Tacos and tacos and tacos
Above from left to right, I ate campechano & asado tacos at Taqueria Gabriel where they give you free chips, Yucatan style pollo en escabeche & cochinita pibil tacos at Habaneritos, the most dog loving of taquerias thus far, and taco taurino and carne asada at Tacos Los Alexis- best salsa, hands down. I asked if they sold it to go. They do not. I shed a little tear.
Below carnitas de chamorro at Lupillo and my faithful taco loving companion.
It’s hard to eat this many tacos without missing you. And missing you feels so futile. I have no reason to believe you have had a change of heart and I’ve done everything in my power to make a life that creates barriers to reconciliation. And there’s shattered trust. And would I really lay to waste the plans I’ve made? I’m excited about some of them. They reflect back on values that I let be less dominant to be with you (current reading directed at ‘when compromise is bad’). And I’m convinced deep within me that this time of forced growth and reflection will lead to positive change no matter how much it’s taking right now because I will not let it be otherwise. But mostly, goddamit. I am so not ok with tacos making me sad.
I was sick earlier this week, some kinda 24 hour bug or something I ate, which has really upped the self pity factor for the week. Being sick, by yourself, with an energetic pup is no fun.
Last weekend’s walkabout took us up past section 1 of Chapultepec Park which, bizarrely, is closed to dogs and also just generally closed on Mondays. At just about double the size of Central Park, Chapultepec is divided into 3 sections. For the most part, tourists don’t make it past section 1. This is home to Castillo de Chapultepec (which is also the national history museum), the zoo, and the northern edge abuts against the Anthropology Museum. Chapultepec is the second largest park in Latin America (shout out to Santiago for boasting the largest park) and has a really storied history worth a google. Due to the stringent enforcement of the no dog policy, we swung north to Parque de la Amistad which is in no way distinguishable from Chapultepec, except by the abudance of dogs. Also squirrels here are really pretty either in black or grey with truly amazing chesnut highlights and robustly poofy tails that look like they’ve recently have a blow out. For those of you who aware of my history with squirrels, that’s a big concession.
On my walks, I generally have 2 or 3 destination points for about a 5 mile loop and then let the walk unfold and follow my fancy. In order to hit Taqueria Gabriel, we swung back west through what Fran calls the Rios, where all the streets are named after a river, which is a charming and happening area tucked in between neighborhood powerhouses. Stumbled upon Monumento a la Madre which has also become a site of protest with graffiti focused on ending violence against women and demanding justice for the disappeared, echoing the battle cries of increasing protests and awareness of the rise in violence against women in Mexico. The gravity calls for a silence that it at odds with Mexico City as a whole and really it’s location in particular. Right at the intersection of Reforma & Insurgentes, two major arterial streets, the plaza is bordered by three gas stations and a very active subway stop. It’s crammed into the city. Close enough to the monument you have a second of quietude, stray a few steps and you’re being honked at while crossing on your green light by a laden garbage truck and a moped with 4 people on it, while the camote street vendor’s whistle shrieks behind you.
Joni & Wayne arrived last night and I’m excited to catch up with them today, so I’m gonna away here shortly and try to get Leo out and about before he’s stuck in a crate most of the day. But I leave you with this. At work, we are doing a Dr Pepper & pickles challenge. Apparently this is a thing, there are actually places you can order this. It’s featured at fairgrounds evidently. I invite you all to try.
Year One Project 
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