From Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende....and not much in between
Disclaimer: Currently posted up at a lovely bar enjoying the play off games and my 4th, soon to be 5th margarita. Please forgive my typos and grammar…seriously, save it for a time when I might care…
So it turns out the Mexico City subway system isn’t much of an adventure at all…which quite frankly is a good thing! It’s SUPER cheap (I’m talking 30 cents) and takes you to wherever you want to go! It’s not like the various systems in the US where the further you go the more you pay; no, its a flat fee, and its cheap, safe, and FAST. Trains come every 2 min and there is a special section for women and children only, plus free wifi! You literally can get anywhere in the city for 30 cents and faster than driving… like I said, traffic and congestion in CDMX is cray.
We took the subway to the bus station and hopped on a bus to Teotihuacan, which is a conglomeration and sorts of pyramids from the 150-200 AD period used for politicians, priests and social gatherings. Had we hired a guide for $25 each we would know everything about the historical site, but alas, we were/are too cheap! We walked around, read the historical facts, climbed the hundreds of steps to the top of the Pyramide del Sol and took in the fantastically dry and smoggy view; which was impressive and unimpressive all at the same time. I can appreciate the tact, skill, and manpower that must have required sans machines and knowledge we have now, but it is still unfortunate that such an incredible site is tarnished by the pollution of modern society. Either way, it was a place that had we not visited, we would have been scoffed at travelers and tourists alike… and for a mere $10 for the two of us!
As we arrived back to CDMX, we decided to head to the biggest park in the city, which houses museums, lakes, and a zoo (you know I didn’t visit, thats a WHOLE other blog). We wandered, decided to splurge $4 on the Archeological museum, and of course we got into some banter about creation vs evolution, and ultimately decided to just focus on the stone carvings in front of us. About 8 miles and a blister later, we headed back to our hostel and packed up for our morning trip to San Miguel de Allende…another subway and bus trip awaited us; but this time we had our back packs with is, and of course Meghan’s trusty blister.
Like I said, Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende has nothing in between, and honestly had I woke up mid bus ride, I could have easily mistaken the scenery for Central California, reminiscent of my Modestan roots! However, arriving to San Miguel de Allende you are greeted by the old churches, cobble stone streets, and colorful buildings. But before we could indulge in the quaint vibes of SMdA (this is my own lazy abbreviation), we first had to hop on the local city bus which was jam packed like sardines and accompanied by a delightful mariachi band with a side of screaming children (quieted by a piece of candy… am I still in America?). With the help of a couple local passengers we disembarked and headed down a quiet street lined with colorful buildings, souvenir shops, and restaurants with picturesque door ways. My thought: “I can get down with this.; cute place, causal, drinks, and hopefully good food.” This is exactly what we have found in SMdA; minus the cheap and desperately missed prices of CDMX. Literally I might as well be in any city in the US, which makes sense; SMdA is a destination which apparently attracts retirees from US, Europe, and Canada. Let me tell you, today Meghan and I ventured to a spot recommended by a friend who had visited recently for a wedding, upon arrival to this lovely rooftop tapas bar, we quickly realized we had ventured past our budget. Seems like SMdA may be divided into two areas; backpacker/locals vs old white money, and while MegHan and I may be white, we lack money and age. Needless to say we detoured to the nearest bar with tacos and proceeded to drown our penniless souls with tequila.
Which brings us to the now; holed up in a deliciously quaint, aesthetically pleasing bar, Sirena Gorda; colorfully capturing the vibe of SMdA; beautiful, quaint, relaxing, with a side of bouge; essentially right up my alley. Tomorrow we depart this little slice of retired America and head back to CDMX before heading to Riviera Maya for Crash My Playa. Until then, I will enjoy my strolls through the cobble stone, picturesque, and cozy town; I know I will soon be greeted by cheap and delicious food served in a haze of unhealthy air quality (index 155 FYI) known as CDMX. Interestingly enough, I’m kinda looking forward to getting back to the grime of a big city… or is it being on the move… or the spray tan calling my name? Who knows, but I’m excited…
Update: Met some Californian’s and ended up in a strange and irrelevant debate about who came from a shittier place in California: Modesto VS Bakersfield VS Antelope Valley… Who am I? Why did I just degrade myself? Must be the shot of tequila…
