Mexico City

We touched down in Mexico City with nothing but a hostel name and some vague memories from Sara's previous trip and left 5 days later exhausted by the world's biggest city.


Successfully finding the aforementioned hostel situated us right in the heart of the city, The Zocalo! That night we saviored a delicious and cheap Mexican meal and cheap beer!!! (Very exciting after month in North American food)


We met up with a uni/work friend, Sasha, and had a great private and very cultural experience, as we stayed with some of her Mexican friends. Our first stop was Xochimilco, floating gardens, which are Mexico's version of Venice. The experience included floating restaurants (we sampled the exotic 'green' taco), floating bars (bring on the Corona´s!) and floating bands. A quick detour through a mercado gave us the opportunity to inhale a variety of churros.

the hundreds of boats lining the floating gardens

finally someone can take a picture of us without the self portrait (thanks Sasha!) 

the floating restaurant - that blue looking stuff is the green tortilla.

our mexican amigos (left to right) - Niko, Fatima, Adriana, Scott, Sara, Sasha and her mexican lover Braulio

We strolled around Mexico City and up to Chapultepec Castle; the conquistadors had the potential to be very educational about the history of Mexico, however, due to language laziness we basically appreciated the sights and sounds and tastes, which involved adding chilli sauce (pica) to every food product (popcorn, chips, fruit, corn, etc). That night we dolled up and hit up Mexico's Kings Cross and ended up having some interesting drinks in a Scottish themed pub. In true Mexician style, the experience was topped off with a taco here and there, as well as a few shots of Mezcal. After 3 intense and fun filled days we bid adios to Sasha and our new Mexican amigos.


The last two days we were back on our own and decided to do some more sightseeing. Our first day entailed a visit to some Aztec ruins in the city surrounded by large rapidly decomposing buildings, a swing by the 2nd most visited church in the world, that of the sacred Basilica of Guadalupe (9 million people on it's busiest day!). The most interesting stop was the last and the site of Teotihuacán. A vast city that has astounding presence and design, which was built and deserted over a 1,500 years ago by a mysterious Mexican indigenous population. A hit of Mexican squirts wiped Sara out for the next day, however, we did get out that night to enjoy the sensory overload of the very theatrical Lucha Libre (wrestling).

check out our wicked Lucha Libre action video

Mission Mexico, Tapachula

I am not sure if we will ever be able to simply summarise the last month we have spent volunteering at the orphanage (Mision Mexico), here in Tapachula. It has been incredible, filled with the ups and downs of a challenging and immensely rewarding experience.

For the last 10 years, the orphanage has been run by an Australian couple; and the number of children are growing every day, as kids between the ages of 5 to 20 take refuge. There are currently around 50 children at the orphanage. The living quarters are modest, with the grounds also including a climbing play ground, gym and a newly built swimming pool. 

Fun at the Pool

When we first arrived, there were 9 volunteers (Scott was the only male), and as we leave there are only 4 left (even split of girls and guys). Most volunteers stay somewhere between 4-6 weeks. All volunteers speak english (most are Australian), with very few being fluent in Spanish. Most of the children speak english, but as you can imagine the language barrier brought on regular glazed eye stares from the kids.

We settled into the routine very quickly. Our days often began before the sun rose, as we made breakfast for the kids (rice porridge) and attempted to wake all 50 of them for school. The next challenge was trying to get them all dressed, feed and at school on time. Children are sent to various schools in the area, with volunteers walking some, whilst others are driven. Try crossing the road in Mexico with 16 children! There are no Lolly Pop Ladies here, not to mention road rules!  

Volunteers then had a few hours of peace and quite, whilst the children were at school. But wait, you have made the assumption that children in Mexico go to school 5 days a week; that is a rarity! Any excuse will do - the school is getting painted, your teach is pregnant (there are no relief teachers here), another class is going on an excursion, the teacher is sick and the list goes on. After 3-4 hours of school, the children all need to be picked up, and they sit down to the biggest meal of the day. 

As with every good Mexican meal the lunch staples included rice, tortillas (made across the road), salsa pica and beans. The resident chef (word is used very lightly) cooked up a storm of mexican style eggs, tuna salads, pasta with mayonnaise and pineapple (OMG!) and beef stir frys, just to name a few to accompany the lunch staples. After lunch, the children had various chores, like washing dishes, cleaning rooms, sweeping and mopping. With a regular dose of nagging eventually everything got done. Then homework hour. Numbers being the universal language, we both became very competent at counting in Spanish, and maths homework was our specialty.

Helping out with homework

By this stage the sun was setting on the humid day, and a light dinner of Pan (sweet bread) was dished up daily. Sara had her favourite varieties by the end of the month. Then showers, stories and lights out as the various age groups hit the sack throughout the night. Final lights out was at 10pm.

Pan Man

Even with volunteers splitting into 2 shifts, it was an epic day. I am sure our mothers would be reading this thinking it is not far from the days past when we were both at school, but considering our lack of parenting experience, it was a little challenging. Leaving we can safely say we have had a taste of the parenting experience (scary!) and a new found respect for it as well.

The daily routine is always coupled with a little more drama - finding and caring for stray cats, the tantrums, a charity bringing KFC for Valentine's day, collecting mangos and avocados from the huge trees in the gardens, children getting adopted out, new kids coming, finding the mouse in the Bodega (I swear it has babies too), the swimming lessons, balls going over fences for the 100th time, making playdoh, painting faces, friends coming over, water bomb fights, soccer matches, basketball competition, scratched knees, broken wrists, rabid rabbits, the fete (and bringing home pet turtles), kids getting suspended, kids getting arrested (and subsequently bailed out), colouring in, watching movies, the pee bucket, lice eradication, chopping down trees, watching the grass grow (literally), high pressure hosing, touring Dominoes, and of course all the cuddles! Every day had that special moment, where you thought this is why I am here. 

Mischievous Boys (eating green mangos)

Tantrums

Happy Valentine's Day

The highlight of the week was Sunday, where the entire orphanage cramped into two 12 seater buses and went to the black sandy beaches somewhere near Tapachula. The children are incredible surfers. It was fantastic seeing the kids all bright eyed with huge smiles, as they hit the cold salty water. Sometimes you wondered if it was the same kid that kicked and screamed during the week. Everyone also looked forward to Sunday dinners, which were scrumptious hamburgers (including beetroot!). A radtastic way to end the long week. 

Packed in on the way to the beach

Arriving

Surf patrol

Having fun!

Mangos at the beach

Thank goodness it wasn't all work! We managed to have a lot of fun together and with the other volunteers, often frequenting the cantina, the cinemas twice (for under $10AUD including a huge popcorn and coke. Bargain), massive quesadilla's for $3AUD with a Coke as big as your head (!), awesome angus beef tacos at La Vaca Mu, weekly trips to the central fruit market (7 mangos for under $1) and supermarket, cooking up home made pasta and tuna surprises and Tapachula's version of the Easter show, with its own bar/club zone. Scott may have found himself his very own plus size mexican lover on the dancefloor, but I shook my tail feather and hip bumped her away!

Corona: The beer of choice

Good times at the Fete

Mexican sandwich

Local chicken supplier

Tasty quesadillas

We are incredibly excited to head back out on the road, putting the rad into radventure. 

Big smile

I love mangos!!!

New Friends

Te Amo