Xochimilco at last!

Hola!

 

Wow!  I know I should probably stop saying that to start blogs, but truly – today’s experience was incredible!  

 

I have wanted to take a boat at Xochimilco since I first learned about it several years ago.  My problem was more that with my very faltering Spanish and Robert’s better but not fluent skills, I was very leery about negotiating to rent a boat, where it would take us, and how the details would work.  We’re not normally “tour” kinds of people, but for this adventure, I was looking for some help.  That came in the form of AirBnB Experiences, which is new within the last year or so.  I found Diana for the tour of the mercado tour earlier in the week, and after going through tour after tour options for Xochimilco, chose today’s trip.  Well … as I say – it was everything we were looking plus a whole lot more!

 

We've arrived at the canals!

Boats literally as far as we could see!

Arch (which helps Uber find people!)

Map of the canals

Food booths also as far as we could see!

Small chapel in the center

Painting of the Axolotl

First of all, a few words about Xochimilco.  Most people know that Mexico City was founded by the Aztecs in the middle of a swamp (evidence the settling of the Metropolitan Cathedral at the Zocalo).  When the city was first being constructed, the Aztecs would use poles and stake out an area in the swamp.  Once the poles encircling the property were set, the people basically dredged up mud from the canal areas and piled it up within the poles.  Eventually, this mud rose above the level of the river – voila, LAND on which to build and farm.  An added benefit (so the Aztecs believed) was that there were removable bridges between the various plots of land that could be pulled up as needed for defensive purposes. 

 

On our boat!

Chanti, Carmen, Ebony, Ashley and Jessica

Luis, our leader

Angel, our "poler"

Water snake...

First stop!

Ashley and I both got bubbles...

Once the Spanish invaded and defeated the Aztecs, many of the canals were drained and filled in, thereby making Mexico City that is now here.  However, in the Xochimilco area, the canals were basically left alone – and this is the last remnants of the huge canal system that once had encircled the Capital city.  On weekends especially, many Mexican families go there to spend the day with families out on the boats.  The boats go on and on and on – and they are all propelled by long (and very heavy!) wooden poles that are plied by very strong men to move throughout the canals.  Additionally, there are boats with Mariachi bands on them, there are boats serving food and drinks – and right before we finished, we ran into a boat that had wonderful flowered “hats” which most of our group – the ladies – purchased to wear home!  When you want some service like food or some music, the boats just tie themselves together and float along for some period of time.  It was amazing!

 

Boat selling all sorts of goodies!

Our Mariachi!

Turns out Ciscily plays the fiddle -- really well!

Excellent lunch!

Axoloti

Love the legs and hands!

Not exactly sure what Carmen bought, but there were gummy worms on top!

So, to start.  We were warned that with Sunday traffic, especially in the downtown area (where we are) we needed to allow plenty of time to get there.  We had planned on an hour, but as the weather was looking a bit cloudy, we opted to give ourselves an hour and a half to get there.  (This is in a very southern part of the city.)  We picked up Uber just behind the hotel (as it seems Avenida Juarez was yet again closed for some reason!)  As we were driving, it really started to RAIN!  And I mean POUR!  It seems like either the rain came down too quickly, or the drainage system in the city needs some work, but there was a LOT of standing water in the road, and the parking lot for Xochimilco was like a lake!  

 

It took about an hour to arrive at our meeting point, Embarcadero Cuemanco, and – surprise! – we were the first ones there.  Aaron (a nurse) and Ciscily (music therapist) from Ft. Collins, Colorado came next.  They were probably in their mid-20’s – and Ciscily actually likes snakes and provides homes for several … shudder…. The last five members of our group were gals who had gone to college together in Knoxville, and now lived all over!  They were celebrating the upcoming (next week) birthday of one of them.  We had Carmen, the leader of the group, and her roomie, Ebony, now living in Dallas.  Chianti was their friend and neighbor.  Jessica and her husband and two almost pre-teens live in Knoxville and work as interior designers, and finally, Ashley, a real knockout who has just started her own business in Atlanta.  As Ebony was going to be 38, I’m thinking the other gals were all around the same age – and truly, none of them looked like they were in their late 30’s!  Everyone looked much younger than that!!  Everyone was absolutely amazing – and we had such a great time together!  I think, truthfully, that having such a nice group of congenial folks made for a really great time!  

 

As drink was mentioned in the tour, Luis, our leader, produced a bottle of Mezcal along with snacks (pork rinds) and orange slices.  That went over well, and we proceeded to our first stop, where some of the group were able to purchase margaritas – and they said they were the best they had ever had!  Back on the boat again, Tequilla magically appeared – this time with Sangrita, a sweet and salty un-alcoholic beverage that was very red in color, and slices of limes.  (Here, I will note, that while R and I both tried the Mezcal and Tequilla, Robert stuck to the red beverage and I had my water … obviously the sticks in the mud, but nobody else seemed to think so, and it was very nice not feeling at all pressured to drink anything we didn’t want to!

 

After our second stop, we arrived back on the boat to find that excellent shredded chicken tacos and a cheese quesadilla were at everyone’s place – truly, the food everywhere is wonderful, and we have absolutely no need of anything more tonight!

 

We hired a mariachi boat to play for us, which was fun, and again, took off for another island stop.  We had three in all, the last having a small display of Axoloti, an amphibious creature (related to salamanders) that also has real hands and legs.  We had first seen it in the excellent Mexico City Aquarium several years ago, and it’s fascinating to watch – and, as I say, is only found here in Xochimilco!

Lovely new friends!

Carmen got a great flower band!

As did Ashley!

 

Finally, our wonderful afternoon came to an end – without anyone going into the water, and everyone really enjoying themselves!  Our leader, Luis, was terrific, and Angel, our “poler” provided us all with an amazing experience!  I would definitely do it again, and wholeheartedly recommend a trip to Xochimilco to anyone and everyone visiting Mexico City!

 

Off the boat about 4:15 pm, and incredibly, our Uber driver pulled up something like 2 minutes after I placed the request!  How about that for service?!  We were back here in about half-an-hour – shows what can be done when traffic isn’t totally clogging the streets! 

 

In for the night now!  We are checked in for our AeroMexico flight tomorrow about 1 pm, arriving in Oaxaca about 2:07 pm.  Our hotel has promised to send a car for us, so I am hoping that with any luck at all, I won’t have to even think about driving while we’re in Oaxaca!  Our plan is to hire a car and driver to take us to the archaeological sites we want to visit on Tuesday and Wednesday!

 

So, for now – good night and lots and lots of love!

m

xxx