(Nov 6, 2011)
Well I have been having a marvelous time in Mexico City and have been surrounded by friends here. Fabian (Sr.), Malu, and Fabian (Jr.) have been so incredibly welcoming and helpful! They have taken me around the outskirts of Mexico City to make sure I can see everything! We went to the Pyramids at Teotihuacan and on a river boat cruise in Xochimilco. The pyramids were amazing and I, of course, ran up as many as I could! On the river in Xochimilco there were floating food, drink and entertainment stands and the river was full of ruckus groups drinking beer and toasting to everyone's good health! What fun! On Monday Malu and I went into the Historic City Centre to see the Main Cathedral, the Zocalo (one of the largest squares in the world apparently), the Palace, and the Ron Muick Exhibit (an australian artist who creates lifelike silicone human forms and sculptures). We had a lot of fun, even though our trek to the Tequila and Mezcal Museum turned out to be in vain (it was closed!).
I have been spending the past few days with Eugen and Juan Carlos, a pair of wonderful cousins who stayed with us in 2005/6. We went into the huge Chapultapec park and saw the 'Castle' museum and spent a day running around helping me get organized for the next stages of my trip (bus tickets, cellphones, books etc). They were so helpful and trying to navigate this huge city and operate in Spanish was getting exhausting. Yesterday Eugen and Juan Carlos and I went to Coyoacan (for my 4th time - I love Coyoacan!) to look at the private galleries there and the Museums of Frida Khalo (amazing!) and Diego Rivera. After the galleries and museums we headed back to Fabian and Malu's beautiful house for an amazing lunch of straight-from-the-vine salad, Spaghetti Bolognese, freshly baked bread, and Spanish Merlot! After lunch we went for a walk to have Nieve (like Gelato) and we all went wild over the Red Wine, Tequila and Avocado flavours!
While in Mexico City I have also connected with a friend of mine from GNS (high school), who was a few grades above me and now works in the Canadian Embassy here in la Ciudad. A few nights ago we met over some Oaxacan Mezcal at a Mezcaleria in Coyoacan. Tonight I am going to a Halloween Party at the Canadian Embassy and I will leave for Guadalajara tomorrow morning!
I have also been in contact with Claire, a girl who works with the British Embassy here in Mexico City and remotely as the Latin America Communications Coordinator for Innovative Communities.org (the organization I am working with). Through meeting we have been able to draw up some concrete goals for my role within the foundation. As it stands now I will be drawing up a Project Research and Evaluation Template to be used for reporting on the various NGO/Not for Profit/Government-led community development initiatives that I stumble upon along my way. With this document I hope to create concise and comparable reports that will support InnovativeCommunities.org's initiatives in the field and provide suggestions for new community initiatives for them to start on next. I have also decided that I am going to treat this trip as a 'pre-masters research venture' whereby I will be writing down observations that I come across regarding public transportation and urban movements in each city that I pass through. I hope to be able to look back upon these notes after my trip to draw out themes and insights that can then be used as a base for an urban planning masters thesis. Mexico City is certainly a fantastic place to start a study of public transportation as it seems to have some good ideas but the sheer amount of people in the city has created significant difficulties in transportation plan executions!
I have had an amazing time while in Mexico City and, besides some cellphone difficulties, have had no problems nor felt in danger while here. I have met the most amazing people and look forward to keeping in touch with them as I travel on my journey.
Well I have been having a marvelous time in Mexico City and have been surrounded by friends here. Fabian (Sr.), Malu, and Fabian (Jr.) have been so incredibly welcoming and helpful! They have taken me around the outskirts of Mexico City to make sure I can see everything! We went to the Pyramids at Teotihuacan and on a river boat cruise in Xochimilco. The pyramids were amazing and I, of course, ran up as many as I could! On the river in Xochimilco there were floating food, drink and entertainment stands and the river was full of ruckus groups drinking beer and toasting to everyone's good health! What fun! On Monday Malu and I went into the Historic City Centre to see the Main Cathedral, the Zocalo (one of the largest squares in the world apparently), the Palace, and the Ron Muick Exhibit (an australian artist who creates lifelike silicone human forms and sculptures). We had a lot of fun, even though our trek to the Tequila and Mezcal Museum turned out to be in vain (it was closed!).
I have been spending the past few days with Eugen and Juan Carlos, a pair of wonderful cousins who stayed with us in 2005/6. We went into the huge Chapultapec park and saw the 'Castle' museum and spent a day running around helping me get organized for the next stages of my trip (bus tickets, cellphones, books etc). They were so helpful and trying to navigate this huge city and operate in Spanish was getting exhausting. Yesterday Eugen and Juan Carlos and I went to Coyoacan (for my 4th time - I love Coyoacan!) to look at the private galleries there and the Museums of Frida Khalo (amazing!) and Diego Rivera. After the galleries and museums we headed back to Fabian and Malu's beautiful house for an amazing lunch of straight-from-the-vine salad, Spaghetti Bolognese, freshly baked bread, and Spanish Merlot! After lunch we went for a walk to have Nieve (like Gelato) and we all went wild over the Red Wine, Tequila and Avocado flavours!
While in Mexico City I have also connected with a friend of mine from GNS (high school), who was a few grades above me and now works in the Canadian Embassy here in la Ciudad. A few nights ago we met over some Oaxacan Mezcal at a Mezcaleria in Coyoacan. Tonight I am going to a Halloween Party at the Canadian Embassy and I will leave for Guadalajara tomorrow morning!
I have also been in contact with Claire, a girl who works with the British Embassy here in Mexico City and remotely as the Latin America Communications Coordinator for Innovative Communities.org (the organization I am working with). Through meeting we have been able to draw up some concrete goals for my role within the foundation. As it stands now I will be drawing up a Project Research and Evaluation Template to be used for reporting on the various NGO/Not for Profit/Government-led community development initiatives that I stumble upon along my way. With this document I hope to create concise and comparable reports that will support InnovativeCommunities.org's initiatives in the field and provide suggestions for new community initiatives for them to start on next. I have also decided that I am going to treat this trip as a 'pre-masters research venture' whereby I will be writing down observations that I come across regarding public transportation and urban movements in each city that I pass through. I hope to be able to look back upon these notes after my trip to draw out themes and insights that can then be used as a base for an urban planning masters thesis. Mexico City is certainly a fantastic place to start a study of public transportation as it seems to have some good ideas but the sheer amount of people in the city has created significant difficulties in transportation plan executions!
I have had an amazing time while in Mexico City and, besides some cellphone difficulties, have had no problems nor felt in danger while here. I have met the most amazing people and look forward to keeping in touch with them as I travel on my journey.
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