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Published: February 22nd 2011
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Our final night in Oaxaca
Take note of the unusually large number of balloon venders even in this small, pretty street... So, here we are back in Australia. We landed in Sydney Airport at 8:30 this morning. Jo has already been picked up by her uncle and I am waiting for my sister to finish class so she can come and get me. I just tried to contact her to let her know where I am, but my phone does not have service and the free airport WiFi is not working on either my phone or computer. I also have no Australian change (no money at all really!) to make a phone call from a public phone. Hopefully she will find me here!
Our last few nights in Mexico were nice, but passed way too quickly. After I last blogged, we went out for dinner at a restaurant in the Oaxaca Zocolo called La Casa de la Abuela. It was really good. This place was a bit more expensive than the other places around, but it was worth the extra as it was upstairs and we were able to enjoy the view of the city square, which was teeming with people. This was the night that we finally realised the extent of the importance of Valentine’s Day in this country. There were about 25 (love heart shaped) balloon venders around the square as well as people selling fairy floss, toffee apples, these massive balloons that you could throw really really high and flashing plastic swords. It was just like a fair...and this was just Valentine’s Day eve...
The next day (Valentines Day!) Jo and I had arranged for a taxi to pick us up after our last breakfast at the hostel. The taxi driver spoke little English (and we of cause still speak little Spanish) but we had a lovely half-half conversation on the way. The taxi driver thinks we should return to Mexico in three months (rather than the one or two years Jo suggested). After we arrived in Mexico City, we took the Metro back to Tacubuya station and took the short walk back to Ale and Gil’s place. They were pleased to see us and gave us lunch with the family (and Lupita and Lucy) as if we had never left. After lunch we sat down with Ale in the lounge room (just as we did on our first night in Mexico) and chatted for an hour or so.
At about 5pm I went to get changed into something a little nicer...I was invited to have dinner with one of Luis’ lovely friends, Alejandro. He took me out to Polanco (a slightly ritzy suburb) for pizza, a movie (two for one due to it being Valentine’s Day...that meant we got in for 35 pesos each...just over AU$3!) and then finally my last tacos in Mexico...hopefully just for the time being. I will miss this Mexican boy. Jo spent the night at home hanging out with David and Hammurabi as everyone else in the household was out...partying for Valentine’s Day, no doubt. She also managed to pack her bags and get organised...I was definately the less organised one when we woke up the next day!
The next morning we sadly ate our last jamón y queso quesadillas (with salsa!) for breakfast and got our bags ready to leave. Ale and Gil were going out to breakfast with some old friends, so we said our last goodbyes as they left. We definitely know we are more than welcome (expected, in fact!) to stay in this household when we return to Mexico in the future.
We started our marathon home with a taxi to the airport then boarded our flight to Dallas. It was sad to see Mexico City fall behind us. After many long immigration and customs cues in Dallas, we realised that between us we only had about US$7...just enough for two (American style...not nearly the same) tacos each. But this was enough to sustain us as we took our second flight in to Los Angeles, waited around at Los Angeles airport, then boarded our final flight...with Qantas. American Airlines do not give free meals/refreshments (besides a small water/juice) so we were definitely looking forward to our Qantas dinner. And snacks. And breakfast. This final flight was the best of the trip...the (double story!) plane was really new and fancy and the pilot was smooth as! We especially liked the SkyCam function which showed a live view from the tail of the plane as we were going.
And now here we are back home.
We were so sad to leave Mexico behind. We have had the best time in the world and made some of the best friends. We have realised that Mexico is not quite as it is stereotypically portrayed in Australia (hardly a sombrero or taco shell to be seen!) and that it is not the dangerous place that people seem to expect.
I hope you've enjoyed our commentary and musings on our adventure...thanks for travelling with us to Mexico and back!
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