Category Archives: Mexico

A Focus On Wellness At The Westin Puerto Vallarta

As part of my weeklong trip with my parents to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, we had the privilege of staying at The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta (PV) for three nights. This was my first time to this beautiful resort and let me tell you, we loved it!

Upon arrival, we were greeted by our amazing host Hector and he pulled out all the stops for our welcome; some fun props for photos, a delicious non-alcoholic drink and a huge welcome sign all waiting for us. Wow, we really felt like celebrities for a moment!

Our Special Welcome To The Westin Puerto Vallarta
Our Special Welcome To The Westin Puerto Vallarta
Delicious Non- Alcoholic Drink Upon Arrival
Delicious Non- Alcoholic Drink Upon Arrival
Mom And Dad Looking Cute
Mom And Dad Looking Cute
Lucha Libre!
Lucha Libre!

After checking-in, we arrived to our fantastic room with the most wonderful view from the balcony. Not only that, there were the cutest and tastiest treats waiting for us in the room alongside some champagne. You better believe we thoroughly enjoyed these thoughtfully curated welcome gifts.

Beautiful Room At The Westin Puerto Vallarta
Beautiful Room At The Westin Puerto Vallarta
Another View Of Our Room At The Westin Puerto Vallarta
Another View Of Our Room At The Westin Puerto Vallarta
Our Lovely Balcony
Our Lovely Balcony
Adorable Treats Waiting In Our Room Upon Arrival
Adorable Treats Waiting In Our Room Upon Arrival
Beautiful Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Beautiful Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Time To Enjoy Some Champagne On The Balcony
Time To Enjoy Some Champagne On The Balcony

The Westin PV is a beautifully landscaped property with tall, lush, palm trees making the resort feel almost like a secluded tropical island. I really loved this about the Westin PV and I took tons of pictures every single day while walking around and lounging by the pool. We definitely enjoyed relaxing poolside as well as beachside in pergolas (what the Westin PV calls their cabanas). We had our own private pergola for the stay and we took full advantage of chilling by the water, listening to the ocean waves and dozing off in the afternoon. Definitely living our best lives!

Beautiful Westin Puerto Vallarta
Beautiful Westin Puerto Vallarta
Westin Puerto Vallarta
Westin Puerto Vallarta
View From Our Balcony
View From Our Balcony
Daybeds and Palm Trees!
Daybeds and Palm Trees!
Pergolas at Westin Puerto Vallarta
Pergolas at Westin Puerto Vallarta
View From Our Pergola!
View From Our Pergola!

The Westin PV has an emphasis on wellness and even has an entire program focused around it. Like other Westins, there is a focus on #sleepwell with the Heavenly Beds in all the rooms as well as #eatwell with healthier culinary options (I’ll discuss more about this later). We were so lucky to get to experience some of the great amenities and wellness offers throughout the resort. Here are some of the fun things we were up to during our stay:

Sunrise Yoga Class- We enjoyed an early yoga class in the wellness center with a specially trained yoga instructor. It was a great way to stretch and start our morning on a positive note.

Sunrise Views at Westin Puerto Vallarta
Sunrise Views at Westin Puerto Vallarta
Sunrise Yoga Class at Westin Puerto Vallarta
Sunrise Yoga Class at Westin Puerto Vallarta
Fitness Center at the Westin Puerto Vallarta
Fitness Center at the Westin Puerto Vallarta

Beachside massages- Quite possibly one of the best experiences EVER! If you’ve never had a massage beachside, I highly recommend it, and do it at the Westin PV. My parents got Swedish massages and I received a Thai Massage (which is more stretching than a regular massage). Listening to the sounds of the ocean waves and tropical birds, with a light breeze on our skin was one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating experiences. It is a must!

Beachside Massages
Beachside Massages
Beachside Massages
Beachside Massages
Meditation Before My Thai Massage
Meditation Before My Thai Massage
Surprise Treats After Our Massages
Surprise Treats After Our Massages
Post-Massage Snacks Oceanside
Post-Massage Snacks Oceanside
Hot Tea And The Sound Of The Ocean
Hot Tea And The Sound Of The Ocean

Relaxation at the Spa- Even though we loved our beachside massages, we did still have to check out the spa, didn’t we?! ha ha. My Mom and I treated ourselves to facials and not only loved our treatments, but the estheticians were amazing as well. Mom and I left with glowing, radiant skin and we truly felt like a million bucks.

The Westin Puerto Vallarta Spa
The Westin Puerto Vallarta Spa
All Ready For My Facial
All Ready For My Facial
That Post- Facial Glow
That Post- Facial Glow

As I mentioned earlier, the Westin also has a special focus on lighter and healthier meal options at the restaurants throughout the resort as well as room service. Each day we were treated to some of the #eatwell concepts prepared by Chef Gerardo De la Pena. He went out of his way to showcase his amazing culinary skills and how the Westin can accommodate any dietary restriction. Our vegetarian food at each meal was next-level. Take a look:

#eatwell Room-Service Yogurt Parfaits
#eatwell Room-Service Yogurt Parfaits
#eatwell Room-Service Healthy Vegetarian Salad
#eatwell Room-Service Healthy Vegetarian Salad
#eatwell Salad In A Jar At La Cascada Restaurant
#eatwell Salad In A Jar At La Cascada Restaurant
Vegan Asian Style Jicama Tacos Beachside
Vegan Asian Style Jicama Tacos Beachside
BEST Ever Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
BEST Ever Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
Amazing Vegetarian Feast Prepared By Chef Gerardo
Amazing Vegetarian Feast Prepared By Chef Gerardo
Chef Gerardo Is Amazing
Chef Gerardo Is Genius
Poolside Snacks
Poolside Snacks

I’ll leave you with just a few more pictures of our wonderful time at the Westin PV. I truly can not rave enough about the service, the property, the food and our overall experience. If you are looking for an escape from reality for a bit, this is your place. I promise you will love it.

Make Sure To Get The Coco Loco Drink!
Make Sure To Get The Coco Loco Drink!
You Know I LOVE Biking!
You Know I LOVE Biking!
Beautiful Sunset At The Westin PV
Beautiful Sunset At The Westin PV
How I would Like To Spend All Of My Days
How I would Like To Spend All Of My Days
The Most Perfect Way To Spend A Morning
The Most Perfect Way To Spend A Morning
Footprints In The Sand
Footprints In The Sand
Thank You Westin PV! Can Not Wait To Come Back!
Thank You Westin PV! Can Not Wait To Come Back!

Please Note: While this post is in collaboration with The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta, all opinions are my own.

A Stay At The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa

Here’s a real testament to how much I love Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; I went there not once, but twice already this year! And it’s only October! Now if that doesn’t speak volumes for a jet-setting, international traveler, I don’t know what does. Read all about my first visit here.

On both of these trips I stayed at the wonderful Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. The Marriott Puerto Vallarta (PV) just completed a huge renovation with everything from rooms to the gorgeous new pool with swim up bar and restaurant.  I absolutely love the décor and inviting space the Marriott PV has created. The beautiful landscaping and welcoming design aesthetics really create a relaxing environment for your stay. Take a look:

Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Entrance And Lobby of Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Beautiful Bar At Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Newly Renovated Room With A Balcony
Newly Renovated Room With A Balcony
View From Our Room
View From Our Room
The Newly Renovated Pool and Bar
The Newly Renovated Pool and Bar
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa

I was so lucky to have the opportunity to bring both of my parents on this trip. One thing we consistently noticed throughout our stay was the exceptional service. The staff always greeted us saying “welcome home” and asked if we were enjoying our stay and if there was anything we needed. A dedication to next-level hospitality and the utmost in customer service are definitely a cornerstone of the Marriott PV ; you can see and feel it, without it being overbearing. We truly felt the warmth of each and every staff person, who seemed vested in making our overall stay extraordinary.

Living Our Best Lives In Paradise!
Living Our Best Lives In Paradise!

In addition to the stunning property and friendly hospitality, the resort lends itself to fun activities as well as the ultimate in relaxation. The Marriott PV team set us up with some great adventures, but also built in plenty of downtime for us to relax and enjoy the hot Mexican sun by the new infinity pool (I’m still rocking a lovely bronze glow from my trip by the way).

More than that, you’ll notice how the team went above and beyond to personalize our stay. They truly took to heart who we are and what we enjoy and created unique moments to celebrate us. We felt so special and were literally left speechless at moments; just take a look at some of the ways we were treated like royalty:

In- Room Deliveries– Upon arrival to our room, we were greeted with so many lovely gifts and treats! And, every single day there were more surprises awaiting us.

Welcome Snacks Waiting In Our Room Upon Arrival
Welcome Snacks Waiting In Our Room Upon Arrival
Welcome Snacks and Drinks
Welcome Snacks And Drinks
Beautiful Purses And A Hat
Beautiful Purses And A Hat
The Most Thoughtful Gift Ever, A Personalized Pillow Cover
The Most Thoughtful Gift Ever, A Personalized Pillow Cover
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Awaiting One Evening Upon Our Return To The Room
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Awaiting One Evening Upon Our Return To The Room
Beautiful Hand-Blown Glass Heart Gift With Lovely Note
Beautiful Hand-Blown Glass Heart Gift With Lovely Note

Private Tequila Tasting– A dedicated tequila tasting of the proprietary blend the Marriott PV has developed on its own, led by Audrey Formisano, the resort’s tequila sommelier . This was my first time doing a tequila tasting like this. It was fun…and strong 🙂

Tequila Tasting At Marriott Puerto Vallarta
Tequila Tasting At Marriott Puerto Vallarta
Tequila Tasting At Marriott Puerto Vallarta
Tequila Tasting At Marriott Puerto Vallarta
Tequila Tasting At Marriott Puerto Vallarta
Tequila Tasting At Marriott Puerto Vallarta

Special Vegetarian Dinner– An exquisite 7-course vegetarian dinner prepared just for us. Not only did the team create a beautiful vegetarian menu for us to take home, they designed white linen napkins with my Vegetarian Tourist logo on it! Talk about attention to detail! The executive chef presented each course to us and we absolutely LOVED everything we had for dinner and still talk about it to this day. And, wait til you see what the pastry chef created at dessert, just for me:

7-Course Vegetarian Dinner Menu
7-Course Vegetarian Dinner Menu
Personalized Napkins and a 7 Course Vegetarian Dinner
Personalized Napkins and a 7 Course Vegetarian Dinner
Vegetarian Tamal
Vegetarian Tamal
Nopal Tostada
Nopal Tostada
The BEST Guava Ice Cream
The BEST Guava Ice Cream
Vegetarian Birra Tacos
Vegetarian Birra Tacos
Absolutely Blown Away By The Thought Of The Culinary Team
Absolutely Blown Away By The Thought Of The Culinary Team

Spa Treatments– A visit to the tranquil spa Ohtli on the Marriott PV property is a must. A full-body massage and body wrap definitely helped this city girl feel completely relaxed and left my skin feeling baby soft. I highly recommend getting any treatment you can at Ohtli, it’s so serene and has the best amenities!

Ready For Ohtli Spa At The Marriot Puerto Vallarta
Ready For Ohtli Spa At The Marriot Puerto Vallarta
Lucky To Give You An Insider's Peek At The Spa
Lucky To Give You A Rare Insider’s Peek At The Spa
Resting Room At Ohtli Spa
Resting Room At Ohtli Spa
Couple's Massage Space
Couple’s Massage Space

Puerto Vallarta City Tour– We had the privilege of a private half day tour to see Puerto Vallarta with the ever wonderful guide Adrian. He took us to the main area of downtown to walk along the Malecon and see all the great art, walk through Old Town and even visit a tortilleria to see where fresh tortillas are made.

Tour Through Puerto Vallarta With Our Guide Adrian
Tour Through Puerto Vallarta With Our Guide Adrian
One Of My Favorite Art Works Along The Malecon
One Of My Favorite Art Works Along The Malecon
With Mom and Dad Along The Malecon!
With Mom and Dad Along The Malecon!
Some Sights From Our Tour of Puerto Vallarta!
Some Sights From Our Tour of Puerto Vallarta!
Some Sights From Our Tour of Puerto Vallarta!
Some Sights From Our Tour of Puerto Vallarta!
Some Sights From Our Tour of Puerto Vallarta!
Some Sights From Our Tour of Puerto Vallarta!
Shopping In The Markets!
Shopping In The Markets!
Visit To The Tortilleria
Visit To The Tortilleria

Private Oceanside Cabana– Our own private cabana that overlooked the ocean was right next to the new outdoor restaurant and swim up bar. We thoroughly enjoyed our days here, ordering exotic drinks like strawberry mojitos and pina coladas and having them delivered straight to the cabana. One more than one occasion you would have found at least one of us taking an afternoon siesta. Truly living our best beach lives!

That Cabana Life Though
That Cabana Life Though
That Cabana Life Though
That Cabana Life Though
Beautiful New Outdoor Pool Bar and Restaurant
Beautiful New Outdoor Pool Bar and Restaurant
Love The Swing Seats At The Bar!
Love The Swing Seats At The Bar!
Strawberry Mojito Poolside
Strawberry Mojito Poolside
Nachos Delivered To The Cabana!
Nachos Delivered To The Cabana!
Mango Daquiri For The Win!
Mango Daquiri For The Win!
Look At This Fun Coconut Drink
Look At This Fun Coconut Drink
Look At This Fun Coconut Drink
So Cute And Creative!
Nothing A Pina Colada and Hammock Can't Cure
Nothing A Pina Colada and Hammock Can’t Cure

Eco-Friendly Adventure– The Marriott PV has a dedicated program for nature conservation and one of the cool offers they have for guests at the resort is a turtle release program.  They take and monitor the turtle eggs until hatching and then along with guests, release the baby turtles back into the Bay of Banderas. We unfortunately missed the evening they were doing the release, but we did get to meet a baby turtle!

Baby Turtle Release Program
Baby Turtle Release Program

Free Time!– And more than anything else, just spending our days relaxing and enjoying the beautiful property and amenities of the Marriott PV was one of the best parts of our stay.

My Favorite Spot At The Breakfast Buffet
My Favorite Spot At The Breakfast Buffet
Made-To-Order Chilaquiles
Made-To-Order Chilaquiles
Still The BEST Chilaquiles Of My Life!!!
Still The BEST Chilaquiles Of My Life!!!
Paradise Found!
Paradise Found!
Never Got Tired Of This View
Never Got Tired Of This View
Where I Would Like To Spend All My Days!
Where I Would Like To Spend All My Days!
Evening Stroll Along The Beach
Evening Stroll Along The Beach
Catching A Gorgeous PV Sunset
Catching A Gorgeous PV Sunset Along Marriott’s Beach
Night Time View Of The Pool
Night Time View Of The Pool

So, as you can see, we lived it up at the Marriott PV! I have to say that in all my years, I have NEVER seen my parents so incredibly happy and so relaxed on a vacation. My parents are not normally beach people and to see them enjoy afternoons in a pool or sitting in a cabana with a pina colada in hand, just seriously touched my heart. That coupled with the BEST hospitality made this a trip we will ever forget. And for that, I can’t thank the Marriott PV enough for the memories they helped us create.

As our wonderful hosts Cristina and Mariana said, “it’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon. Mi casa es su casa.” It’s true, we will come back home soon, that I promise! Wondering if I should just make a trip in December and visit PV 3 times this year??? 🙂

Please Note: While this post is in collaboration with Visit Puerto Vallarta and the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, all opinions are my own.

One Of My Top Destinations To Visit In Mexico

This was my first trip to Puerto Vallarta (PV) and I have to say that I absolutely loved it! I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but it absolutely exceeded anything I could have imagined. I feel like I’ve become the walking and talking campaign for tourism to Puerto Vallarta because I just enjoyed it that much.

PV is a beautiful destination on the west coast of Mexico, where the mountains meet the ocean. There are so many options for adventure from hiking, biking, boating, wildlife conservation, to just relaxing and doing nothing at your hotel. I tell everyone that it is perfect for any kind of trip; a family getaway, girls trip, couples trip, whatever you want. Overall, one of my top destinations in Mexico (alongside Tulum and Mexico City).

Here are some details and photos from my trip with my friend Erica:

Where we stayed: The beautiful, newly renovated Marriott PV Resort and Spa. This wonderful resort located not far from the airport was awesome. Beautiful property with multiple pools (even a separate kiddie pool and play area), several restaurants (fantastic breakfast buffet with the BEST ever made-to-order chilaquiles), clean and spacious rooms with balconies and so much more.

Stroll on the Malecon: This area is not to be missed; lively, right along the ocean, great people watching and fun shopping and restaurants. I think we went here almost every day and at different times of the day, so it always felt like something new to see and do.

Food tour with Vallarta Food Tours: This tour is awesome, definitely worth your time and money. We visited 10 spots on this tour and let me tell you, we were stuffed. They are able to accommodate dietary restrictions (definitely check first before booking about your specific needs). This walking tour was a great way to see Old Town PV and go to spots I know I would have never sought out on my own. A fun way to learn about the life and culture of PV and more so, the awesome culinary scene and delicious foods from the area. Definitely go on a food tour with Vallarta Food Tours!

Yelapa boat tour with Vallarta Adventures: We did a day trip to Yelapa and Majahuitas and had so much fun. Yelapa was a cute little village about an hour and half boat ride from PV and we had the chance to walk through the town and chill at the beach. After that we went sea kayaking and then stopped at Majahuitas for an afternoon to swin and relax on the beach with some drinks. A fun day in the sun!

I can’t speak highly enough about PV and here’s the best part; I’m going back in September! Yup. This time I’m going back for an entire week, so I’ll have the chance to really get to know the area and explore even more. I can’t wait. Who knows what all I will eat/see/do on my next trip. Stay tuned!

Please Note: While our hotel stay and food tour were part of a collaboration, all opinions are my own.

Not Eating Mexican Food In Mexico?

I would say that I’m pretty much like most Indian people out there in that we LOVE Mexican food. My philosophy behind our obsession for the cuisine is that it is flavorful and spicy and much of it can be made vegetarian. #winning

So, the natural assumption would be that the moment I land in Mexico, I would be going out for some delicious, local Mexican food. Right? Wrong.

Here’s the story: I take a completely last-minute trip to Cancun over the holidays to visit my awesome friends Neelam and Manuel (yes, the same ones who I had visited but just a few weeks before in Mexico City. Read about that trip here). You can bet that on the quick flight from Chicago to Cancun that I was dreaming about enchiladas, tacos, chilaquiles, nachos and margaritas!

Beautiful Cancun Beach

Beautiful Cancun Beach

Upon arriving at their amazing beachfront condo in the late afternoon, Neelam informs me that we are going out for Indian food for dinner that night. “Is that ok?” she asks. As a little piece of my soul is crying, I barter and say, “Ok, only as long as you promise that every single other meal I have the next 5 days will be Mexican.” Yes, that is how much I love Mexican food. And yes, I am that friend to request such things. Poor Neelam.

Stunning View From Neelam and Manuel's Cancun Condo

Stunning View From Neelam and Manuel’s Cancun Condo

I can’t say I begrudgingly went to the Indian restaurant, but it clearly wasn’t my first choice. Since I’m a good sport, I went along with it. As we walked into the beautiful restaurant called Elefanta, I was already forgetting my Mexican food obsession. The stunning, open-air restaurant situated on the lagoon side of Cancun was breathtakingly decorated. The traditional Indian art among the lush, tropical greenery and seating within private verandas set on the water created quite the ambiance.

Elefanta Restaurant Cancun photo credit: Elefanta website

Elefanta Restaurant Cancun photo credit: Elefanta website

Being an Indian restaurant, there were no shortage of vegetarian options to choose from. Since we were all hungry we ordered several vegetable dishes, garlic naan and jeera (cumin) rice, all of which were accompanied with some delicious chutneys and yogurt raita. I wasn’t quite sure how the Indian food in Mexico was going to stack up, but I have to say I was really impressed with Elefanta. My favorite dish was hands-down the spinach koftas with shredded cheese in tomato cream sauce (pictured below at the top of the picture). Yum!

Elefanta Cancun Vegetarian Dinner

Elefanta Cancun Vegetarian Dinner

So, ok fine, I didn’t have Mexican food for my first meal in Mexico. I got over it. Just thought I would share a great alternate option in case you need it while in Cancun. And for the record, Neelam came pretty close to fulfilling my request of Mexican food for every other meal on my trip. She’s a good friend like that.

Mexico City: It’s Not What You Think

Ok, I fully admit I had the same perceptions that everyone else does when they hear the name Mexico City; things like corruption, kidnappings, pollution, crowded, unsafe, muggings, etc. Not really any heartwarming adjectives to describe the city let alone make you want to actually go visit the place!

With full disclosure, Mexico City was never really high on my must-see destinations list. What changed that was when my dear friends Neelam and Manuel moved from Atlanta to Mexico City last year. “What, I have local friends there now? Sure, I’ll come visit!!” So with that, Mexico City shot up quickly on the travel list and before you knew it, I was booking my flight and packing my bags.

I definitely got some weird looks when I would tell people I was going to Mexico City for one week over Thanksgiving. I also got a lot of “don’t get shot or kidnapped” smartass comments too (as if I have any control over those two things anyway)!

Beautiful Architecture In Mexico City

Beautiful Architecture In Mexico City

I’m here today to help change your mind about Mexico City. I can’t reiterate enough that it is probably not at all what you think it is. Clearly I made it out alive (ha ha) and I absolutely loved it there!! A very clean, modern city with so much culture, amazing food and a huge focus on the arts, how could you not love a place like that? And just to address it; the crime is not something to take lightly…that stuff does happen frequently in Mexico City but I think you have to be a cautious traveler and constantly aware of your surroundings. (I will also put this out there that I definitely think my experience staying with locals was very different from the experience I would have had if I had to plan everything on my own and stay at a hotel).

Because I feel like I could write a novel on my adventures in Mexico City, I’m just going to give you 5 of my favorite things I explored/ate/experienced. Trust me, this list was hard to narrow down:

Colorful Gondolas At Xochimilco

Colorful Gondolas At Xochimilco

1. Xochimilco– As a world traveler, I have been fortunate enough to take some really cool gondola rides at various destinations around the world. A few examples include: 1) the beautiful waterways in Venice, Italy 2) through the jungle canals in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam 3) on a calm strip of the Yamuna River near Mathura, India 4) and of course the ride “It’s a Small World” at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida…ha ha. But, I will say that one of the coolest experiences has been the gondola ride through just a tiny portion of the vast canal network that Mexico City still has remaining from back in the day. This place is better known as Xochimilco. You can rent your own private gondola for as long as you like and these huge gondolas can pack in more than 20 people for one big fiesta. What’s most fun though are the various smaller gondolas that serve food such as tamales, quesadillas, tacos, etc; they cook the food nice and hot on their boat, link up to yours and serve you. How’s that for service? In addition, there were mariachi band gondolas going by that will also link up to your boat and come sing for you if you want. What a cool, fun, totally unique experience. Do not miss this one if you go to Mexico City.

Salsa Sampling In Mexico City

Salsa Sampling In Mexico City

2. The Spicy Salsas– Ok, as a vegetarian, I was pretty sure that everything Mexico City had to offer was going to be carne (meat) based. I can’t even tell you how shocked I was to go to random (read: not touristy) restaurants and see the little “v” marked next to many items on a menu to denote a vegetarian dish. What, they know what vegetarian even is? What an awesome surprise for me and more so, that the food was so tasty and spicy. I was basically in culinary heaven seeing and tasting all the different varieties of salsas and sauces that were served up in many restaurants to accompany traditional dishes. I kind of wish I could have brought back a vat of some of those salsas…seriously the best I’ve ever had (especially at the restaurant El Charco de las Ranas). What I’m trying to say is that overall, the food in Mexico City was amazing, even for a vegetarian.

Aztec Stone Of The Sun At Museo Nacional de Antropologia

Aztec Stone Of The Sun At Museo Nacional de Antropologia

3. The Arts Scene– Did you know there is a large and thriving art scene as well as many art museums in Mexico City? I surely didn’t! I do love art but tend to get tapped out after a museum or two. Luckily my friend Neelam was on the same page so we spent only two half days at museums; Museo Nacional de Antropologia (The National Museum of Anthropology) and Museo Frida Kahlo (the artist Frida Kahlo’s former home that has been turned into a museum). The Museo Nacional de Antropologia is world renown and has a very unique and beautiful architectural design. Overall the museum was great with lots of amazing artifacts, and you could spend a lot of time there, but we zipped through this one pretty quickly. The Frida Kahlo museum was interesting and a great way to get to know more about the famous artist and her story. I wish we had more time to check out some of the real, local underground art scene. Guess that will be on my next visit…

Lucha Libre Wrestling Match

Lucha Libre Wrestling Match

4. Lucha Libre Wrestling Match– So, is it embarrassing that my minimal knowledge of Lucha Libre wrestling is from the movie ‘Nacho Libre’? Yes, I know it is sad..that’s ok. With that, I felt like I couldn’t go to Mexico City and not see one of the city’s most famous past times. Luckily Neelam was up for it too so we ventured to the arena and went to a match. It was absolutely entertaining and I’m not sure if we were more entertained from the masked wrestlers and their choreographed stunts or from the wild and hilarious people in the crowd and what they were yelling out. Either way, it was a fun evening seeing and doing something totally out of the ordinary. Oh, and I loved that vendors walked up and down the aisles throughout the match selling tequila shots, beers and tacos!

Cute Mexican Dolls In The Markets

Cute Mexican Dolls In The Markets

5. Market Shopping– No trip abroad is complete for me without visiting the local markets. I love seeing not only the locally handmade handicrafts but also all the touristy “junk” that gets sold (ok, I admit “sometimes” I purchase these things too). As expected, we went to a few different markets and the vivid color textiles and lovely hand painted dishware were hard to pass up. But, as I have learned from many trips of the past, what you buy, you must lug home. Luckily on this trip I bought some gifts for friends and items for myself that were easy to pack and not too bulky. I mean, how am I supposed to go shopping in the market and buy nothing? I have to help support the local economy, right?

So, what do you think? Did this help paint a very different picture of Mexico City for you? See, it’s not this rundown, crazy place that so many of us think it is. There is so much more to tell but hopefully this helped wipe away the horrible stereotype that Mexico City still unfortunately has for itself.  Go visit! Trust me, it’s definitely worth the trip.