Mexico City 2023 – Day 6

Posted on December 20, 2023 by jmatie22

Last day in Mexico for the year!

We started this day off by waking up at 4:30am (yes another early day) to go to do a hot air balloon excursion. It was located an hour away from the Airbnb (near the Teotihuacan pyramids, which the balloon did fly over).

As part of our tour, it included transportation to and from.

Some things I learned from the hot air balloon pilot:

-wind direction changes 50 minutes after sunrise

-there is a fast landing position you may need to do depending on wind speeds (which we ended up doing… although our landing was fairly ok for the most part)

-you will likely land in some private property (for safe landings). Usually owners are ok and want 200 pesos. If not, the pilot would go back up and try another private property

-there is a military zone near where the balloons fly, and only they are allowed over it

-after completing one’s first hot air balloon landing, it is tradition to celebrate with wine. We got a red sparkling wine (it’s one local to Italy). The tradition apparently stems from the earlier days when they had successfully hot air balloon landings.

After the hot air balloon ride, our driver picked us up from the landing site and brought us to the main office, where we bought some photos and videos.

After (included in the tour), we got breakfast at a place called La Cueva:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/20/la-cueva/

From there we went to a shop where they sold some crafts (I think these shops are called Artesanians). Learned a couple of things. First, white Agave is used to create many things like plants, threads, and of course alcohol. We were also taught about the obsidian stones. You want the “gold” ones (they’re black, but if you stare through them at the sun you can see the sun). Also we had a sample of alcohol from agave.

After the shop, we checked out the Teotihuacan pyramids (our driver took us there). It was 90 pesos for the entrance fee. You could walk around the area in 45 minutes (as you can go inside, it’s only an outdoor thing). Apparently Teotihuacan was once the largest city in Mexico.

After our excursion above, went back to the Airbnb (took 2 hours drive because of traffic) and slept until dinner.

For dinner, we were celebrating a friends birthday, and ended up going to Auna, a restaurant in Polanco. Details here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/21/auna/

Afterwards, checked out a bar/drinking restaurant called GinGin. Details here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/21/gingin/

We ended the night by going to a club bearby called Vanderbilt. Cover was free (since it was a Wednesday). Got some Macallan 12s. Music was on / off (ie. Some edm, and sometimes it would transition). Probably wouldn’t go back.

And that is a wrap for this Mexico City trip! (Will say that we ended up stopping by the Amex Lounge the next day. It is sort of like the Chase sapphire Reserve lounge in that food is sit down (but even drinks are also, which is slightly different). Got the tuna tar tar and rib eye tacos. Both were great.

Mexico City 2023 – Day 5

Posted on December 20, 2023 by jmatie22

This whole day we basically spent going to a national park called Tolantango.

Tolantango is in the state of Hidalgo (we went to a new state!).

We woke up at 6am to leave at 7am to drive 4 hours. The tour we got for the national park included a big van to bring us to and from the park.

The national park is basically a huge nature water park.

Some pro tips. Make sure to get water shoes (which we stopped at a place a long the way). Also, goggles might be good.

We went to some water caves at the national park. Definitely only bring your water proof phone, and not cash (it gets all wet).

We also went swimming in a river and to hot springs (which is what this national park is known for). The hot springs definitely had good instagram vibes, but probably the least exciting part of the whole trip.

FYI we did get some food at the national park. The

We ended the day by going back to the airbnb and ordering Uber Eats. Also we partied on the rooftop with Ben on the DJ deck. (For dinner, we got some take out Thai food at a place 10 minute walk from the airbnb).

Mexico City 2023 Day 4

Posted on December 20, 2023 by jmatie22

We started the day by (of course) going to brunch at a place that was a 15 minute walk from our AirBnb at Roma called Cafe Comunidad (a vegan restaurant. Also learned huevo means scrambled eggs!):

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/18/cafe-comunidad/

After, we explored another part of Mexico City, Alameda Central. We Uber’s to a market, where they sold many handcraft things (ie t-shirts, jewelry, glassware, and beaded art crafts. We also spent time at a cafe, Ocelotl, within the market that served mezcal infused with various things. I tried the ones infused with mushrooms, scorpion, and cactus. (They’re supposed to have some interesting effects, but felt it very mildly).

From the market we decided to visit an art museum in another part of Mexico City, Polanco. Polanco is an area with very high end restaurants and high rise buildings.

The museum we went to was called Museo Soumaya. It is owned by the telecom billionaire from Telcel. The museum’s six floors, and you should take the elevator to the top, and take the spiral walkway downwards. I would say the human sculptures, the religious art, and some Van Gogh pieces were some of the memorable pieces. One thing I would do if I did go back is get an audio guide (as every wall description was in Spanish).

After the museum, we went to a nearby high end shopping center to grab food at Sonora Grill:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/20/sonora-grill/

We then grabbed whisky (Glenfidich) at a grocery store in the same mall.

After, we ended the night going back to Zona Rosa at a gaybourhood club.

Mexico City 2023 – Day 3

Posted on December 18, 2023 by jmatie22

We started the day by going to brunch at Mari Gold:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/18/cafe-comunidad/

After, we spent an hour in the Uber going to Xochimilco, where we did a boozy boat ride (called Trajineras boat ride. We also didn’t reserve in advance. We just booked it on the spot. It was 1200 pesos for two hours). Honestly, this was a really great experience. The boat stopped some side areas where we got more drinks and junk food (we did bring our own food and drinks, but it wasn’t enough).

As an fyi, after the boat ride, there is a market to shop. We also played with the sticker feature in our group chat on the way back (now we’re all experts).

After the boat ride, we headed back to the Airbnb to play Uno (the dinner situation was some pizza place that was a 10 minute walk from the Airbnb).

Mexico City 2023 – Day 1 and 2

Posted on December 16, 2023 by jmatie22

Flew out of SFO Friday at 2pm, and landed in CDM at 7:30pm. Immigration into Mexico was pretty easy. You just scan your passport, and you are in (no person or stamp).

Our AirBnB was in Roma Sur (south), which is conveniently located Av. Insurgentes (a street which seems fairly safe to walk during the day time, and has lots of shops and eateries).

Our first place we checked out is in the nightlife area of Roma, called Zona Rosa (apparently where the rich and gaybourhood is). We went to the 3rd best bar in the world, Handshake Speakeasy. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/16/handshake-speakeasy/

After, we walked around a bit. Got some tacos (at the Taconte place pictured below). They were just alright (so not blogging about it). Also checked out a “sort of club”. It was $4 per person to enter. Sound system and drinks were not good (and would not recommend).

I’d be down to explore the area again, but definitely need to really see reviews of places first before committing.

Before ending the first night we did try to find alcohol to take back to the AirBnb. FYI, seems like buying alcohol you can’t do past 2am in Mexico City. You can buy it at convenience stores like Circle K or 7 eleven. Also it is available by Uber eats. (You can buy it past 2am at circle k if you pay by cash).

The next day (our 2nd day), started by walking from our AirBnb to brunch on Av. Insurgentes street. As mentioned above, lots of shops and eateries, and also found an ATM to withdraw cash (at the BBVA bank).

For brunch, we went Marques. Details can be found here

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/16/maque/

After brunch we went to a nearby Park, Parques Mexico. Lots of things going on in it. It’s a place where people sell dogs, a dog park, people throwing frisbees, people salsa dancing, and some water fountains.

After, we walked towards the Condesa area, where I got some Starbucks, and also people clothes shopped. We also stopped by this Korean restaurant, Jowong, for drinks:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/16/jowong/

After we walked to our dinner place called Contramar. Details here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/17/contramar/

After, we got drinks at a place called Limantour:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2023/12/18/limantour/

To end the night, we went to this club (they technically classify it as a bar) called Departamento. It has three floors, with the top being a rooftop club, and the middle floor looking like a warehouse. They played playa tech house music in the top floor, and more progressive in the middle floor. Would totally come back to this “club” (fyi, security does check thoroughly, and some people’s socks were checked).