Monday, December 12, 2011

Ola Mexico!

The rhythmic clickety-clack produced by man heels (you read that right!) faintly echoed across the peculiarly peaceful San Francisco International Airport at nine in the evening. It was most audible at our check-in line for Aero Mexico, where Mexicanos donning multihued snakeskin boots, leather jackets and cowboy hats turned our queue into a rodeo catwalk.

Noticeably less baggage compared to the stuff we brought from Philippines to Australia when we started our RTW.

We checked in four hours early for our flight. I made sure we had enough time for we almost didn't make it to our last one (Sydney-San Francisco). And yah know, sprinting with two carry ons, a stroller, a car infant seat and a heavy tot who still couldn't walk (let alone run) to the boarding gate is like a more brutal version of a baton relay which I ain't a fan of.

After our last Chinese meal of orange chicken and fried noodles (perhaps for a long time) at the food court we ambled to Gate A5. Our Boeing 737 bound for Ciudad De Mexico taxied on the dot, and soon enough we bid farewell to California's winter.

Not included in our itinerary. Bought this postcard anyway for someone it reminded me of.

At cruising altitude, the captain went through his usual spiel and informed the passengers of the plane's estimated arrival in three hours and forty minutes. Which didn't happen. Because of the city's dense fog at dawn, the pilots were forced to land in Guadalajara and standby for further instructions.

Hovering above Ciudad De Mexico. I leaned over the Korean guy who took my window seat without permission for this photo. He awoke shocked.

For almost half an hour, we waited in the plane until the airport's immigration officials decided to stamp us in to give us something to do. The transfer was a total chaos cause the ground staff didn't know what was happening. Sleepless me was throwing a tantrum but was back in high spirits when the immigration asked "Where do you live, Australia or Pilipinas?". Pilipinas never sounded so good.

He stamped my passport and said "That's it". After 173 days, we officially stepped on our third country for this trip. On our way to yet another boarding gate after collecting our luggage and checking in (again!), I grabbed a Guadalajara postcard for the awesome Ada Lajara of Adaphobic.

Luna's waking up-to-a-new-country face.

In fifty more minutes we arrived at our destination. We rode a taxi playing Rick Astley's Together Forever, got stuck in traffic because of a procession for La Virgen de Guadalupe (The Virgin Of Guadalupe), and finally settled in an 18th century house.

Share


This page was viewed times.

42 comments:

Unknown said...
December 13, 2011 at 3:52 PM

Luna was probably deciding which language and accent she should say her first word. Either in Spanish or English with an Aussie accent.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 13, 2011 at 4:10 PM

Or the usual... "Goo goo". She did repeat the word 'ola' after me a few weeks back.

MheAnne said...
December 13, 2011 at 4:19 PM

Viva Mexico! Enjoy your third country and third continent!!! I am thinking of how to pack light for the winter trip.Got the idea from you!!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 13, 2011 at 4:27 PM

Never packed my down jacket in my backpack Ate Mhe-Anne. Takes up a fourth of the space!

monette | fliptravels said...
December 13, 2011 at 5:43 PM

at least it was rick astley and not air supply... haha!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 13, 2011 at 6:49 PM

Hahaha! But... Rick Astley is equally insane :p

Ada said...
December 13, 2011 at 9:27 PM

Omg! I've always wanted to go in Guadalajara, Mexico haha! The name! Can't wait to get the postcard hihih. Thanks lot! Enjoy Mexico and its rich culture ;)

Rome Diwa said...
December 13, 2011 at 11:04 PM

wow, cant wait for your upcoming posts with your adventure in this beautiful city!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 14, 2011 at 12:50 AM

No worries Ada :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 14, 2011 at 1:02 AM

Rome, will try to write as soon as I got free time... Hihi.

blissfulguro said...
December 14, 2011 at 8:27 AM

luna is sooo cute :) next post please...

Unknown said...
December 14, 2011 at 8:31 AM

Cool sis! How many more days of travel do you still need to do pa? =)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 14, 2011 at 8:33 AM

6 more months :)

Rain | Destination: Everywhere said...
December 14, 2011 at 11:06 AM

Ola! Mexico may be one country that not even bad publicity (or reality) can make me not want to go. Take lotsa pictures and blog s'more hippie mum! <3

killerfillers said...
December 14, 2011 at 11:08 AM

I envy Luna.LOL Australia, US then Mexico.Wag kayo pumunta don sa lugar ni Juan Manuel Marquez.:p

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 14, 2011 at 11:31 AM

Will do Rain :) Such a lovely city, and the Mexicans are lovey people as well!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 14, 2011 at 11:32 AM

killerfillers, wala pang boxing-related conversation so far. Haha.

Ian | GoingRoamingWandering said...
December 14, 2011 at 1:47 PM

Ola Mexico! This country is nice... I'm just quite confuse with your travel story - you took a taki from guadalajara to mex city? Or a plane trip back via AM?

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 14, 2011 at 2:10 PM

Hi Ian, we were stamped in Guadalajara, then we boarded the same plane as a domestic flight to Mexico City.

Edmar del Castillo Guquib said...
December 14, 2011 at 3:17 PM

Wow! excited to see more of your stories and photos. My request, please do a blog post about the similarities of Pinas and mexico, hehehe.. I believe both countries are much alike in terms of religion and culture.

Happy travel!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 14, 2011 at 3:42 PM

They are very much alike! But then again, I don't want to make a conclusion after spending a couple of days here so will probably write about it after the trip.

Admin/Author said...
December 14, 2011 at 11:14 PM

I could just imagine Luna ask "Where are we?!" LOL. Wow! Mexico!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 15, 2011 at 1:55 AM

Haha, yeah Ding, if only she could talk!

wanderlass said...
December 15, 2011 at 2:23 AM

So, we can enter Mexico with US Visa? or did u have to get another visa?

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 15, 2011 at 2:26 AM

Hi Lil! Yeah we can enter Mexico with a U.S. visa. When do you plan to visit?

escape said...
December 16, 2011 at 12:14 AM

ive heard so much of the friendly people of mexico lately and looks like this is another part of your posts that ill be anticipating.

seeing luna in your travel makes me smile.

Missy said...
December 16, 2011 at 3:47 AM

Wow it would be another adventure trip for you in Mexico, can't wait to see your post ;-) lucky girl hehehe, I've been to Tijuana, Mexico for a business trip but never had the chance to explore the area, it was a pure business trip (we just drove back and forth from CA to Mexico though hehehe)

Scott - Quirky Travel Guy said...
December 16, 2011 at 6:43 AM

That's a sweet photo out the window! I always try to get shots like that but they usually come out dull or blurry.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 16, 2011 at 8:21 AM

Aww.. Dong, Luna makes a lot of people smile. Even here, sya na ang bagong Mutya ng Mehiko :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 16, 2011 at 8:22 AM

Missy, I'd love to go to Tijuana! Unfortunately, we don't have time to squeeze that in our IT :(

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 16, 2011 at 8:28 AM

Scott, just got lucky with the P&S :)

anney said...
December 16, 2011 at 6:08 PM

Ano ba yang Korean guy na yan nang aagaw ng seat! hahaha! I love the postcard! Ganda nung place!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 17, 2011 at 2:15 AM

Haha, yeah Anney. I was quite annoyed but didn't ask him to move anymore since it's more convenient to be on the aisle when flying with a baby :)

Pinoy Adventurista said...
December 17, 2011 at 9:44 AM

and the immigration officer said Pilipinas? eheheh! oo nga pala, Pilipinas yung nakasulat sa harap ng passport... :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 18, 2011 at 12:21 AM

Haha! Yeah Mervz. But I think they do call our country Pilipinas.

Christian | Lakad Pilipinas said...
December 18, 2011 at 4:24 PM

haha cute naman nung 1st photo

wanderlass said...
December 20, 2011 at 8:16 AM

Ah, that's nice! It's the same for Panama so I guess same all over CentralAmerica. I'm thinking to go maybe by June or July, after SouthAmerica. We're so near, sana we bumped into each other like I did with Nina in Morocco! =)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 20, 2011 at 9:09 AM

Yeah it is, except for Belize.

tndcallphilippines said...
December 20, 2011 at 4:01 PM

I love Luna's new country face. I wonder what she's thinking! :)

The Nomadic Pinoy said...
January 1, 2012 at 7:09 AM

look at that, your little one is already a travel junkie herself (love her first photo)!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 1, 2012 at 8:35 AM

Baby travel junkie :)

Wellness With Aloha said...
January 6, 2012 at 9:19 PM

The baby is so cute and I am so envious that she was able to travel with you and i wish I can do the same with my baby girl.

Gay Travel Hawaii

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...