Week One in Mexico - Lucha Libre, Barrio Chino, and Unlimited Margaritas

One week ago today, I walked across the border to Mexico and didn’t look back.

To be more accurate, I drove from my home in Albuquerque to El Paso, Texas, walked across the border to Juárez, Mexico, took an Uber to the airport and flew to Mexico City.

Also, I definitely looked back once or twice at my mother and brother who went with me as far as El Paso.

Now I’m here, writing from a hostel in the Centro Histórico, reflecting on what’s already happened in only one week’s time.

I wouldn’t say I’ve built a totally regular routine, but I have taken advantage of the hostel’s daily happy hour a few times now. It’s hard to say no to an hour of unlimited margaritas and beer on the rooftop lounge for only 80 pesos, and why should I? The rooftop is also where I start most days with coffee and breakfast (included with my stay) which gives me a chance to journal before diving into the day.

After that is usually a walk, typically a lengthy and meandering one, maybe to a coffee shop or to a churrería for some more writing time. By then it’s lunchtime followed by some more walking by which point I’m usually ready for a little afternoon siesta which is good because then I can recharge my body and cellphone in time for happy hour and whatever evening festivities may follow.

Of course, routines are helpful for maintaining some structure and balance but it wouldn’t be any fun without throwing it all to the wind once once awhile. One night I signed up for a Lucha Libre outing with the hostel. A group of about 40 or 50 of us started off on the rooftop for a variety of tacos and a shot of tequila. We were all given our own luchador masks to keep before being herded into waiting vans to Arena México where the main event had just started.

Pageantry. Drama. Acrobatics.

I guess I’m not sure what expectations, if any, I had for Lucha Libre, but I didn’t realize it would be a full theatrical production replete with bright lights, colorful characters, sex appeal, feats of strength and agility,  and more than a few WTF moments to excite the crowd of thousands. Even in the moments where the chaos reached a level I found difficult to follow, I still reveled in the excitement and joined in all the cheers and jeers.

If you ever have the chance to go, go. This is not a suggestion. It’s also fairly inexpensive for a night of raucous entertainment. I paid a small premium through the hostel for the tacos, tequila, and transportation, but you can easily score tickets for between $10 and $30 USD.

I thought Lucha Libre would be the entirety of my night but, as I should have expected, a few folks from the hostel regrouped for more drinks and a night of dancing.

On Sunday I slept in to allow myself time to recover from the previous nights festivities—who knew a bar that says it closes at 3 am online actually goes until five in the morning? But I still managed to rally with some Gatorade and birria tacos to fuel a visit to the Barrio Chino in time to catch some of the Lunar New Year celebration. While I was laying in bed that morning scrolling and waiting for the worst of the headache to pass, I caught up on the news out of Monterey Park, California. At that time, news reports were coming out of a shooting with multiple deaths at a Lunar New Year event. With at least ten lives taken, it dampened my enthusiasm for the day but not my determination to join others in celebrating the start to the Year of the Rabbit, which just happens to be my Chinese Zodiac sign. I’m glad I made it to see what is truly one of Mexico City’s most vibrant neighborhoods on one of its liveliest days. The dense crowds were a bit intense at times but the experience is already a highlight of my travels.

As for what’s next in my travels, well, you’ll have to stick around to see. I won’t make any promises about how often I’ll update the blog though I’ll say if I can get an update out once a week I’ll be happy with myself. For now, I invite you to keep up through Facebook and Instagram for regular updates with lots of pictures and videos.

Hasta pronto!

Eric