#danywanders

I found myself yet again living abroad during a milestone year. In 2012 I was living in Nice, France, and now in 2017 I am living in Mexico City. This year I was joining the dirty thirty club, and contemplated ways to top my twenty-fifth.

For my 25th birthday, my roommates took me to Monte Carlo where we partied like rock stars at Jimmy’z. I don’t remember the exact bar bill, but it was north of €3,000 jaja. I didn’t think I could top a one-night party like Monte Carlo (unless I went to Vegas), but I figured a 3-day celebration in Mexico could match the madness. So I recruited a few co-workers, and the plan was set to head to Playa del Carmen and Tulum to bring in my big 3-0.

We arrived at our Airbnb, dropped off our bags, and immediately went to stock the fridge with supplies. We knew if we wanted to survive the weekend that beers, Gatorade and chips were a must. After “prepping for the evening”, we hopped in a cab for a quick dinner before the club. Unbeknownst to me, due to my novice level Spanish, Andrea and Jorge colluded to embarrass me by hooking up their phone and playing Happy Birthday ♫ in the Taxi (windows open and radio full blast) as the clock struck midnight driving down the strip in Playa del Carmen.

We then kicked off the celebrations at Abolengo Bartina. All their booths were taken, but once I told the hostess that we wanted a bottle of Rum and Champagne, they immediately proceeded to kick out these two American guys from their booth who only had a bucket of beer. A baller move, I know. Again, Andy leveraged her Spanish to embarrass me. She had the DJ give me a birthday shout out, and ran “Feliz Cumple Daniel” on the TV screen for the entire club to see. Needless to say, it was a really fun night, and I enjoyed turning 30 by acting like I was 20.

We continued the celebrations the next morning by getting a cabana at Mamita’s Beach Club. The hair of the dog was much needed that morning, and a few dips in the ocean brought us back to life. That night we went for dinner at La Bodeguita del Medio, the sister restaurant to the one in Cuba that Ernest Hemingway made famous with his beloved mojito. It’s been on my bucket list to go to Cuba and hit up the bars that Hemingway frequented. Have a mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio, and a daiquiri at La Floridita, but this was a close second. Live Cuban music, mojitos and moros y cristianos made for a real nice birthday dinner. And yet again, Andy found another way to embarrass me in the restaurant by having the band sing Happy Birthday ♫. But getting a free mojito and a shot of tequila made up for it.

Another bottle of champagne, and turning 30 was a success!

Teotihuacan

Let me start off by saying, “wow”. You expect to be wowed when you go to see pyramids for the first time, but I was beyond awestruck. Three main structures framed the city: Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela. Each just as spectacular as the next.

As we walked the “Avenue of the Dead” and approached the Temple of the Sun (the largest structure in Teotihuacan and one of the largest in Mesoamerica) I was amazed that this massive pyramid was built in 100 BC. How did they do it? Was it aliens? Sorry I had a Giorgio Tsoukalos of Ancient Aliens fame.

The grounds were also significantly larger than I thought. Each step we took towards the pyramids, as the 34 degree sun beat down us, felt frivolous because it felt like we weren’t getting any closer to them.

After a few selfies, and 450+ steps later (approx. 66 metres high) we reached the top of the Pyramid of the Sun. The interesting part of climbing this pyramid was the height of each step. I had to take ¾ strides to climb each step, and I imagine this would have been even more difficult for the Aztecs, since I expect they were a lot smaller than I am. Later, I discovered that the steps were purposefully designed steeper and taller than normal steps so that anyone climbing the pyramids would almost have to crawl and lower their heads as a form of submission/reverence to the Gods.

The trek was worth the shortness of breath, because the views were breathtaking. You could really take in the vastness of the grounds and appreciate how the aliens built these pyramids. Haha kidding. But for me it was pretending I was a giant, and crushing the people below with my fingers. They all look like ants from up there, I couldn’t help myself.

The more I experience and learn about the history of Mexico (and of course sample all of its street food) the more I fall in love with this country. I almost wish my adventures didn’t have to end.

Until then, I will keep on wandering.

A six-hour bus ride later, we arrived in Guadalajara. It was tough saying goodbye to San Miguel de Allende, but the anticipation of our tequila tour in the morning quickly pushed it out of mind. And I felt like I was 4 years old again on my very first visit to Toys R’ Us with my grandparents. 

While I continued to check my watch, and wait for morning to arrive, we walked around Guadalajara to see the sights. All my coworkers told me how beautiful this city is, but when we got off the bus in Guadalajara Centro, I felt like I was walking through Parkdale in the ‘90s. So I turned my hat sideways, pulled my pants down at bit, and put my wallet in my front pocket. Just kidding, but I did start to walk a bit faster. 

As we continued to walk a few blocks I could see what all the fuss was about. Being in the birthplace of mariachi and tequila, I found myself again, lost in this country’s rich history and beautiful architecture. Four plazas surround a gorgeous cathedral at the heart of the city, and it stood out amongst the rest in the city’s incredible skyline. It did leave me with a tinge of jealously though, that we do not have anything similar in Canada.

But morning finally came, and we were off to Tequila. A little taco stand, so cleverly named “Tacos y Gorditas”, off the main roadway made for the perfect start to the day. Our tour guide, David, wanted to ensure that our bodies were well prepared for the influx of tequila we were about to put them through. 

The tour started with a walk through an agave field. Here our guide gave us an extensive history of the town of tequila, and the cultivation process of agave. I was surprised at how manual the process still is for planting and harvesting agave plants, but it only gave me a further appreciation for this fine spirit. 

As our thirst began to grow, we took a break from the heat, and popped into Jarritos for a Paloma and a shot of homemade tequila. We were then off to our first distillery, Tres Mujeres. A distillery named for the owners’ 3 daughters, conveniently leaving out his wife. Just saying...

David continued to impress us as we toured the facility, and learned about the tequila making process. The tour ended at a bar built in the caves where they store the tequila to be aged. Here he presented us with a structured tasting of the entire Tres Mujeres line up (blanco, reposado, añejo and extra añejo). I like to think my tequila knowledge is above average, but I had no idea how well each type of tequila paired with certain foods. Needless to say, tequila tastings will begin taking place in Toronto starting June 2017. Tickets now on sale.

After multiple “samples” it was time to make our way to the city centre of Tequila. As we exited the cave my eyes fell upon a signed photograph of my favourite actor, Steven Seagal. Maybe it was the tequila or maybe it was just my affection for how well Seagal can break someone’s neck, but I was so excited to see that picture hanging on the wall. It was the prefect ending to this tour, and for me, solidified the fact that our tour guide took us to an all-star distillery. 

When we arrived downtown Tequila we went to a local restaurant for an authentic Guadalajaran lunch, and a “few” more spots to try true artisanal tequila. I was impressed how well the city was able to maintain its local culture, but have buildings and shops built within it that served as marketing venues for the big liquor companies. But after our tour of the city, and more than a few impulse purchases later, it was time to complete our tour.

This day was one of my favourites in Mexico so far. I highly recommend anyone visiting Mexico, or Guadalajara specifically, to take a tequila tour. We took our tour with Mickey Marentes, and all the 5-Star reviews he has on his website are well deserved. Our guide was clearly passionate about tequila and extremely knowledgeable. I plan to go back to Tequila next month for another tour, likely the Jose Cuervo Express or Mickey’s Jeep Tour. 

But with that, I grab a glass of tequila and wish you well.

First stop San Miguel de Allende.

I wasn’t sure what to expect upon arriving to this town. I had read about it’s Spanish influenced baroque-style buildings, it’s thriving art scene, and that a lot of ex-pats live here. But for some reason I didn’t have high expectations.

Needless to say, I’m crazy (as many of my friends can attest to), because this city absolutely blew me away. It is just gorgeous, and a must when visiting Mexico. Its narrow windy roads, cobblestone streets, colourful buildings, boutique hotels, and perfectly preserved main square make you feel like you’re in Europe.

At the centre of the city is La Parroquia. A beautiful neo-gothic church that stands out amongst the other architecture. It can be seen from almost each part of town, and hiking up to the top of city offers breathtaking views of the church and entire city.

What impressed me the most about this city was how laid back and friendly everyone was. Everyone goes at their own pace, but are more than happy to share their culture, and make you feel welcome.

Our first morning, we had breakfast at Café Contento. A tiny bistro known for its locally sourced organic ingredients, which made for a healthy and delicious start to our day. The food did not disappoint, but was not the focal point for me. It was the Bee Gees greatest hits album they were playing that made this morning perfect. Sorry I’m a sucker for oldies.

San Miguel de Allende provided natural exercise with its hilly roads, as we indulged in its many pleasures, but you can cover a lot of ground in one day and see most of the city. The highlight for me was Luna Rooftop Bar in the Rosewood Hotel. The views of the city from here were next to none, and were further enhanced as we enjoyed margaritas and “one or two” of San Miguel’s local craft beers. The perfect afternoon.

We thought we had just enjoyed the perfect day until we came across a Mexican Street Wedding that evening. Mesmerized by the giant bride and groom papier-mâché mannequins and mariachi entertainment, Jaclyn and I decided to join the locals and partake in the festivities. Dancing in the streets, and incorrectly singing along to the mariachi songs made for a memorable night. I’ve never experienced anything like this before, but it made for many laughs and spilled drinks.

We could not have picked a better a place to start our road trip, and will certainly be returning to San Miguel de Allende. But now we are off to Guadalajara and a Tequila tour in the morning (guess who’s idea that was).