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Published: June 29th 2007
So I finally arrived in Monterrey after getting zero sleep the night before, but thats what I get for leaving all my packing and prep for the last minute! The rush of finally arriving to Mexico by far exceeded my sleepless night and I felt a high like no other- no place to sleep, I stick out like a sore thumb as not many tourists pass through this city that is only a 1 hour flight from Houston. Everywhere I go the music stops and people stare at the half gringo/half latin dude walking around the city- but hey thats part of the experience. As soon as I arrived to Monterrey I knew I wouldnt stay long, the city is perhaps the most Americanized of all Mexican cities with Home Depots, Burger Kings and all the other common franchises of the US.
I was thrown a curve ball when I told the cab driver from the airport the part of the city I wanted to stay in and he looked at me like I belonged in a psycho ward (after looking at my lonely planets book on the plane I thought I had it all figured out). He proceeded
to explain that the zone I was looking to stay at was "muy peligroso" and that all the prostitutes and drug dealers hang out there and that I would most likely be robbed. So I took his advice and decided to check out this place he recommended that was also no Beverley Hills. I looked around for about 20 minutes before realizing what a target I was with my 30 lb backpack and pale skin as I could feel the stares of everyone looking at me as if they have never seen "my kind" before. So I took up the cab driver´s suggestion and stayed at the first place he took me to. I guess this is part of the exhiliration of traveling on your own-sometimes you just have to trust your instincts.
I decided to walk over to the metro station and check out the city. I found it ironic that the largest station in the city did not have a map, but the locals helped me find my way. As soon as I arrived at my desination (Zona Rosa) it started pouring rain like crazy. I ended up standing under a storefront for about an hour and
a half as the rain kept pouring down. It was all good though, I took the opportunity to practice my spanish with some locals who were in the same boat as me trying to keep dry.
Finally the rain came to a hault and I continued to walk to Zona Rosa in the drizzle. There I decided to stop at a cybercafe and alert everyone back home that I was still alive and well. Upon leaving the cafe, I started to shoot the breeze with one of the workers their named Jesus and he gave me my first lesson in Mexican slang. Some new additions to my vocab include-
morras, chavas- chicks
chido- "cool"
wall (pronounced "way")- man or dude
orale- lets go, sometimes used instead of vamos- a very common expression is "orale wall" which I now hear ALL THE TIME
Jesus ended up showing me around his city and took me to the historical district and his favorite taco joint. I was really pumped for my first meal in Mexico and I was not dissapointed! Next we headed back to the cyber cafe where he works and helped him close up. I thanked him for
showing me around and being an awesome tour guide and then I went to my hotel and passed out like I never have before!!
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Mom and Dad
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George in Mexico
Dear Georgey, so good to hear that you are having such a good time! We are proud of you! Much love, Mom and Dad...