First Day!

Hola Amigos! I have now been in Mexico just over 5 hours. I arrived to La Ciudad de Mexico at 12:30 this afternoon. From the first glimpse between the clouds I could tell that I was far from Wisconsin. Below the clay colored rooftops lay close together in zigzagging streets, that sprawled for what seemed to be forever even wrapping around the distant mountains. The air looked thick and hazy from above, the city seemed cloaked in a brown haze. Finally stepping off the plane was exhilarating, the airport was buzzing with people, the sounds of many conversations blending together into an incoherent murmur. It was amazing to be able to actual here Spanish again, and I was surprised how easily it seemed to come back. During the plane ride the flight attendants had given some of the directions in Spanish, and many of the passengers were talking amongst themselves, so my brain had slowly began to transition over the last several hours. By the time I arrived in Mexico City it seemed as if some subconscious switch had been hit and I found myself thinking in Spanish. I was honestly shocked when I asked an airport attendant for directions and the words actually flowed out less-awkwardly than expected and she replied, (I couldn't believe she could actually understand me!). We got transported to the hotel, and it was crazy being able to drive through the small winding streets. Many were narrow and highly congested, lined with brightly colored shops boasting an array of unexpected items I noticed balloons, brooms, fruits. It was a hodge-podge of the unexpected. Our taxi driver told me that the expansive market we drove by sells everything, from pets to clothes and I don't doubt it. Another thing that was interesting was that many people were hanging out their wash to dry off the balconies of apartment buildings or wherever which is something you don't see in the USA. The streets were also packed with an incredible amount of people, as well as cars which were weaving among each other very daringly. We are staying in an absolutely beautiful hotel right in the center of the city. It is right across the block from the Palacio Nacional which looks like a real life castle it's pretty cool. We are also right on a busy street. We already ventured out to a neighboring bakery, I had my first Mexican meal consisting of a sweet nutty bread which I bought for a little over a dollar. I already know I will be a regular at any panaderia (bakery) I can find :) Tomorrow we will start touring the city, let the adventure begin!