36 hours in Mexico City

Happy to see DF getting some positive press. It seems like external perceptions are mostly negative but then again they are external...

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/travel/24hours.html?th&emc=th

LUCHA LIBRA

I have a confession to make. As a child I was a huge fan of wrestling. Every Saturday I would religiously watch the WWF. I was captivated by the intense action and drama. Then one fateful day around the age of 10 the news was broke to me by my older brother that the wrestling was not real rather it was all a choreographed act. I refused to accept this! It couldn’t be…The experience was like when young children who believe in Santa Claus find out he is not real….the deception!!! Alas we all need something to believe in.

Fast forwarding to the present day in Mexico City I have been asking people about things to see in la ciudad. Lucha Libre (translated as “free fight” aka wrestling) has constantly come up as something to check out. Apparently it is a Mexican pastime. I was excited to have the experience, especially since I had been a fan of wrestling in my childhood. Mexican wrestling is very similar to what I grew up watching but it is a wee-bit more exaggerated and there are more humorous characters,my favorite is a “little person” dressed up as a monkey . Most “luchadores” wear masks, which adds a twist (see below) and allows fans to buy masks and wear them in support of their favorite wrestlers. Any visitor to Mexico City should not miss the Lucha Libre experience.

Masks (mascaras) have been used dating back to the beginnings of lucha libre in the early part of the 20th century and have a historical significance to Mexico in general dating to the days of the Aztecs.^[9] Early masks were very simple with basic colors to distinguish the wrestler. In modern lucha libre, masks are colorfully designed to evoke the images of animals, gods, ancient heroes, and other archetypes, whose identity the luchador takes on during a performance. Virtually all wrestlers in Mexico will start their careers wearing masks, but over the span of their careers a large number of them will be unmasked. Sometimes, a wrestler slated for retirement will be unmasked in his final bout or at the beginning of a final tour, signifying loss of identity as that character. Sometimes, losing the mask signifies the end of a gimmick with the wrestler moving on to a new gimmick and mask. The mask is considered "sacred" to a degree, so much so that fully removing an opponent's mask during a match is grounds for disqualification.^[10]

Field Trip #1: Para comer tacos de lengua de vaca

Every weekday morning at 7:30am I meet my Spanish teacher Imelda for my daily lesson before I start my workday. Our Spanish conversations are fairly limited thus far based on my competence in the Spanish language and one morning we were talking about food. I constantly walk by tacos stands that are sprinkled on the streets and inhale the intoxicating smells wafting from the grills. During our conversation this image popped into my mind. I asked Imelda, Que es tu favorita taco? She answered, “Me favorita tacos es La Lengua”. La Lengua? Que es la lengua I thought? She proceeded to tell me that La Lengua is cow tongue! Which apparently is a favorite taco of many Mexicans due to its tenderness. I asked around to verify my source and multiple people concurred. During my next lesson I asked Imelda if we could go on a field trip to a taco stand to try La Lengua tacos. She agreed and today we went on our 1st field trip. My 1st glance at La Lengua was alarming. Upon the request of Imelda the cook picked up a huge cow tongue and showed it to me. The thing was massive and I almost gagged as I peered at it. I was relieved when I saw that la lengua was diced up and put into the tacos for patrons to eat. When it came time to try it, Imelda curiously watched my reaction as I hesitantly took my 1st bite. I must admit it was a pleasant surprise. La Lengua was tender and tasty! So much so that I even ordered a second one. One of the gifts of living in a foreign country is the assortment of different cultural experiences you can have. Not all of them have to be extreme however I find that when I step out of my comfort zone my learning and enjoyment increases.

Rosca de Reyes

Today at work I got an email saying please join us for rosca de reyes at 3pm (read the below description from wiki to learn more).I had no idea what to expect and was excited to find out. 40 people crammed into a conference room to cut a large colorful round cake which had 10 little baby Jesus figurines hidden inside. If you pulled one out than on the 2nd of February you had to buy tamales and atole for everyone in the office. Since I was the newcomer to the team everyone insisted I cut my slice 1st and what do you know!!!! There was a baby Jesus in my slice of cake and my co-workers laughed and cheered. The cutting process took another 10 minutes as people carefully chose where to cut . During that time 9 more figurines were uncovered. Some of the lucky ten seemed happy to get the figurine others a little upset due to the fact they would have to buy tamales and atole for everyone on the team.Customs from diverse cultures are something I enjoy participating in and learning about. . I found the tradition very interesting and fun to participate in.

Rosca de reyes or roscón de reyes (kings' ring) is a very fine cake prepared carefully and delicately.

Although the name indicates that it should be round, the Mexican “rosca de reyes” generally has an oval shape due to the need to make cakes larger than 30cm across for larger parties. For luxurious decoration, Mexican people use tanned and fig fruit, quinces, cherries, etc.; which besides from making it pretty, enriches its flavor.

It is traditionally eaten in January 6, during the celebration of the "Día de Reyes" (Wise Men Day). In most of Spain, Mexico, and sometimes Hispanic communities in the United States, this is the day when children get presents from the Three Wise Men (not from Santa). They leave a shoe outside, filled with hay or dried grass for the animals the Kings ride, before they go to bed along with a note. The Mexican “rosca de reyes” has an oval shape. For decoration, Mexican people use dried and candied fruits like figs, quinces or cherries

The tradition of placing a trinket (figurine of the Christ Child) in the cake is very old. The baby Jesus, when hidden in the bread, represents the flight of Jesus, fleeing from King Herod's evil plan. Whoever finds the small baby Jesus is blessed and must take it (a representation of baby Jesus) to the nearest church on the 2nd of February (Día de la Candelaria). In the Mexican culture, also has to have a party and provide tamales and atole to the guests.

In some places, the roscón de reyes is replaced by Panettone, sometimes with trinkets.

READ THIS: What Matters Now

This is a great compilation of diverse thought leadership. I like how each page covers a different topic and is offered in bite sized pieces that are easy to digest.

Check it out and pass it on!

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/12/what-matters-now-get-the-free-ebook.html

Do Interesting Things

Do Interesting Things

Posted: 07 Sep 2009 10:08 PM PDT

“Whatever you dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” - Goethe

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter.

We live in interesting times. We’re blessed that way.

The world is changing rapidly.

The way we work is changing, the way we live has already changed. Entire industries are crumbling, and more are growing on their ruins. People are empowered to express themselves, to create, to become a part of a global conversation and transformation, in a way that has never existed before.

What will you do with that?

What will your place be in this new, interesting world? Will you have a voice? Will you be a creator, or just a consumer?

Do something.

Do something interesting.

Be a part of the conversation, and say something remarkable. Create something unique, new, beautiful. Build upon the works of others and transform it into your own.

How to do this?

Write a book. Or an ebook. Write poetry and publish it on the web. Create interesting, lovely or funny videos, put them on You Tube. Be passionate. Write a web app that will solve a problem in people’s lives. Become a watchdog to replace the faltering newspapers. Explore the world, and blog about it. Try something you’ve always been afraid to try, and put it on video. Be yourself, loudly. Start a new company, doing only one thing, but doing it very well. Start a business that does a service you’ve always wanted, or that you are frustrated with in other companies because the service sucks. Put your heart into something. Say something that no one else dares to say. Do something others are afraid to do. Help someone no one else cares to help. Make the lives of others better. Make music that makes others want to weep, to laugh, to create. Inspire others by being inspiring. Teach young people to do amazing things. Write a play, get others to act in it, record it. Empower others to do things they’ve never been able to do before. Read, and read, and then write. Love, and love, and then help others to love. Do something good and ask others to pass it on. Be profound. Find focus in a world without it. Become minimalist in a world of dizzying complexity. Reach out to those who are frustrated, depressed, angry, confused, sad, hurt. Be the voice for those without one. Learn, do, then teach. Meet new people, become fast friends. Dare to be wrong. Take lots and lots of pictures. Explore new cultures. Be different. Paint a huge mural. Create a web comic. Be a dork, but do it boldly. Interview people. Observe people. Create new clothes. Take old stuff and make new stuff from it. Read weird stuff. Study the greats, and emulate them. Be interested in others. Surprise people. Start a blog, write at least a little each day. Cook great food, and share it. Be open-minded. Help someone else start a small business. Focus on less but do it better. Help others achieve their dreams. Put a smile on someone’s face, every day. Start an open-source project. Make a podcast. Start a movement. Be brave. Be honest. Be hilarious. Get really, really good at something. Practice a lot. A lot. Start now. Try.

Change in Direction

While on this backpacking trip I have been interviewing with HSBC regarding potential employment. Yesterday I formally agreed to join them in Mexico City as Head of Solutions Centers- Latin America. The bank is going through what many are speculating is the biggest HR Transformation in corporate history. My role will be helping the Latin American region streamline their operating model and manage the transformation from a human capital perspective.

My backpacking adventure will be cut short as they want me in London for 2 weeks of meetings starting on September 21st. So I will hustle down to Buenos Aires to reconnect with my cousin Chris then fly back to Denver to drop off my backpack, pick up some suits and finally cross the pond to London.

I will be relocating to Mexico City no later than Nov 1st.

Huayna Potosi

While in Arequipa I attempted to book to trek to one of the mountains that served as a backdrop for the city. The mountain I had my eye on was over 6000 meters high and I was told that I had to properly acclimated to even attempt the challenging hike. Having only been at a high altitude for a few days I couldn't make the ascent despite my desire. For the next few days having meals on rooftop patios I stared longingly at those mountains. When I got to Bolivia I was pleased to find out there were other magical mountains I could hike. I gave myself 5 days to acclimate in La Paz (the highest capital city in the world) before heading out to Huayna Potosi for a 3 day trek.

Huayna Postosi is 6088 meters and a beautiful yet intimidating spectacle. The 1st day of the trek was training on how to ice climb using crampons for traction and ice axes for rising up through icy terrain. The second day we climbed to Alto camp which was a tiny shack at 17,000 feet. 18 of us crammed into this small space and after some soup went to "bed" at 6pm because we were waking up at 1am to reach the summit by sunrise. That night my head felt like it was in a vice from a lack of oxygen. I got no more than 2 hours of sleep but was still charged by the upcoming ascent. We awoke as planned at 1am and hit the ice at 2am. The climb up to the summit was completely in the dark and probably better that way as had I been able to see the terrain we were hiking through I might have had second thoughts. ..We reached 200 ft below the summit right at sunrise which was a treat. Above the clouds there were priceless vistas to gaze at.

We were so close yet so far away from the summit. Completely spent some people decided not to summit. If it were not for my guide I am not sure I would have made it to the top. He continued to push and challenge me to keep my eyes on the prize. When I was finally at 6088 meters a sense of peace and accomplishment washed over me having completed one of the most challenging feats of my life.

Now all I had to do was get done the mountain...

"Death Road"

On my way to Bolivia I read about "death road" which some say is the most dangerous rode in the world. There are an average of 100 deaths per year on this narrow and mountainous road. In fact, the week before I took a ride down the 3000 meter Yungas road a tour guide had died. The road itself isn't that dangerous rather it is the mix of bullish bus drivers, sleep deprived truckers and tourists that create the drama. With proper equipment, a good guide and a wee bit of caution the bike ride is a lot of fun and death can easily be avoided.

Publish Post

Adventures at the Bolivian Border

Travel teaches patience and resilience. About 12 hours into what was supposed to be a 12 hour bus ride we arrived at the Peru/Bolivia border. My follow passengers and I "checked out" of Peru and then walked over to the Bolivian immigration center. The line was moving like clockwork until it got to me. The Bolivian official ask if I have a Visa and I said no. With a smirk on his face he informed me that I would have to pay $135 to enter Bolivia. I had read about these sorts of scams in the Lonely Planet and assertively said no and acted confused(this is the sage advice of the LP). After 10 minutes they still would not budge. Neither the travel agency I booked the bus ride with or my trusty lonely planet said anything about this Visa charge. I decided to involve my bus driver to get to the bottom of this situation. After a few minutes he came back and affirmed that without paying the fee I could not enter Bolivia. I resigned to this reality however there was one major catch...The closest ATM was over 2 hours away??? and I had about $15....Seems strange that there wouldn't be a ATM at such a important crossroad? By this time the bus driver was getting very impatient as my dilemma had been holding the bus up for about 30 minutes. He and his co-pilot decided I was screwed. One of them started fishing for my pack under the bus and the other went onto the bus to get my other belongings. Apparently I was getting kicked off the bus and left at the Peru/Bolivia border! In a desperate manner I jumped on the bus and broadcasted my situation to the people on the bus and asked if anyone would find it in there big heart to loan me $135 until we reached La Paz. Luckily to gracious couples (one french and the other Peruvian) pitched in and I was able to get my Visa and continue onto La Paz. Dios Mi0!!!!

1 footnote:

My trusty Lonely Planet is outdated by 3 years and this new visa charge was incorporated in 08 by the President of Bolivia who decided his country would charge an equivalent fee that Bolivians have to pay to enter the USA.

3 pairs of underwear???

This backpacking trip was the 1st of its kind for me from both duration and location perspectives. I had backpacked for a month out west when I was young and have done plenty of camping in my days. However, preparing to travel in South America for 2 months carrying everything I needed (as opposed to wanted) proved to be challenging to venture as I began to fill my pack. So I called upon some of my friends who were backpacking vets and done a few tours of duty to give me some solid advice. When one my buddy Seth told me to only bring 3 pairs of underwear for 2 months I almost fell out of my chair! I began to lay out my clothes based on his and other advice...2 pairs of pants, 4 pairs of socks, 2 long sleeved shirts, 2 tee-shirts and so forth... I was uncomfortable with having so few things for what seemed like such a long time. One thing I reminded myself of when packing is that I had to bear the weight of all my stuff and so packing light was smart. When I arrived at Denver airport I was curious how much my pack weighed. If felt like a ton as I strapped it on and walked through the terminal. I tossed it onto the scale and when it settled it weighed 32 pounds. I had a triumphant smile on my face. After 2 weeks of traveling I am thankful for my minimist approach. It is teaching me many lessons.

This reminds me of a link I had posted awhile back. Check it out: http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html

On my back I carry all I need, this packs weight is freeing.

12 dias en Peru

My backpacking adventure started with a dizzying flight itinerary. I flew from Denver to Atlanta to Lima and finally arrived in Cuzco after about 24 hours of travel time. I spent a day in Cuzco which is a nice travelers mecca before heading on a four day trek to Matchu Pitcchu. The trek was incredible! On the way to MP we mountain biked down a 12,000ft high mountain, rode the highest zip line in all of South America and soaked our tired muscles in hot springs. The evening of day 3 we arrived at Aquas Caliente the town at the based of MP. That night we had dinner and retired early as our hike up to MP began at 3am. The hike up was grueling however we all were fueled with adrenaline by the anticipation of viewing one of the wonders of the world. MP lived up to all its hype and was breathtaking. While there we also hiked Wyna Pitcchu which is the mountain in the background of the picture above. It offers amazing views of MP from above. After the MP experience we headed back to Cuzco for a day of R&R including a blissful massage for 3 USD.

At this point, I was traveling with my pal Seth who had limited time in Peru so we wasted no time and got back on the road. We hopped an overnight bus to Puno which is where Lake Titicaca rests, the highest navigable lake in the world. The next day we spent on a boat cruising the lake and exploring the surrounding islands many of which are man made with natives living on them that we got to spend time with. After an action packed day we caught yet another bus to the southern town of Arequipa where we got our 1st showers and beds for 3 days. Arequipa is a charming city which many comforts that we partook in gleefully after being knackered from our travels. While in Arequipa I tasted many of the Peruvian fare; pollo la brasa, ceviche, llama and guinea pig (yes you read that correctly guinea pig). After two days in Arequipa Seth departed for the States and now I am preparing for a 14 hour bus ride to La Paz, Bolivia. Peru has been great and I know a return visit is in my future.