I know you are thinking that it is really warm here and in truth it does reach 70F and is sunny on most days but we are at altitude (Mexico City is 7,350ft or 2,240 meters; Minneapolis 841ft; Stratford 1020 ft). In my opinion 70F here doesn't really compare to 70F in Minneapolis. The overnight temperatures at the moment are about 40-45F. As you know we have rental furniture, which includes bedding but our first night we were cold! We have since purchased another blanket and some heaters.
Our apartment is on the shady side of the building and while the windows are big and there is lots of natural light we do not get any direct sunlight - as a result our apartment is on the cool side. I am hoping that in the summer this will pay off.
Anyway on the first day Matt headed off to work and Dylan and I were left to unpack and explore the complex. We visited the playground twice. The first time a little boy, of probably 3 years, comes running across the grass to met us. He immediately grabs Dylan's toy digger from Dylan's hands and takes off. I reassure Dylan that he just wants to play with it and will give it back. Anyway the boy and his mom are friendly but we can't actually communicate as she speaks no English and I no Spanish. On our afternoon trip to the playground there are a lot more children there playing - all with their nannies, not a parent in sight (except me).
On Wednesday morning Ada calls and invites us to her house in the afternoon. Ada is the wife of Matt's boss. They have been here for about 5 months and have two children. Ada sends her driver to pick us up.
We arrive at the complex where Ada and her family live and the driver drops us of at one of the common areas. Ada introduces me to two other mom's who are there and offers me a drink (you got it, one with alcoholic content). It turns out that we have been invited to a party.
So one of the things they do here in the days before Christmas are Posadas, and Dylan and I are fortunate enough to experience a version of this. As I understand it the Posada is a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph's search for a place for Mary to birth. So after the children had played for a while and done some crafting (they painted paper circles to put one a paper Christmas tree - kind of like those glass ball decorations) the group split into two. Part of the group was then "locked" outside representing Mary and Joseph and the other representing the various places Mary and Joseph stop at to ask for accomodations. The two groups sing their parts and eventually Mary and Joseph are let inside.
There is also a pinata. Dylan was more interested in riding on the little carousel with dinosaurs on it than the pinata but boy those kids sure learn about hitting pinatas early on.
We saw part of another posada at our complex a few days later.
We visited the Santa Fe Mall (which is supposed to be the second largest mall in Latin America). The Mall is crazy, lots of super expensive stores and big play areas for children (you pay to use them). Among the pricey euro style fashion I did see a yarn store (yippee). I didn't go in as I need to focus on finishing the somewhat ambitious children's vest project before buying anymore yarn.
I have met a few people in the playground that speak English but the sooner we get started on lessons the better - of course I can't access my online learning until we get the internet sorted.
The "banging" continued the whole week (day and night) and I was certain that some of it must be from construction sites but Matt informs me that he has discussed this with the locals at work and it is all fireworks. Aparently anytime of the day or night is a good time to let off a barage of fireworks.
We cranked up the heater in our guest room and did a bit of yoga. My effort was pretty poor - I am going with the still acclimatising to the altitude excuse.
Sorry to disappoint but that really is about it for the first week. We don't have the driver situation sorted out yet and I am not super keen on the idea of driving here. Seriously the driving is crazy! There are unmarked speed bumps all over the place (and they vary in size too) and at intersections it is pretty much a case of the person with the biggest "balls" gets to go first. I am happily leaving the driving to Matt. I have appointed myself as chef speed bump spotter - a very important job in my opinion.
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