Today, we first travel about 50 km by car with our very good guide Gabriel to Teotihuacán.

On the way, we see the urban cable car “Cablebús,” built by the Austrian company Doppelmayr, which has constructed two such cable cars for urban public transport in recent years, one of which is over 9 km long. Recently, the company received the contract to build a third line with a length of 15 km. In densely populated and hilly urban areas like Mexico City, this seems to be a sensible solution for connecting outlying districts.

Later, we see “El Vigilante” (The Guardian) - the monumental, 25 m high bronze statue located right along the city highway. It was created by the renowned Mexican sculptor Jorge Marín. The figure depicts a contemplative angel with a bird mask, ready to fly, symbolizing the importance of reflection before new challenges.

Our destination is the archaeological sites of Teotihuacán.

The pyramid city, inhabited from about 100 BC to 650 AD, is located in a wide valley in central Mexico at an altitude of about 2,300 m, which is roughly the same height as Mexico City. Although Teotihuacán has been scientifically researched for over a century, 95% of the ruins remain unexcavated.

Until its mysterious end in the 7th century, marked by a devastating fire, Teotihuacán was a powerful political, military, economic, and cultural center that influenced all of Mesoamerica. At its peak, the city, with more than 150,000 inhabitants across about 20 square kilometers, was one of the largest metropolises of that era.

We still do not know exactly who the residents of Teotihuacán were, nor do we even know their original name. When the Aztecs arrived in the central Mexican highlands from the north in the first half of the 14th century and discovered the ruin city, they linked it to their own creation myth and named it Teotihuacán – 'the place where the gods were created'. The names of the Sun and Moon pyramids, as well as the 'Avenue of the Dead', also originate from the Aztecs.

In a north-south direction runs the 'Avenue of the Dead,' which begins at the Moon Pyramid and passes by the Sun Pyramid. The main pyramids are the 63-meter high Sun Pyramid with a base length of 225 meters and the 48-meter high Moon Pyramid at the northern end of the two-kilometer-long Avenue of the Dead.

Teotihuacán has kept many secrets to this day, as nothing is known about the ruling system or the leaders—no inscriptions, no names.

The immense wealth of Teotihuacán was based on a well-developed trade network with monopolized long-distance trade.

Teotihuacán was the most complex and populous urban center during the period between the 3rd and 6th centuries – a cultural and economic 'superpower' in Mesoamerica. The dominant position of Teotihuacán came to an end in the 7th century. The reasons remain unclear; it is possible that the destruction was the result of fire, invasion, or internal uprising, while other sources suggest an internal societal collapse due to water and food shortages. Following this trauma, a part of the city remained inhabited for about another century. After that, the place was abandoned.

We can only partially explore this mysterious and very impressive site, given its vast expanse, and furthermore, the sun is ruthless in the sky.

After a refreshment at a local “Tschecherl,” we head back to Mexico City. Another highlight awaits (and is the reason for our detour to Mexico City): the “Museo Nacional de Antropología” – the National Museum of Anthropology. Due to the vast dimensions of this museum, we will limit our visit to three main areas – Aztecs, Teotihuacán, and Maya – the three dominant cultures in the pre-Columbian history of Mexico.

The Maya culture in Mexico developed over thousands of years (approximately 2000 BC – 16th century AD) into one of the most significant high cultures of Central America. Known for their astronomy, mathematics (the number zero), writing, and monumental architecture (pyramids in Palenque, Chichén Itzá), it comprised autonomous city-states with divine rulers. Following the peak in the classic period (approximately 250–900 AD) and the partial decline from the 9th century, most lowland cities were abandoned. Reasons included droughts, environmental destruction, and continuous warfare between the city-states.

After about 150 years, a certain recovery began, especially in northern Yucatán.

Upon the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century, the high culture was already weakened but put up fierce resistance until the last stronghold Tayasal fell in 1697.

The Aztecs (1325 – 1521) were a powerful, warlike high culture in central Mexico's highlands. They developed into a superpower in just a few decades and ruled central Mexico for 100 years. Their society is in many ways more modern than that of contemporary Europe. As brilliant builders, they established their capital Tenochtitlán in the middle of a lake. By the mid-16th century, it was one of the largest cities in the world. The Aztec state was also progressive in many respects. The ruler was elected, and state-employed judges ensured compliance with the relatively modern legal order. Nobles and commoners were treated equally in court. Education was compulsory for all children, including those of slaves.

The Aztecs not only had their language—Nahuatl (still spoken by about 1.5 million people in Mexico)—but also their pictographs and many books. Many loanwords, such as chocolate or tomato, came into the German language via Spanish. However, the high culture of the Aztecs also had its dark sides: horrific human sacrifices for the benefit of the gods. Tens of thousands are said to have died this way every year. Almost all victims were war prisoners and slaves from conquered provinces. This greed for human sacrifices and the subjugation of the surrounding city-states ultimately led to the downfall of the Aztecs. In 1519, Hernán Cortés landed. He exploited the enmity of the subdued peoples against the Aztecs, as well as the superior weaponry of the Spaniards, to overthrow the empire by 1521. Alongside military superiority, introduced diseases like smallpox led to a dramatic population decline among the Aztecs and Maya. Unfortunately, after the conquest, the Spaniards not only destroyed buildings such as temples but also burned indigenous books, leading to the loss of a large part of historical and scientific knowledge.

Back to the museum.

Of course, one could and should provide a more detailed explanation for each of the photos of the exhibits – but this would exceed the scope of a blog.

I can only refer to Google-(Lens/AI) here – for every photo, you get an accurate description.

However, I would like to mention two exhibits here:

The Aztec Sun Stone, made of basalt with a diameter of almost 3.6 meters. The stone dates back to the early 16th century and was made during the reign of Moctezuma II. It was rediscovered in 1790 during construction work near Mexico City's cathedral after being buried shortly after the Spanish conquest. The central image likely represents the sun god Tonatiuh or the earth god Tlaltecuhtli. It is likely a sacrificial altar (Cuauhxicalli) and not, as is often falsely claimed, an Aztec calendar.

The Feather Crown of Moctezuma, a splendid Aztec headpiece from the 16th century. The exhibit here in the museum in Mexico is a replica. The original is currently located in the World Museum Vienna in Austria. The ornament consists mainly of the bright green feathers of the quetzal bird, as well as feathers from other birds, and is adorned with gold details and was probably a priest's headpiece. The artifact is the subject of a historical dispute, as Mexico is demanding the return of the object from Austria. Due to the extreme fragility of the feathers, a return transport by Austrian experts is considered too risky. It is also noteworthy that the headpiece was first documented in an inventory list of the collection of Archduke Ferdinand II at Ambras Castle in 1596.

Before heading to Mexico City from Managua's airport "Aeropuerto Agusto C. Sandino" around noon, we have time for a cozy breakfast at the hotel – today accompanied by music, as a Mariachi band performs a birthday serenade at a nearby table.

The drive from Granada to the airport takes about an hour by car; fortunately, we do not have to use one of the numerous "Made in India" TukTuks.

Our flight is the only one currently scheduled at this time, so we get through all the checks quite quickly.

After taking off to the northwest, we are treated to a beautiful view of Lago Xolotlán and the lightly smoking Momotombo volcano.

As we approach the airport "Benito Juarez", one can catch a glimpse of the gigantic size of Mexico City – the city has about 23 million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, making it the largest city in North America at present. Mexico is located at an altitude of about 2300 m above sea level.

The airport is currently one big construction site, but we quickly pass through immigration, our luggage arrives shortly after, and we only have to wait a few minutes at customs – a little more than half an hour after landing, we are already in our pickup's car.

Our hotel is in the financial district near Plaza Reforma with the famous independence monument – "El Ángel de Independencia".

The first way into the city naturally takes us to the central "Zócalo" – officially "Plaza de Constitución". The huge square measures about 250 m x 250 m and is used not only for Valentine's Day but also for various demonstrations and actions. Today, solidarity with Cuba is being called for, and the old fighters Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are not to be missed. It is evident that the popularity of the USA has suffered a great blow here in Mexico recently.

The square is surrounded by impressive buildings – including the beautiful "Gran Hotel Ciudad de México" – originally built from 1895 to 1899 as a department store called "Centro Mercantil" in the Art Nouveau style. The department store closed in 1958, and the building was renovated for the 1968 Olympic Games and transformed into a hotel. A comprehensive restoration from 2003 to 2005 restored the old glory, especially of the famous Tiffany glass dome over the lobby.

Opposite is the National Palace, whose interior, adorned with beautiful mosaics depicting the history of Mexico, has unfortunately been inaccessible for several years.

The north side of the square houses the gigantic cathedral – fully named "Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de María de la Ciudad de México" – which we will visit later.

There's a lot going on, and even self-proclaimed shamans and masked performers hope for tourist revenues.

The Aztec warrior in the picture is dressed for the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico. He wears a traditional feathered headdress, known as Penacho.

The face is painted as a skull, which is a central element of this Mexican celebration.

A little further, we stand before the archaeological excavation of the Aztec "Templo Mayor" – a bronze model placed nearby gives an idea of the vast dimensions of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán.

The city was founded around 1325 by the Aztecs on an island in Lake Texcoco. It developed into a powerful center with impressive pyramids like the Templo Mayor.

Under the leadership of Hernán Cortés, the Spanish and their indigenous allies besieged and destroyed the city from 1519 to 1521. On the ruins of Tenochtitlán, they founded the colonial capital Mexico City.

As the seat of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, the city was rebuilt according to European models with churches and palaces. Large parts of the lake were gradually drained. However, the former lakebed remained unstable, and Mexico City continues to struggle with widespread subsidence (up to 9 meters in the center) to this day.

After independence in 1821, the city experienced turbulent times, including occupations by American (1847) and French troops (1861–1867).

The tragic episode of the hapless Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, a brother of Emperor Franz Joseph, falls during this French occupation.

French Emperor Napoleon III wanted to establish a military and economically aligned empire in Mexico. Since 1861, he had already intervened with troops because Mexico (under President Benito Juárez – an indigenous Zapotec) had expelled both the Spanish envoy and the Papal Legate from the country. Benito Juárez had halted payments on the 82 million US dollars in debts that were unjustly demanded by Europeans.

In this situation, Ferdinand Maximilian was proclaimed Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico on April 10, 1864, against the resistance of the Mexican people at the behest of the French Emperor.

Upon arriving in Mexico, the Habsburg found that all American states supported the deposed Mexican President Juárez, viewing Maximilian as an unwanted European intervention.

After two years in Mexico, Maximilian issued a decree that declared supporters of Juárez as robbers who could be killed without trial. About 9000 people were murdered under this decree.

After the end of the American Civil War, the French had to withdraw their troops from Mexico in 1866 under pressure from the USA. After that, Emperor Maximilian could not hold out much longer against the popular Juárez, also because his appeals for help in Europe went unanswered.

He was captured in 1867 by the legitimate government of President Benito Juárez, tried by a military court, and executed.

In the 20th century, there was massive population growth to what is now over 20 million people in the metropolitan area. Milestones were the Olympic Games in 1968 and the devastating earthquake of 1985, which officially claimed over 10,000 lives, while other sources speak of up to 25,000 victims. Mexico City was largely destroyed in many areas.

But back to our tour, we arrive at the cathedral and, of course, go inside.

The origins of the Cathedral of Mexico City date back to the early days of the Spanish conquest. It was built on the ruins of the Aztec temple Templo Mayor, with the cornerstone laid in 1571 and construction officially begun in 1573. It took until 1813, nearly 250 years of construction, for the exterior to be completed. The design of the cathedral was, of course, influenced by Spanish cathedrals.

This long construction period resulted in a mix of various architectural styles, including Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassicism.

The cathedral extends over an area of more than two hectares, with dimensions of about 61 meters in width and 128 meters in length. Its two towers rise 67 meters high and house 35 bells.

Inside, the cathedral features five naves supported by 51 vaults, 74 arches, and 40 columns. Two main altars dominate the cathedral.

After a short break – it has gotten quite hot – we continue by car with our guide Gabriel through the somewhat chaotic traffic toward Guadalupe, a part of the metropolitan area.

The story of the Virgin of Guadalupe is the heart of Mexican identity and makes her pilgrimage site in Mexico City the most visited Marian shrine in the world, with about 20 million pilgrims annually.

The story dates back to December 1531, just ten years after the Spanish conquest.

An indigenous farmer, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, saw a dark-skinned woman on the hill of Tepeyac. She introduced herself as the Mother of God and asked Juan Diego to tell the bishop of Mexico that a chapel should be built at this site.

Since the bishop did not believe the "unbelieving" Indian and demanded evidence, the virgin made roses bloom in the barren hill in the middle of winter. When Juan Diego poured these out of his cloak (the Tilma) before the bishop during a second visit to the episcopal palace, the image of the Virgin appeared on the fabric, as if by miracle. Now the bishop was also convinced of the miracle of the Marian apparition. The image on the tilma is still exhibited as a venerated image in the basilica and is considered scientifically inexplicable. Juan Diego was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

Mary of Guadalupe is revered as "Patroness of Mexico" and "Queen of the Americas". She unites indigenous and Christian symbols, which were used by the Catholic Church for the missionization of the Indians and were thus crucial for the Christianization of Latin America. December 12 is the most important feast day, when millions of people gather with music and dances to the basilica.

Today, there are three churches dedicated to Maria.

The original church on the hill Tepeyac, where the Marian apparition allegedly took place - today not regularly accessible.

In addition, there are two main buildings on the site below, the Antigua Basílica - the Baroque building from the 18th century has dangerously sunk due to the soft soil. Along with the modern round church Nueva Basílica, consecrated in 1974, designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez. It can accommodate up to 40,000 people and allows a steady flow of visitors through rolling paths under the revered image on the tilma. Inside, this church has a very atmospheric quality.

These two churches stand at the enormous square "Plaza de las Américas", where open-air masses for hundreds of thousands of believers are held on December 12 and during papal visits. Both Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis have visited the site.

I’m just a little worried about whether it might be awkward for them or if it won’t fit perfectly. But it works out great, Mar gets along with Gabo and Zoe with Paula, and everyone with everyone. Yay!

We spend the first three nights in Sayulita, a small surf/beach town on the west coast of Mexico. Here, you can really see how tourists, especially the Digital Nomads and ]]>https://vakantio.de/en/blog/mathilda-in-mexiko/der-letzte-urlaub-vor-weihnachtenhttps://vakantio.de/en/blog/mathilda-in-mexiko/der-letzte-urlaub-vor-weihnachtenSat, 03 Jan 2026 03:56:00 GMT20.8690862-105.4410109

We are making a road trip, from San José to Cabo San Lucas, to La Paz, then to Cabo Pulmo and back. Here’s a list of my favorite and less favored memories:

What was nice:

• very relaxed accommodations with hammocks in front of the house.

• our drives in the car through absolute nothingness. It’s so dry here that the whole region consists of nothing but cacti, palm trees, and crystal-clear beaches, with a few wild horses in between.

• The sunsets. See for yourself:

• My time with Paula, she is truly becoming a better friend. And I also have a great time with Lydia, Emilia, and Xaver.

• The water is sooo pleasant; the beaches are truly paradise-like.

• La Paz on Independence Day. Everyone is dressed in green, white, and red. There’s a huge show with traditional dances and music, and a lot of decorations.

• A trip to a deserted island takes us to a landmark of the region, a stone mask. I find it super recognizable, very cool.

• Our time at the beach with henna tattoos, Spanish music, card games, and Yahtzee.

• Our fancy giant car.

• The cool sky.

• doing nothing. Reading.

• One more time. The SKY.

• Summer dresses and beach outfits. But I know you don’t really love this part:

And here are unfortunately a few things that weren’t so great:

• my migraines. I have headaches almost every day, and my stupid pills no longer work. I think it’s mainly due to the weather. I’ve never been in a place with such high humidity. As soon as I step off the plane, my skin is moist, whether from the outside or inside, I have no idea, but it’s nearly impossible to breathe.
• The worst part is on the very day we make the trip to the island. While the others eat ceviche, I nap on the beach. While the others snorkel with seals, I feel nauseous on the boat. And while the others go looking for food on the way back from the boat, I realize I’m getting dizzy, my fingers are numb, and then I lose consciousness for a few seconds. That was scary; it hasn’t happened to me before. But luckily, the others are there to look after me. Then it gets a bit better, but on the three-hour drive to the next place, I still have to throw up a lot. The next morning, it’s finally over and I know I have great friends.

• Dana and the French girls. Somehow they don’t do anything and aren’t in the mood for anything. That’s annoying and makes it hard to plan things for everyone.
• Traveling with our backpacks. It’s soooo hot and exhausting.

• The sun is very strong. We are all fighting a bit against sunburn.

• the water is great, but unfortunately, there are also jellyfish, which we unfortunately don’t see. We walk right in, and my skin is perhaps a bit more sensitive because I have to deal with tentacle marks on my skin for the next few weeks.

• This is the prettiest photo I found. But the towns are so desolate and seem so hastily built, without history, without personality. The people are poor; they live here just for tourism, which brings fat Americans with tattoos from California to Mexico. Moreover, I meet an Uber driver who was deported from the USA after decades. He comes back to Mexico but doesn’t know the place at all and had built his whole life somewhere else. Now he has to start completely anew. Poor guy, I feel so, so sorry for him.
  

• Flying back. A week of summer vacation is just too short :(

And here are a few more pretty photos and impressions. So then, until next time, hopefully, it won’t take another two months. Kiss

Not much happened really. Last week, I probably overdid it a bit and all the heavy rain storms have not been good for my health either. 

Monday begins Semana Cinco (Week 5) at the university. This means exam period, as the first of three blocks in this semester is nearing its end. I have several assignments and three presentations coming up, so it's going to be stressful. 

Additionally, I won’t eat any sugar this week (fruit is okay), which means I'll have to cook a lot and meal prep, otherwise I'll get really hungry at the university. I just need a bit of routine in what I eat again.

Instead of my university class, on Monday I'll be attending a lecture by the former Colombian ambassador to the USA, Andrés Rugeles, in the first hour. He has also taught at Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, and in London. It’s quite interesting; I even have to speak! 

But he says that young people are out of place in a government because they lack experience. Hmm, for someone who is dissatisfied with the current state of the world, you have quite a lot against change. Have you ever thought that the “experience” of old white men in government might not be exactly what the world needs right now?

Anyway, afterwards I have volleyball, but I’m pretty exhausted. It continues like this later at the university. In the evening, I'm preparing a presentation about a Mexican/Dominican trans activist in Ecofeminismo. I go to bed as early as possible and sleep for 11 hours.

But the next morning, I wake up with a headache, nausea, sore throat, and 37.6°C. I'm pretty sick throughout the day, but still manage to drag myself to two hours of university, which include some assessments. In between, I sleep for an hour. Today is Xaver’s birthday, but I'm too tired to join for food, unfortunately. Instead, I sleep another 11 hours at night.

The next day, luckily, university is online. I sleep all day again and catch up a bit on university work and paint something for my sad walls. In the evening, I feel definitely better, go get sushi, and spontaneously buy shoes and a skirt. I want to treat myself well. 

Thursday morning is the next presentation in history, we talk about the independence of the USA. The teacher praises our Spanish since we are three internationals in the course, which makes me happy. Afterwards, instead of going to volleyball, I head straight back to bed. I also finally call Jakob, who has now arrived in Porto. I think he’s doing pretty well. Later, Alan kindly drives me into the city, where I pick up a package from Florian that was sent incorrectly and would have been returned to Germany otherwise. My first birthday package is here - I’m a little excited. In the evening, there’s another course, and I go have coffee/tea with Mar. Unfortunately, she’s not flying with us on vacation but is traveling to Spain for the European Championship in flag football instead. However, she will be back here perfectly on the morning of the 29th, yay!

Then I work for a while on the final project, this time for Global Challenges. We have to create a social media campaign with a video on the topic of climate migration in Africa. 

On Friday, I feel so much better that I can go dancing. Today we practice lift figures, which I feel super uncomfortable with. I’m not sure why, but I’m the only one in the class who is afraid of being lifted. During one attempt, I accidentally give Alan a jab, oh man. But at some point, it somewhat works; I just really struggle with being lifted. I guess I need to work on that. 

Afterward, we have the presentation of our video and the campaign, which goes really well. I also receive the final grade for this block course, which ends after one cycle, a 94.75! Quite good, but it doesn’t count for the German university, so it’s a bit irrelevant. At least I don’t have that dreadfully horrible teacher anymore; she did not work at all.

In the evening, there's another football game. I go again with Isaac, Emilio, Paula, and a friend from the weekend and Lydia. Quite nice and we lead until the weather turns and the world goes crazy. We get so wet in 5 minutes that we’re standing in water. 

We go back to my place to dry off a bit. We play Cambio there for a while (of course :) ). I also made super tasty and intensely flavored brownies with the guys, of which I try a tiny piece. When the others leave, I just lie down on the couch and listen to music. Finally, a little peace and quiet. 

On Saturday morning, I meet up with Paula and Mar at the Saturday market. I eat sugar again over the weekend, so I get myself a homemade ice cream, mini pancakes, and a fruit salad. Great breakfast! 

Then we go to my place and change because it’s so warm today and the sun is shining. We sit outside on the sports campus on a bench and paint today. Later, Laila also joins us, whom I can see again before I leave and unfortunately she herself. Let’s see if she comes back to Mexico City again :(

And in the evening, I go eat a crêpe with a football player, Gabriel. A classmate from the course connected us, and I was a bit unsure about this set-up. But the evening is nice and so is Gabriel; a bit reserved, but that can be a good thing. Maybe we’ll see each other again after Tec Week. The “Tec Week” before the new cycle is free for us internationals; all others have a specialization and therefore need to attend university. 

And now I’m packing and finishing up some university assignments. Tomorrow, Sunday, at 6 PM we fly to Baja California. We’ll be there until next Sunday with nine people in our group and we'll do a round trip. I’m so looking forward to sunshine, beach, and snorkeling; I haven’t had a summer vacation this year at all and feel a bit burned out (especially after last week). At least everyone is relatively healthy again, as our illness has really made the rounds throughout the entire friend group!

Well, that’s it for the less active, university-oriented week. I wish us all a relaxing vacation. Sagapao parapoli!

On Monday, I suddenly notice that everything is decorated. The month of September is dedicated here to the independence of Mexico around 1810, which is celebrated on the 15th/16th. Whether from cars, on people, or in the streets, the pride in one's country is celebrated here with thousands of flags, which is something a German is not used to.

On Tuesday, we book our Airbnb for Colombia, yay I'm excited! Also, in the evening we meet up with my roommates in their studio-like part of the house. Together with a few others, we watch “Drag Race Mexico,” a kind of Germany’s Next Topmodel for drag queens. I find it quite funny that the two of them (who are a couple) seem to only seek contact with non-hetero people, so the group is particularly enthusiastic about this queer-friendly series. I’m not really a reality TV fan, but it’s nice with the others. Sydney, a Mexican, brings tamales, atole, and mazapán, typical food from here that we all share. Really sweet. We also have snacks like nachos with guacamole and vegan cookies!

On Wednesday, I work for university and then on my gift for Dad, who has a birthday on Friday. For that, I’m sitting -again- in the café in Coyoacán. At home, I just don’t feel comfortable enough to do university work.

Afterward, I meet Diego (the one from salsa) in a nice restaurant. We eat pizza, but then we have to hurry because we’re going to watch a movie at the Cineteca. I make a list every week of things I want to see or do, and this was on the list this time. We watch a thriller from the 80s, Possession, which takes place in West Berlin. It's super creepy and totally confusing, but well made, and it’s impressive to see such a deserted, different Berlin near the wall on video.

On Thursday, the next date already continues: I meet a girl for the first time here! Her name is Laila, she comes from Veracruz, studied English education, and is currently on vacation here. In between, she works at a hostel in the city center to fund her month. We meet AGAIN in my café, but we only grab a drink and then stroll to a small green park because the weather is so nice. We get along really well and want to see each other again on Sunday because the second thing on my list for the week is the Soumaya Museum. She doesn’t know much here either, so we can explore the city together quite well. After two hours, we both have to leave again.

In the evening, I go to a football game. Our team wins, but the cheerleaders are way cooler than the game itself. I'm also really happy because I'm there with my new Mexican friends (and Paula) from university. They are two girls from one of my classes and two guys from another. Afterward, one of them, Aranza, desperately wants to introduce me to her friend, a football player. It feels like a forced marriage (or a staged marriage), and I think we both feel a bit awkward about it. Maybe we'll go out to eat next week, we'll see, I’m not so convinced.

On Friday, I already feel the amount of activities again, but in the evening, I go out to eat with Alan. A friend of his gives me travel and club tips for Mexico, which is nice. However, Alan annoys me because I told him I only want to eat briefly. Instead, he takes me back to his corner of the city again and prolongs bringing me home endlessly. In the end, I get home at 11:30 PM, and I had actually wanted to finish Dad's recipe book. So, it will be quite a late-night effort. But then it’s done, and I hope he will be happy about it. Happy Birthday Dad, I love you!!

On Saturday, I’m tired. But there’s no stopping! Because? It’s the Saturday market, yay! I love it; by now, I already know a few good spots and bargains. I've already shown you what I found, but here again:

After that, I immediately head to... of course, to Coyoacán. I should really move there, my goodness. We’re going to the Frida Kahlo Museum today; we bought the tickets about three weeks ago. We are visiting Frida and Diego Rivera’s house, where they spent most of their lives.

Due to her polio illness and later her serious car accident, Frida lives with constant pain and has to spend much time in bed. The courtyard of her house is a true oasis, where she spent a lot of time with her husband, who is 20 years older, and many friends and guests. It’s a beautiful museum!

What she dies of in 1954 at only 47 years old is not entirely clear. She is seriously ill, half of her leg has to be removed, and she says she has never suffered so much.

Plagued by severe depression, she takes many medications the night before her death and dies at night from a pulmonary embolism. Whether that was self-determined is not known, but she must have known that she would die soon. Before her death, she writes that only her husband gives her life meaning, although this love may be in vain (he's already having another affair, the jerk).

Despite all the pain, Frida creates great art, is a funny, empathetic, and clever woman, and seems to have known how to make use of and enjoy her life. She says, “What do I need feet for when I have wings?” Inspiring.

Then we continue to the amazing Mercado de Coyoacán, where there is really everything, especially food. I get a great fruit salad. However, I realize that I am really worn out and a bit under the weather. So we head home afterward.

In the evening we go out to party. We pregame at one Mexican's place, Isaac, play beer pong and Mario Kart, and then head to a house party. Another Mexican invited us, and I would feel bad not to go. But I regret it because some others go to a techno club, which is supposed to be quite good. At our place, everyone is just standing around and drinking tequila again, so Mexican house parties do not convince me at all. Around 2/3, we head home.

And on Sunday, as announced, the museum is up. Laila and I have both been out for a long time and are accordingly tired when we meet at noon in the sliding sun at the modern wealthy district of Polanco in front of the Soumaya Museum.

The museum is named after the richest man in Mexico (and probably the world) Carlos Slim, who built the building in honor of his deceased wife. The museum is huge and feels like an expensive junk shop because thousands of artworks are wildly distributed and disorganized across six floors.

And there are works by Van Gogh, Renoir, Chagall, and so on; it’s unbelievable. The owner simply bought a bit of art with his wealth.

Laila says, however, that he is very generous; he built the museum to make “both Mexican and Western art freely accessible to everyone who cannot travel to Europe.” Definitely a completely different vibe than our museums at home.

Then we take a walk by the Chapultepec Park on the huge main road, past the Angel of Independence and many anti-monuments, which I have already told you about.

I try teriyaki fried chicken for the first time; it actually tastes quite good. Then Laila has to go back, and I head out too. I decide I cannot always take Uber and will use public transport today. In the end, I take THREE hours; first, I get caught in heavy rain, then it calms down as I walk for 20 minutes, and after finally waiting 20 minutes for the bus, I’m on my way south. On the bus, I meet Paula, which is nice. Then, when getting off, the downpour starts again, so I seek refuge in a Walmart. I do my weekly shopping (very soaked), and next week I won't eat any sugar! At the checkout, the man notices AFTER I’ve packed everything that the card system isn’t working. Great, fantastic, I have a little internal breakdown. So I sort out one item after another until I can pay the remainder with my 25 euros and then walk home in the rain for 20 minutes.

I’m so exhausted; this week has been too much for me. And spoiler - it will show next week. But now, enough about this week, I’m curious how long you read this for! I’m sending you a kiss! Bye-bye

Upon arrival, we head to the compact center and first look for a small café. Lydia has done a great job by finding us recommendations for sweet food spots on TikTok.

Afterwards, we walk to the main square, admire the impressive church, and let ourselves be carried away by the colorful streets filled with stalls. It reminds me a little of Southern Spain or perhaps Cuba.

We also admire the beautiful library, which was sponsored by a bishop in the 17th century as the first public library in Latin America, with the condition that it should be accessible to everyone, not just clergy. Wonderful! There’s also a concert taking place in the courtyard of the building!

Then I unfortunately start feeling quite unwell; I get a severe migraine. My triptans for the road are empty—how could this happen! Ibuprofen isn’t helping anymore, even with 800mg. It’s so frustrating because the next stop is the ]]>https://vakantio.de/en/blog/mathilda-in-mexiko/tagestrip-nach-pueblahttps://vakantio.de/en/blog/mathilda-in-mexiko/tagestrip-nach-pueblaMon, 01 Sep 2025 06:52:00 GMT19.0414398-98.2062727Good morning, today is a look back at week 4, which concludes my first month in Mexico. How time flies!

Monday starts off quite relaxed with food at Lydia's. Paula, Xaver, Lydia, Naava (from Finland) and I make wonderful summer rolls, which reminds me of my shared apartment. We used to always do that at home, I miss the others a bit now :(

Tuesday is exciting, after a super long day of classes, we spontaneously go into the city for a Lucha Libre, a traditional art fight in CDMX. I wasn't really sure what to expect. But the faces of the others express the various emotions I go through at the same time quite well:

Above all, I am shocked by the audience, which cheers the fighters on with the most intense expressions of violence. At the same time, I can't really get caught up in it because you already know at the beginning of each 20-minute fight who ]]>https://vakantio.de/en/blog/mathilda-in-mexiko/woche-4-1https://vakantio.de/en/blog/mathilda-in-mexiko/woche-4-1Wed, 10 Sep 2025 18:30:00 GMT19.3498469-99.1606851Hello, a bit late here is a recap of my second week: it was super busy and great, and therefore I might let the pictures speak for themselves in this entry. The university is slowly becoming a bit more demanding, we have more and more assignments and group projects. But so far, everything is manageable enough that I do something almost every day of the week! I feel like I have much more energy here, and everything feels like a vacation, which is why I want to experience something almost every day.

For example, on Monday, I went for tacos with Alan from volleyball and dance for the first time; he is really nice, and finally, someone explains to me what all the different types are. He then drives me home in his Mercedes. Relaxing evening!

On Wednesday, I go for vegan burritos in Roma Norte with my new friend Lydia. They taste great, and we stroll around a bit because you can still do that in this beautiful but heavily gentrified neighborhood at night. We also have ice cream at the “local ice cream and wine shop,” where only English is spoken, and the owner is currently promoting it in a new TikTok video. Interesting. Then I take the bus home, which I can now do!

Continuing directly on Thursday with the second outing with Alan, this time to Coyoacán. This week is really great for exploring the city. This neighborhood is still significantly controlled by locals, but it is super expensive to live. The houses are colorful, small, old, and very pretty. I would live here!

We go for ice cream, then I discover my new favorite praline shop (6 pieces for about 3 euros) and then Alan shows me a crafts market where there's a lot of colorful and pretty knickknacks.

Afterwards, we go eat at a nice and not too expensive restaurant, then we try some typical Mexican coffee, and then he kindly drives me and my very full belly home again.

Friday brings a new person, Diego, whom I met in the salsa bar last week. We also want to explore a bit in and around Coyoacán. While I’m sitting on the bus, suddenly the world is falling apart; water is pouring in from all directions, and we are stuck in traffic for ages. He kindly comes to meet me in his car, but by then I’m already quite wet. No matter, the rain stops here just as quickly as it arrives, and it isn’t cold either. That’s why we go eat somewhere with jazzy live music in an artistic cinema, the Cineteca, which I really want to check out sometime. Diego is very likeable and an artist; he makes his own music, directs documentaries, and acts in a few films. I think he can tell me a lot about Mexican culture! We also stroll around a bit, eat ice cream, and then go dance cumbia and salsa in a bar. It’s so cool that this is so normal here; Diego dances really well. Then we end up in a different bar with more electronic music, the Departamento, before he takes me home. A very nice evening with lots of new impressions, and I think I’ll see Diego again.

On Saturday, I go out partying again with my girls. We pregame with the guys from the flatshare and a few other people. After we were too cold and unmotivated for a pool party, a football game was one and a half hours away, and the gay club opens so late, we end up not too far from our corner at a football party. I don’t have to say anything about that; the expressions on others’ faces say it all. I’m back home by around one. At least I catch up on some sleep.

And then we have Sunday, on which I’m out with Alan again. Today we visit the Museo de Antropología, one of the most famous museums in CDMX. It’s really cool and shows the beginnings of the country with influences from various indigenous peoples. Here, too, the pictures speak for themselves:

The most famous is the huge sunstone, which for a long time was mistakenly thought to be an Aztec calendar. In reality, it was used by the Mexicas (another people) as a gladiatorial sacrifice altar.

After the museum, we grab tortas (Mexican sandwiches) outside in the park and then sit for a while in a cozy café in the chic Condesa. What a full week, wow, but I experienced so much and had so much fun!!

I hope you did too! Kiss kiss

I'm exploring the surroundings. Everything is so green and jungly, which I didn't expect from such a huge city. Especially on Saturdays, there's a lot going on; I let myself be carried away by the colorful, chaotic street markets. 

Moreover, I keep discovering cute murals and many little stands by the roadside that invite you to dare to try something and maybe risk a little food poisoning (Paula and Xaver already went through that…). 

Then I go shopping for the first time, but more on food in another entry. I'm buying a few things for my room to make it cozier. Jewelry holder, a mirror, a light, now I just need some posters and such. 

I'm also daring to try meat, shock!! Just chicken for now because I can't handle pork (in the famous Taco al Pastor) yet, but it's a start. I'm not just eating cheese, cheese tortillas (quesadillas), and queso fundido (melted cheese) anymore. At one stand, the man is so sweet and remembers my name immediately, slowly introducing me to Mexican dishes. 

I accompany my friend to her first flag football game. An enthusiastic father tells me a bit about the game, a lot about Ecuador, and even more about Germany and Dresden, thanks for that... Unfortunately, the team loses, but it's not Mar's fault; she is in the Spanish national team and is also flying to Paris for the European Games or something this autumn!

And then, of course, I’m doing a lot with my group and other people too. For example, we cook at Mar’s place and have game nights.

Additionally, we explore the bars in our area, usually with a few other internationals or Mexicans from Tec. A liter of beer sometimes costs 3 Euros here.

We also go out to party. However, the first experiences are quite European since they are organized specifically for internationals. A lot of music that could easily be playing at clubs back home. The locations, however, are pretty fancy, always some rooftop bars above the city. The pre-gaming (mostly at Dana's place, because she lives in the city close to the clubs and it takes us an hour to get there) is always sweet, and we are slowly getting used to tequila. It's cheap and hits hard. And in the second week, we also try something more local; we go to the Mama Rumba salsa club. Sometimes there’s live music from bands, and you are constantly invited to dance. You meet nice, good-dancing Mexicans. It’s fun :)

Also, sorry guys, I got a tattoo now. And with that, I’ll wrap up everything that has happened. So many new impressions!!

The first challenge was transportation. We were at the bus stop at 10 a.m. and boarded a purple bus at around 10:40 a.m., which was supposed to head toward the city center. According to Google Maps, they run every five minutes... But it worked surprisingly well, because after an hour's drive north on the same road, it dropped us off right in the center. So, that's something to keep in mind; you just have to plan your time.

On the way to our first stop, we walked along a large street lined with one knick-knack stand after another. Some of it was completely unnecessary, but there were also things like hair accessories for Paula, a Lego set for Mar, and an umbrella for me, all very cheap, of course. The vendors just stared at us and chatted us up. Then we reached stop 1: the Ideal bakery.

And absolutely everything about this bakery is perfect. While many groceries cost at least as much as in Germany, the prices for baked goods are unbeatable! We walk into this shop, which Paula read about in a travel guide, and we're in paradise! I would have a shop like this if my stupid studies weren't in the way. Displays full of beautiful cakes for a mere €10, stacks of tarts, rolls, cinnamon rolls, buns, baguettes, quark turnovers, all kinds of pig's ears...

Here in Mexico, you buy rolls by taking a tray and using tongs to pile everything you want onto it, then having someone wrap it up. Things are practically falling off the trays around us while we each "only" buy 3-4 treats. My total cost was about €3. I'm in heaven.

They all taste pretty good, but unfortunately, the Mexicans lack a bit of French flavor. But I'm not complaining; we all nibble happily in front of the shop before heading to the main square, the Zócalo.

It's huge, and there's an indigenous market set up inside. How cool, I wish I'd brought more cash. We get lost in the endless expanse of colorful stalls, buy two fresh juices in the food tent, and in another, a necklace and a shirt for me. Yay.

Then, exhausted from exploring, we collapse to the ground in the shade at the edge of the square.

After a short break, we walk to the other side to a huge cathedral. Jone would be thrilled, with people praying everywhere, carrying holy images in processions. The church's interior is just as huge, but completely commercialized. There's a shop inside where you can buy souvenirs and cross necklaces and the like?? Capitalism seems to be reaching the (department) house of God.

Then we continue to the next square, with the cultural center and event venue Bellas Artes. It's simply hot here. For the first time, I see a few European-looking tourists; otherwise, it seems like the city is only populated by Spanish-speaking Latin Americans or something. Here, another Lydia joins us, whom I met during the first week.

After taking a short break in a nearby park to refuel and rehydrate, we head off to the next market hall, which Lydia recommended. It turns out to be very exotic; they sell all parts of all animals, so to speak. The only thing that appeals to me here is the exotic fruit.

Lydia and I share a delicious fruit salad. She's very nice, but it turns out she's studying in the Netherlands when she asks me to please transfer the 50 cents I don't have in cash.

Then the trip draws to a close; we buy metro tickets to use public transport. I think the ticket costs 15 pesos (about 0.70 cents), and a bus ride costs 6-8 pesos (about nothing). However, the way back is another challenge; two buses simply drive past without stopping, so we wait another 40 minutes. Then we head home, change quickly, and head straight to a Mexican house party—more on that later.

In summary, I'd say the center is large with long rows of houses, and it doesn't paint a clear picture for me. Maybe I was thinking a bit too European. I think other neighborhoods are more self-contained and are supposed to be much nicer. But it was definitely worth a trip, if only for the bakery. Okay, bye-bye.

We will be picked up at the university around 08:30 AM. All 200 of us will be dropped off by tour buses after a two-hour drive and will explore the vast grounds in groups. A tour guide will first show us how people lived here. Everything is quite nicely decorated, and what surprises me is that the houses here had no windows. For “reproducing”, there were specific corners one would go to. Interesting.

Then we’re off with a delicious fruit ice towards the first large main square. The small pyramids haven’t lost their peaks; rather, they are each dedicated to a god, and at the top, humans would sacrifice themselves. For the god of rain, for instance, one would be burned. Every month, the sun is also somehow perfectly aligned behind one of the sites, after which the Aztecs created their own calendar.

On the main pyramid, only particularly consecrated members of society were allowed. According to legend, humans were created underground and “spat” onto the earth by the surrounding volcanoes. Therefore, the two pyramids, which happen to be among the tallest in the world, are said to mimic the surrounding mountains.

It gets really hot as soon as the sun comes out. We also have to wear T-shirts from Tec, and after climbing the very steep steps and running down a long avenue, I briefly feel like I might faint. Luckily my water is enough.

By the way, I find the history of how Mexico got its name very fascinating: According to tradition, the Aztecs were told to establish a city at the spot where they would see an eagle perched on a cactus, holding a snake in its beak. This sign took many centuries to appear, as they had to circumnavigate a large lake to reach a mountain on the other side. During their nightly rest, the moon shone so brightly on the lake that the travelers realized the water was shallow enough to wade through. The next day, they set off and stumbled upon an island in the middle of the lake, where they finally and truly found the long-awaited sign: the eagle, the snake, and the cactus, which can still be seen on the Mexican flag today. And to name the place where the city was to be founded, they came up with the following word: mexcli (or something like that, how he pronounced it) for moon, ixcli for navel, and co for the preposition in. Navel in the moon, then; the island in the lake that reflects the moon. Nice, right?

Next, we will further indulge in a lunch buffet with subsequent Aztec dances, followed by a Mezcal/Tequila tasting and a demonstration of the versatility of agave. The entire trip is organized by Tec students, by the way.

These stops are also cool, but after the rather exhausting tour, maybe it's a bit too much. A bit tipsy, we then drag ourselves back onto the bus around 6 PM, sit in traffic for ages, and finally get back to the university after a very long day around 9:30 PM. It was really interesting and once again a day whose impressions I will surely be processing for a while.

We take about 45 minutes on the public bus, one ride costs one Euro. It's not the metro yet, but I don't feel I need to be as cautious with my belongings here as I do in a Berlin subway or something. We travel on a sort of elevated highway and get great views of the chaotic city below us.

Upon arriving at the park, some want to go to the zoo, but of course, we boycott that. In hindsight, it's a bit unfortunate because it seems that only injured animals live there that couldn't survive on their own.

Well, instead, we go with a smaller group of about 20 people to visit the castle. It's a cool contrast between the 500-year-old building and the skyscrapers behind it.

A bit about the history of Mexico is told, the entire city was once a huge lake surrounding the center of the Aztecs!! Only when the Europeans arrived did they completely drain the lake over 50 years. Because of this, the city sinks every year by 3 centimeters. Furthermore, Mexico was established as an independent country in 1821.

We then walk a bit through the lush green park (I really feel I'm experiencing a little city overload already) and afterwards go to eat tacos and such. This neighborhood is pretty, behind tall gates one can catch glimpses of real city villas and a lot of green.

Among the friendly group, some people stand out today again: Emilia and Jule (Germany), Sofia (Sweden), Arbia (Montreal!), Nathan (Paris!) and Clemens (Germany). Then Mar and I get some donuts for 60 cents and then take an Uber back home, because public transport takes 2 hours to get to us at this time. Tonight, we're going out to party for the first time, yay! And I want to explore another neighborhood over the weekend, maybe even alone, but we'll see if I'm brave enough to do that. Bye :)

Everything is fenced in, and there are security guards (some even armed) at all entrances, which can feel strange at first. However, it also ensures that you can move around freely and feel safe when carrying your valuables. Unfortunately, that’s not entirely the case outside on the street.

The campus is super modern, having been almost completely rebuilt in 2017, though for a sad reason: three Tec students lost their lives during a particularly strong earthquake, which is why no expense was spared to make everything earthquake-proof. Yet, we learn on the very first day how to behave in case of emergencies.

The main buildings are just a few minutes apart and surrounded by a lot of greenery. There are seating areas everywhere. There’s even a small lake that somehow collects water and uses it for toilet flushing. Everything is designed to be very sustainable; we separate our waste more rigorously than the Germans, and the elevator doesn’t go to the first floor because it uses more energy than walking up. Plus, there are no sugary snacks in the numerous vending machines. Very interesting.

What I don’t quite understand, however, is the menu of our in-house Starbucks, which is, of course, full of sugar. Generally, there’s everything one could wish for: crêpes, Subway sandwiches, Tim Hortons, smoothie bars, Chinese food, raw foods, fast food, and so much that I haven't even discovered yet and could never try everything.

What quickly becomes my favorite food is a small stand with Mexican cuisine called Taki or something. I don’t find it exceptionally delicious, but the man who works there is an absolute gem. When I tell him that I don't know any Mexican food yet, he becomes totally excited and wants to explain the entire menu to me. By the second time, he simply remembers my name, how sweet. He gives me enchiladas with my first chicken in six years (tastes okay, just dying from spiciness; he specifically says, “no pica”) and tacos dorados. Definitely a great way to slowly get accustomed to everything. It’s all very interesting, and it costs about 3-4 euros for a whole meal! Local food is also cheap in supermarkets, while everything international is just slightly cheaper than at home. Perhaps I’ll make another entry about the food here when I feel like I have a grip on what everything is.

There are also banks and ATMs on campus, a medical center with doctors for any illnesses, a shop for university apparel, a kind of dollar store, and other shops. I feel like a spoiled princess here. What stands out to me, though, is how incredibly much staff there is around. No wonder, it takes so many people to maintain this perfect image. Everyone is very polite and treats me not at all like a little student. It feels quite strange.

As for the buildings, I can let the photos speak for themselves. The library, as the heart of the university, is so cool. At the very top, you can look out over the city from a terrace. I see no end; neighborhoods stretch out in all directions up to the mountains.

For some buildings, there are completely secured, also fenced-off pathways through the streets. Only the sports facilities are a bit further away; one is right next to my home, how convenient. Here, of course, there are all the sports you could wish for, including several gyms with sports classes, tennis, what seems like a swimming pool somewhere, and a grill area. Let’s see where my volleyball and dance classes will take place. And if it’s too far or you feel too insecure, you can just take the university bus that circulates between the different campuses.

This is probably all I notice for now, a bit crazy, right? I’m curious if the quality of the university courses will meet these external expectations.

I slept from 9 PM to 4 AM, well, at least no severe jet lag symptoms, just a bit tired.

Excursion to the Paso de Cortes

Traveling by car, cornfields spotted above 3000 meters

From the Paso de Cortes (about 3500m) continuing on an actually untraversable road to 'La Joya', registration was required, hike started at about 3900m. That's how easy it is to set a personal altitude record,😁

Many thanks to everyone who participated and made it possible, muchas gracias

Mexico City Tag 1, 

Bedtime at 2:15, awake at 5:30

First, we marveled at the view, then had a delicious breakfast --> Visit to the Anthropology Museum --> Park and Castle of Chapultepec 

Day 1 Mexico City

Going to sleep at 2:15am, waking up at 5:30

First of all, we were amazed by the view at Sandy's house, then we enjoyed a delicious breakfast. After that, we visited the Anthropology Museum guided by Dani Díaz, followed by a trip to the Chapultepec Castle.

Travel time from Door Graschuh to Door Mexico City is about 29.5 hours,😲

Just landed from Costa Rica, I received a message from Miska: Do you want to go to Monterrey with me? 🏙️

Of course! So off we went to the airport the following Friday, heading for Tampico with a 24-hour stopover in Monterrey.

In the morning, we got up early in Monterrey to see as much of the city as possible and, of course, to meet Gustavo (my buddy from Germany). After a quick visit to a museum to cool down in the already 38-degree morning heat, we went on a little river sightseeing tour with Gustavo. Then we headed to Tec de Monterrey in Monterrey - the largest university here. 🏫🧑🏼‍🎓👩🏽‍🎓The university feels like its own city, with pets like deer, peacocks, dogs, and cats and countless huge buildings, which is no wonder with 35,000 students! Together with other buddies from Germany, Ruy and Andrea, we went for Chilaquiles before our flight to Tampico.

Tampico is a city without any tourists directly on the Caribbean coast, so we searched for crocodiles at the lagoon in the morning and then took a 2-hour bus ride (in 45 degrees) to the beach. In the evening, our bus took us for 3 hours to Ciudad Valles.🚎🐚🏖️

Here we had truly arrived in Mexico - no English, no Uber or Didi, no bus signs, no tourists! Despite some bus difficulties, we went on a trip to Tamasopa to the probably most beautiful swimming pool - waterfall scenery I have ever seen! 🌿🏞️ We actually wanted to take the night bus over San Luis Potosí to Guadalajara after our second night, but since it was recently robbed two weeks ago, we decided to spend another night in San Luis Potosí. And that was probably the best idea; the city is stunning, and we could still enjoy lovely strolls through the old town and the sunset from our hostel terrace over the roofs of the city!⛪️🌇 After a final Chilaquiles breakfast, we took the bus back to Guadalajara in the afternoon for 5 hours.

Holy Week (Easter Break)!!!!🐣🌼 This also means that everyone is off work and vacations are expensive… so it’s the perfect time to visit non-touristy places, because local bus companies offer students a 50% discount on bus tickets during Easter! 🚎

On Saturday at 4:00 AM, we headed to the airport and then to Veracruz. There, we picked up Miska at the hostel for breakfast.

In Veracruz, we visited the beautiful old town, local beaches (more military than tourists), and the surrounding islands - paradise! 🏝️⛱️

On Sunday, we went further north to Papantla - the vanilla growing city (UNESCO), home of the Voladores and the Tajin pyramids. 🛕 Everything was decorated so beautifully for Easter and we were the only tourists at the main attraction. The next day, we drove north/centrally to Xalapa to admire the surrounding Pueblos Mágicos:

• Puebla Xico, waterfall, and accidentally wild jungle hike 🌿
• Puebla Coatepec, coffee plantation and town☕️
• and of course, Xalapa itself :)

Our last travel destination of the road trip was Puebla. One of my favorite cities in Mexico! So many beautiful, colorful streets and squares, lots of churches (really beautiful to visit at Easter), and great food! We also visited the Magical Town of Cholula, with a view over all of Puebla.

On the last day, we took the bus to Mexico City Airport and back to Guadalajara.

It’s beach & relax time

..

Is a must have to visit Cafe Hanuman, great cappuccino and appetizers , very friendly staff and iconic guys, climbing girls and much more. 

Go ahead to climb ,Sugar Baby’ - 5.12a, incredible for that grade 🤘. 

Still exploring ..

Las Animas without climbing harness

People and people, houses and more houses 

Gabriela & Peter 

Thank you very much for these amazing moments 

We had a great time with old and new friends, wonderful music and much more. 

Since the Finnish students had to fly to Mexico City to vote, Katharina and I decided to tag along. 🛩️

Hello Metropolis Mexico City with over 20 million residents! 🇲🇽

Our accommodation was right in the Centro Historico, so we were right in the middle of everything. Within 5 minutes, we reached incredibly beautiful squares, churches, parks, and museums. My favorite trip, which included a long Uber ride (the traffic is truly brutal in the city!), was to the Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera Museum! 🎨👩🏻‍🎨

Another highlight is the Public Tram; teleférico (line 2&3), which travels above the city's rooftops. 🚠 After that, we went to Castillo de Chapultepec and the Museo Nacional de Antropología. In between, we had a little snack in the park, which we would regret a week later - the revenge of Montezuma. 🙃

On the last day, we took public transport (a small challenge in such a large city) to the Teotihuacán del sol y de la luna, the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. ☀️🌝🛕

In the evening, we flew back from the new airport - Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Angeles - to Guadalajara, one of the most beautiful airports ever. Each gate is designed after a Mexican state.