I guess it's been three years since I've been here. Fortunately, I remembered some of what I discovered last time.
My flight from L.A. was short, unfortunately. I say unfortunately, because I was hoping to get some sleep. Unbelievably they fed us - soup and a pasta chicken salad - I ate the soup and the cookie but the pasta was horrible, and this was in first class. I then tried getting some sleep. There was a movie with Zack Effron playing - the same movie they showed when I flew from Philly to SF. I watched it then without headphones. It didn't look like something I was interested in. Since I couldn't really fall asleep, I watched it again with no headphones. I guess one day I might watch it with sound.
We arrived at about 5:20 a.m. I remember the last time I came, my bag was the last one off and there was a really long line for customs. This time my bag was almost the first one and there was no line. I breezed through customs and immigration and was soon in a taxi speeding through the eerily deserted city.
Well, the city wasn't really deserted. I've seen SF more deserted at 10 p.m., but this is Mexico City, one of the (if not THE) largest cities in the world. It was still dark. There was a little traffic, not much, and there were a lot of police riding along flashing their lights. I am not sure what that was for, but perhaps a deterrent to the crime that supposedly happens after dark? I'm not sure if it made me feel any safer. It was kind of strange.
I arrived at the hotel about 6:30. Check in is at 3:00. I wasn't sure if they would let me check in early, and was about to say, "I am a little early" but decided not to say anything. The clerk just gave me the key and sent me up to my room. How great is that?
I love the room. It's a suite with a huge bed and a little living area. It also has a microwave and refrigerator and sink. The tub has jets. It's quiet and comfortable. It was a good find. If anyone needs a hotel in DF this is the Eurostars Suites Zona Rosa. It's affordable, clean, quiet and very comfortable - unlike the Hotel Geneve, across the street, where I spent one night before changing - it was old, noisy, and my room smelled like cigarette smoke (which was coming from outside).
I threw my bag in the closet and decided to lie down for a bit and try to get some sleep before going down for breakfast. I fell asleep and then woke up and looked at the clock. It was 9. I felt I needed sleep more than food, so I slept more. Then it was 9:30. Breakfast finished at 10. I knew I needed a shower and to get cleaned up so I went back to sleep. I slept until 11. I wasn't really hungry yet. I showered, got dressed and set up my computer. Then I went out to find food.
I was looking for this cute little place I found last time that served good Mexican food. I knew it was on the other side of Florence, a big avenue a few blocks away, but I wasn't sure what street it was on. So I walked down the pedestrian street around the block that runs parallel to Londres, the street I'm on. It was clear I was on the wrong street, so I headed over to Londres. At first I thought the restaurant was replaced with an Italian restaurant, but then I passed this little place that looked familiar. They had a lunch menu for 45 pesos (about 4 US).
I was the first one there. It was 12:30. I always seem to be eating against the schedule in all of these places I go to. I didn't care. I got to sit at a table outside.
First came a dish of rice. I ate that and then had chicken breast with spinach and beans. It was good. Not too filling, but good. It reminded me of an Argentine lunch except that they had yummy salsa which I put on everything.
I headed back towards my hotel and passed the restaurant I was looking for. It is called La Beatrice or something like that. There were several people already eating there.
I came back to my room, took a nap and played with my computer a little. Since I don't use my laptop when I'm not traveling, there were all of these updates to be done. Once that was done, I went to Starbucks.
I never go to Starbucks except when I am traveling. It's a comfortable place to hang out and there is a nice one nearby on Paseo de la Reforma. I got a raspberry frapuccino and sat and watched the office workers head back to work. Everyone was dressed very stylishly and most people were very thin. Every now and then a tourist would walk by wearing shorts and sandals or flip flops. They were quite a contrast to the thin, well-dressed Mexicans.
Soon I was hungry again and decided to head back to La Beatrice or whatever it is called. It was crowded and there were no outside tables. I took a table facing the lady making tortillas. I ordered tinga con pollo (chicken tinga). I wasn't sure what tinga was, but I know I had it before and liked it.
It was very hot from the heat of the stove where the tortillas were being made. First the waitress asked me if I wanted "consumita" (consumme) I said yes. Then she asked if I wanted "arocita" (arroz/rice) - she kept putting "ita" on the end of everything which makes it diminutive - a little consumme, a little rice - it was very cute. The soup was good and came with rice in it and a dish of cilantro, onion and jalapenos. I put a little too much jalapeno, but it was good.
The tinga was fair and after the soup and the rice I was full, so I couldn't finish it, but I did enjoy the fresh made tortillas.
I walked back to Paseo de la Reforma and watched people parade past. A lot of people seemed to have been out for a walk, or maybe they went to the zoo or something. Several gay couples walked by holding hands. I looked to see if anyone reacted and there was no reaction. They were just like everyone else who walked by (except to me because I was staring and smiling when they passed).
It was a pleasant day. I didn't feel like doing much. I ate too much and am still tired. I'm going to see what's on TV and then maybe go out later for some tacos and a little stroll before going to bed.
Tomorrow I will probably hit the anthropology museum and have lunch there. Then on Saturday I'm off to Oaxaca for a week.
My first day back in Mexico City was pretty uneventful, and I think that's a good thing.
