Blogging on Mexico City.

I'm due to depart at dawn tomorrow on a field trip to Mexico City which should generate plenty of fodder for this blog. It has already started with a comment by a new teacher who was surprised I was going since he'd been told by someone not to visit Mexico City! That's like going to the United States without seeing New York City, or Egypt and passing up Cairo, or Peru and avoiding Lima and the list goes on. All big cities are dangerous, polluted and you must have your wits about you, but to dismiss it outright is just a shame since these hot spots of the world have so much to offer. The history, culture and archetecture of Mexico City is awe inspiring, exciting and supremely educational. The museum of Anthropology knows no rival and there are few cities as bustling, as magnificent and exciting as a first trip to the Districto Federal. I'm all for it but I could be slightly prejudiced since my husband hails from D.F. and almost all his family lives there, therefore I get the "insiders" point of view. If you can go with someone "in the know" it's certainly preferable and there are plenty of precautions to be taken. Therefore, join me on our trip and I'll do my best to give you the goods as they unfold in case you want to plan a trip for the future. Vamanos!

Siete Hambres.

The locals call the month of September the seven hungers since it represents the deepest of the low season depths. Very few tourists visit us in September since it's hot, humid, rainy and generally uncomfortable although there is the odd person who claims to enjoy this temporada for it's spectacular storms. Hmmm, I'll take November now, please! I find our lives revolve around air-conditioning at this time of year. When I'm out walking, I will often duck into a store just for respite from the pounding heat. I don't want to get out of my car at times and as soon as I get home, I head for the bedroom and crank the air. I do this after almost 20 years of tropical living during which time my blood is supposed to have thinned, so I can only imagine how the newly arrived must suffer. Ugh! I know people who won't set foot in Vallarta at this time of year and I can't blame them. I am longing for those chilly early mornings when getting up and going outside is really pleasurable and a person can actually use a sweater late at night. What a concept. Only a month and a half to go...tick, tock.

A Night Out.

You'd never know it was the "low" season judging by the amount of people out and about in town last night. A group of us were meeting at the popular Italian eatery, "La Dolce Vita" which has good food and a great view of the ocean from the second floor and were a bit surprised to find we had to wait for a table even though we had reservations. Some of the gals satiated their thirst with the popular "Cran-tini" which is a mixture of Absolut and cranberry juice and packs a whallop. Others settled for a more pedestrian drink such as a rum and coke.
The appetizers were very appetizing and they included marinated mushrooms, bruscetta and deep fried calamari with a garlicky dipping sauce. Main courses included very fresh pasta in a wide variety of delectable sauces, gnocchi, pizza and salads. It seemed like everyone was very satisfied with the quality of the food. I would recommend this spot to anyone craving some good Italian food in a beautiful setting.

General Musings.

I have a thing about all these people on the television these days saying, "it was amazing!" and "totally awesome," "actually," and "absolutely!" Everyone seems to be spouting the same phrases and it's really getting on my nerves. Why can't anyone use an adjective other than amazing? Has no one ever heard of a thesaurus? If not, they need to get one before it's too late! I purposely try not and use those particular words/phrases because they are so over used in the popular culture. Some may think it's hip to say "amazing" but I think it just demonstrates a stunted vocabulary and penchant for lemming-like verbal mimicry. Let's try and be more original and broaden our laundry list of pat responses and dump the parrot mentality. Wouldn't conversation be more interesting without all the "absolutleys"? Most assuredly! I wish some of those talking heads would break out that thesaurus and wrap the incredibly versatile English language around their tongues, savor it and then use it. It's such a lyrical language and it deserves better.