So I've been in MC-MX since Tuesday this week- a long trip of 11 days, 10 nights! Training our new team this week, merchandising our first store the next. Flight down was quick- 1 hr to Chicago- 4 hrs to Mexico City.
The city is much different than I ever imagined.
I’m staying in the Polanco district, which is a thriving area of nice residents, outdoor cafes’, boutiques, and great restaurants. The entire neighborhood was built for walking- large tree lined sidewalks, and winding streets- a dog lovers paradise.
As soon as I could- I started walking. Lincoln Park was my first area- gorgeous park with lots of art, fountains, reflecting ponds, and nice seating. The boutiques are nice, very small, and not much in them. The main street just a few blocks from my hotel is called Presidente Maskyerke- where all the big brands are- Louis, Tiffany, Hermes, Hugo Boss, etc. So I’ve stayed away- no need to see those as they are the same in every city.
Our first night we went out to a true Mexican restaurant called Dulce Patria- a formal, sit down place with an extensive menu. Shockingly- with 6 drinks, 3 appetizers,3 entrees and 1 dessert the bill was $110! And that has been a common theme- everything is really inexpensive compared to most other large cities I’ve been in.
Since cabs have a bad wrap, we’ve been taking “Uber’s” everywhere- the personal car service. To get most places in cities- it’s around $20-$30 one way. Here- 100pesos anywhere in the city! That’s only $6.70!
Lunches have been at sit down restaurants, and for 3 people, again, super reasonable- $60 has been the highest lunch.
We finished work early on Friday, and I headed to the Business district where the other team members were staying. I was so surprised at how European and modern it was. Large circular round about with sculptures and monuments in the middle. Lots of skyscrapers with the names of the big banks, and café are lining the boulevards.
Not as nice as Polanco, but still very resident friendly with many people out at the café’s mid day.
When I cam back to Polanco, it was around 5pm- gorgeous weather, so I decided to go out to- MB for a coffee and catch up on the blog. Friday afternoon + Warm weather+lots of people= beggars. The past 4 days there have been a casual 1 or 2 throughout the day, but this afternoon- oye- every corner has someone with a hat out, and as I’ve sat here there have been little kids coming up trying to sell me sandwiches, a man dressed up in Inca headdress dancing around me and then asking for money, and sadly- an guy probably my age playing an accordion with his young boy who looked so ragged and dirty asking me for money. It happens in every big city- happened in Istanbul, and so I took it as “it is what it is”, Especially as this is one of the happening/wealthier places in the city.
So my Spanish- I was working on my rosetta stone the past month, but between Christmas, travel, working on the house, and more travel, it’s been underutilized. Wow- if I only had known ☺ 1/10 speak English, and that might be a high estimate. On the positive I’ve been working some Spanish into my day- I just ordered another American in full Spanish- and they understood me! Yay!
Tonight is the last night for the Panama team who has been with me during training, so we’re going out to try the “local” bar game- a fun custom everyone in your party being electrocuted by car battery! Lol. Can’t wait to find out more of this.
We finished work early on Friday, and I headed to the Business district where the other team members were staying. I was so surprised at how European and modern it was. Large circular round about with sculptures and monuments in the middle. Lots of skyscrapers with the names of the big banks, and café are lining the boulevards.
Not as nice as Polanco, but still very resident friendly with many people out at the café’s mid day.
When I cam back to Polanco, it was around 5pm- gorgeous weather, so I decided to go out to- MB for a coffee and catch up on the blog. Friday afternoon + Warm weather+lots of people= beggars. The past 4 days there have been a casual 1 or 2 throughout the day, but this afternoon- oye- every corner has someone with a hat out, and as I’ve sat here there have been little kids coming up trying to sell me sandwiches, a man dressed up in Inca headdress dancing around me and then asking for money, and sadly- an guy probably my age playing an accordion with his young boy who looked so ragged and dirty asking me for money. It happens in every big city- happened in Istanbul, and so I took it as “it is what it is”, Especially as this is one of the happening/wealthier places in the city.
So my Spanish- I was working on my rosetta stone the past month, but between Christmas, travel, working on the house, and more travel, it’s been underutilized. Wow- if I only had known ☺ 1/10 speak English, and that might be a high estimate. On the positive I’ve been working some Spanish into my day- I just ordered another American in full Spanish- and they understood me! Yay!
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