Lisa’s Sunday night post

 Our final day events.

We had to start with our final morning routine of walking to the market. Mom needed to buy her sandwich for the plane and of course had to grab a jello and flan for breakfast before heading to the airport (ed-Tomorrow).

Tete and Ruben then joined us where we started to drive to a park to go for a walk but unfortunately it had an event going so instead the Spanish speaking adults kept discussing what to do and Ruben wasn’t listening so the result was once again I started to get carsick. Thankfully Fer saved us (me) and said come to my house and then mom could get one more palleta (me too).

After a short visit at Fer’s we headed to my new fav taco place “Senor Taco”. The most delicious tacos Al pastor and chorizo tacos. Let’s hope I’m not up in a few hours like last time lol.

Lorena, Vane and her boyfriend Ugo (sounds like Hugo without the H) for dinner.

We then finished the night with one more coffee chat. And the dreaded goodbyes that absolutely destroy me (mostly saying goodbye to my Tia Tete).

We are now just getting ready for bed and finished packing last minute items. 

We are ready for our flights home, checked in and Uber is ordered for our 430am pick up.

See you all either tomorrow or in the next few days.

Posted Saturday night

 From Lisa

Today was a get last minute items list completed. So we went to the market and did our best to grab those items. This also included my gluten free, vegan bakery to load up to bring some delicious breads home.

We then went to Tia Vicki’s for dinner and had a wonderful meal.

Gisela and her family joined us along with Sandra and her mom (technically the supper was eaten at Sandra’s mom’s place as it is much bigger).

Mom’s childhood friend Rocio stopped in for a quick visit and it was then time for the worst part; The dreaded goodbyes.

I absolutely hate saying goodbye especially to this side of the family as they mean soo much to me.

Unfortunately Karina and her family did not come so I guess there will be no formal goodbyes which in the moment of sadness is good for me but more so disappointing that I couldn’t see them one more time as originally planned.

Now mom and I are tucked away for the evening.

Tomorrow we will head to the market one more time and then join the other side of the family for one more dinner out before packing up final items and trying to get a few hours is sleep before going to the airport.

Thursday Post #2

From Lisa; 

Today was a super casual day. Mom and I went to the market as we love to do. We tried to go find the table cloth Vanessa was hoping for but unfortunately no luck yet. Maybe tomorrow as we are going on a mini road trip (more to come on that adventure when we complete it).

For dinner we went to pick up Tia Vicki and  Tio Arturo and went to a well known restaurant called “casa de Tonio”. Mom had her pozole and I had fried tacos. And I’m slowly converting mom into a Chelada drinker as she keeps ordering them when I do!!

After supper we decided to start walking back instead of a cab . It was decided when it was close to our turnoff that we would continue walking and my tios were going to jump on the bus as they still had another 2 km to their place. Again for convenience even though my vote was to drop off my tios at their door and then backtrack to our place.

I was supposed to meet up with Regina for drinks but it just wasn’t working out so we figured we could catch up tomorrow night and on Saturday.

So mom and I last minute decided to go to the Bar Sandra took me to and have a drink. Mom had a classic margarita and I had a rum and coke. I do love how their singles are our doubles.

We are now at the apartment relaxing as tomorrow we have that mini road trip to a place just outside the city that use to be a convent.

Thursday Post #1

 Evening Fam! Here is an update on our last two days.

Yesterday we had a nice visit with Tia Marie, Olga, Irma and Mario at the same restaurant we went to 2.5 yrs ago. Tia Tete also joined us. We then moved to a Sanborns to enjoy dessert and in my case a Chelada.

After our visit it was decided to be real Mexicans and take the Metro bus home as traffic is ridiculous and this is by far the most efficient way. I personally am not huge on taking it because first off it’s hot and I end up standing the whole time as seats are reserved for kids and older people. Also I don’t like speaking because then everyone knows for sure I’m a tourist (as if they didn’t figure it out by the way I dress lol). But as stated, it’s a mexican experience.

Ruben then picked us up and took us to the church where my grandparents are placed. I’m not sure if it was my abuelita’s birthday or anniversary of when she passed but mom really wanted to go say hello. So this trip we really did an almost complete family reunion.

On the way home Ruben dropped us off a few blocks away from our apartment as it was much easier for us to walk the few blocks than for him to try and fight the horrendous traffic when he had the opportunity to get on a freeway faster than trying to take us right to our door.

A little while later I went out for tacos with Sandra, Rommel and Valeria. Now Sandra is not technically my cousin but when I lived here 20 yrs ago we became very close and even closer since the last time I was here. So that’s why I consider her my cousin.

All of us then went to a bar for a drink. This place happens to be really cool and just around the corner from my place. So it was great to find another “safe” place and within walking distance.

A great day as usual.

Posted Wednesday morning

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Yesterday’s activities

 Lisa:

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.A very busy Sunday

Caro first:

Lisa:

Lisa again

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Mexico City Sat Nov 2

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Caro and Lisa Day 2

Screen shot photos of Lisa’s updates on the family chat

Caro and Lisa in Mexico City

 Message posted Oct 31st

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A long trip home

 We were up at 3:30 AM and left our place at 4:10 to walk to our taxi location. He was ready for us so we were on our way immediately ( in the rain).  

We checked in with minimal problems. The check in machine which we needed only to upload our passports. didn’t work so we lined up with all other early arrivals to see a check-in rep to input the information.

Caro had a coffee before we went through security. $C4.50!!

The plane loaded at front and back ( we walked out to it).

The flight went smoothly (and we got a snack).

In Amsterdam we used a couple of our free lounge passes as we had a 5 hour layover. The lounge was very nice and we had wine and food. Also, after one week of trying, I finally got my  new esim to work so I watched a lot of YouTube videos to use up the one Gig of data!

I wanted to get through passport control and security early “just in case” of issues. Passport control was automatic passport readers followed by a nice lady who merely stamped our passports. Total time: maybe 2 minutes and then it turned out there was no security so we were through and walking to our gate in no time. While on the walk to our gate we went to a store to spend our Euro coins. 

Also, I counted up the steps (recorded on my phone) for this vacation and got 308,000!

The flight seemed very long. We were not sitting together. I had a window seat and the lady beside did not communicate at all. Caro had an aisle seat two rows behind me.

Lisa picked us up and had supper made for us. She also brought along Beckett so we could get our first Grandkid “fix”. I am pretty sure Beckett was almost overwhelmed with all the kisses and hugs (especially from Abuelita!)

Split

We had a great sleep last night and after dawdling around our room for a bit we went out; first we climbed up the church tower. The tower stairs were very creepy to me.

The photo above (taken from the first or second level of the bell tower) has a circle around “our” covered terrace where we ate a couple of our meals.

The photo above has an arrow pointing to the present day location of our building, in the then ancient city in Diocletian times (300 AD)

Afterwards to the “basement” part of this huge palace. 

The basement has an interesting history but there was no point in taking many photos that essentially looked the same. When these basements were excavated (and not all areas have been cleared yet) the area was FULL of  refuse and what is now dirt (but was poop “back in the day”). There are holes in the ceilings at various points where people had broken through the basement roof in order to make a toilet hole from their homes above.

Afterwards we went back to our place for lunch. 

We pre-booked a taxi to pick us up at 0430 a short ways outside the palace walls ( fingers crossed there😬).

Next, a climb up the small mountain/hill on the edge of the port area. It was a nice hike but we made a mistake in not bringing water so we cut short the walk and headed back down to the waterfront area where we soon enjoyed a coke/water at an outdoor cafe along the water front

I had to use an ATM to get more cash and Caro needed to get some stuff so once that was accomplished we headed back to our place. 

Interestingly there have been concerts every night here. Usually we can’t  hear them well ( even though they are held only 60 steps and around a corner from us). This afternoon is a different story. There is some kind of rock band going “hard at it” and we hear them clear as day ( we have our windows open). 

In the evening we went to the pizza place on the street level below us and had a fantastic pizza ( Croatia style)

Also we found out the band name that is playing their set as I write this. The drummer is the star Billy Cobham. I had to look him up. He 80 years old now, in a couple of Halls of fame and has played with many of the stars of the 60’s and 70’s.

When the band takes a break we can hear another group singing quite clearly (and beautifully). They are located slightly to the left of our building in a round palace entrance that has beautiful acoustics. In fact earlier today we listened to three men sing old Croatian music in another one of these acoustically beautiful places within the palace walls. They were playing for tips and of course we helped them out!!

Plitvice Lakes

We got on our tour bus at 7AM for the start of our 12 hour tour day. 

The weather was overcast with some rain. We travelled on the inland highway ( four lane divided with a speed limit of 130kph) to about Zadar before turning inland into the mountains. 

We went through a series of tunnels as we proceeded into the mountains (the longest tunnel being 5.9 km)

Plitvice park was AMAZING and worth the $C60 each entry fee. The waterfalls were plentiful and beautiful. I could have taken 100 photos. 

We even saw a beautiful black and yellow salamander

We were in the park for about 3 1/2 hours and walked almost 6 km along with our guide. While the rain held off for most of the time the clouds never went away. The temperature was around 20 degrees  which is 10 degrees cooler than it has been for all our trip.

Upon returning back to our Air BnB we went up to the terrace and ate bread and cheese which we had purchased fresh. Also a bottle of Rose was on the menu.

At 8 PM we went out on the streets, watched a small portion of a concert in the Center (100 meters away from us) and had a gelato before heading indoors.