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To visit my school this morning, Kelly and Kelsey endured the three different line metro trip to school. From the final metro stop to school, they enjoyed the short ride in the bicitaxi. It was a tremendous help having them in my classroom given that they helped students correct their pen-pal letters. It’s obviously overwhelming when twenty-seven students need constant help and attention and reassurance; it was such a relief to be able to delegate the responsibility.
The students were very excited to meet Kelly and Kelsey, and many of them asked if we were sisters. This seemed really strange to us since we don’t look alike at all – unless you only notice our light-colored skin.
During “descanso” we purchased cups of jicama from the Fruit Lady and she doused them with lime. Kelsey was brave enough to have chile powder sprinkled on the top on her cup. Once students returned to class, with the assistant principal’s permission, we went across the street to buy some Cokes. The lady who sells tacos each day, Taco Lady, was still in the courtyard when we returned, so we helped lessen her load for the way home. Then, we walked over to the P.E. class and Kelsey schooled some students in the art of shooting a basket.
After school we hopped on the metro and took it west to Condesa to the Russian empanada stand. I introduced Kelly and Kelsey to the tastiest, fluffiest empanadas that exist. We each had two “meal” ones and then a sweet one for dessert. Kelly had one filled with “flor de calabaza” (pumpkin/squash flower), Kelsey enjoyed the “tinga de pollo,” strips of spicy chicken strips and I ate one with mushrooms and cheese. For dessert, Kelly savored an empanada filled with blackberry and cream cheese, while Kelsey and I relished our empanadas that were filled with chocolate and cream cheese. These empanadas are so heavenly, but just as fatty, so I’ll steer clear of that street corner for a while.
From Condesa, we continued northwest on the metro to Polanco, where we took a necessary walk after our decadent lunch. We strolled along the avenue Masaryk, the richest street in Mexico that is often compared to Rodeo Drive. Off of Masaryk we found an Italian restaurant, Capri, with an outdoor terrace on the second floor. Kelly and Kelsey enjoyed the best margaritas they’ve ever had, while I refreshed with a cold Negra Modelo.
On the way to hail a cab back to my apartment, we passed a bunch of cows – from the art exhibit Cows on Parade. While in the taxi, we saw even more of the sculptures all along the road Reforma and even saw where the official opening was taking place in front of the Anthropology Museum.
Later on we went to San Angel Inn for dinner, where they interestingly had a special meal for Thanksgiving. We took a seat on a couch in the courtyard and had a drink while waiting for our table. Not long after, we were invited to join a guy and a bunch of his friends, who all spoke English pretty well. Besides drinks, they treated us to delicious duck, scrumptious steak tacos and delectable crepes stuffed with huitlacoche (a fungus that grows on corn). When our table was finally ready, we just had the menus brought to us. Kelsey had the Sopa Azteca (tortilla soup) and Kelly and I had the lobster bisque. We had a great time and enjoyed the food and drinks, especially since we didn’t pay a single centavo.
Our long day ended at Mamá Rumba, a Cuban salsa club in Condesa (I forgot there’s one right in San Angel). While Kelsey and I took salsa dance lessons in Chicago back in June, I dropped out after a couple of weeks and therefore was perfectly happy tonight to just watch Kelsey dance the night away.
