La cucaracha, la cucaracha

Hola

Well, out of nothing, I decided it might be time to update the blog. I really thought no one was reading it...

Starting with Monterrey, it is a city surrounded by mountains, which gives a really nice background for a flatlander like me. Also, various natural parks etc. gives good opportunities for exploring the mountains. It gives a nice view to climb one of the mountains and then turn around and look at the city. Also, the mountains are great for navigating around the city, since you always know more or less in which direction you are going.

Things are going well here, although I had my first experience with cockroaches since Thailand - I forgot how much I hate these "little" buggers. Arrrgh! Fortunately there are not too many, and they use tonnes of poison here in Mexico to keep them away. The sideeffect being that before going out on weekends, I always lick the fumigated places - the colours I see later are magnificent :D

I moved to an apartment, which is great. Lots of space, and a balcony so I can get a little of sun. Every place here is with aircondition, and often the windows are shaded. I am still surprised everytime I go to the canteen at work and when I get outside the sun is shining. In the office it always looks like a normal grey danish day, through these windows. Really strange.

Mexico is really a country of huge difference between rich and poor. Monterrey is close to the US border (200km) and it is the richest part of Mexico. Roughly 70% of the riches in Mexico are centered here, and the lifestyle is not the Mexico I had imagined. Still, even though it is the richest part, there are still huge areas of the city with slum and parts where a güero like me should not show his face (or his car...). At the moment a drug-war is taking place, so the country can be dangerous sometimes. I have not seen any of this fortunately, but it exists.

One thing that surprised me is the amount and quality of art here in Mexico. Huge markets with so-so original things, mixed with local art etc. makes for a great shopping experience. Painting, pottery and wickery (hmm or whatever that word is... weaving?) are the main directions, but many other amazing things are produced as well. Also jewellery, especiall from silver, is very common - Mexico is the second biggest producer of silver in the world, after Peru. You just wait and see your presents for christmas :D

I hope to do some travelling further south in Mexico, to see the more original culture (not so influenced by bastardos unidos). The old city of Teotihuacan close to Mexico City is worth a visit I am sure, and then the southern region of Chiapas where the Mayans resided, and the culture is still influenced by this. Apart from that, the coastline on both sides of the country should be worth a visit, and of course Mexico City and Guadalajara. I have to go to USA for some weeks, so the actualy time for travelling is somewhat limited, but I will try and squeese some trips in.