New Years and Birthday Celebrations in Mexico City

As a last minute decision (about 11pm) we decided to leave our Hostel, and make our way to the Golden Angel where the main festitivities to count down into the new year occurred. (The Golden Angel pictured left)

We were a little hesitant about making the 45 minute walk in the Mexican streets on our own, but were soon comforted when a group of 20 or so from the hostel also decided to go. We felt confident we could take on any Mexican thugs if they tried to attack us! We arrived just in time for the countdown, and it was a fun experience to try and count backwards from 20 in Spanish, before shouting "Feliz año nueve!" at the top of our lungs, and hugging everyone around us. Mexican tradition then told us that we were to eat 12 grapes each second after midnight with the stroke of the clock. This is much harder than it sounds, and I ended up just putting all grapes in my mouth at once to get it in time! Eating 12 grapes is meant to represent good luck for each of the 12 months in the following year. The countdown was followed by confetti, fireworks and strobe lights. The fireworks exploded from a bar right above our heads, and we were amazed with the lack of safety standards. Bits of embers were falling on people around us. Jingle bells (not sure why?) started playing, and people all around us started dancing. It was very cute, as everyone was doing the same little dance. We tried, and I think looked incredibly silly. I even saw someone laugh! It was very festive, and we are so glad that we went out that night!

Nyall, Me & Jason outside the Lucha Libre arena

On the third of January it was my birthday, so the festivities continued. To celebrate we went to the Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling). One of our favorite movies is "Nacho Libre", where Jack Black acts as a Mexican luchadore, and we have been wanting to attend the Lucha Libre since we've seen the film (I suggest you see this film, because we love it and it is so much like the real thing!). The wrestling was really one big performance, but the luchadores had so much skill. They were like gymnasts the way they could throw themselves off the ropes of the ring. Certainly one of our favorite experiences in Mexico. Unfortunately they wouldn't let us take our camera into the arena, but we came across these good looking luchadores outside..

We're still having loads of fun in Mexico City, but we have gradually been getting sicker and sicker the longer we stay here. We have been told from numerous sources that breathing in Mexico City is equivalent to smoking 40 cigarettes a day. A lot of residents of Mexico City have now returned from their christmas holidays, and there are so many people and cars in the streets. We are feeling a little overcrowded, and are looking forward to moving on to a smaller town soon.