Denis Milani Top Less

The journey from Hong Kong to Mexico City was what might be called the "longest day". Not only because the distance was huge and very long flight time. But mostly because, through the change of time zones, our day of February 3 lasted 40 hours. We have even been awarded a second sunrise across the Pacific and we landed in Los Angeles the same day, a half hour earlier than our departure from Hong Kong. So having departed at 8:30 from China, we arrived in Mexico City 16h. But what a disappointment not to find food as good during these flights that when those in India or Thailand! So instead of having a small screen to choose our personal films, it was on the big screen that we had to endure stories about any supermodel. In short, we changed the world indeed ...

Between one night at the airport in Hong Kong and various ports of call ...

meantime, it's a very strange feeling to be back on American or Japanese soil during our stopover in Tokyo or Los Angeles and see some people only a few moments, and just the tarmac of country we not visit.
Security forces, we still managed to talk with American customs since we had to get a visa, and disembark, then resave the luggage (also to be inspected and Marielle Olivier: they have been drawn for a search), and this just 2 hours of transit in the airport.

... before arriving in Mexico!

Arrives in Mexico for the first time, we understand what it means to fatigue due to jet lag. " In fact, we were totally misplaced and have spent the day following sleep pending the arrival of the fourth Laron our journey, Oliver Rossi (call it R Olivier henceforth not to be confused with Oliver H). We waited impatiently, after 5 months of travel. And as it is a joker (he nearly canceled his trip at the last moment), his plane was initially delayed and then simply cancel, leaving us helpless and imagining the worst scenarios in the cold of the airport. However much happens, and in one piece. He had simply been redirected to another flight.

Here we are all four in hotel Isabel, in a room large enough to contain an entire class. We sleep like babies ... it was impossible to make a complete night, requires time difference! So we awoke at 3-4am and wait ... As the sun rises ... R Oliver wakes in turn (it struggles against a jet lag different from ours) ... and the Popular Cafe opens, because that's where we very quickly got used to our days STARTED a good breakfast. This cafe is so popular that you often have to queue for a table.

Isabel Hotel, one of the only neighborhood to have survived the earthquake of 86. So, a good place!

the popular Cafe menu, tamales a la mode de Oaxaca (polenta and chicken wrapped in a sheet but) enchiladas (corn pancake stuffed with spicy chicken sauce), or pandulces (pastries with conchas and apple pies have the palm). In short, we enjoy ...

Another very popular place is the nerve center of Mexico, the "Zocalo". Around this immense place, are the presidential palace and the seat of government: it is the ideal place to enjoy a Mexican tradition, the protest and demonstration (no, this is not the prerogative of french !)

Some street scenes ...




The Catalinas (the skeletons dressed in the fashion of 18th) are also revered as figures more well known ...

Presidential Palace (the Palacio National), easily accessible to anyone not carrying a weapon, is a national emblem. Here was the launch of the Revolution has caused the country's independence. It houses the huge murals of Diego Riveira, which represents the year 30, the evolution of Mexican History. The arrival and with a French-speaking guide us was a great help to decipher the works, recognize certain characters and their times in this overload of details, and especially to give meaning to all these emotions that beset us in this first day of visit, Tellem is beautiful!

The countdown is launched for the bicentenary of the revolution.

Riveira did not either gene to slide his communist ideals.

Could they admire the works of D. Riveira without seeing those of Frida Kahlo, his wife, but also the other great icon of Mexican painting? Achieving polio during his childhood, then literally crushed and pierced in a trolley accident, she draws from it an energy and strength she redeversees in his work. In his creations, she translated explicit manner the sufferings of his body and a very Mexican fascination with death (it's true she was very close to). However, visiting his home, even if we see the harrowing events of his wheelchair, splint his easel or her deathbed, that's life intellectual creativity, bright colors (on the exterior walls and interiors, the furniture, everything ...) and especially love (even turbulent) that was worn Riveira Diego and Frida Kahlo, which flood the scene. You come out more alive!

"Both Frida," a painting that reflects the ambivalence of Mexican women, between tradition and modernity. A table that we will find the Museum of Modern Art.

After the visit, Helene leave us a 3 for a couple of days to join his parents, who themselves are coming to him visit Cancun.

the Museum of Modern Art, we discovered an even larger pan of Mexican art, sometimes traditionalist, shimmering, surreal or militant.

Not far from the house of Frida Kahlo, is the walk "Tostadas Coyoacan. As its name suggests, they serve the "tostadas": grilled corn cakes, topped generously to envy, invariably with guacamole. It also discovers new products to delight our palates: the "mamey" and "chicos", whose flesh in the mouth can think of a pear, and nopales, the leaves of a cactus (prickly pear) that is cut into slices to serve salad.

The chicos

And amidst all this food, jumbo pinatas of all kinds (classical or a giraffe, Spiderman, Sponge Bob , ...) are suspended from the ceiling and waiting to be chosen to be beaten with sticks at an upcoming birthday.

other cheap places to eat, the taquerias.

Beside tacos, there are also layudas (cakes but toasted and topped with blue like tacos) or ricas tortas (hot bread and thickets a bit of everything). Yum!

Back to the Zocalo, for another emblematic place, the "Catedral Metropolitana". La, is given in Baroque, like most churches of the city, and a large crucifix with Christ has dark skin welcomes visitors.

Yes, taxis-green beetles are always present.

That's the least surprising, but other characters, inside and around the church, also attract the eye and above the crowd. They are masks and a little scary, but great piety: they are the stars of "Lucha Libre" (the Freestyle, so has the Mexican wrestling). In the streets, one of them answers the name of "El Santo". It is in fact the true son of El Santo, "the icon and the legend of the sport. These "sports" are real stars in Mexico and it was only natural that we would attend to their fighting.

El Santo


In "Cuadrilatero" wrestlers to graduation.

For once, we'll further the recommendations (which perconisent not to go out at night) to attend this great evening at the Arena Mexico. For HOUSEHOLD Marielle, we pension shall stay an hour to see these muscular body, oily, and their manly tussles.
But what atmosphere! The supporters groups are present with their horns ramps and projectors: AC screams, it screams, AC tambourine, whistles ca ...
And we in? Of the first battles, we are all three bluffing. What we thought to be a farce and grabbing heavy coarse proves to be in fact real acrobatic choreography, virtuosity and flexibility.

Well, yes, this is a show dramatizes, with big nasty bullies facing of athletic, air and piles of good vigilantes. These are often mistreat the last minute before winning the 3rd round in spectacular flights between the strings to defeat the enemy out of the ring. What a turnaround!

In this show perfectly orchestra, the wrestlers take the stage against a backdrop of video clips manly stereotypes and a little kitsch, and accompanied by half a dozen buxom hostess (obviously)!
We finally remains the whole night (3 hours) until the star of the day, Mistico. Not much has been thrown into all this wasted energy, so this is one of the games, which was reduced to pitifully a war of words (in English of course!), and the defeat of Mistico!

We will keep this particular evening, the huge slap in the face and chest, which resounded throughout the arena and seemed to affect the wrestlers more than a projection on the back, a crushing or armlock.
Another highlight was the struggle of people of small (less than one meter and fifty).

Thus we leave the Arena, captivated by the exploits of Volador, Angel de Oro Angel de Plata Metallico, Bam Bam .... . Even Marielle loves! Sorry, the star system requires, no camera in the arena. Two days

Later, in Chapultepec Park, we met two of the stars: Dos Caras (DC) and Rey Misterio.

Here are the real ...

And their blades copies!

A final return to the Zocalo, or what still remain the capital of Aztec Tenochtitlan (literally, "the place with loads of prickly pears").
The conquistadors have voluntarily dismantled and reused the stones of temples construction of their palaces and churches. It was the abrupt end of a mighty empire in a few months.
All this had started with a curious coincidence Aztec: the arrival of the Spaniards coincided with the long-awaited return to earth of Quetzalcoatl, the mythic feathered serpent. The conquistadors had white skin, has the armor of metal and mounted on horses were immediately greeted and treated like living gods. But their atrocities were quickly pushed the popular discontent and revolt was bloodily suppressed quickly with the help of tribes hostile to the Aztecs. If we add the diseases imported from overseas, which have decimated populations, Spaniards have benefited from very favorable conditions.

50 km from Mexico City lie the ruins of the capital of another great empire much older: Teotihuacan. Always standing, the Pyramids of the Moon and the Sun (the 3rd largest pyramid in the world) to impose their presence. The Aztecs themselves felt they had been built by giants. The climb up, or 4 feet, to observe the entire expanse of the city has echoes a child that we were in front of the television when we watched the "Mysterious Cities of Gold." For some of us, this raises a question: any civilization, as beautiful as it is, she intended to disappear? For others, the mere fact of being there, it's a dream come true.

The Pyramid of the Sun

"No, Marielle, n 't be afraid, you will not fall if you approach the edge ... " Behind is the Pyramid of the Moon.

Fans of "New Age" come here to catch waves ...


... while we, we train to climb Machu Pichu by ...


giant cacti and prickly pears: No doubt, there is Mexico.

To learn more about these ancient civilizations that have followed and worked with her here, we went to the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.

We're first visited on a Sunday, or the entry is free for locals. Given the crazy world that it was urgent, we decided to postpone the visit to two days and enjoy this beautiful day to walk through Chapultepec Park, also very common.

And, we found a representation of voladores.

A sculpture Diego Riveira, a playground of choice.

The Museum of Anthropology is colossal: 5 to 6 hours is hard enough visiting the ground floor. At the rate we were going or with the desire to know more and more, we would have had at least 3 or 4 days to perhaps do the trick.
Nevertheless, among the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Toltecs, Aztecs and others, we crossed the nomadic civilization, peaceful, culturally and scientifically advanced, and also increasingly warlike and bloodthirsty. With this heritage, it is difficult not to make reconciliation with Mexico today and his facination for death.

And to go all these places? The subway is needed because the city is sprawling but very well served. Although it is his age, some stations are artistically decorated and cleanliness realm. We apprehend a bit to take this means of transport, given the reputation of insecurity which is decked Mexico. But to ensure grain security guards and a general way, we felt safe. And its price (2 pesos = € 0.10) makes it incredibly democratic and frequent. We should take a leaf out of Europe.
When the train starts, a bunch of street vendors to sell are heard ticking and chocolate bars, flashlights and battery-free gaming magazines, and especially music themes and complete discographies of artists (local?) MP3, loudly presented through backpacks equipped with speakers. Ambience guaranteed!

It's not just the metro that is anime. The bus to Teotihuacan was just as much. We even had a cover of "Aline" for Cjhristophe. So we, too, was screaming for her to return ...

One almost forgets to pay attention to the ingenious icons that symbolize each stop (a good way to orient themselves easily). Thanks to the metro the city is more congested, and she seemed much less polluted than what we expected. Please note that cars can not run every day according to their registration number.

"What is the meaning most exacerbates abroad? The view
course, Mexico offering amount of historical monuments, traces of ancient civilizations with stalls of all kinds (fruit, vegetables, spices, handicrafts, etc. ...) and people crossing your eyes and smiling a non-local. The hearing in this succession of sensations, with this unusual language, his intonations, his arrests, his local music. The cleanliness of the city (in the neighborhood frequent) does not smell has the opportunity to be offended. Smell of steps; waxing of the many shoeshine Street; cleaning product left by employees of different stores each day clean piece of pavement outside their door; the dry soil and vegetation during our outings ... From then quickly stir the taste buds when food arises (!). While the predominant taste and delights, chile, chile, chile! And I will conclude by touching, linked to food, since eating with our fingers, we get also turista! (Oops)
What a change will give me this continent! Five senses in turmoil, to my delight! "GOLD
Olivier (Olivier said DC: Back in Carras Freestyle!).

"When traveling, there are sometimes unexpected minor annoyance. Everybody knows the turista. For my part, I got something different and unusual, which was almost impossible to me By descence sit ... I say no more. But this little problem of a bacterium, allowed me to practice my English in a register rather technical, and visited a place in Mexico that is frankly the detour, while appearing in any tourist guide: Hospital de Jesus (oh my)! Once past the entrance, we find ourselves in the oldest hospital of the American continent, a great institution founded in 1524. In a clinic with as much charm, we want more and we fall very ill again. But do not worry, antibiotics have worked well, or is it the hospital that Jesus performed miracles? " Olivier H

"To believe the recommendations we thought Mexico City was a well populated and little dangerous bandits ... It is with pleasure that we discovered during these few days, a very agreeable city has live. In addition, the hotel Isabel was probably the most charming and comfortable journey and yet ... It was not counting the screams that woke us up at night and the day paralyzed me, screams that came from, it seems , the innermost parts of our neighbor ... Has curdling screams of fear, so that I dared not even go by her more room to go to the toilet ... She desperately called a "Jack" who had his legs taken from his neck, and I understand ... Luckily, I did not have to share the elevator, or a head to head with it, and fortunately, because I'd probably petrified ... " Marielle

" De Mexico , I speak from the airport! In fact, I landed three times: once at night from Los Angeles, the second time in Cancun and I left my family and the last time coming from Guadalajara (and yes the bus and the plane worth almost the same price !)..... and each time I held my breath.
The airport is in the middle of the megalopolis, needless to say that the landing is very impressive for a quarter of an hour, flying over the city passing very near the buildings, you can see with the naked eye the Street life: passersby, traffic lights and nearly two days of beard from the small vendor tortas
When the wheels touch the ground, it is time to release the pressure and applaud the pilot .... I advised against all aerodromophobes landing in Mexico! " Helene

We could have stayed longer in Mexico to participate in the events of St. Valentine. But as the return hastily Marielle France for family reasons, two Olivier did not all the same to stay in love and try to beat the world record for the longest kiss!