Day 3 in Mexico City and Day 20 overall in Mexico started early for us around 5:30 am. Half of my dorm went up, which made it way easier with fewer doubts about being too loud and waking others up. A bus was already waiting for us in front of the hostel to bring us 45min to Teotihuacán for sunrise. But not only a sunrise around the pyramids, but a sunrise from above the pyramides from a hot air balloon. I never planned before to do this trip, especially because it is not that cheap with 130 USD of costs, but after hearing some people talking about their experience, I decided to do it, especially because it might be even more expensive to be on a hot air balloon in Germany.
Arrived at the starting point and after paying and locking our backpacks, we were able to see how the balloons got prepared and were filled. All around our provider, were other companies preparing their balloons and a couple were already starting, which already made an impressive picture.
We were told which balloon to enter and that we'll be in a basket with roughly 20 people. Our balloon was confetti coloured with a basket with 4 departments. The next 45min were just an amazing/stunning/insane experience of a balloon ride passing the Teotihuacan Pyramids with dozens of other balloons. The captain tried to turn the balloon frequently to give everybody in the basket different opportunities to see the sunrise as well as the view onto the pyramids or the other balloons, which was probably the most famous photo motive. Probably pictures tell more than a thousand words.
Before landing the captain introduced us to a typical procedure of shooting the cork of a champagne bottle into the balloon for luck and save travels. For sure the bottle had to be drunken including a Mezcal afterwards. In the end, they landed the basket directly on the trailer of a car with which we drove back then to the starting point to get the included breakfast. The next stop was a place where we got introduced to the different usages of Algarve, including apart from the jelly, the production of early paper, as a weapon or as a sewing kit. Also, we were told how obsidian was used for massages, as a weapon, filter to look at the sun, as well as for art and jewellery. After another Mezcal and a Pulque (basically the blood of Algarve), we went to the Pyramids to have an hour to walk around and soak in the atmosphere at this place and these impressive buildings. Teotihuacán, the UNESCO heritage and important historical ruin, which was at its peak one of the biggest cities in the world, is well known for its two main pyramids: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. The city is expected to be founded around 200 BC, even though this is just based on archaeological research since no documentation are existing about the city. Especially the pyramid of the sun, as the third largest third-largest ancient pyramid, makes a remarkable landmark.
Back in the hostel, I met Simon again, the German chef, who was in the morning at the fish market and brought fresh Oysters and Mahi Mahi. Even though I normally don't eat fish, I was pumped to try those stuff, especially from someone aware of how to prepare them. The oysters were not only huuuggee and surprisingly cheap but also really tasty and I was happy that I tried them.
After gathering people at the hostel we went to Petanca Roma, a local bar with the possibility to play Boccia, which was recommended by Ali, who also joined us. After some games, the Mexicans invited us to their flat, where we played card games and enjoyed our evening together, even though Ali had to fly to New Orleans the next day for a Half marathon. The next day started more relaxed with some blog writing and another round of Tacos for lunch in Los Especiales, where I had also been the evening before. Afterwards, we went with Tito, Jacques and Pauline by Metro to Polanco and Museo Soumaya. Soumaya is an impressive building and home of 4 levels of modern art, including sculptures, murals, and art made out of Mammut teeth. The collection holds works of local artists, but also of famous ones like Claude Monet, which caught my attention. Also, I found a German book about Telegraphy.
On the way back we took the local bus, which was way cheaper than Uber and also quite quick in the afternoon traffic since CDMX has designated public transport lanes. We stopped at Monumento a la Revolución before we went to the hostel for power hour. As last activity in Mexico City, we went to Mama Rumba in the evening, which is a quite crowded Salsa bar, where again everybody of us danced a lot, either with each other or local Mexicans. For sure, don't be afraid if you can't dance Salsa yet, people will lead you.
On the next day, we went to Cuernavaca, where we got invited to a finca of Ricardo because they booked the house including pool with some friends for the long weekend. So the day was mainly meeting a bunch of Mexicans and enjoying the day with them at the pool, playing games and finishing the day with an amazing barbecue. This was a chance we could not skip and decided spontaneously to go, even though we were a bit sceptical, but it was a lot of fun.
Additional recommendations:
- Café Tacobar: locally recommended bar especially for Carajillo
- Taqueria Orionoco: typical Mexican food
- Departemento: popular club, come early to get in
- Xochimilco lake: boat ride with music and drinking if you're a group of people
- Cablebús Indios Verdes: längste Stadt-Seilbahn der Welt über Favelas (26min/7M$)
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