Our abode in Condesa

I just crashed in my friends Air BnB. On Christmas Eve I booked a night there by myself (way more pricey than I would normally spend on one nights accomo) but my friends arrived on the 26th. 

Our quaint little abode.

Our Air BnB host had messaged me on Whatsap saying "Dear Grace, Welcome to Mexico City. In the apartment there are regulations seals from the local administration please note you won't have any issues during your stay. The seals don't look great but unfortunately we have to wait to remove them. Cheers, Diago"

I didn't think much of these until the rest of the crew arrived. Then I decided to send to a couple of Spanish speaking friends to see what they said. A Mexican friend responded with simply "Closed by The government". My friend Bec, who lives in Perth but speaks fluent Spanish was a little more descriptive with her reply. "It's basically saying you will get sanctioned if you violate the clauses... but it doesn't say which ones".

At this point some of our travel party were concerned, as there was a lingering damp feel in the air of the apartment. They wanted to make sure it wasn't condemned.

Not so quaint official warnings on our front door.
"Scansions apply if you violate the causes"

We asked for our Diago to clarify. "It was a mistake so it taking ages to solve but actually the sanctions apply when you are building a place, not after it is being built. In this case, sanctions also apply if we remove the labels without permission". I for one choose to believed them.

As the accomodation only had two double beds I was destine for the couch. Unfortunately the couch wasn't designed in a way conducive to sleeping (see image below). Mandy found me a quilted blanket, so I folded that up as a sleep mat and slept exceptionally well. It wasn't actually that much of a blow out as the bed Mandy and Hamish had was so hard it was like sleeping on the floor anyway.

The couch

We were staying deep in the heart of 'Condesa' a delightful bohemian arty suberb. Condesa and neighboring Colonia Roma were together designated as a "Barrio Mágico Turístico" ("Magic Neighborhood for Tourists") by the city in 2011. 

Mexico City sits at 2250m. This is the 8th highest capital city in the world, with Bolivia's La Paz (3640m) the highest. 2250m is high enough to affect humans like us who are used to living at sea level. 

"Altitude sickness is a reaction to the lower amounts of oxygen available at high altitudes (due to the lower air pressure)." - this generally only occurs at heights over 3000m, at which point you have to acclimatise. 

So symptoms expected for us were just general tiredness, feeling some shortness of breath, and the desire for naps. Mandy is a #1 napper even at sea level but she did well to manage without afternoon naps. 

On day one after adventuring all day we were all zonked and went to bed at 9pm and although sleeping on the floor I still slept until 8am, an astonishing 11 hours!! 

My little LEGO Christmas tree fitted right in

This table. I want. So great.
And Diego and Lola left us lovely flowers. 

Woahh Mexico, I've never really been so I guess I should go!

I have made it to Mexico City!! The flight was fine, slept a lot (sleeping anywhere is one of my most gifted skills). I enjoyed the longest Christmas ever, sharing LEGO santas  with as many people as I could. I think the most grateful recipient was the young boy sitting next to me on the flight from Auckland to San Fran. He was suffering hell on earth when we landed due to pressure in his poor wee skull. Something my family will know I can relate to, as that was me at a child. I gave him a LEGO santa and he said "no that's your santa", I said I work at LEGO so have way too much LEGO. Then he took it. Phew.

 

LEGO Santas

When boarding our plane to Mexico City, a guy in front of my boarding paused to kiss and pray to the plane. This buzzed me out a little bit, but it's surely not a bad thing being on a plane which has been prayed for. When we landed  the guy behind me started singing 'Feliz Navida' my brother Fynn's most favourite Christmas song. At that moment I ALMOST thought I had had enough of Christmas for one year. I believe this is a good sign of the tone of my holiday to come.

The corridor where we are staying.

My luggage didn't quite make it to Mexico with me. I wasn't really surprised as due to a delay in San Fran I only just passed through American customs as my plane was already boarding, I had to run to make my flight. My pack doesn't however have legs to sprint as well as I can. 

The important things made it to Mexico

United airlines said it should arrive today at midday, so we will see. 

Update: bag arrived at 3:35pm. Just after I had left my apartment and ordered my first Mexican tacos. Luckily I was on the same block so just boosted home, put my bag away, change into fresh clothes and return just as my tacos were ready. 

My first delicious Tacos

So much Guac I couldn't eat it all alone!!
(felt like the worst sin leaving delicious Guac behind)

Also later than expected (just like my pack) my friends arrived to the apartment at 11pm that night. So I had just 24hrs alone in Mexico City. Mandy (who I was in Cumberland college with at Otago Uni), her husband Hamish, and their friends Ang and Simon. So nice to have some lovely people to explore Mexico City with for two days before we head our seperate ways for New years. 

Mandy and I