There's a storm coming....I can see the lightning and feel the rain

Crazy traffic as streets are blocked off for pedestrians. This city is partying!

Amazing taco spot! Spicy!!

Beautiful! Bellas Artes!

Pictures (out of order)

This was in the square. Men and women were dressed as Aztec warriors (by my totally untrained eye) and blessing people with burning herb bundles.

Laurel outside of Diego Rivera's studio, with Frida's small blue house in the background. The cactus fence was pretty awesome.

Kamille in our window seat/ledge

Those are paper mache skulls hanging from the scaffolding, and you can't tell, but they were pretty big!

One of the alters in the Zocolo

The archways leading into the Zolocolo

Flying into Mexico City!

Our first meal!

Dias de los Muertos

The night we got in, after the ladies had met up with us, we hopped onto the metro and headed into the Zolocolo which is a huge square right in the Historic District. It was incredible! People in costumes everywhere, huge sets and a stage with enormous skulls and fire dancers in elaborate huge headdresses, and all around the square were alters set up. Food carts with so many different snacks to chose from. Loud, loud drumming. People everywhere!

The next day we trekked out to the houses and studio of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo which was a ways away from where we are staying, but the metro is fast and easy, so wasn't too painful. It was pretty cool seeing their house set up, separate but connected by a rooftop walkway. Frida's house was small and painted vibrant blue, and set up mostly as a gallery. Diego Rivera's studio though was left as he had had it, and I have to say, as an artist, I have never been more envious of an artistic space. It had very tall windows that pretty much made up an entire wall, with towering ceilings, and weird creatures, and dolls, and paintings set up throughout, as well as brushes and pigments. It was awesome, and a little disappointing they had not treated Frida's space the same way.

From there we went back to the Zocolo area which was a madhouse. We were looking for the Government building that houses a few of Diego Rivera's huge murals, but never found them, and opted to go grab food instead. We went to the Mi Mercado a few blocks from our hotel and Laurel re-fell in love with the indoor Mexican market. Soon after that, the girls left and Wyatt and I took naps, still not having quite recovered from our travel days, and little sleep, etc. I woke up from the nap sick. Boo. Not surprising really since I always get sick when I travel, but a real bummer nonetheless. We did go back to wander the festive streets some more, and pretty much every person we saw was decked out in costumes. It feels a little insane, the energy here. We got some tacos at a street vendor which were amazing for the first few bites, and quickly became one of the spiciest things I have ever eaten. Wyatt and I were sweating and panting, seriously, it hurt.

Today has been a hard one with me being sicky, but we have tried to make the most of it. Fruit for breakfast, in the sun for starters. Then went to the beautiful Museo Belles Artes, which, among almost all of the museums in the city, is free on Sunday. There were some incredible huge murals there, my favorite of which were by Rivera. The building itself is gorgeous. Then we went and bought a camera cord (pics uploaded later!) and wandered around more. The press of people was too thick though, and I was too sick to handle it any more, so I came "home" and Wyatt went to find a supermarket. It sucks cause we were going to go to Luche Libre (Mexican wrestling) tonight, but I just don't feel up to it. Maybe in a few days in Oaxaca city?? I bet Laurel and Kamille would be excited about that too....

MEXICO!!

Ok, so it is almost a year later, and we are back on the road. We spent the day in the bay area yesterday with my wonderful family and my beautiful niece. Unfortunately she was sick and teething on a molar, but still managed to be about the most adorable little thing ever. I was also feeling a little under the weather because Wyatt and I have very generous friends who toasted us and our trip late into the night the night before. Very few hours sleep. Very tired travelers.

We left from the San Fransisco airport today at 12:15, and a short 4.5 hours later, we landed in Mexico City!!! Feels so good to be back in Latin America, struggling to find our Spanish again, hearing loud music pulsing on all sides, etc. etc. Traveling is amazing!

We are checked into our hotel, we have eaten (ok, inhaled) two tortas (I love street food!) and are sitting drinking cuba libre with the window open waiting for Laurel and Kamille to arrive at any time. I forgot my camera cord (I was realy out of it when i packed) so I will beg Laurel to let me use hers to upload photos. Just wanted to ressurect this blog and let everyone know we arrived safe and pretty painlessly (Economy Plus seats=5 inches more leg room! Yes, thank you!)