Nani en Mexico City Pt. 3

It is so crazy to think that we’ve made it to the 3 week mark… sometimes I feel like I’ve been here forever but also like I just got here.

My voice started an internal panic feeling like I haven’t done enough with my time here (shh… I know.)

I’m sure I’m not the only one who falls victim to rest feeling like a crime and the need to always do something.

When I don’t have a plan or idea of what’s next, it brings me a feeling of angst, grogginess of sort. It even gives me a headache sometimes lol

But I’ve been working on learning how to move past that, I told myself I came here to exist. To reconnect with myself, recharge and to let life lead me where I’m meant to go.

It led me here so far, all that I’ve been able to learn about myself up to this point has been worth the sacrifices made to be here.

Week 3: Exploration + Connecting

With that being said, as I mentioned on last week’s vlog – Sunday wasn’t my best day!

Those feelings lingered for a bit, so allowed myself rest. Monday and Tuesday were dedicated to selfcare, writing and creativity.

Monday + Tuesday:

Art Class

I am so glad I chose to enroll myself in this class. I have been learning so much!

I’ve taken three classes so far and I am so hilarious for thinking that I was going to finish in two, 2 hour lessons… baby, sweetheart… you’ve never painted before. If there is one thing that the class and this journey is teaching me is certainly patience.

Time flies in the class, I love how I am able to shut everything out and just lock in as I’m learning.

It’s just 3 ✨seasoned✨ ladies and myself in the class, so know that the chisme is definitely poppin early morning. 😂

I love having them there to also guide me, most of them are established artists locally who use the studio space as an area to focus. It showed me that no matter how much experience you have, you can always be humble enough to learn more and ask for guidance.

and for her first painting she’s not too shabby okay!! I’m really proud of this and I can’t wait to see my progression over time.

Pilates

Idk how people do this and that’s almost ALL I want to say about it!

After falling the first week, I genuinely have PTSD and I’m so scared to fall again lol 🥲

I find myself mentally blocking myself in class and having to recenter myself working hard to push past the temporary discomfort.

But, nonetheless – seguimos! reluctantly

COWBOY CARTER

Shout out the real tiktokers, cause I’m a fraud.

I spent my Tuesday night watching the entire show on Tiktok live and people are insane for this but their insanity is all in my benefit cause I was GAGGED. GISELLE THE WOMAN THAT YOU AREEE. 🤌🏽

I’ve been vintage thrift shopping here and hoping to be able to pull my fit togetherrrr – stay tuned! 🤠

Wednesday:

It was a good thing to have had a light start to the week, because once Wednesday came in things definitely picked up!

I finally went to the viral cafe Panaderia Rosetta.

I honestly almost didn’t go, there were so many videos about it I expected it to be overhyped… but… believe the hype!

Once I arrived, I was told there would be a 25 min wait, but my girl Bey kept me company so it was alright. I waited probably about 15 minutes and was sat in their outside seating area.

I still find myself in awe of how beautiful the city is, I love that all restaurants, stores, etc. are open air. Outside seating is almost a guarantee, so much greenery and your occasional local artist playing outside. It is very surreal.

Everyone says you have to get the pan de guayaba and yeah. It was gas. BUTT someone also told me we could get the same thing at Vicky Bakery and my perspective changed LMAO

I still liked it though. 🙂‍↔️

I also had a cappuccino and chilaquiles and was satisfied with my meal. The ambiance was lovely, a bit more overpriced to other cafes in the area due to the demand – but if you’re in town, I would try to stop by for breakfast/lunch.

Dinner + Night out + New Friends!

I was connected with someone who was also solo traveling from South Florida and here for the same time as I am so we met up for dinner and a night out!

Franchesca and I met up at Huset in Roma Norte and the restaurant was gorgeoussss

We enjoyed some cocktails and a delicious dinner before heading out for the night.

I took her to the same party I went last Wednesday @ Wallace and we had a time!

Even though we had just met that night, we were able to share genuine conversation, laughs and a timee was had. We ended up spending the rest of the weekend together, cheers to new friends. 🥂✨

Thursday:

I woke up extremely homesick, it hit me that I had really been away for such a long time.

Food holds a huge place in my family. My grandparents had a restaurant in Miami that my cousins and I grew up in. We have gatherings pretty much every week or for every birthday and all connect over a shared meal.

I felt that a taste of home would help with some of these feelings, and I lowkey could not fathom eating another taco in that moment LOL

I found the only Honduran restaurant in the city and it was luckily only 7 mins away from me, I sat down, had a lovely conversation with the owner. She moved from Honduras to Mexico 25 years ago for the opportunity of a better life.

She made me un desayuno typico (Traditional Honduran breakfast) and it felt soooo good. 💙

Home is wherever you make it. So it’s important to have a piece of home with you, wherever you go. ❤

2nd guest!

My girl Alex came in town to visit me and landed at night! 👯‍♀️

I took her to the BEST taco spot in all of CDMX. Ignore all the tiktoks you have saved and just write this one down…

TACOS DEL VALLE

This is a gem I stumbled upon completely on accident while walking around Roma Norte, and I’m so grateful. & yes, we absolutely ate everything in these pics. No crumbs! 😋

Friday:

When my alarm rang at 3:30 in the morning I contemplated my entire existence.

I couldn’t even sit up to think like this cause I’d hit my head on the loft ceiling. 🫠

On Friday we booked an excursion to Las Grutas de Tolantongo, this was a day trip that was about 3.5 hours away from CDMX. Our guides picked us up at 4:30am and their message explicitly stated they were only waiting 5 minutes and as a clinically late person I did not want to risk my luck.

As much as I was grumpy in the beginning of my morning this was SO worth it!

AirBnb Experiences has been coming in CLUTCH let me tell you.

The tour we booked was designed to avoid the large crowds that arrive at springs, hence the very early start. But once we arrived, I definitely appreciated the timing because once we reached the end of our tour, it was significantly crowded.

Our booking included roundtrip transportation from where we were staying, 3 separate tours: the pools, a waterfall/cave, and a river as well as time for breakfast (separate cost, roughly ~$200-$300 pesos, so about $10USD pp)

The guides spoke both English and Spanish and were very accomodating to any requests, informative on the areas we were in and our guide Maximiliano was amazing!!

A few recommendations for the day trip:

What to pack:

Waterproof case for your phone
Water Shoes (with good grip, Alex & I MAY or may not have slipped)
Approx: $300 Pesos
Snacks, Water, Sandwiches – we packed sandwiches that came in CLUTCH. You won’t have breakfast until about 10:30-11am.
Portable Charger
Blanket + Pillow
The car ride is 3.5 hours of a bumpy ride. almost took me out ngl
- Non-Drowsy motion sickness medicine, dramamine saved my life
Change of clothes + towel

Here is the link to book this experience!

Las Grutas Tolantongo Hotsprings

Dinner: Puerto Prendes

We arrived back to CDMX around 5:30pm, with just enough time to shower and get ready for our dinner reservation at 8.

The restaurant itself was stunning, had a dark and moody atmosphere but the food was nothing I would stress myself over.

After dinner, we visited churreria el moro for desert and she was delish!

We had another early morning the next day, and after being in the sun and water all morning – we called it an early night.

Saturday:

A bucket list item off the list!

Although I almost lost it when my alarm rang at 3:30am again, this one was a bit more digestible as we only had a 50 min car ride.

We were picked up and road to Teotihuacan to catch the sunrise on a Hot Air Balloon over the pyramids!

This was one of those moments where I truly could not believe my eyes.

This experience was magical, I kept getting lost in thought to see where life has taken me… Knowing this is only the beginning of a very beautiful next chapter for me.

A moment where I truly felt free of anything I continued to carry with me, it felt like I had finally let it all go. You’re on a hot air balloon over the pyramids in Mexico girl!! You won.

The ride was so smooth you don’t even realize once you’ve taken off the ground.

The toxic in me wanted a dramatic sideways crash landing like I kept seeing online LOL but we landed so so smooth so if you’re worried about that, don’t be 🙂

This tour included:

Roundtrip Transportation
coffee upon arrival
Photography/Drone (extra)
Champagne Toast with your captain
Breakfast in a cave
Walking solo tour of the Pyramids

This was another incredible Airbnb Experience linked here:

Hot Air Balloon + Breakfast + Pyramids Tour

Saturday Evening:

We made it back to CDMX by 1:30pm and the hot air balloon didn’t crash land but I sure did.

I napped for a good 3 hours and it still wasn’t enough to recoup the sleep deprivation of the weekend but we move!

We spent the afternoon in the Roma Norte neighborhood and caught some great markets for shopping!

Our plan was to pop into El Parian hotel, which has a beautiful scenery and shops, bars and cafe’s in it – but to our surprise… Tacos del Valle was right next DOORR… so we went for round two 🤫

We ended the evening off at a beautiful dinner at Maralunga, an Italian restaurant about 25 minutes outside the city.

This was one of the best dinners I’ve had in CDMX thus far, the service, the ambiance all a wonderful experience that I was glad to be able to share with my dear friend.

Even though we almost got got with a $200 wine bottle but thats a story for another day. 😭

Sunday:

Domingo’s en la Ciudad de Mexico have my heart!!

I’m upset I didn’t do this each Sunday I’ve been here!

When you visit, make sure you leave on Monday, because Sunday is the day!

Every Sunday the city shuts down la Reforma, a main avenue to allow runners, bikers, skaters, etc. safely ride the streets!

Follow this exact itinerary:

Breakfast at the Sofitel Hotel en Reforma
- We were recommended to go to Citizen Bar for brunch but they were booked, so reserve your table in advance!
- We ate at a different restaurant in the hotel, named Balta which was also good!
Download the EcoBici App and find a docking station that has available bikes (same thing as renting a CitiBike!)
Ride past the Angel de la Independecia toward the St. Regis and then follow the roundabout to get a direct look at the statue!
Then ride your bike all the way down Reforma Avenue and turn right onto Av. Juarez and ride until you see el Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Dock your bike in a nearby station and enjoy the market that is right next to the palace!
Finish off with a walk toward el Zocalo and a drink in La Terraza bar.
- 10/10 Experience

Don’t be like me and miss your turn and ride 20 minutes into the wrong side of town 🤡

We had so much fun!! We each put one airpod in, had jungle blasting, the weather was absolutely perfect, you couldn’t tell me we weren’t the main characters in a RomCom ok!