For a long time, since February earlier this year, I have been craving the sea and sun. Not only was I craving sunshine, but winter was also fast approaching and with it more sick people in general therefore covid propaganda was bound to follow. I was right and as the UK and other European countries talked about tightening restrictions I was on my way to Mexico City.
15th October 2020
So, I was denied entry to my flight to Mexico yesterday as it had a stopover in the States. Theoretically, I should have been allowed regardless of my passport as I’d spent enough time outside of the Schengen in Serbia, but there’s no arguing with these people.
I am tired of this covid bullshit.
I found myself stranded in CDG, Paris and I considered returning home, but the thought of returning to the same living conditions that I left was uncomfortable.
I did manage to organise a flight to Mexico in the end, of which I am currently transiting.
I was past the point of frustration and one guy saw the anger across my face and asked me what I wanted to do.
Keeping my answer sane, I replied, “I just want to go to Mexico.”
And thankfully, he said, “oh that’s easy”.
I hate the airport staff. All five of the other staff I spoke to rejected anything I had to say before the words left my mouth. I also find French people generally rude when it comes to speaking English. But anyway, he took me to the VIP desk and after about an hour I had my flight to Mexico booked.
It cost me just under £1000 instead of the £300 I had intended to pay from Serbia, but the chance to escape Europe’s approaching bullshit covid winter is priceless.
Anyway, that is all over now. I’m yet to arrange accommodation when I arrive tonight, but I am extremely excited to be in Mexico. I love the food and culture.
I only need a hostel for a few nights as I have arranged a workaway with a woman living in the city, helping with her online business.
16th October 2020
Went on a free walking tour today. It was shite. I’m still working out living costs here, so I definitely gave too much of a tip.
But the “tour-guide” did help me book an appointment at the hairdressers. Yepp, nine months of hair, gone, and boy do I feel fresh.
19th October 2020
I had a pretty good birthday. It wasn’t anything crazy or special like I organised for my twenty-fifth birthday, but I was in good company.
I received a super cute video from my host’s daughter in Sweden, which put a smile on my face, as she spoke the English that she’d learned from me.
And my sister sent me videos of her opening my cards for me. I can’t say I trusted her entirely to tell me if I had received any cash from relatives.
I’m glad I made the move to Mexico, though I would like to find a fellow backpacker to travel around with for a bit. Mainly for safety concerns.
Anyway, I have two to three weeks here in Mexico City to find that person.
Today I will finish my blog post, September in Sweden.
20th October 2020
I need to message mum for her birthday today.
I’m really enjoying everything at the moment. I should have two websites to work on by the end of the week. One for Tara and one for Adriana. I also have a lot of blogging to do, but I actually don’t feel too much pressure with it, as I’ve posted a lot this month already.
I’m going to get a Mexican SIM today too.
25th October 2020
I went to the movies the other night. It was a small cute one. Adriana was having a bit of a bad day, so I accommodated her for the evening.
I also went to Chapultapec, with Adriana and Lewis – Lewis is also living in Adrian’s house. Chapultepec is a big park in Mexico City and I think there is a small zoo, but a whole bunch of the park is taped off due to covid restrictions.
I always say this, that I need to write more frequently. I almost forgot that we travelled to Ecuatpec, one of the el barrios around Mexico City. A Mexican favela if you will. I wanted to see what kind of life they have there and actually, it seems pretty nice outside of the houses. I don’t know what the living conditions are like inside, but there seems to be a much stronger community there.
And I would like to compare it to the slums of Europe. The colours of this place were incredible and the street art, insane. Although these guys are far poorer than the people in the city in terms of money, they live. The slums are so damn grey, dirty and disgusting in Europe. There’s a clear divide between the gold and the grey – and people tell me there isn’t a Marxism power in control.
I went for dinner this evening with Charlotte, a French girl and Daniel from the States. I met them both in Casa Pepe, the hostel I stayed in for two nights when I first arrived in Mexico City.
It was bloody pricey, considering Mexico. We were definitely amongst the rich people of Mexico. It’s a bit of a give away when you see old women in their flowery dresses and pearls around their necks. I’m not a fan of the current gap between classes.
I tried the calf brains in my attempt to eat more variations of meat. It was huge, so I’m glad Daniel had agreed to go halves with me and share his lean steak.
I went out last night, unnecessarily actually. I know what drove me (girls) and I finished the night unsatisfied. I don’t really like clubbing and those scenes anyway, so it really was a waste of money and time.
Saying that I did get to experience an underground club in Mexico City. Underground meaning the entrance was several staircases below street level and behind a hidden door.
I played football this morning. Not for long, but it was nice to kick a ball again. It was a legit Sunday league football game, which I find fairly entertaining. I was honoured as a European signing. Can you imagine an English guy walking onto a Mexican Sunday league pitch?
We had to take a boat across a river to reach the pitches too. Honestly, everything was full of humour.
The pitches though were of decent quality and the backdrop views – mountains all around were real beautiful.
26th October 2020
I just visited a market today in between doing some work.
I also agreed to do some yoga with Charlotte and Daniel. It was my first time and it was pretty cool. I would like to be a member of a club and do it socially in the future for sure.
The sunset views also made it an amazing experience.
I would stretch my right arm to the sky and look beyond my fingertips to the setting sun.
I would then stretch my left arm to the sky and look beyond my fingertips to the rising moon.
27th October 2020
I discovered recently that the word chocolate derives from the Aztec word xocoatl. Which meant just one thing. I had to find a hot chocolate cafe with authentic chocolate from Mexico.
I succeeded. I had a Pan de Muerte for the first time too.
I’ve also been craving fish recently, so I went for some sushi this evening. Damn it was so good and cheap.
28th October 2020
Nathan and I decided to escape the city vibes for the day today. We went on a hike on the Camino al Convento trail through Parque Nacional Desierto de Los Leones.
It was a nice walk – tiring because of the altitude Mexico city is at – but nice, through the pine trees and away from the hustle of the city.
The walk takes you to an old convent now abandoned by nuns, but still open for tourism. It costs like 20pesos to enter and why not for such a low price.
Though the lake and the man-made surrounding water works and river were more interesting for me to see.
We just walked around and talked for a bit, then headed back down.
We took a different route down, as we neared the bottom we found a few house-restaurants. Literally just people’s houses but they cook for hikers.
So we stopped in one and without knowing the law decided to take our beer with us and walk the last of the hike, beer in hand.
That’s when the police drove past.
Yeah, it turns out that it’s forbidden to walk with alcohol. Nathan did the translations for me and worked as an unpaid translator.
It didn’t take long for me to realise these were just like the plastics we have back home. In the UK they’re called community support, but in Mexico, they are called auxiliary.
No guns, no badges, no handcuffs, no protection on the police car. The only thing I was concerned about is who their friends might have been, but I played their bluff all the same.
They tried to extort 1000pesos (£40 roughly). I told them to either write us a fine or put us in the back of the police car. I knew if we were taken to the station they wouldn’t receive any money and they would have to fill out boring paperwork, so guess what…
He decided to “be the nice guy” and let us off with a warning. Idiota. The rest of the trip went smoothly, though Nathan and I were both riled up.
31st October 2020
It’s been pretty cool staying here with all of the Dias de Muertos decorations – which is actually tomorrow and the 2nd November. Halloween is an American holiday.
I went to a club last night by accident. I was supposed to just be meeting a girl as she was having a party in a ranch outside of the city, though I’d only spoken to her through Tinder, so I wanted to meet her in person before I go to a ranch in the Mexican countryside.
I enjoyed myself for one song, but Nathan loved it. He said he hadn’t been in that scenario with the music and the dancing in over a year due to covid.
Today I went to Xochimilco. It was originally an Aztec town, but obviously, those days have gone. Now it serves as a tourism cash cow where you can rent a boat for a few hours and ride up the many canals. It was fun I have to admit. I would like to do it at night one time as I think it would be really beautiful at dusk with all of the lights and singing.
23rd November 2020
That concludes my move to Mexico and the end of October. I will be writing month by month now as it keeps some rhythm to my writing.
I’ve since moved on from Mexico City, and I’m living in Veracruz, which is on the coast of Mexico. I plan and I have already implemented a get fit scheme whereas I eat healthy and plentiful in combination with the gym five days a week, to bulk up.
But more on that when I write my November update.
I hope you’re all staying safe wherever you are in the world, and I hope these stories can inspire you to travel as soon as possible.
Much love,
Ricky