Our flight was scheduled to take off at 8:40 am and we drove so had to park our vehicle. We decided to leave around 6 am to give us plenty of time to get parked, bag checked and to our gate without rushing. As we were about 10 miles from the airport, we hit traffic. WTF? It’s Sunday and early morning. As we approach we see there was an accident and the interstate was completely closed. Hope everyone is ok of course.

We exited and drove some back roads until we passed the closure. We still managed to get to the airport with enough time to get coffee, breakfast and able to sit down to eat before boarding. Our one hour and 30 minute flight was headed to Huston, TX for a short 50 minute layover. Our plane landed early so we had more time to be able to get some lunch before our next flight.

Knowing we were going to be eating a lot of food, we to stuck with Subway as a healthier option. At least I got some veggies! If you haven’t been to the Huston airport, it is nice and very busy. We taxied in the same terminal we were leaving from so we didn’t have to navigate terminal transfer. We got our food, sat down and ate without being rushed.

As we were boarding the plane, keep in mind an international flight, we didn’t have to scan our boarding pass or even show our passport. We had to have our passport in had but they just took a picture and then let through. Now, having traveled internally many times, this blew our minds. Still don’t know the logic behind it so will ask my two other co-workers how traveled the same time as us just different departure locations.

We boarded what we were told was a full flight. Hot damn! We were one role that actually didn’t end up with a third person so JD and I have room to spread out. We were able to access free WiFi to watch complimentary movies and TV however, it was a bitch to get on their wifi and once on, their site said you had to have the app to view the free entertainment. Well that is annoying. The flight crew was pretty awesome.

When we landed, customs was super easy. BTW- if you are a person who wants a stamp in your passport, forget it. I haven’t gotten a stamp in the last 4 international fights over the past many years. You scanned your passport, took another picture and was on your way. We found a taxi and headed to our Airbnb. Coming to Mexico City reminded me that I haven’t been to a country that English is not welly spoken. I know that sounds so American of me however both JD and I have lived that life so acclimating was going to take a second. I know very VERY little Spanish and JD is rusty though could at least get us where we needed to be.

So speaking of language, in my experience, people whose first language is not English are more willing to try than I’ve witness American’s trying to do the same. I’m one of those people and living and talking in a foreign country, I found it hard to put myself out there like they do. Food for thought friends….be more vulnerable!

We met up with our host and she was a lovely person. She did speak some English and for what she didn’t know we used hand gestures to figure it out. The place was in an absolutely beautiful and great location. Very walkable and a park right across the street. The dogs here are so well behaved. Many were off leash and there were many at restaurants with their parents. Made my heart happy.

We settled into our place and let our phones charge before heading out to get some groceries. We walked to the store and let the adventurer begin. They don’t have plastic bags of any kind (mind blowing I know) and you would put your produce in paper bags. But were the fuck are these said paper bags. I couldn’t ask because I have zero Spanish and I think JD wasn’t comfortable enough to ask.

I finally found some laying near a check out and grabbed them. We were really surprised that there wasn’t much prepared food. No handmade tortillas, meats, etc. We wanted to have a more quieter night figuring out our week so we didn’t want to go out for dinner. Hind sight, eating out as someone who doesn’t live here, was probably cheaper to eat out.

We bought the follow:

Rotisserie chicken, avocados, sprouts, boxed wine (comparable to the US in cost), fireball (don’t judge), bag lettuce mix, eggs, cheese, chorizo, butter, popcorn, tortillas, and bread which costed 1800 paseos. 100 paseos = $5 so about $90. That will give us at least breakfast most days and a meal for one or two days.

The Airbnb came stocked with salt, pepper and coffee but hey, they had a toaster (something that Alaska airbnb’s didn’t have). As we are chilling for the night, JD planned some outings for us for this week so more to come.