Feliz Navidad!

I can't believe Christmas is here! The last few months have passed so quickly! It's going to be a quiet Christmas this year, just Jose and I! I did buy some Christmas lights for the house but when i got home, only every other bulb works and the only setting is on off on off on off on off, so when you yurn the lights off in the living room it feels like a rave. I also bought a poinsettia *Noche Buena in mexico, they are actually native to Mexico and Central America. Today I am going to make meatballs... not very traditional but maybe a new one for us. Jose has to work today until one so i am happily going to be doing Christmas makeup and hair... I've actually been excited all week haha. I hope everybody has a really great Christmas, I send all my love to my family... next year I promise!


So now it's the 27th... part 2! here are some pictures from our weekend.
x


My poinsettia 

Christmas eve :-) con tequila

Goat cheese with honey and patatas bravas... very good!

Love you my man in pink

Going to an italian restaurant all dressed up

It's been 3 weeks...

So I haven't written a blog in over 3 weeks... mostly because I haven't had anything too exciting to blog about and after my mum and dad left i did like 6 blogs in 2 hours.. and I just felt a bit blogged out. Anyway, life has been pretty normal for the last few weeks. Very busy with work but things are starting to slow down now Christmas is coming, most of the students take 2-3 week vacations, which is great for them but bad for me because I will be making no money for a few weeks!
So i am trying to think of things that are interesting that have happened... We went to see Harry Potter, I actually liked it, usually i feel quite bla toward those films but I really loved the story of the 3 brothers, I think that's why I like the movie haha. We found a really great Indian restaurant finally! I have been craving Indian food for months now so we checked the internet, we went, we ate and we loved it! We had pupadums which is probably spelt wrong and Farhaz told me that is the incorrect word anyways, we had chicken pakora, butter chicken, a coconut chicken thing and then strange milk dough lumps for dessert that were also very yummy. I bought a new long white coat that I am very excited about-although I'm too scared to wear it incase it gets dirty, but i LOVE it. I switched from a cappuccino to a mint tea at starbucks, but for tea they don't ask for your name so i haven't been Ana for a while, quite sad. I saw a car crash last week, well actually i was about 2 metre from it and the car hit the other car from the back and then the car spun around in a circle... except very strange, the lady who was hit, spun in her car, stopped cried, then shout to the other driver something along the lines of F*** you, you something or other and then sped away although her car was completely crushed at the back. Then the guy who hit her went chasing after her although the front of his car was smashed up.... it was very odd and I think i just stood watching in amazement.
I have actually been going to the gym again, only a few times a week but its been about a month now and i am feeling much better, I really hate going in the evening so i go during the day and the it's empty at that time which is even better.
Ok well I think we might be going to a concert this weekend and I really want to go on a picnic.. I will be sure to blog about it though!
bye

Day cinco

The next morning we spent some time by the Angel, it was Sunday so Reforma was closed and everybody was riding bikes and skating. We then took them to an Antiques market, where i knew they would both be in "old smelly furniture heaven." Dad found some very graphic ancient artifacts which he took photos off and giggled like a 5 year old and then said "lots of bottoms and bosoms in here!"

We had lunch at a great french restaurant called cluny's in a place called San Angel. The streets still have original cobble stones and it feels much older than the rest of the city. I think by this point we were all a bit "food-ed out" as we put it. The food is really really good and the sweet German wine that I chose was even better. I left feeling like a little fat piggy.

We then went down town again and took some amazing pictures of the church. Because of the lakes that used to be under mexico City, the ground is quite unstable and when you walk into the church you can see that it is wonky and all to one side because it is actually sinking. It is an incredible church but quite busy and touristy. Because this week is 100 years since revolution, they have put on the most incredible light show in the square. The church was lit up with all different colours and it looked amazing. On the way home I got a nice cuddle from a horse and then we went back to their hotel and order room service, which was horrible, apart from dad's mushroom soup, which of course was the best mushroom soup ever.
It was really horrible saying goodbye at the airport, I get anxious their anyway because i have had to say goodbye to Jose many times there. I think they had a really good time and they were completely surprised by Mexico City. It was so nice to have them here, I love spending time with them. They are very generous and kind and i am luck to have them. love you both lots x
p.s my favourite quote of the trip - "Leanne, I want you to explain that i am growing a beard for Movember (prostate cancer month) not because I want to look like a wally"

Day cuatro

We decided to take them to a place called Xochimilco, which is a district south of the city, which is famous for its canals. Of there were loads of traffic on the way, but when we arrived Jose and I couldn't quite remember our way to the part where you take the boat canals from. There were men all around the car trying to get us to come to their boats... basically a very typical Mexican situation, it is chaotic and a little bit intimidating of you are not used to it. At some point we were following a man around on a bike that claimed to be from the tourism department... who knows. We got to one canal area that seemed suspiciously small and .. well we were the only ones there. We clambered onto the boat which seemed to be in a state of decay. After the gave us a price of 1400 pesos for an hour and a half we said on ya bike mate and then we all clambered back out. I could see that my parents we a little dubious of the situation and at this point I just wanted to drive away, or better said, make Jose drive away. Eventually we got to a nice launching area, we agreed on a good price and away we went on the rickety boat down the canal. It turned out to be fantastic time. Lots of boats full of families, attached to their boats that had mariaichi bands. There was food and music everywhere, the weather was great and we took some very colourful pictures.

After the boat ride we went home, but on the way home we were driving along Reform when a bus pulled out without signalling or looking so we had to brake and then a few seconds later.... bump. My first thought was "I can't believe this, the one time we drive with my parents we have a crash." Nobody was hurt because it wasn't very bad but i got out and it was one of the construction trucks that has about 20 men hanging off the back. He was trying to change lanes and so wasn't looking ahead and so he went into the back of us. Somehow there wasn't a scratch, which was lucky because we were in a hire car. First bumper crash in Mexico City! We then went and had a sleep, Jose and i watched a Mexican version of Ricky Lake, episode: "you adopted me and then you treated me badly" very entertaining.
We then went to the zocaolo to have a look at the church and what not but the crowds were rather big and i think my mum was ever so slightly terrified of crossing the road Mexico City style "find a space and then run for your life".

We finished our day at our favourite Chinese restaurant "P.F Changs". The food is excellent and the waitress spoke English for my parents which resulted in a 15% tip. We shared all of our food which included Dan Dan noodles, duck, chicken and shrimp... we decided to take it easy on the meat.

day tres

Unfortunately Jose had to work on the friday but I took mum and dad on the open top Tourist bus, which may sound cheesy, but the price is great and it's the best way to see lots of different places without having to worry about parking or public transport... which are always my biggest issues in this city.
First they came to see my apartment, and then we took a taxi to the Auditorio where the buses leave from. The taxi driver spent 20 minutes talking about the corruption and drug trafficking problems in Mexico... luckily it was in Spanish!
We saw all of Reforma, Condesa, Roma, Downtown, Polanco and other parts that I didn't know. It was very hot, although we were the only whites smothering ourselves in SPF 30.
We had lunch in a mall called Antara at a restaurant in 50 friends, not the most traditional but it was good to see a salad! Dad then got told off by the security guard because he was taken too many photos of the fountain outside.
That evening, we first went to an irish pub called celtics in Polanco for a light drink... Jose ordered a litre of dark beer.

 We had dinner in a fantastic restaurant called Puerto Madero. We had too wait a while but we got talking to a nice couple who guessed we were not Mexican because my parents were commenting on how warm it was, she guessed Canada first, which which although is not completely true, we have been there over 6 years now so it was a very good guess. Dad absolutely loved the food and expressed his joy at every moment possible. He had fish which he said was the best fish he has ever tried in his life. Me and mum shared some white wine and the boys had red. The service was great, although embarrassing when the waiter came up to me with a serviette because i had creme burl all over the back of my hand, I sort of give up trying to be classy! I think we were all very full and maybe a bit tipsy and giggled all the way home. Excellent day :-)

day dos

I have just realized that all my posts about my parent's trip will be in reverse order... but I guess it doesn't really matter!
The first day we went to a district in the city called Coyocan. It is one of the oldest establishments in the city and really has a small town fell. We got a bit lost on the way but we finally made it and started the day with a really excellent breakfast of eggs, beans, bread, coffee... lots of coffee.
We walked around the town which is so pretty and the highlight is definitely the church. It really is one of the most beautiful that I have seen, the details and painting inside are incredible. We had nieces, which are typical fruit sorbets from Coyocan, although i had an ice cream that was choco choco chips, what can I say, I have a sugar problem.
We then went to the Friday Kahlo museum which I wasn't sure if they would like it because they had never heard of her. They absolutely loved it and my dad is convinced Frida was a hermaphrodite.

I then had to go to my afternoon classes which I managed to get out of, although my parents were able to see the school and meet some of the people that I work with. I love hearing my dad say "Buenoz diazzz" to everyone.
That night we went a spontaneously chosen restaurant in La Condesa called Jolie.. I think. It is was advertising New Latin Food and looked very cozy. The chef is from Argentina (of course) where he travelled from Buenos Aired to Mexico City and learned lots of recipes from all over Latin America. The food was absolutely excellent, My mum had an amazing lamb dish, dad had tuna, Jose had chicken and I   had fish. Me and mum had two Tom Collins and then we got some watermelon shots on the house. The interior is very cool, lots of old furniture and paintings and watching all the waiters trying to say the specials in English was really rather very entertaining.

Parents in the City

I can't believe that my parents have already come and gone.... time goes so quickly :-(
Apart from time going to quickly, the trip with my mum and dad was really good and I am so glad that were able to come to come to Mexico City and see mine and Jose's life.

They arrived on Wednesday night, mum told me they would land about 7.45 so i assumed that they would be through at about 8.30. Of course I had a public transport nightmare. I left my class 15 minutes early just to give me a head start at about 6.30. I decided to take the metro instead of the metro bus because I thought it would be quicker.... very wrong. I waited in a very crowded station for about 15 minutes before a train came but when it did, I was almost taken down my 1000 very determined pushy Mexican ladies, needless to say I couldn't get on. I then waited another 15 minutes and the exact same situation happened again. I went barging through the station so mad and frustrated I'm sure people thought that I was about to committ murder. I got outside in the middle of rush hour, nothing but traffic and full taxis. Finally i managed to get a taxi... it's condition was a little conspicuous but 45 minutes later he had me to the airport, 10 minutes before my mum and dad came walking through.

Our building

Our street

That night we took them to an Argentinian restaurant called Quebracho, where we had excellent meat and two bottles of delicious red wine.... I accidentally didn't make it to me morning class at 7am, oh well.

finally a relaxing weekend!

yay so this weekend was so relaxing, which was great for me, but not so good for my blog. Friday we watched half of a lame movie on TV then went to bed. Saturday I had to makeup a class at 9am... of course I was 10 minutes late but I think that's ok in Mexico hehe. Then we went to the mall and watched a movie called Biutiful with Javier Bardem. It is a movie from a Mexican director called Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who also made Amores Perros, 21 grams, and Babel. It was quite intense and a bit eery but very clever. The only problem is everyone speaks in accents from Spain which was proving to be quite the challenge, even Jose said at times it was difficult to understand. I have no idea if it is in cinemas in Canada, maybe at more alternative-ish cinemas.

On Sunday we went into the mountains that surround Mexico City to a place called Ajusco. It is about an hour drive going up and about 30 minutes coming down. So close yet you feel like you are so far from a city. It actually feels quite Veracruz like, along the highways and in the smaller towns. People selling so much food and drinks, fruits and vegetables. They have ranch style restaurants, horse riding and you can walk through the woods. We ate a restaurant that served the best food, so traditional and tasty. We laid on the grass and slept in the sun, and then we went to a place that sells strawberries and cream! There are some amazing views of the city but yesterday was a particularly smoggy day unfortunately so it was hard to see but i took some okay pictures. Last night we watched Toy Story 3 which we got for free from our points that we have collected from the department store Liverpool. I love that movie and Jose laughed the whole way through too.

So it is Monday again, I hate that the weekend goes so fast but I am also very excited for this week because my mum and dad are coming to visit on Wednesday!!

4 day weekend!

On Saturday morning we got up quite early, well actually Jose woke me up "Leanne if you want to go to Xalapa you are going to have to get up right now" definitely feeling the effects of the wine, somehow we packed and got ready in about 20 minutes and were on our way to TAPO, the bus  station. We managed to get tickets but had to wait 2 hours at the bus station. We arrived to Xalapa and went straight to Coatepec, where we went to a favourite pizza place called Roma. We ended up having 2 pizzas... but they are so good its hard to stop at just one! That night we went out with Zazyl to a place called Rabbit's.... not the classiest place in Xalapa, actually far from it but that is kind of what gives it its charm. W head a lot of fun dancing and enjoying out 80 peso litter drinks and some hotdogs along the way... a classic Xalapa night. The next day we were with Jose's mum, aunt and grandma for a bit, Jose's grandma says the funniest things. We were having breakfast and his mum and made tamales and eggs and beans and then some fried bananas, which were so nice but Jose doesn't like them, His grandma was completely shocked and said "How?? you don't like fried bananas?? you are Veracruzano!!! its is tradition" Jose's mum told her yes mum but he was born in Mexico City, he is Chilango (A person from Mex City) and she is like ohhhhh well there you go!!! por eso!! she really does believe that if you were born out of the state of Veracruz, even if you have lived there for years and years, it makes sense that you don't like fried bananas. 

On Monday we went to a small town called Naolinco. We went two years ago when we were living in Xalapa with my friends from the extranjero school. It was Dia de los muertos (day of the dead) and it was really foggy and cold and magical... or scary haha but a great place to be on that day. Really made me think of all the good memories from our year in xalapa and I though a lot about my friends that i was there with... quite a nostalgic day! 

Monday we just spent the day in Coatepec, then we went for dinner at our favourite Argentinian restaurant called La Forja, for those who know this place... lots i think haha two things that have changed, they have expanded the place so there is now like an outside patio area, but they took down the original wall with all the comments and now have a new one. Also the owner who we always remember as drinking lots of wine and smoking lots is now married, and brought his wife and 2 month old baby into the restaurant.... how things change! He did remember us which was quite nice although I think i prefer the restaurant when it was really small and he was a wino talking to everyone but constantly slurring! 

I had a really really nice weekend, I really have a soft spot for Xalapa and seeing our old apartment and all the places we used to go made me feel quite sad but in a good way. Sometimes being in the city really makes me crave small town Mexico but I realize that its nice to have really good memories of a really great year! 

Friday night

So we ended up going to a really nice restaurant here in Mexico City called El Corazon de Alcachofa (Heart of Artichoke) on Friday night. It is a beautiful restaurant on a street called Masarik in Polanco. They have a wine expert who helps you choose your bottle of wine.. even if you don't plan to buy a bottle, his pony tail sort of draws you into feeling you should also drink wine and grow long hair. Anyways the food was also nice, Jose had steak and I had ravioli with goat cheese and spinach, we also shared a greek salad which was actually not very traditional but none the less very tasty, I actually forgot my camera but here in a  picture of the outside:

things

1) I am reading a book right now which is called "Norwegian Wood"  by Haruki Murakami, who I have decided is not my favourite author. I also read another brook from his called "Sputnik sweetheart" a few years ago. If you like nostalgic Japanese themed books haha I think you will like it too!


2) I bought a new moisturizer about 2 months ago that said  "Aclara" on it which i assumed meant, clearing. Yesterday I asked Jose if he thought my skin was clearing up and he said "yeah sure" just like a typical man, then he said but why would that cream clear up you skin? so i said uh well jose it says Aclara... this actually means lightening,  so I have been pulling a Michael Jackson and whitening my skin for the past 2 months... strangely enough I haven't noticed any difference, I think the next shade for me would be transparency haha

hot hot hot!!

So I feel that it is necessary to write about the weather... basically it's hot... all day, sweaty hot and I'm starting to struggle. It's quite chilly in the mornings, about 9/10 degrees but by 12 the temperature more than doubles and in the city it's not always fun. Sometimes the bus and metro are so warm its hard to breath. Right now I have a sleeveless top on (very wild).... and the fan on and I'm still hot. People keep saying that it is really unusual this time of year, it is supposed to be quite cool so I am hoping that it does soon! Mum and dad are coming in less than two weeks so I would like the weather to stay for them and then it can leave!


This weekend is Day of the Dead (like the Mexican Halloween but it is a big celebration of life and death - it is not supposed to be scary but unfortunately the influence of the United States with Halloween is really obvious. Strange that Halloween isn't even American yet it seems as though it is.) Anyway this means we get Tuesday off ... which means Monday also because people like to extend their holidays here. Jose and i have hired a car and we are going on a little trip... we are actually just driving to Veracruz but we we feel that if we stop in lots of different places that are not planned, technically it counts as a roadtrip! I am going to make a picnic for the car like my mum used too... all the food would be eaten in the first hour haha. We hope to spend 2 nights in Veracruz, 1 in a small town and 1 in Xalapa but we will just see how it goes. 


Well I hope i have lots of good pictures from the trip for next week!
Que tengan buen fin de semana! x

Surprise Friday and Corona Capital

Beautiful sunset

Yea so I had my first 'boyfriend coming home from a trip earlier than expected surprise' this weekend. On friday I got in to bed at about 10, cool i know, but woke up to loud knocking at the door and Leeannneee, i stumbled out of the bed and Mr Jose was at the door, it was only 11 but it felt like 4am. It was soooo good to see him, and in my confused sleepy state my first thought was... oh my god I haven't shaved my legs since Sunday...
He brought back loads of free stuff from the Expo, shaving cream being one of them! but food, flashlight, water bottles, notebooks, shampoo, loads of cleaning and bathroom products which is great because that's something we wont have to spend money on for a while! Also a good collection of chocolate which will keep me amused this week.
On Saturday we went to a big outside concert/festival, 3 big statges bands form mexico, England and the states... lots of Corona.. but at $70 pesos, i almost fainted ... only had 2, although they were supposed to be doubles but it was more like a corona and a 1/4, It was a really fun day, very very hot and we were there from about 1-10, the day finished with Interpol and then the pixies. If I am honest i didn't know any any of the bands, well except for 2 door cinema club who were really good. We then took our very tired bums to our favourite Italian restaurant, Sangria, Gorfonzola pasta and mushroom pizza... a very good Staurday!
Sunday we did the usually house clean/groceries routine.. update im not drinking milk at the moment, only soya milk, Nanette... the itchy legs are back... im cutting foods to find what causes it! We then went to see Eat Pray Love which I loveddddd, and i know jose did too. it is quite long but I especially loved the Italy part... "The sweetness of doing nothing" Dolce far ninete.... I so want to learn Italian again.. well not again but better that I did last time!
ok well Ciao pescado xxx

Lots of free Chedraui stuff!

Lime and chili chips :-)

Cooling off in the heat!

Boys never grow up..

We pose

keeping it healthy

Bit of a lonely Friday

Buenas noches everyone, so it's Friday, I just had a sandwich for dinner at Starbucks.. needless to say not the most eventful Friday night. Jose has been in Veracruz all week with Chedraui (the company he works for) and won't be back until tomorrow. Its been a really busy week, I covered a class and did some evaluations for new students who want to study at the school on top of my classes so I've definitely been occupied. However, I don't like sleeping in the apartment alone but I think I'm slowly getting used to it. I was a bit worried about being here by myself at first but everything been just fine and I feel like i can survive quite well in the craziness of Mexico City without holding someone's hand.... although I do look forward to holding Jose's hand tomorrow :-) 
Today I bought a new nail varnish which is bright red... definitely the most exciting point of the day.. which then lead to buying a new mascara and eye shadow too. For those who are familiar with Sanbourns.. they now sell Rimmel, smashbox, and L'oreal in their full collections... that's probably only exciting to me haha
okay enjoy the weekend
Here is poesy picture with my new colour

Miss. Leanne

Today was a really good day, nothing very special happened but in terms of my job it was a very satisfying day. My morning class went well, I felt that we made progress and I can see that the man I have the class with is really starting to make some progress, english doesn't come easy to him so it's really nice to hear him saying things that I know he couldn't 1 month ago. I then had my second class with the mum and son, I am noticing that they are writing better and when I tell them stories I feel they understand and they are starting to respond with questions. My class with the 3 girls was great, we spent most of the class taking silly pictures on the Mac and making videos but they were speaking English and with confidence.. its definitely a nice a feeling to know that I have helped them and I see now why people enjoy to teach. Who knows if teaching is something that  will peruse when i return to Vancouver but for now it has been such a fantastic and fulfilling experience. Anyway just thought I would share that with you.
x

Before class

 During class....

After class!

Two things from today

1) I change my name to Ana when i have to give my name in Mexico... Leanne causes too many problems. i like being Ana, she orders a Cappuccino with Soy milk and reads a book.

2) I went to the market this morning, I go once or twice a week. It sell meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and flowers. It always really fresh and very cheap, today I bought all of this and it came to $52 pesos... about 5 dollars.... 2.50 pounds.. Probably cheaper in other parts of Mexico but I thought for a city it was a pretty good deal!