Happenings

Life around here is pretty mundane these days. I have just been trying to write a journal article about my research and research jobs for next year. Sorry, but there is not much to blog between these two things. Here are a couple things that have been going on. If there is one thing I hate doing, its cleaning my bikes. Well, my cycling partner, Lenny, and I discovered that for 15 pesos (about a $1.50) you can get your bike washed after mountain biking. Yipeeeee!!! No more cleaning my mountain bike.
These large moths for some reason like the entry way to my apartment. I actually find them pretty cool as long as they are not flying.
Its was Barby's birthday on the 11th and we celebrated it with flan and some sort of lemon cake on the 12th.

And that is about it. Wish me luck on the writing and the job search. I need it!

Driving Restrictions

When I first arrived in Mexico City, I quickly learned about the "no hay circulación" law by getting pulled over by the police and paying my first bride (notice the use of "first" bribe, I paid the police off again recently). Since the last number on my license plate is an 8, I can't drive on Tuesdays. I could get my car "verified", which means an emissions test, but only cars less than 8 years old are allowed to be verified. My very clean running 1992 Subaru wagon is therefore unverifiable even though is passes the Colorado emissions test with no problems. So I was left with only one option, not to drive on Tuesdays. This is not so bad I thought. I take the metro anyway to work and very rarely drove on Tuesdays anyway. Then, in August Mexico City began "no hay circulación sabatino", which means the second Saturday of every month I am not allowed to drive my car. Even with all the "no hay circulación" rules, the Mexico City air pollution was not being reduced. Therefore, a new regulation began on September 1st that states, "any car with plates from a different country or from any Mexican state other than the DF and Mexico cannot circulate in Mexico City from 5am to 11am Monday through Friday." Currently, I am waiting for the clock to turn 11am so that I can go run some errands.

Puebla and Chiles en Nogada

Last weekend (I know, I have been lazy with the blogging lately)
Carolina, Wolfgang, Ivan, Endo, and I
went to Puebla to
eat chiles en nogadas. Mexico's Independence day is the 15th of September and the whole country is decorated in green, white, and red. Chiles en nogada is a dish that is only served during this time of year because pomegranates are in season and ALSO the chile is green, the sauce is white, and the pomegranates are red. How festive!

Barbacoa

Yesterday, Daniel, Barby, Ofelia, Armando, Hector, Daniela, Daniel, Endo, and I head south to Texcoco to eat barbacoa at a restaurant owned by Daniela's uncles. It was SO yummy!!!
Hector attempted the climbing wall in the playground.Endo got to come too. I think he likes barbacoa more than anyone else.

How to make a left

Lenny is explaining to me how to make a left turn onto Avenida Universidad. This city if full of signs like this. Problem is, most of the time they are hidden behind tree branches. Learning to drive in Mexico City is all about trail and error.