Friday (Back to Mexico City)

My son and my wife said I had to be very careful while in Mexico. My son warned me, I think based on stories he’s heard who knows where, about cartel violence in that country. I believe my wife was worried because of some news she’d heard recently about some Americans that were killed in a couple of Mexican towns close to the border.

Today I can say that I could not have felt more confident than the day and a half I spent in the heart of Mexico City. It is possible that the police presence was making it very peaceful in that area. There were no less than 3 or 4 cops on every corner, and I’m not exaggerating.

Our mountain guide dropped us off at the hostel where we were staying at about 3 pm on Friday. That same afternoon there was an NBA playoff game happening, and my hometown team was in it. In spite of my fatigue, I left my room to look for a place to watch the game. I asked for suggestions at the front desk, and the best they could do was to tell me to ask one of the cops outside. I did that, and the officer suggested a WingStop nearby. “Nearby” of sorts: The cop estimated that it would take me about 15 or 20 minutes to walk there. It was a very simple route: Walk about three streets straight and then make a left to walk about a dozen more.

It was an afternoon with very pleasant weather. It was a very nice warm temperature.

One of the first things I noticed was something I mentioned above, the high police presence.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I found that the business had been closed some time ago. I saw another couple of places nearby showed potential to watch the game, and in both of them they looked for it on their tv’s, but they didn’t find it.

I thought then that I would go to the hostel and keep up with the score on my cell. Then I saw that the game hadn’t started yet; I simply hadn’t considered the time differences. I still had about 3 hours for the game to start. To the hostel then, to rest.

It was about 7 p.m. when I entered my room. I lay down and slept very soundly.

I was lucky to wake up a little after 9, which was the game start time. I was surprised when I went down to the hostel reception, and there they had the game in the restaurant! The long walk earlier ended up being for nothing.

The game ended with my team eliminated. Back to my room, and finally to sleep.

I don’t remember when it was the last time I slept as sound and comfortably as that Friday night in Mexico City.

Let’s jump now to the planning of the trip and its first day: