‘

Ariba! Ariba! The short flight trip into Mexico City direct from Houston has begun!

Off to a good start as I fly with ‘Air Mexico and the flight is practically empty! I’ve all three seats to myself. I arrive in Mexico City getting off of a very Mexican orientated flight, get my passport stamped and it’s a cab ride to the ‘Hostel Mundo Joven Catedral’. I’ve no pesos on me whatsoever so I need to do a quick check on my currency app and realise the Peso is 25 to the pound. I am smack bang in the middle of the city here. Perfect hostel choice location. The hostel itself is huge and I’m booked into a mixed dorm of six on first floor. This place has a rooftop also as well and the view from it is absolutely fantastic! I’m buzzing at mo, this place has it all…

So I log my phones and iPad into the wifi here, immediately I’m hit with a not connected message which I can’t understand at all. I check with Reception and they reluctantly inform me that because it’s an old building the wifi reception is practically non existent as well as it being a busy hostel and everybody being on it at same time, there is no chance of getting consistent wifi! Only times I will get any at all is either during the day or late at night. Well I can’t be having that so off out I went to get a Mexican sim card and data. Some of us have people we like to stay in touch with throughout the day normally back home!

I used this as a good chance to go out for a walk and see what’s happening here! I am on immediate red alert for pick pockets and muggers as being aware of your surroundings starts from here I tell myself. To be honest it’s absolutely fine, it’s incredibly noisy here and I’m a bit taken back by all the constant stares I keep on getting. Gringo alert! Blue eyed, blonde hair and does not look at all like any of the locals, I now have a slight feeling of what it must feel like to walk around as a celebrity! So many nice beautiful tall old and modern buildings and being based right next to the Metropolitan Cathedral meant having a good look inside to see how beautiful it is on the inside to. I then use this chance to go up Mexicos very own version of the Empire State ‘LatinosAmericanas’ The pics speak for themselves!

The life starts early here in Mexico City so there’s never no lie ins, in fairness it did me world of good throughout my time here as it makes you want to get up for breakfast at the hostel as its too noisy outside for a late riser. I never missed a days breakfast there as it was always so nice and had plenty of variety to choose from. I never left there without leaving on a full stomach and set for the day ahead. I’ve a week here so it’s time to get my plan in order of what I wanna see and do throughout the week. What’s definitely appealing to me is the walking tour which involved going to the markets, seeing witchcraft and learning the history of the city itself. The wrestling trip where you go to watch the locals all throwing each other around in Mexican latino heat style wrestling and of course the Theotihucan pyramids tour is a must see also. I split these up so I had time to get these all booked and paid for in advance to avoid any delays on the day. First up was the market/street tour. All of these by way, the hostel all provided.

After taking a walk through the market previously the same morning of the afternoon market tour me and and some new friends I had made from the hostel already kinda had a jist of what was to come but the tour actually brought out some nice surprises where we got to try the local tacos, fruit and candy sweets. All very nice and certainly worth a taste although the candy sweets I swerved as there were some wasps having a right old field day inbetween all of it. Literally had to walk through a swarm of them at one point, didn’t like that bit!

After that I went to the other side of the market where the witchcraft was and it’s something that was always going to be quite interesting for me, something I’ve never looked too much into without a great deal previously and I wanted to see what it was all about to be honest.

I passed various odd looking items and some very intriguing characters around that side of the market but it was something that has always fascinated me as I am a big believer in the afterlife and underworld. Here in Mexico City it is taken seriously and I didn’t wanna be the jokester of the group coming up unstuck during or at the end of the tour. Feel free to take a look through these!

Weird eh! We then finished up and bought a Piñata for some fun and games with the group on the roof that night. One of the tourguides was leaving so let’s just say a few Tequilas and Mezcals were drunk that night direct from the bottle! It was that night I found out a travel friend of mine I met in Toronto Eugene was actually in Mexico City also! Got him in on the action and invited him on in for a good catch up! It was on this night also I met some cracking Irish fellas who sorted me out an awesome itinerary for Guatemala and getting back up to Cancun Mexico afterwards. I can’t thank those two enough for that!

Next day was a bit of a blur after all the drinks but I had the day to recover fully as it was time for some Latino wrestling activity! Nobody likes wrestling more then the Mexicans this side of the globe! Pick up was at 18:30 and I was only accompanied by one other person from the hostel. I can’t remember her name but she was from Brazil and gave me sound advice for best places to go in Brazil. All that to come still!

We are collected by our guide and both taken to a minibus where it was just three of us and the driver. We are given masks to wear in same style as Rey Mysterio and shots of tequila of course to get us in the mood!

The wrestling in itself was pretty predictable and I lost tracks of amount arm drag take downs and hurricanranas! In fairness I was expecting bit more imagination and some midgets would of made it bit more fun but sadly it was very much same old scene for each match. Most matches seemed to be in sequence of three falls and lots of triple tag team matches. They have a written rule out here that if opponent has their mask removed during contest it’s an instant defeat an humiliation for the loser. The mask is a big deal here! It only happened once so not that a big deal anyhow lol. One thing that did stand out was there was a gay wrestler named Marco who the crowd took a real liking to, he had pink hair, was very camp and spent majority of time chasing his opponent around the ring for a smooch! It was good to see the team he was on won as it gave us some enjoyment and laughter seeing his victory dance lol! Here’s a few shots from the night and a video, see if you can recognise the guy in the white mask!

The next day me and the Irish guys took a walk into town for some more sightseeing. We were amazed we witnessed a practically naked protest of at least 300 odd Mexican guys in hats and their pants and women with their boobs out wearing just jeans to cover their lower halfs! Obviously it was a social media opportunity and a lot of people started filming it! This just doesn’t happen in UK! Here see it for yourself and let me know what you think these crazy Mexicans are on!

That day was the same day I bought my ticket for the pyramids Theotihucan tour as its a no brainer when your in Mexico City! These are an absolute must do! The tour itself is a long day out as you start early and finish late so be prepared for a long one.

I needed this trip to round off my trip in the City as its one more thing to fire back at all those that thought I wouldn’t last five mins on this trip! So far I’m managing to cope ok and yes it has been a struggle but as time has gone on I have certainly found it easier. Just something you gotta stick at. Anyways, enough ranting lol!

The tour in itself I found very interesting and I learnt a lot from it all with how there was a quite a difference in size between the two Pyramids and their structures. One easier to climb then the other but not an issue completing, sorry about that my hatas! Here are some pics from what was an achievement in it’s own for me. “I’m A Survivor!”

I had spent a good week here in Mexico City and it was time to try out the new chapter of my new found itinerary starting with the beautiful San Cristóbal which is based in Chiapas Mexico. Mexico City is a fun city with loads going on all the time.

Once at San Cristóbal it’s from here I begin the long awaited trip to Guatemala eventually. Time for some Mezcal me thinks. Till next time boys and girls! Muchas Gracias and Salud!