bjørn and I be traveling to the states Chiapas and Yucatan until the 15th of January. This means that we know are in the same Time-Zone so we do not have the usually 14 hours between us as we have had since August.

Not only will Bjørn explore parts of Mexico before he is going back to Kuala Lumpur he will also have been flying around the world when he is coming back to Malaysia since he started his journey by celebrated Christmas in Denmark with our parents and family.

 

 

 

A visit from Denmark with “Bull’s Travel”

I am waiting in the airport. It is the 25th of December and I have just arrived from Veracruz, where I have been spending my Christmas Evening. It has been a good but different Christmas in Veracruz. Now am I standing in the airport and waiting for some of Family to arrive to Mexico City from Denmark, to be more precise Morten & Gaby.

My smile is getting bigger, when I can see them walk out the automatic doors to the arrival hall. They have been arriving to a week as tourist in Mexico City, which has been “My City” for five month.

A city full of contrasts 

With around 22 million people can it be expected that there will be different contrast in Mexico City. For example Contrasts from rich and poor areas. Doing my semester in Mexico City have I found places that I like and places I want to show Morten & Gaby. Therefor after the Breakfast do I pick Morten & Gaby up at their hotel, so “Bull’s Travel” can begin. We are heading off with the Metrobus to the Historical Center. The first stop today will be the Zocalo Square. Since Mexico City is located in nearly 2250 meters height above sea-level is it important to drink water and not walk to fast.

Even though the Zocalo square is full of a big Christmas setup with a ice track and a huge Christmas tree and a big Pinata, so it is difficult to get the right image of the size of the square, can I still see that Morten & Gaby is happy to be here, when the sun is shining on them.

When we are sitting at the traditional Mexican restaurant Café de Tacuba is a traditional Mariachi band walking in the door and starting to play. Everybody in the room is turning in the direction of the Mariachi band and when they are playing is it easy to see that they are not some strangers from the streets because they can actually play, as Morten comment.

Not only is there a big contrast from Roma Norte and Condesa to Polanco and to Coyoacán, there is also a big contrast in-between people and services which I want to show Morten & Gaby by visiting different restaurants and areas and tourist sides. So after spending the second day in the park; El Parque de Chapultepec, is it time to see the new Star Wars movie, which there has been so much hype around this days. The reason why I have invited them in the cinema is not only to see the movie but it is also to experience the VIP Cinema where you are sitting in huge chairs which can move back so it becomes an electronic armchair. Not only is the comfort excellent in the VIP Cinema but it is also possible to order food and drinks doing the movie which is a standard I have never seen in a Danish Cinema!

 

The arrival of the third family member

Because of 3 hours delay in Copenhagen is Bjørn, my brother, arriving nearly 7 hours later than planned. So after he had have Christmas with our family in Denmark has he now travelled nearly around half the globe from his home in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, to spend New Year with Morten, Gaby and Me here in Mexico City.

The show must go on, so even though he only have sleep a few hours after a night in JFK in New York are we all sitting in the Uber on our way to “Casa Azul”, which was the home for Frida Kahlo in Coyoacán. – A must see if you have ordered a tour with “Bull’s Travel” en Mexico City. – So it is with big expectations we are entering the line for guest with an online ticket. This day is there full of people in the line to enter Casa Azul, since it is a few days before New Year. – Therefor is it a good idea to buy the tickets online to avoid hours in the regular line!

This visit to Casa Azul is my third time I am visiting the house of Frida Kahlo in half a year and the fourth in total, but for me her personality and story is still interesting. Her way to fight with constant pain because of her existent as a 18 year old women where she broke her back so she for long periods only could be in her bed is fascinating, as how her relationship with Diego Rivera did have a huge impact on her own art.

Her house is bigger from the inside than what you expect from the outside so after we have spend around an hour and a half in the spirit of Frida Kahlo is it time to see a bit more of the traditional Coyoacán, which mean that we of cause need to try the traditional Churros with different creams in the middle. – Such as, Mango, Chocolate, Bailey or Tequila.

The Archeological-site

We have just sat our feet on the ground from the bus to Teotihuacán, when we can see four men in traditional clothes climbing up a stick, as I saw with Mads when I was in Guadalajara (you can read the story from this trip here: https://tokebull.wordpress.com/2015/11/05/the-visit-guadalajara/). The men is playing traditional music, when they are getting ready to swing them self around the stick in a rope.

3,2,1 and we can all see them falling. They are 4 swinging around the stick all tired with a rope to the stick but one is not. He is climbing down the rope with the headfirst and doing acrobatic things at the same time while the others are swinging and getting closer to the ground.

When they all are save down at the ground is the audience start clapping. When I am looking Bjørn, Morten & Gaby can I see that they now are ready to start the Journey to clime The pyramid of Sun and The Pyramid of the Moon.

It is my third time I am seeing this pyramids but every-time is it interesting and fascinating to see! Never before at my two other visits have I seen so many people at the site, it must be because many families are having holiday, I’m I thinking to myself. To get to the top of the Pyramid the Sun do we need to use more than an hour. Not because we are slow but because the line to get up is long and slow… – But the view at the top is still fascinating, even though the line to get back down, is going al around the highest platform. – A fact we are concluding when we are enjoying a bottle or two of a Mexican Tempranillo from Baja Californian and different samples of Argentinian Meat at the Restaurant La Vid Argentina in Condesa, where Morten is meeting his best waiter doing is stay in Mexico City.

Even though the waiter did not speak any form of Spanish did he still has a good humor and they could communicate even though the waiter sometimes was looking at me with a face as “what does this stranger say?” – when Morten spoke to him in Danish.

New Year with Danish traditions

In Denmark do we have some traditions about New Year Even though every family is having their own tradition! Therefore did we not want to miss the once a year experience where the Danish Queen, Margrethe the 2^nd, is having her speak live at National-TV at 18.00 Danish time.

So at 11.00 in the morning Mexican Time were we all ready with Champagne, my moms homemade “Kransekage” – which is made by marzipan – and Of cause a laptop ready to stream her speak live from Denmark.

When we have finished the bottle of Champagne are we ready to see the big Diego Rivera wall-painting in “El Palacio National” before we are taking a beer at 17.00 Mexican Time, when Denmark and Europe will walk into the New Year 2016.

Since we are 5600 miles from Denmark are we not going to have traditional Danish food for New Year but instead have we found the restaurant La Buena Barra in Polanco, which is located at 3th floor with a terrace. We are getting a table at the terrace which is covered when we are taking our seats, but before midnight do the waiters come with a lot of balloons in Black and Gold. When the clock is ticking 00.00 do they open the roof so the balloons can fly into the New Year 2016.

Except of four fireworks and the balloons is there nothing big happening, so in comparison to all the firework in Denmark is it still a quiet New Year in Mexico City. If the heavy grey duvet of pollution is having an impact of the bad visibility will I leave in the un known, but when we are taking a look at the dance floor is it starting to get packed and the ladies hips are swinger from side to side, while we are taking a 6 cl shot of Tequila and saying “Happy New Year” – because as you know, we are in Mexico.

 

The Mexican Cooking Class

We are on our way to a Mexican Cooking Class, We are all very excited for the class because we are not sure what will be waiting us on the other side of the door, in this apartment in Polanco in Mexico City. 

Today is the class going to be with the lovely Mexican cook, Ernesto, who only speaks Spanish. So after having an introduction to the main dish of today; the traditional “Mole” in English is the rest of the Class going to be in Spanish. So when Morten & Gaby are starting to cut cactus and onions am I trying to translate the best I can.

Ernesto knows what he is doing because when he is not teaching us, is he a teacher at a cooking school in the northern part of Mexico City. Ernesto is nervous in the beginning because usually does the classes not take place in a private home, but in a kitchen of a restaurant, but because of the reservation in a short advance and because the restaurant is close is it taking place in a private home. As the cooking is moving forward is Ernesto relaxing more and more. Doing the whole class is one thing sure, he knows what he is doing and by this is Ernesto giving us a good class and experience in the Mexican Gastronomy. 

Not only are we going to make Mole with chicken. We are also going to make tacos with a salad and for desert are we going to cook Rice with Milk with a red source of chili marmalade. The desert does look a bit like the Danish “Risengrød” or “Risalamande” which many families are having as desert for Christmas Evening with Cherry-Jubilee at the top. The big difference from the Danish form and the Mexican form of Rice with Milk is the consistency and the taste. Especially does the Mexican form has a huge taste of cinnamon. 

 

 

After nearly 3 hours of cooking, tasting and eating is the class over and we all are walking out to the elevator with a good feeling in your stomach. Not only are we totally full of good food, we have also learned more about the Mexican Gastronomy.

 

Tailormade in Mexico

Who have not had the dream of making your own shoes? – I have always wanted to walk into a leather store, and pick the leather that I wanted. By Adriana, http://www.adrianariveratorres.com, this became true, because not only did I got some shoes Tailormade in Mexico, I also got the possibility, to choose my leather by choosing it all by myself.

Never before have I tried to walk into a leather store, which is in three floors and choose the leather I wanted for my Shoes. The store is having a lot of different sections depending on how thick the leader need to be depending of which type of shoes you want. Not only is the 100% leather but by looking at the huge collection of colors can it easy be hard to choose the one which will be the best.

After choosing a brown nearly coffee colored leather for the shoes and a white leather for the inside of the shoes, is it time to go to the tailor, who with help from Adriana is going to make the shoes.

I’m going to have two different pair of shoes taller made. A traditional Chelsea Boot and a Boot with a style from the 1900 with different details.

The following pictures, shows some of the customizing process of the Chelsea boots:

 

The designer Adriana with a pair of hear own designed Shoes. The Photo is taken at San Juan De Ulúa, Veracruz.

I’m going to the Barbershop

You see the stick in blue, red and white spinning around in front of the entrance to the Barbershop. We are entering The Barber’s Spa at Av Monterrey in Roma Norte. It is Saturday the 31st of October and Mads is going to shave off all his beard, which he had been growing for some months. 

 

By entering the door, it does fill like going back in time, back to the lovely 20s in a Barbershop in America, or at lease as I imagine a barbershop from this time. There is three Barber chairs, all in red leather and in the 20s style. There even is a smell of a Barbershop, when Mads is taking place in one of the chairs. The Barber is warring a white shirt with black suspenders and a black bow tie – the style is completed. He is laying Mads down in the chair, so the “operation” can begin. 

 

The floor is getting full of black beard after the Barber has used the machine to cut the most of the beard. The beard is now having the right length to being cut by a new Barber-knife. The face of Mads is getting white, when the Barber is putting the barber-foam on his skin. The time as come where Mads needs to trust the Barbar when he is starting to use the sharp knife for cutting his beard. 

The precision from the Barber is fascinating. It is a craft I’m looking at, when the Barber is cutting the beard with the barber-knife. It starts to bleed from a few points of the skin, but it is all stopping when the Barber is butting different types of creams on his skin.

The Barber is putting the chair back to the starting position. The session is finishing with a small shoulder and neck massage by a massage-machine, which the Barber is putting on his hand. 

When Mads is walking out of The Barber’s Spa is he looking good but different without his beard. Mads is now ready to take part of Movember. Movember is a month long campaign in November where men all over the world are growing there moustage to “Change the face of men’s health”, as the campaign describes; http://www.movember.com. The idea of the campaign, which started in 2004, is to put focus on Prostate cancer, Testicular cancer, Mental problems and Physical inactivity just to name some examples. 

 

The dog and the color-contrast – Photo session for ART

We are turning on a corner when we see the small narrow street, Calle Aguacate, which is showing up just in front of us. It is only possible for a small car to get though the street when we are walking to the corner from where big old stones from the Middle Ages are making the wall. In the corner of the wall is there a picture of a “Virgin” with some flowers. It is just the spot Adriana & I have been looking for. Adriana Rivera Torres (ART) is a shoe designer and today I am going to take pictures of some of her shoes with Isra as model. Adriana who is born in Veracruz lives now in Mexico City where she is having her own shoe company; http://www.adrianariveratorres.com.

It is Sunday, and the sun has just decided to let some light revision through the clouds and for every minute we are getting ready for the photo session at calle Aguacate are the blue skies becoming more and more visible.

The light is good, when I am asking Isra, the model of the session today to stand in front of the red wall to take some close up portraits before I am asking him to stand in front of the “Virgin”. It is quiet when I am starting to take the pictures. Isra is easy to work with and with hints from Adriana are the pictures in process.

Today are we going to photograph Isra with five of her shoes. We wants to make the locations different but still with a old look, which is the reason why we have choosing to walk around in Coyoacán, because in Coyoacán do you not have the filing of being in Mexico City when you are walking around in this quiet part of the city.

Many of the houses are colorful and are build in the old colonial style, which gives a filing of coming back in time. Especially when we are standing in front of one of the oldest churches in Coyoacán, Parroquia De Santa Catarina, are all the pieces fitting.

The light is fin, the contrast between the blue, yellow, grey walls are good, and just there, out from the door is a dog standing. I do not know what it is with dogs, but Mexicans loves them, especially girls, so for a second do Isra and Adriana not take any attention to what I am asking them to do, because they are looking at the dog. I quickly become aware that we need to have a picture with Isra, with a par of Adriana’s shoes and the dog in one picture. First is the dog walking back inside but after some minutes it is coming back out. The dog is just standing right there, with its head out. Isra is standing perfect. The contrast in the colors of the walls is making everything perfect. The smile on Adriana’s Face is getting bigger and when the dog is going back in and the door is getting closed behind it, can we all look at each other and with the look that says: “That was it. We just got the photo!”

A visit from Denmark

We are on our way up to the tens flour. We are in the elevator of Fontan Hotel at Paseo de Reforma close to the Metro station Hidalgo in the historical center of Mexico City. We are exited, when we are exiting the elevator. My parents have just arrived from Denmark the evening before and we are now going to have breakfast with the view over a part of Mexico.

I’ve been looking forward to show them some parts of Mexico City before they are going on a 12 days tour to the states Chiapas, and Yucatan. They have decided to arrive Saturday the 31st of October, which is the “Día del Muerto”, so when we are exiting the hotel in the evening to have dinner, is the road between Zocalo and Plaza de la Revolución totally packed with people. My guess is that there have been around 2 million people on the streets. The Mexican celebrating the “Día del Muerto”, with painting in their faces, with loud music like we know from a festival and even though some have seen the new James Bond movie “Spectre” which is starting in Mexico City at “Día del Muerto”, can I say that it is not totally the same scenery which can be seen on the streets. – People do not really ware masks but is instead painted in their faces and for example is there no parade with skeletons but instead have there at UNAM and other places around the city been a lot of exhibitions to celebrate the day. So when we are sitting at the morning table at the tens floor this Sunday morning, have my parents already got a small indication of how many people there can be on the streets and by looking over parts of the city are they getting a small indication of how big the city actually is.

 

The Blue house 

Do to the “Día del Muerto” do I have two days off from ITAM which is a good timing because I then have time to show my parents a little around and let them get a small taste of some of the Mexican specialties; such as Churros, which can be best compared to a waffle but with the form as hotdog-bread. We have stopped at a churro place in the center of Coyacán, where you can get the churros with nearly everything. So we are choosing three with Mango, Bailey and Tequila, after we have been visiting the famous Frida Kahlo Museum.

The Frida Kahlo museum which is located in the big blue house where she lived until her dead the 13th of July 1954, is a must see when you are in Mexico City. Therefore was this also on the top of our list to visit.

As I’ve mentioned in some of my earlier blog updates is Mexico City a big but diverse city. Every area fills like coming to a different city, which was one of the things I would like to show my parents. So after spending the first day in Coyacán, had a made a plan to go to the more expensive area of the city, more exact Polanco where we was going to see the museum Soumaya, which among other paintings are having a exhibition with a wide repertoire of status made by Salvador Dalí. The day was finished in the Lincoln Park.

 

The Hip area

On our way to Marcado Roma, was it easy to see that we again was in another Area compared to the historical center where you can find the Zocalo, Bellas Artes, the old post-office and La plaza de la Revolución, Coyacan at the south and the more fancy Polanco which they have seen doing the last two days.

When we are entering the small but new Marcado Roma to fill the atmosphere and get a little snack and a beer is my mom immediately comparing it with “Tovehallerne” or “Papirøen” in Copenhagen.

After enjoying the atmosphere at Marcado Roma are we walking to a small wine bar in the hip Condesa, where we are crossing by El parque Mexico and El parque España from where we are seeing a lot of people walking with their dogs. Condesa is famous for being hip right now, where people have dogs and looks hipster.

When we are arriving to the Wine bar are we finding it with a wide repertoire of Mexican wine to a good price where it also is possible to order some small tapas positions. There aren’t many people when we are entering it, but it is cozy with its minimalist expression and subdued lightning. It is a good place to spend our last night together before my parents will be traveling to the south to experience some of the “real” Mexico, with its nature, history and culture.

 

A welcome back with Tequila & Mezcal 

The time is going fast when you are experience a lot and seeing a lot of new things everyday, so after 12 days traveling with the last 3 days relaxing in Cancun is my parents back in Mexico City with a lot of new experience and a lot of stories to tell.

Nearly no mater how much time you will be spending in Mexico City will you never be done with seeing all. It is no wander why it is the city in the world with the most Museums, so after seeing the museum “Nacional de Arte”, from where the parade in the beginning of “Spectre” is taking place, does it not take us long until we are standing in front of the Tequila and Mezcal museum MUTEM. Because as I have been told a lot of times, you can not have been in Mexico without drinking one of the two.

The Museum is not that big, but it is impressive have many bottles of Tequila and Mezcal they can have on so small space. After reading about the production and the differences of the cactus that are being use are we taking the stairs up to the rooftop tares from where we are getting a small taste of one Tequila and one Mezcal. I’m not sure if it is in our family name “Bull” or just a matter of taste, why both my mom and dad both agree that the Mezcal is having the best taste? – Mezcal that also is my favorite.

 

The Constitution

Everything has an ending no matter how long time you are having. So while we are sitting to the breakfast and looking over the city, as we have been doing the last few days, have we every day could see at the end of Paseo de Reforma a castle on a hill. It is not just a castle, it is the Castle; “Castillo de Chapultepec”, which is located in the biggest park, Chapultepec, in Mexico City.

After around 30 minutes walk from our hotel are we entering the park of Chapultepec. A pack from where a huge monument can be seen in front of us while we at the same time can see a lot of different squirrel around us running up and down the trees. We are continuing up the hill to see the “Museo del Caracol”, where the Mexican flag is hanging beside the constitution from 1917 with the eagle as the protector made in granite in top can be experienced.

With a short explanation of the Mexican complex history are we getting ready to continue our way up “Castillo de Chapultepec”, which not only is famous for its factor in the Mexican History but also from the Academy Award-nominated movie “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet”, which was filmed there in 1996.

The construction was started in 1778 and completed in 1788 and today is the Castle the “Museo Nacional de Historia”, where there not only is a good view over Mexico City, from where the difference areas can be seen a bit from above and the line down Paseo the Reforma can be explored with the statue “El Ángel de la Independencia in the middle. The Castle also housing some huge wall paintings that is telling their own story about the Mexican history. It is a very impressive place to visit before and a perfect ending for my parents before they are getting ready to reach their flight back to Denmark.

Vamos México

The train is filled to its maximum. I can’t move and so can’t the others. We are on our way to the 3. biggest stadium in the world, La Estadio Azteca, with a capacity of 105.064 people, build in 1966. Tonight is Mexico playing against San Salvador.

After “fighting” or pushing hard to get of the train is it now just to follow the mass. I can see the big block of concrete in front of me. It is huge. On our way to the entrance is Nina buying a Mexican flag and Celine is buying a princess crone in the color of the Mexican flag.

We are just entering our sites at the stadium, when the kickoff begins. The atmosphere this night is good, especially when a wave starts and is going around the stadium for four rounds. On the steep steps are waiters going around serving the audience.

The stadium is steep so even though that we are sitting far away from the field doesn’t it fill so. When I’m looking around is it only the green color I can see, because all Mexican is wearing a green shirt to represent their team.

“Puto”

The arms is in the air and the noise is getting louder every time the goalkeeper from El Salvador is getting ready to kick the ball. When he kicks it, is the whole stadium shouting “Puto” (prostitute).

Doing the whole game is the atmosphere high especially after only few minutes’ play when Mexico is scoring to 1-0.

Doing the game is people starting to sing the famous song; Cielito lindo. So it fills more being to a family party than at a football match.

The game end 3-0 to Mexico and as so many times before is there people fighting at the end, but not over the game but over thrown beer mugs. – A think I didn’t see anything of a week before when I was seeing a NBA game in San Antonio.

When Celine, Nina, Adriana and I are standing in the line to the metro back home is it with a smile on our faces after a good experience, ass Nina is concluding: “It could be fun if we could be going to another game soon”.

The Pyramids – Teotihuacán

I can see them just in front of me. It is a bit cloudy, so It is not to warm to walk around 1 kilometer which there is from the Bus stop to the Pyramid of Sun and The Pyramid of Moon, which Teotihuacán is famous for.

The two pyramids is the biggest in Mexico and is rising as to sculptures the closer I’m getting to them. I’m today here to show them to Mads. After 2 hours in transport, are we standing in front of the steeps to the Pyramids of the Moon. We are easily taking one step at the time. From the top do we have a great view over the Sun pyramid and the sight, which is having a surface area of 83 square kilometers. The Toltec has established the sight from around 100 BC to about 250 AD. Today can’t the archaeologists say when the city ended but their guess is between 7th and 8th centuries AD. At this time was it the biggest city in the pre-Columbian Americas with a population estimated at 125,000 or even more. The Site became a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

The way from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun is not that long. The Pyramid of the Sun is an impressive pyramid with its gigantic size that was completed by 100 AD. After climbing the steeps for around 5 minutes I’m I at the top. The view is impressive especially to think about the size at the city. How day have lived and how they have had the capability con make this huge construction work, thoughts that will never stop at this sight.

    

Fragments of the life in Mexico City

You hear the horn, then the breaks, which is getting blocked, and then the sound of a huge BANG!!!

A car has just run into the side of a bus. All traffic in the two out of four lines are stopping. This result in loud horns from the cars further behind.

If you didn’t know it, then welcome to Mexico City, the city with the worst traffic in the world. A thing I’m getting confirmed in, this thursday afternoon when I’m coming out of the Metro General Anaya, close to my home. The clock has just passed 22.00.

Welcome to Rush hour! – the life as commute

Today was not the day where I should hear the Relaxed voice of Céline Dion singing “My Heart will go on” in the Metro because when I came down the stairs to the station of Barranca Del Muerto was it the sound of hundrets of people whistling I was meet with. I can’t even see the floor of the platform because of people! I’m stopping at the last stairs before I’m looking at Alvar, who I’ve been talking with since the ITAM. We are both decided that it will be more convenient and faster to walk to the next station, Mixcoac, which is a 25 walk from Barranca del Muerto.

When we are going out of the metro is people standing in a line waiting on the right filling before they enters the Metro. A lady is asking us why we are leaving, to what we both answer; “to many people. The station is full totally full!”.

When I’m entering the platform at the station Mixcoac, is it nearly comical, because here is there nearly nobody, no rush, nearly no people and I can continue my travel home more relaxed than when I was looking at all the whistling people at the platform at Barranca del Muerto.

The difference of 5 minutes can have a huge impact on how comfortable my one hour traveling to and from ITAM is. Because if I hit rush hour is the metro totally packed and I nearly can’t move in it, but if I’m taking a metro just 5 minutes before is it possible to get in and out of the metro without being pushed from all sides. Even though I’m using the time in the Metro to read, do I from time to time have the thought that if I should live here for longer time did I need to have a car! – A thought I never had had en Copenhagen where it is easier and cheaper to get around by bikes. But I think the picture above tells it’s own story and come with its own explication.

The ground is moving 

The sound is coming back. The sound I heard the evening before in my room, the sound, which I at that time didn’t know what meant. It’s a sound of a big siren. I’m sitting in my Latino America class, when the siren is retourning, I’m looking at the clock, it is 12.30. Everybody is looking at each other, and then my professor, Mr. Silva is clapping his hands and saying “vamos”!

Everybody is leaving the class immediately. When I’m coming out to the corridor which is leading to the stairs is it full of people. Everybody in the building is leaving. The reason is that the siren is a warning for earthquake. The siren is starting 60 seconds before the possible earthquake is happening. The sound of the siren can be compared with the siren in Denmark when people need to be indoor because of centimenation in the air or bomb threats. A siren which people usually only hear once a year when it is being tested.

We are standing close in front of ITAM, waiting on the filing of the ground moving. A filling that I never got.. so after 5-10 minetines without the filling of anything can we walk back to our classes and continue the lecture.

On or way back I’m I asking Alejandro Baca, a classmate, if the earthquake is normal here in Mexico City whereto he answers; “it is different form year to year, because Mexico is located where there is a risk, so you never know. – But you should get the app SkyAlert because it is telling you about how strong the earthquake is and were it has hit”. And he continues: “It even can come with an alarm before an earthquake is hitting the aria where you are located”.

The earthquake today is very local, so I couldn’t fill it but only around 5 km south of ITAM was it possible to fill it.

Missing 43

You don’t hear them before you see them, I am meeting the demonstrations of the missing 43 students teachers on our way from Plaza de la revolution to Bellas Artes in the center of Mexico City.

The 43 Students teachers were from a radical teachers college whom disappeared the 26th of September 2014, after a clash with the police in Iguala, a city which is located in the southern state of Guerrero nearly 3 hours south west of Mexico City.

It has just started to rain heavily when I’m meeting the demonstration. When I am looking over the demonstration can I see a lot of colourful umbrellas and banders with messages to the government. One massage that is very clear is a banner with the words “faltan… 43” (Missing…43), according to the number of the student.

Walking in salience

Women have painted the number 43 in their faces but nobody are saying anything, they are all marching in silence and peace. The whole demonstration is leaded by the parents of the 43 missing students. They have refused the government version that their sons are dead and have called for a new investigation under international supervision.

Even though the demonstrators are walking in peace the police is still ready. They are looking heavy with their helmets and shields. I’m not staying to long with the demonstration nice Adriana who is Mexican don’t like to be close to the demonstration. She doesn’t want us to fallow the demonstration even though we only need to fallow the demonstration a few hundred meters, because as she explain this is a demonstration against the government so you never know how they will react.

The point of being afraid of being against the government and therefore being in silence is what the peace and anti-crime activist Maria Guadalupe Vicencio wants to change by this movement which she points out in her comment to the Guardian: “The Students’ movement sets an example for all Mexicans to wake up, and not be silent””.

In 2007 did the country’s drug war intensify and according to the Mexican government have more than 25,000 people disappeared in the country between 2007 and 31 July 2015. According to the Transparency Internationals corruption list from 2014 is Mexico Ranked nr. 103 out of 175 countries.

The sceptic of the government from the demonstrators is clear according to the teacher Pedro Juárez who to “Vice News” said; “Over the past year the government has not responded (to the protest movement)” and continue, “the government does not share the feelings of the people. This is the response of the people”.

The Surprise Party

The apartment is totally dark, when the elevator-door into our apartment is opening. Jessica is getting out of the door without any knowledge about what is waiting her. Because in the Dark is around 30 people hiding to give her a surprise-party since she had her birthday the day before (24th of september). When the light is turned on her smile is big and you can see how surprised she is.

This weekend are  Celine, Nina, Johan and I having 6 friends staying in our apartment coming not only from Monterrey but also Cuernavaca, where Cecilie and Lasse now is studying and Guadalajara where Louise now is studding. So friends from different part of Mexico have taking their time to come visiting us and seeing Mexico City and celebrating the birthday of Jessica.

All the guest, from different part of the country is taking part in making the right take-off for the night. As a tradition can a birthday-party in Mexico not be celebrated without a Piñata, which can be compared with the idea of “fastelavn” in Denmark where you are hitting the barrel. Here is the difference that you need to hit the Piñata as blindfold so while Johan is giving Jessica a cloth around her eyes so she can’t see anything are the rest of use getting ready to see the show by standing in a good distance from the Piñata.

Before Jessica can show all of us how good she is to hit the Piñata as blindfold does she need to be turned around. As a part of the audience is the most important thing not to be hit. When Jessica is taking the stick up from the ground and is getting ready to hit the Piñata can you see how scared Alexander is to be hit, since he is closes to Jessica sitting in the Sofa. But he has no need for this, since Jessica is hitting the Piñata perfectly and only after around 7 hits is there a hold and it’s time to give the stick to the next one.

Johan is the next in the line. He is ready to show all of us which power he is having. He his turned around and getting ready to hit the Piñata, but just in his third hit is he having to much power so the Piñata is falling down from its spot in the ceiling. We need to have a small brake before Celine is finishing the destruction of the Piñata while it is lying on the floor. Celine just finished what Jessica started so we all now can have a candy before we are continuing the birthday-party at the club POE in Condesa.

   

The Peace in The Endless City

I’ve claimed the 42 floors up, at the Latino Americana Tower, which is located just next to Bellas Arte in the historical center of Mexico City. From here can I only see houses, houses and more houses. I can’t see the end of this city, can I only see the mountains in the horizon. From up here I you can see not only the endless city with really bad traffic and even though there at some of the roads are up to 14 lines in two layers the traffic is still standing still.

The fist month have passed at ITAM, and I’m starting to get into a routine, it takes between 50 minutes to one hour and 20 minutes to get from my home in Coyacán and to the school. The traffic different from being in rush hour and not is only 10 min. Which means that if I’m going before 8.50 from my house it will be possible to get into the metro without any problems, but if I’m leaving at 8.55 I can be jammed at the second stations so I can’t get into the metro, this Happened one day, where I need to wait 30 min, before there where a tiny space for me in the Metro.

The Peaceful in the forest

The city of the most museums in the world is Mexico City. Therefor shouldn’t it be possible to get bored, since every part of the city has their own wipe and fills like being in a totally different city.

This Saturday morning have I got an invitation from Isra to join him and his mum Susana to the park “Desierto de los leones” where they are going once a month to be in the forest with Isra’s dog, Bruce. There is take-off at 6.30 from his house, only 15 min. walk from my home in Coyacán. We are leaving before sunrise to crus the city without any traffic.

While we are crossing Polanco, is  it clear to see, that this part of the city is the richer part. There are tall buildings and it fills like coming to a totally different city with the mountains just next to it. This morning this the red morning sunrise also adding another filing to the buildings. Just after Palanco are we interring the mountains and the forest.

On our way up to the parking are we crussing a lot of people on bikes and runners, Isra is telling me, that this place is always full of people who are going here to do sports.

When Bruce are getting out of the car does he have a lot of energy! – he is running around and when we are heading of into the forest, is Bruce already gone. Isra has taking a small ball with him so he can play with Bruce.

The walk in the forest is really quiet and peaceful, mountains bikes are passing by us but otherwise are we just our self. After some hours walk are we heading to an old cluster, where there is a restaurant where we will get our break first. There is a lot of activity at the cluster, since there is going to be a wedding doing the evening, so people are working on the preparations for nearly 200 people.   

A Happy birthday from around the world

Sunday the 16th of august as some know my birthday is, therefor did I have a birthday weekend, which started to a pool party at a hotel in Polanco, which is the most expensive area in Mexico City, and you can see it just by being on the street. The pool party was a relaxed start of the celebration, because in the evening we invited to a house party at Ida’s place, who I meet in Monterrey, but is from Sweden. Ida just moved to Mexico City a few days before us, and consicounsialy is she having her birthday the same day as I am. So when the cluck is turning midnight we are getting birthdays songs in four different languages, Swedish, Danish, Mexican and English.

A mans voice singing Happy Birthday is coming out of the room next to me. It is Johan who is making a beautiful solo for me. I’ve been told that I am not aloud to wake up before somebody is coming and wake me up, cause I’m sleeping at the sofa in Johan, Celine and Nina’s apartment in Coyacán. Even though I heard Nina and Celine leaving the apartment earlier did I decide to sleep which was a good decision cause when they are coming back from Walmart have they brought in for brunch and a cake for me. So Johan and Nina and Celine are taking their positions in the kitchen, Nina is making great salads and Johan is starting to make wonderful pancakes.

While they are preparing the brunch is a picture ticking in on my phone, it’s from my parents who just have sent a picture of them and the rest of my family together back in Denmark. I really had a great birthday and I want to thank all who remembered my day all the way from Malaysia, Asia, Russia, to friends and families in Europe and all the way to Mexico and Argentina en Latin America.

(ps. the style at the first photo is the portrait style as in the 1800 century)

“What will we do when we get old? Will we walk down the same road?”

– I can hear the voice of the Danish singer MØ coming out of the speakers as I’m entering the Uber to meet with Johan. From the first time I heard the voice of MØ on a club in Monterrey, did I have the filing of being home. Not only is MØ big international. Her song “Lean On” with DJ Snake is impossible not to hear here in Mexico so no matter where I go will I hear it.

I’m on my way to the station San Joacuín, where I’m going to meet with Johan. Today is going to be a cultural day, because we want to visit the Museum Jumex after having my first week at ITAM. A week with has been interesting but also a bit confusing since there have been a lot of new information, and I have been speaking and hearing to Spanish all day long, which I really like. A thing I really like about Mexico is the street kitchen. Before we are going to see pictures and sculptures do Johan and I find a street kitchen where we are going to get our lunch. There is five people working in the small kitchen with is only 6 meter long and located on the street. The energy from the people working there is good. They start to make jokes with us and they are telling us that the others at the kitchen, who only are women getting there lunch are getting red in their faces by looking at us. The tacos are really delicious and we are enjoing the time before we continue to the Museum Jumex, where we are founding sculptures of Salvador Dalí.

To get around in Mexico City always takes a long time, but I really like the different wipe you are having from going in the Metro doing the morning, where women are taking on mascara to the street seller, who wants to sell you candy or hear phones or to the man in a suit is just enteoring the Metro when I’m at linie 7 and starts singing opera, wo he can sing louder than the speakers in the metro from where a cover version of “Yesterday” is playing. There is always something to look at or to experience when I’m getting around in the metro system.

Today after the museum visit, are Johan and I going to a pre party, with some Mexicans friends of Johan, so today we are taking the Uber. The roads are big, and we are driving on the top road so we can see over the city, with a soft light from the sun and the impressive view of all the different areas of Mexico city, I’m we on our way to the pre party, from here Mexico City seams endless. Only the mountains in the horizon are making the limit for the huge city.

Dance has no age

I can hear the sound from the drums and guitars, when I’m standing in front of La Catedral de San Juan Bautista, in the center of Coyoacán. I’m waiting on my Body Isra, who I’m going to meet with this Sunday afternoon. Sunday is a family day here in Mexico so the square is full of people. Because of the size of Mexico D.F, is every part of the city different and it fills like going to a new city, when you see the different from Condesa, San Angel y Coyacán only by naming a few of the areas in Mexico D.F. As Isra is explaining me, is Coyacán actually a small city that was build outside Mexico D.F. which is the reason for the different architecture and style of the houses, but over time as Mexico D.F. has been growing, Coyacán has been a part of the City. Not only is Coyacán a relaxed aria to be in where you don’t have the felling of being in a city with 22 million others, is is also famous for being the location where Frida Kahlo had her home.

After seeing La Catedral de San Juan Bautista meets Isra and I with Nina, Celine and Johan. The atmosphere is good when we all are together and heading of to La Casa de Cultura, where different sculptures can be seen, in this quiet and peaceful area. As we are walking around are we not only trying Churros, which you can have with a lot of different creams, such as Tequila, chocolate, mango and many mores. We are going to the marked, from where you can find nearly everything form really tasty mangos to candy and restaurants, from where we are going to have our Lunch. A tree course menu with drinks for only 70 pesos.

Los Gringos

When I’m walking down the street with Nina, Celine and Johan, do everybody know, that we are not from Mexico just with looking at the colour of our hears. In front of us, can we here salsa music and the louder the music is becoming, the more people can we see. At the square are people dancing. It is Sunday, so there is a different free wipe around people. There is a circle of people around the dancers. We are taking a spot there so we can fill the music and the people dancing. Soddenly is an older man in the 80s crossing the square through the dancing people, he is having a stick in both his hands. He is looking focused and having the direction directly towards Celine, he want to dance, but not with everybody, he wants to dance with her!

Celine is first, not so sure that she wants to dance, but Isra is fast over to convince her, because this older man is famous on Youtube for his dance moves. And I can tell you, dance has no age, cause when he is giving his sticks to a man in the circle and starting to dance with Celine, you wouldn’t believe that he is in the 80s. After just some seconds dancing with Celine is the older man also inviting Nina up for a dance. The music has change from Salsa to Rock, so he is showing them some good dance moves and putting his fingers trough his hear so it looks like he has been running to fast this morning and got a lot of wind through his hear. For this movement, at this specific time, is this man showing my that Dance and life has no age, since there is more than 60 years in different from the age of him and Celine and Nina but he still rocks like he must have done in his 20’s.

 

 

Mexico City – A part of 22 million

You can easily get lost, and feel that you are only a small part of the big city, especially when I’m sitting in the plain looking out of the window, from where I can see Mexico D.F. (Mexico City). From the window can I only see one house after another. Mexico D.F. is not a tall city, but it is huge in area and is located 2240 meter above sea level. Therefor to get from one place in the city to another can easily take an hour or more, and not only because of the distance but also because of the traffic.

I’ve now said goodbye to Monterrey after tree weeks, where I have meet a lot of new friends. I have meet a lot of locals, such as Shanel, Jessica, Maryxel, Cesar, Fredo, just to name a few who have been doing a lot for me to make my stay in Monterrey really good. Even though a new chapter now is starting in Mexico City is one thing for sure and it is that I’m going to meet them again, if not before then to The Hiding Beach Festival the 20-23. of august!

Now is the real semester going to start I’m about to find a new home here in Mexico D.F and start my semester at ITAM.