The Coolest Thing in Monterrey, Mexico

For my 200th post, I give you: THE COOLEST THING I'VE DONE IN MONTERREY!

Today, after rollerskating two laps of the bike path at Parque Fundidora, which is FOUR MILES (and only falling once...really hard...on my tailbone...on concrete),

and after having this amazing lunch at El Lingote,

"Mexican Empenadas" - Cabrito, Carnitas, and Carne

Apple Streusel and Cajeta

which is in an old steel furnace-turned-museum called Horno 3, 

I got to ride this old industrial elevator

all the way to the top!

This is by far coolest thing I have done in Monterrey! (Going up the elevator, I mean. The bruise on my bum that I will have to endure on a two-hour plane journey tomorrow is a whole other, not awesome at all, thing). 

Mérida Redux

I love Mérida.

I love the colorful streets.

I love the inexpensive bike-rentals on Paseo de Montejo on Sundays (20 pesos an hour!).

I love the food (even at the cocina economica, despite the fact that I would not admit it at the time). 

I love staying at Los Arcos, where David makes you feel like a guest in his home.

I love that after just a few days walking and eating and biking and swimming I am completely refreshed and relaxed.

I love Mérida.

Uxmal & Kabah

A stop on the road to Uxmal

Uxmal (oosh-mal) and Kabah (kaBAH) are two ancient Mayan sites in the Yucatan, about 90 minutes from Merida by car, in the highest elevations of the Yucatan.

My favorite Mayan site of all time is the hard-to-access Tikal in Guatemala. For ease, these two sites were a nice alternative to Chichen Itza, the prized site that, at this time of the year, would have been overrun with Spring Breakers.



Uxmal still has a good deal of low, dry jungle-growth on the site, which makes it interesting. You can still climb a few of the structures (though not its main pyramid, the Temple of the Magician). The site is also of note because the Temple of the Magician is an oval pyramid, rather than square, and so is unique among Mayan sites.

 
 

 

Kabah is a small site, only barely excavated, but with a fantastic facade that I am calling 'the cult of Gonzos'.

Across the road from the main site at Kabah, and included in your ticket, is the ancient Mayan road that connected Kabah to Uxmal. There are several un-excavated ruins along the creepy wooded path that lead up to a giant stone arch on a raised platform. Thanks to Harry Potter (and a feeling like someone was watching me, and a low, deep, reedy whistle coming from somewhere nearby, and the grey, fast-moving clouds) I would not walk through the arch. Only my roommate and I were at that part of the site (having passed a bus tour on their way out of the woods) and I was truly unsettled by the setting...but not so rattled as to prevent me taking pictures.

At only 500 pesos per person including transport, tickets, and lunch, it was a good day trip from Merida.

Pack up the car, turn the ignition...

In preparation for two weeks of Spring Break fun, me and my roomie drove up to America yesterday (and drove back today - capitalism is suddenly so close!) to get some new togs for Merida, Oaxaca, and Mexico City.

The drive from the border to Monterrey is pleasant. Mostly it's flat, brown prairie, but occasionally there are hills and beautiful vistas. The best part of the drive back is when you first see the outline of the Sierra Madre Oriental emerge in the distance. When I saw those grey/black shadows appear this morning on the drive home, I had one of those "I'm one lucky gal" moments. Like, "I'm listening to great music on a road-trip (the purpose of which was shopping), and in a week I'm off on another adventure, and I've seen so much of the world that too few people have seen, and gosh ain't life grand??!!!"

I don't want to forget the 'gosh ain't life grand' moment, so here's the main music from the drive home:

The Run from the Border Playlist
except that obviously, I wasn't running, it's too far to run (anywhere is too far to run),
 instead I was driving at acceptable speeds and with great care because I'm totally responsible, even when singing at the top of my lungs

Amy Macdonald

Amy Winehouse

the Bangles

Blondie

the soundtrack to Once More with Feeling (BtVS)

Cyndi Lauper

The Mommas and the Papas

Joan Jett

Janis Joplin

Victoria Vox

Hmm...interesting the amount of alliteration that appears on that list! (and a surprising lack of male artists. While there were a few Mammas and Papas songs, and Anthony Stewart Head sang on the Buffy soundtrack, I don't think we listened to one solo male musical artist on the way home; guess they are more difficult to sing along to at the top of your lungs when you've just gone on a crazy girly shopping spree). 

Next week: off to ADVENTURE! (and flamingos, and mole, and art!)

Crazy Insano Time

It's been Crazy Insano Time around here, but that doesn't mean I don't find a little time to relax.

Sunday afternoon, tacos in the canyon: Bliss.

View from the dining table

Arrachera & Pulled Pork Tacos with Rajas Con Queso