Mexico City

We made it! We are now happily in Mexico City, and have begun exploring- and this city is GREAT. I'm not saying it doesn't deserve any of the reputation it has for being polluted and sometimes dangerous- but, overall, it's just like any other big city in those regards. There are some truly amazing sights here- the presidential palace, the cathedrals...we have seen so much already in just two days!

If this computer were not agonizingly slow, I would post pictures of some of these places, but to save my sanity, I will just have to post them later.

We met up with another student that Alison will be studying with at the Universidad Pedregal here in the City; she took us around the Zocalo a little bit, and then to her home to meet her family and friends. We had a wonderful time. Since yesterday was Dia de los Reyes, we got to participate in the traditional "breaking of the bread" that is common here: the families buy large, donut shaped bread adorned with fruit, nuts, etc, and each member of the family takes a turn slicing themselves a portion. The interesting thing is that baked inside of the sweet bread are little toys, usually shaped like the baby Jesus. If you are the lucky (or unlucky) member to find the "juguete" in your bread, you are "blessed", as well as saddled with the responsibility of hosting a feast of tamales at some specific date in February...I can't remember now which day it is. My piece of bread contained not one, but TWO baby Jesus figures.

Too bad I'm leaving before this tamale extravaganza!


We also got to experience Mexican pizza for the first time...my vegetarian pizza had onions, green peppers, green olives, and lots and lots of chile peppers. It was almost too hot to handle, though I was shamed at my wussy tastebuds when I noticed everyone else in the room adding habanero sauce to their pizza slices. Oh well.

Anyway- we're most likely off to the town of Cuernavaca today, so I am about to go pack up my belongings and make the trek to the Metro (which, by the way, costs about twenty cents to ride, and it's awesome!)

Much love to you all,
Katie