La Ciudadela/Vacation Plans/Other News!

Plaster Fruit at La Cuidadela

Buenos Noches! 

Today we visited La Ciudadela, which is an artisan's craft market. We went there once before, or so we thought, and as we walked by the street vendors, we were thinking that it wasn't that impressive, even though it seemed highly recommended. Then I came home and read about it and found a part that read "Don't waste too much time with the street vendors, the real treasure is ahead!" Needless to say, we missed it last time. But today, we found the right section, and found over 200 stalls filled with handmade crafts, from pottery, to plaster decorations, carvings, clothing/house linens, to jewelry and sculptures. It was incredible! So colorful, and so many different things to look at, it was almost overwhelming! We just spent about an hour walking around, taking it all in. We'll be going back soon to start purchasing! Lots of great gift ideas, as well! Corey found this amazing wood artwork that he wants to purchase before we leave Mexico (he actually found lots that he wants to get before we move!) that was really spectacular. It was maybe  5 feet by 5 feet? Very large, and made a big statement. All sorts of different types of inlaid wood in different colors to form this massive picture. You can see a few photos of it below. 

Enjoying the craft market!   

Beautiful!

Closer picture of different types of inlaid wood

Reason 1 why we are here: This guy is cleaning windows on a modified swing!

Reason 2: This guy is about 5 stories up

Bar next to our house, note the teams!

Above, we have two pictures of recent examples of the value of safety here in Mexico City. Both pictures were taken in our neighborhood, the first situation the guy was only 3 stories up, he was washing windows, and was using some sort of a rope swing device to complete his job. He'd swing from side to side, and wipe as he would be at the side he was cleaning. It was kind of funny to see, but also a little scary once you realized he had NO fall protection. The second situation was a little more intense...there were actually 3 guys on top of the building across the street from ours (the photo was taken from our bedroom as we watched) and they were leaning over the roof, each holding a rope, and eventually they lowered a couch out of a window of one of the apartments down to the ground. Nothing to keep them on the roof in case a foot slipped, nothing to protect them from falling to the ground 5 stories below. Scary to watch! 

I thought this was pretty cool, a bar next door to our apartment called Zydeco (the most popular bar in our town on Saturday nights) had this awesome poster up on their door the other day, advertising the NFL game! Looks like I can watch the Vikings game even if we can't get it on cable! Unfortunately Corey is out of town this week (he leaves tomorrow) but maybe I'll catch some of the game! 

As for the vacation news, we are really excited to be planning our vacation to Europe at the end of November! We're really looking forward to spending the time with his parents, and we'll be spending a few days in Paris with them! It's Corey and my's first trip to Paris, so that'll be fun, and we'll spend a few days exploring Switzerland as well! Should be a fantastic trip, just a little sad that we're going to leave Avery here in a dog kennel while we're gone, which will be a newer thing for her. Otherwise, we're very much looking forward to it!

Corey will be leaving again tomorrow for Peru, and after a scheduling snafu he just found out he's got a ticket to come home Friday morning (he'll get in at 6:30am, after leaving Peru at 12:30am). Avery and I will be holding the fort down again, carrying on with our schedule of walks and trips out! Hopefully the sun will return, it's been pretty dreary this weekend! We will also be celebrating my 24th birthday tomorrow, (well, part of it! I think we're going to designate next weekend my birthday weekend!) so Corey is going to have some points to make up to me for leaving on my birthday! 

I think this is all! Hope everyone is enjoying the fair and the end of the summer time!