Sallie in a Sombrero: Don't Make Eye Contact With Vendors... It's all they need

So this week Sallie and I took it relatively easy since there's been a cold running around. I even had to stay in bed and skip classes on Thursday. That said, we still managed to go out most nights and check out new places around town. Our hostel is in pretty prime location and it doesn't take much effort to wander around downtown or on Chapultapec, a main avenue nearby, and find radical new places. One night we decided to check out a big market that runs everyday downtown. On the way we noticed that about 80% of the people walking around were carrying ice cream cones. This seemed odd until we noticed little soft serve stations about every 20 yards selling ice cream for 3 pesos... or about 25 cents, toppings and everything. Let it suffice to say that there are a lot of people in need of a gym membership around here. There were also a few helado storefronts and I couldn't pass up a pic with this one.

We eventually made it to the market--a three-story gianormous building with vendors selling everything you can imagine, literally EVERYTHING. Cow legs, questionable mexican candy, love potions, hundreds of crazy herbs and peppers, and a host of other things that we hadn't a clue what they were. It was a pretty intense experience walking the narrow isles, and with vendors and locals calling at us from all sides we felt quite the prey. After holding our breath through the room-temperature meat/seafood market we managed to find an exit.

Made it to a nearby square and had dinner in a restaurant overlooking Catedral Expatorio.

Sallie being a creeper with local street art.

Another evening after class we walked around El Centro and passed through Plaze de Armas when the local orchestra was playing. There's usually a group out there once or twice a week and the place is always packed.

Inside Catedral Expatorio

I've been wanting to post more pics of the local trees because of how crazy colorful they are. There always seems to be trees in bloom with giant red or yellow flowers. There are also lots of orange and lemon trees.

Friday night was Chris's birthday and a bunch of checked out a bar called Mosquito. The inside was pretty post-mod with dark lounge areas, cool low lighting, and a giant retro pic of Sir. Michael Jackson. We left a little early though when the music attained a pretty deafening decibel.

Me with Utsav and Kinjalk, two dudes from my program that are unfailingly a good time.

Saturday: Breakfast at La Provedencia. Cheap good eggs, fruit, and coffee and right on Chapultapec makes it a nice spot to wake up in the morning.

Later we headed to La Nacional, a new favorite also on Chapultapec. They specialize in Latte art and make some of the best coffee around.

They drew me a conejo, meaning bunny, or also the name of your biscept (cuz cock dudes like to make it jump ;) ).

Latte art maestra in action.

Sunday: went again to Av Vallarta where they shut down the road so people can bike and workout. This time we run and I decided that my new mission is to find authentic running huaraches.

After eating we went out for a stroll downtown. We expected most places to be closed because it's Sunday, but once we got closer to El Centro there was actually a lot going on. Unfortunately, the chess players that gather daily at Palacio Municipal next to Plaze de Armas weren't out yet, so I'll have to see how I fare against the local comp some other day.

Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres (illustrious men)

Templo de Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes. Mid-day mass.

Passed through a nearby market with more unknown merch. For instance the cups below that look like they are full of coco powder. No idea, none.

Oh and in case you are in the market for an avian pet, they sell the birds next to the honey and underwear.

Afterwards we caught a cab and met up with Utsav and Isabel at Andares mall, the largest in the city.It was the first open-air mall I've been to and I gotta say I could get used to it.