Just some random observations of our stay so far in Mexico City.
- They like their dogs. Dogs are everywhere. And many/most of them are dressed in fancy sweaters, jackets, pajamas, etc. Unfortunately, not everyone cleans up after their dog mess.
- Mexicans are snackers. There is street food everywhere, and you find people standing eating a taco, or a torta, or a quesadilla, or an ice cream. No matter what time of day, you always see people on the street snacking.
- What do I miss the most from the USA? The list is pretty short. But the one thing I miss the most is fresh drinking water out of the tap. We need to purchase 10 liter bottles of water, at just under $2, for all our drinking water. It is a reminder that the majority of the world struggles to access fresh, clean drinking water.
- Art is treasured in Mexico. There are so many art museums, galleries, and displays. Both privately owned and state owned. The museums are world class, and the public art, including murals, is so very impressive.
- I suck at Spanish. Not sure how this is possible, but I think my Spanish has actually gotten worse since I arrived. Thank goodness for Google Translate on my phone.
- We have not had a slice of bread since we arrived. We purchase fresh corn tortillas from the local tortilleria pretty much every other day. We have had the same breakfast every day - scrambled eggs, tortillas, red salsa and a guacamole salsa, that has quickly become one of the joys of my life.
- Traffic lights on the street are more of a suggestion. It is very common to see cars go through red lights. Crossing the street can be a blood sport, even when you have a walk signal. And like pretty much everywhere other than the USA and Canada, cars have the right of way, and pedestrians are but a nuisance.
- The modern grocery stores are very nice, but not necessarily a good value. We have paid a lot of money for groceries, and have found that most of the meals we eat out cost less than if we had purchased the supplies to make it. Maybe we need to eat out more?
- Each morning, we check the weather and the pollution levels. The weather has been fantastic - sunny every day, with highs in the low 70s. It gets cold at night (in the 40s, and sometimes high 30s). Our apartment does not have any heat or A/C, so we bundle up when it gets cold. But the warm temperatures of the day allow us to wear shorts and t-shirts. The air quality, however, can get very bad. And you can sometimes feel it in your breathing. It is pretty hazardous, and I would think that there are a lot of respiratory issues for many Mexicans.
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