A Dusty Car

Saw a great classic (& dusty) car the other day by Mercado 1° de Diciembre….
 
México, D.F.

Tacos de Guisado

In the afternoon, along Calle José Martí near my apartment, there are tacos de guisado vendors. Tacos de guisado is a catch-all term to describe a tortilla filled with a variety of prepared meats, vegetables, and moles. For example, one vendor will have big pots full of chiles rellenos, which are enormous chiles [...]

Finding Cheaper (and Safe) Airport Taxis in Mexico City

For the inexperienced, finding a taxi in Mexico City can be an unusual, if not daunting, task. Not only are there many ways to catch a taxi, from calling one, to finding a taxi stand, or sitio, to hailing a green bug, or even una pirata, on the street, or even getting a special [...]

In Pictures: Tec de Monterrey

One of the things that stood out in my mind while attending a conference at Tec. de Monterrey in Mexico City last week was the campus.  The university where I work has relatively little open space or emphasis on architecture, but Tec.’s campus really impressed me with the interesting building designs and the size and [...]

Buying Gas

In our apartment, we use natural gas for both cooking and heating water.  However, like much, if not all of Mexico, our gas is delivered in tanks, rather than by pipes under the street.  On the roof of our building, we, as well as all of our neighbors, have a tank or two that connects [...]

Steak Tacos on the Cheap

On occasion, I take the metrobús home from ITAM and, when I do, I often pass by a park-side shack that sells steak tacos (map).  These tacos may be described as steak-and-cheese gifts from heaven, with thin sheetlets of grilled beef, melted queso oaxaqueño, warm corn tortillas, and creative salsas with cucumber, pineapple, radish, and something that [...]

Las Luchas! — Mexico’s “Professional” Wrestlers

Last Friday night, I went to see the fights at Arena México. Built to house boxing matches for the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, the arena is now used as a venue for “professional” wrestling, or las luchas. My memories of watching wrestling on TV when I was younger helped to prepare me for [...]

Vainilla, Carteles, y Drogas

The building next door to our apartment, and just outside my window is one of the many grammar schools in our neighborhood.  I usually leave my window open at night for the fresh air, and in the morning, I’ll wake to the sound of children arriving for their school day.  Most of the time, the [...]

CEDAN Conference On Cross-Border Climate Policy

Monday and Tuesday of this week, I attended a workshop on cross-border climate policy between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., at the Tecnológico de Monterrey’s campus in Mexico City (map).  The  conference was hosted by one of Tec.’s policy research groups, called CEDAN, or el Centro de Diálogo y Análisis sobre América del Norte.
I have a tough time [...]

A Curious Trip to the Movies

Late yesterday, on my way home, I ran into my roommate, a conversation which ended with my turning around to head out to see a movie.  
On Wednesday night, movies in Mexico City are half-off, which is convenient given my stubbornness about not paying exorbitant prices in the U.S. to sit on my behind.  Here, [...]