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On Saturday we spent most of the day trying to get out of our 2 week Airbnb reservation.

The apartment had a lot of problems such as the couch.

The biggest problem was the “air conditioner” which was really a big fan. It didn’t cool the bedroom or any room down. The host didn’t want to give us a refund do we had to get Airbnb Support involved. They were able to refund our reservation and even pay for our night in a hotel. We were so happy to get into an air conditioned hotel.

We normally travel with a stainless Steel French Press but since we’re traveling light (by our standards) we left it in Merida. We thought we’d just use whatever was in the Airbnb. That lasted a day. Then we were in the market for a pour over. Not that we don’t have several in our storage locker in Seattle.

Dinner was Tacos Al Pastor. Mexico City is famous for them.

Vegetarians enjoy this photo of beer and stop reading. Skip the rest of this post.

They are pork tacos cooked on a spit like gyro meat . There is always chunks of pinapple included which is whats on top of the spit.

These were good. The best? No. We, have to keep trying more.

They are small, but was eating 5 overdoing it? Perhaps.

Should we have been curious and looked up the translation for the part of the menú with the skulls? Definitely not.

Suritida-assorted

Trompa-snout

Cachete-cheek

Ojo- eye

Maciza-solid (I don’t want to know)

Sesos-brains

Lengua-tongue

We have a lot more tacos to try. We will be only ordering tacos al pastor an no cabeza de rez. There was a time when I was trying to eat all parts of the cow in Argentina. I’m glad I stopped that quest before I got to any of the above.

On Friday we went out to see Mexico City. The good thing about having an AirBnB that is 90 degrees is it got us out the door earlier than normal.

Breakfast was at a cute outdoor cafe. The food wasn’t great but there were piñatas. The waiter got mad when Jeff blind folded me and I smashed this one with my knife expecting candy to fall out. (Just kidding).

This man sang. I normally don’t like that sort of thing but he was really good and it was worth the equivalent of fifty cents.

Next stop was the main square which had hundreds and hundreds of these tents. At first I thought it was a REI sale. Then maybe the world’s cleanest and most orderly homeless encampment. But after some Googling found that it is a protest of educators. Maybe they’ll give us a tent if we joined them. It would be cooler than our Airbnb.

The Cathedral was huge. There was a mass going on so we didn’t take photos inside, but it was beautiful.

Next up was the Palacio de Bella Artes

It was so big I had to get this picture from across the street. Inside there was an amazing floor of murales including two by Diego Rivera.

After the museum we went out for a late lunch and I got this pretty drink.

It was gin, lavender and a bunch of other things these made it pretty and delicious.

On Thursday we flew to Mexico City. We took the cheap airline which was great except for boarding. Since I have this hernia, Jeff had to carry both of our carry ons up the stairs.

Ironically, we are not beating the heat. In Merida. And Panama City it was hot but we had great AC.

Here there’s s heat wave and in the upper 80’s. The apt only has this portable AC that doesn’t really work. Sven and Sergio couldn’t figure it out either.

The good thing about a hot apartment is it got us to drop our suitcases and go right out. We started at a bar pretty much on the street which was cool but we were about 20-30 years older than everyone else there.

We had mole enchiladas which were good. And something we’ve never had before, wine from Brazil.

On Wednesday I went in for my maintenance treatment. The infusión was the smallest part of the entire thing. After signing forms I was led to my room where they showed me the stocked fridge. I noted the multiple jellos.

I chowed down the fruit plate but skipped the ham sandwich, jello and cokes while I waited for the nurse.

While I was getting a blood draw the phone rang. The nurse handed it to me. It was the cafeteria asking me what I wanted. I went with eggs.

I ate these eggs and ham after the blood draw. Then my doctor and nurse came in and they practiced Spanish with me. They are always impressed (or pretend to be) with what I’ve learned in the three weeks since I’ve seen them last.

Then I had the infusión which only takes 30 minutes. Once it was done while I waited to get my invoice lunch showed up. I told them I didn’t want it but they insisted.

This was not very good. The roasted veggies were good and the jello probably was but I skipped it.

After trying that chicken I felt like I needed dessert so broke into the cookies and pocketed the granola bars.

When the person from accounting came with my invoice she insisted I have a wheelchair.

They wheeled me to the door and I was done. The wheelchair is so silly even the guy pushing me seemed to think it was dumb.

Every Airbnb except this one has had a washer and dryer in the unit. This is a really fancy building but there is a laundry room. You pay the equivalent of $5 and have a washer and dryer assigned to you for the day. It was me and maids. I guess when you live in a fancy building your maid does your laundry.

On an unrelated topic. I guess these chips have the salsa built in. They look good. I would try them but I’m sure they are too spicy for me.

On Monday we took an early morning walk. Its was nice having it cooler. I saw this flower. Not sure what it is. Then Jeff worked and I studied Spanish and had a lesson.

Then we had some Milch. It was a pretty normal chocolate bar, but the name sounds funny to me.

It’s weird how Oreo sounds good and Milch doesn’t.

On Sunday we swam in the morning and then went grocery shopping. Here is the strangest thing I’ve seen yet.

I guess for Catholics who think, “wow I could really go for some communion right now but don’t want to go to mass.”

On Saturday we woke up to clouds which was so weird yet wonderful. It’s been perfectly sunny since we got to Mexico 2 months ago.

It rained really hard which cooled everything off. It I’d going to get hot again but clouds and double vs triple digits was heavenly.

On Friday we saw this restaurant on our early morning walk. We were really excited until we read reviews. Locals gave it good reviews. Americans outside Chicago gave it mediocre reviews. Chicagoans said it was terrible.

We went to an Italian restaurant instead which was delicious. Each table had its own personal coat rack which I appreciate.

It had a great atmosphere but there was the ubiquitous macrame wall hanging. This must be a Yucatan thing because we see then all over.

If only I had kept up my macrame skills past third grade.

On Thursday we went out for a, walk early before it hit 100 degrees. The street was shaded and there was a breeze so it was nice.

I’m not sure what I hit in my phone but it made everything look magical. Or it was so hot my phone was melting.