Around Chapultepec and MNAH

 I think it is no secret that the boy and I love discovering cities together. And our favorite way of doing it is just walking around. It would not be an exaggeration to say that we want to walk the world together, more than anything else, it's what we do on vacation.
Our last trip was the boy's fourth time in Mexico. I think I had already asked him a few times if he had been to the National Anthropology Museum, and he always said yes, I have, I went with my dad. Turns out, while we were at his Dad's we found out that in fact he had never been there. If you are in Mexico city for a very short time and have to choose only one place, I would say you have to go to MNAH (Museo Nacional de Antropologia e Historia). It is the biggest collection of important objects from the many different civilizations that flourished in the different states of Mexico since ancient times. You have the Aztecs and the Mayans of course, but also the Olmecs, Tenochca's, Mixtecs, Zapotecs and many more civilizations that made Mexico the rich and diverse country that it is. If you go there, you should also take a stroll in the big Chapultepec park, that even has a castle (the only Royal Castle of Latin America) and maybe also go to the Chapultepec Zoo (the first zoo outside of China to ever succeed in breeding Panda's).
When you finish you can take a walk around Reforma (on of the main avenues in Mexico city), see the emblematic Angel de la Independencia and go from there... (but that would be another post).

Mark discovers an "alegria", a mexican candy bar made of amaranth seeds.

Just keep going

 These days have been tough. I have been extremely tired, and maybe I am having a bit of a mid-life crisis (yeah, because I don't love to be over dramatic, oh no, I don't). It just feels that at 31 I should be doing something with my life and it does not feel like I am on a path to get anywhere. I have spent these last years trying as hard as I can to get somewhere that feels unreachable. I have to fight myself not to let myself become frustrated, lose motivation, lose faith. Somehow (the end of) this post gave me hope. That I should fear not, as hard as it is, all this  is about never stop believing, that it can not all be worth nothing.

 Both images found on pinterest here and here (I was unable to find the original source sorry about that).

Homesick expat

 I am finally back home after spending a month in my beloved Mexico. It is perhaps funny, but coming back -or to be precise- saying goodbye, gets harder and harder every time. You would expect that after living abroad for 11 years or so I would be used to it already. But that is not the case. The first time I left, right after high school, to learn french I knew it was temporary and I swore I would come back. But then it just so happened that enrolling at public universities in Mexico was very hard, and I was able get a scholarship in Switzerland. So I stayed. Every time I left Mexico I felt going back  was just a matter of time. And of course, little by little, you start being part of your new environment, you learn, you adapt, transform and absorb the new culture. In the end you become a mix, a true citizen of the World, like that famous song says : "No soy de aqui, ni soy de alla". It is not so much that I don't belong here or that in many ways I feel like a tourist or a visit when I'm over there, but that the person I am has grown and taken in bits of every place I've lived in.
Probably what I am feeling now is just the lack of sun (and of my family, friends, avocados, enfrijoladas, tortillas, tlacoyos...). Perhaps it is also the fact that I know that my life is now here, that this move is somehow permanent (though we do want to live abroad at some point in the future), that there is no "coming back" after a temporary period, and that as sad as I am to write this words, the situation in Mexico is not the best, and the future of my dear country does not look like it will get better anytime soon.

  I remember when we left, at the end of January,  noticing that spring is coming, that the days are longer, that there IS more light. But now... all I see is gray skies around me. I guess it will take me a few days to get used to Holland again. In the meantime, expect stories and a giveaway. I hope I won't be too jet lagged and tired to write, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Circles

Este mes para el reto fotográfico de "La vuelta al mundo"*, Jackie nos propuso buscar circulos en todas partes, en la calle, en la casa, en la naturaleza. La verdad este mes ha sido un ajetreo, aunque uno muy esperado y que hemos disfrutado mucho (ya les contare) y solo pude encontrar estos circulos. Como siempre aqui está el link a Casi en Serio para ver los circulos que se cerraron por el globo.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This month for " La vuelta al mundo*",  Jackie challenged us to look for circles everywhere: in an urban environment, at home, in nature. This month has been crazy, and cycles are closing because it is coming to an end, with renewed energy and ideas. We enjoyed a lot this busy time of  relax (if that makes any sense) with family and friends. I will keep you posted on all the things we have been up to.For now here are the circles I found. And as always, here is the link to Casi en Serio to look at all the circles found elsewhere in the globe.

Impresive nature: Grutas de Cacahuamilpa national park.

 Yesterday we went off on a day trip to Cacahuamilpa caverns. It is an underground cave system, still active (which means water still filters through) that was formed 85 million years ago. It is home for bats (though we didn't see any) and lays 450 m. "inside" a mountain. The highest "hall" is 81 meters tall. It really was an impressive sight, after all it is the 2nd largest cave system in Latin America. (If you are wondering, the World's biggest is Son Doong, in Vietnam). The national park and cave was discovered in the mid 1800's, though, interestingly, it had been used for religious rites by the Olmecs and Chontals and diverse pottery objects were found. If you are ever around and enjoy adventures don't miss it.

Of sand castles and raccoons.

Hello there. First of all, apologies for the radio silence this week... we were away at the beach, yeah, don't feel sorry for us. I was thinking of you guys though.
It had been a while since we got to spend a whole week chilling, and there is something about the sea, that calms me down. I love to play in the water, the sand and enjoy the sun. Speaking of the sun, do not ever forget your sunblock, as I recklessly and purposedly did one day because I wanted a tan. Yes, I should have known, but that's what I did when I was 14 and nothing happened. Well not anymore, not only did I not get the brown tan I wanted, I ended up with red, uneven stains in my belly and legs. That will teach me.

Anyway, the boy tends to get bored in this kind of getaway, I guess it is a cultural thing, since for me vacations=beach, and he just didn't get the fun of it all. Until now. I guess it has to do with the fact that we were rather active: we took archery lessons, played basketball, went kayaking in the sea, took salsa lessons, trained and went for long walks (me) / runs (the boy) early in the morning, which I truly enjoyed. Specially spotting the local fauna in action. We are back in land now and I hope I will be able to write more often these days.