To believe or not to believe?

As a kid I used to remember my yaya (nanny) flip out every time she would see a black butterfly or moth inside the house.

A huge part of Filipino culture centers around their superstitious beliefs. Although my family itself did not pay much attention to these "explanations", growing up around Espie and Rosal* pretty much guaranteed all sorts of crazy ideas, stories, signs, omens, and whatever it was they told themselves to justify strange or eerie occurrences.

After doing some research (read: internet browsing), I found that not just Filipinos, but most Asian cultures believe the black butterfly or moth to be the reincarnation of a spirit that has come to visit. European cultures seem to attach a more somber meaning to these creatures - as an omen of death.

Green Day

Mexico City is pretty green. Maybe not so much in the eco-friendly manner we have taken the word "green" to mean nowadays - but in the simplest of meanings - the actual color green.

For a city as big as this one, I would say that there is a fair proportion of tree lined avenues and parks that makes living amongst the concrete and traffic somewhat bearable. Most neighborhoods around town have a park for its residents to enjoy daily...and if you want a more Central Park atmosphere, you can always head to Bosque de Chapultepec and enjoy its vast sprawl of green.

Anyway, in an effort to make the inside of our little home greener, we headed over to Viveros de Coyoacan to see what we could find. Viveros de Coyoacan is a huge park and plant nursery in the heart of Coyoacan in the southern part of the city.

When we moved to Mexico City, there was a slight attempt at keeping up our workout routine through early morning runs at the viveros. It's quite a popular spot for running enthusiasts. Open by 6:00a.m., there is a circuit around the park about 4 km long. By 6:15, if you don't run, stay on the left side please. Unless you want people running all around and over you. Anyway, I said attempt because I lasted all of 5 days getting up at 5:30.

All that has happened

I should have actually posted this a couple of days ago, May 28th to be exact, but anyway, what's a few days?

We have been in Mexico for ONE year! I can't believe how much gordo and I have managed to do in such little time...settle in to new jobs, find a new home (not to mention decorate it), plan a wedding, get married, make it through Guadalupe-Reyes, side trip to NYC, and the grand finale - getting pregnant!

I'm exhausted just reading all that - but I have a feeling this year isn't going to be any less hectic.

Gordo's cousin replied to my FB status today: "Ya eres oficialmente chilanga. Felicidades!!!!! jajajaja"

At what point does one become a chilanga? I don't know if I'm ready for another identity to be added to my growing list of culture confusion.

Tuesday is Market Day

I love Mexico.


Today I specifically love the Tuesday market a block from mi casa in the park of Colonia Acacias.


If you are in the need for an ego boost, this is the place to fish for compliments. With the vendors calling out "que quiere mi reina?" (what do you want my queen?) or "que mas linda?" (what else pretty lady?) - I guess it would make anyone's day a little brighter, no?


Not to mention of course all you get for 210 pesos (at today's exchange rate: exactly USD $16.30)...