Mexico City, Mexico: Days 1 to 4

I arrived in Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez on the night of October 19th. I had trouble finding the public transit that goes into the city, but when I checked the price on Uber, it was only US$9 for a ride to the hostel. So I took that instead of the metro.

The first thing I noticed in Mexico City was the excessive amount of police presence. Apparently, people felt safer when there are a lot of police around. My hostel is the Hostel Mundo Joven Catedral. It’s right by Zócalo, the city center where the big church is. This hostel also has a rooftop bar where the view is fantastic!

I didn’t know what to do on the first day. I did more research on the Spanish schools. I found a school called Lengua and Cultura that I liked, but couldn’t find decent housing in the nearby La Condesa neighborhood on Airbnb. I decide it’s probably better to take a Spanish class somewhere in Guatemala instead and just enjoy being a tourist in Mexico.

As luck would have it, just when I was walking out of the hostel a tour guide named Benito asked me if I wanted to go on a guided walking tour with the people from the hostel. I decided to join so I can meet some new people.

We took the metro to Bosque de Chapultepec, a very large park with a big cemetery. Benito told us during the Day of the Dead there will be many people visiting the graves and leaving flowers on them. He also suggested that I should book my stays soon because Day of the Dead is November 1st and 2nd and there will be parades. Prices will go up by a lot since the event is very popular.

Benito took us to Museo Casa Presidencial Lázaro Cárdenas. It was the president’s house and is now a museum. Lázaro Cárdenas was a benevolent dictator who ruled Mexico for 30 years before term limits were imposed.

We also walked to Monumental Fuente de Nezahualcóyotl where Benito told us before the Aztecs there was Nezahualcóyotl, who formed alliances with two other tribes and thus forming the Aztec Triple Alliance.

I had a great time on the walking tour and met Gerardo, Mexican guy who lives in Tijuana, and Tanja, a Dutch traveler, among others.

That same night, I met Piña in my dorm room. He was born in Venezuela and worked in Miami as a massage therapist. Together with Gerardo, the three of us went to La Burra Blanca del 56, a local bar. Gerardo had me try pulque, a very light alcoholic drink made from the agave plant. I enjoyed the pineapple flavored pulque.

After Piña left, Gerardo and I walked along Madero pedestrian street for a night stroll and eating some street corns. I learned that Gerardo works as a healer. When I told him about my bipolar condition, he suggested I should try the toad venom that’s only in Mexico. Gerardo told me that there’s something called 5-MeO-DMT in the toad venom that “resets” the brain, so it can help me with bipolar. As a matter of fact, Gerardo can administer the toad venom if I meet him later at a hostel in Tepoztlán, not far from Mexico City. I was intrigued because ideally I want to find a cure for my condition.

The next morning, I did more research about 5-MeO-DMT. There have been studies done with people with depression and PTSD, but no research is done on bipolar patients because it might trigger a manic episode. If I were to try 5-MeO-DMT I would want to be in a safe setting with doctors, not at some hostel. I decided to decline Gerardo’s offer, but I might go to the hostel in Tepoztlán since it’s only about two hours away from Mexico City and at a scenic place. I’ll have to see.

The next day, I missed the 11 AM walking tour because I overslept. I ended up going to Chinatown with Piña. Benito had told me it’s the smallest Chinatown in the world because it’s only two streets, and he was right.

Back at the hostel, Piña and I chatted with Maria, a girl from Brazil. I felt Piña wanted to chat with her more so I left with Gerardo and Tanja. We went to La Burra Blanca del 56 for food then went dancing at a reggae bar called Cultural Roots. I don’t really dance because I can’t keep a beat for the life of me.

When I came back to the hostel, I saw Maria was still there. I learned about her Quimbanda religion. I was very interested because I’ve never heard about it. Apparently, a spirit from the past can possess you and help you in life. However, I was turned off by it because to be possessed by the spirit I might have to drink chicken blood or goat blood, which I find to be disgusting.

Between Gerardo and Maria, I felt I was introduced to the spiritual side of Latin America. With the Day of the Dead coming up, I felt this might be a good time to get in touch with my spirituality. It’s very interesting to learn about the toad venom and Quimbanda, but I don’t think I will try them.

Yesterday, I woke up late again and missed the walking tour. I had some delicious street tacos before going to the Estanquillo Museum. I didn’t like this museum because everything was in Spanish and I didn’t know what I was looking at. Later on, I went to Museo Nacional De Arte (MUNAL) with Tanja and Piña. We had a good time looking at some art there. The architecture inside is very cool, especially the staircase.

I have to switch rooms at the hostel because I extended until the 29th so I have to check out at 11 AM. I booked the Viajero CDMX Centro Hostel from October 29 to November 3. Benito was right about the prices. I paid close to US$500 for the five nights at Viajero. The most I’ve paid for any hostel stays.

Hostel rooftop bar view