Weekend in Mexico

Couchsurfing during our trip has given us some of the most unforgettable experiences and we absolutely recommend traveling like this because you'll get so much more out of your trip. You not only get to meet with locals, you'll see places no other tourist has ever been or go to restaurants no single guide book has ever mentioned. We became member of CS a couple of months before leaving on this trip and we've hosted some amazing people in our tiny flat in Geneva. That's how we met Andrea and Roberto, a couple from Monterrey, that was traveling through Europe in February. We promised them to return the favor whenever we'd go around the world and meet them in Mexico. Additional reason for going to Monterrey was that Benoit has studied there for nine months and he's been wanting to go back ever since the day he left.

So we booked flight tickets from Vegas to Monterrey even though I was a little skeptical about going there; I've read and heard so many stories about the north of Mexico being dangerous and violent but our friends assured me that things were better these days. 

Now I can tell you that I am absolutely thrilled we booked those tickets because we had the most amazing time! Andrea and Roberto took us round the city and brought us to the best taco places in town. Such a welcome change after weeks of hard to digest food in the States! On Saturday night, we went for a Halloween party in an old 'haunted' house in the city together with 2'000 other Mexicans. Let me rephrase that to old 'haunted' villa with huge garden and crazy dj's. The finale of our weekend was definitely the barbecue we had at Andrea's parents' place where we were hardly able to stand up after all the food and drinks we had. Andrea's mum gave us a little course 'how to make real Mexican tacos' but I'm afraid we didn't make her very proud. Our tacos came out pretty square and scary. Well, it was Halloween after all:-)

On Monday, we went to see Benoit's old apartment and visited his boss at the company where he interned a couple of months. Before we left the area, we had (again) great food at the place Benoit went for lunch every single day he was working there.

So when we left on Tuesday morning, we almost felt sad about going back to the US. We took a bus from Monterrey to Austin, in Texas and US customs gave us such a hard time at the border. Our bus driver threatened to leave us there and only after Benoit made a huge scene they gave us the silly green document we needed and let us skip the immense queue. Even though the Mexican passengers on our bus had to wait one hour because of us, they all started cheering and clapping and they were happy we made it, saying Americans were a*holes and all that. Aaah, I love Mexicans and so want to go back for a longer stay and more of their delicious food!

This factory in the middle of Monterrey is now a museum/restaurant and they've created a beautiful park around it. I was amazed about how they've managed to turn something that ugly into quite an aesthetic monument.

Girl celebrating Quinceanera. The 15th birthday of girls in Mexico is a huge thing because it marks the transition of childhood into womanhood. Many girls look forward to it for years and dress up like they're getting married. Also their friends have to stick to a strict dress code. 

Mariachi, anyone?

Getting ready for our Halloween party in an old, haunted house in Monterrey city! Sorry, no pictures of the party but it was fun!

The biggest flag in Latin America? It's the Mexican one in Monterrey...

How to make tacos? Not as simple as it looks....

There was only one person in the house who really mastered it, a real Mexican Mum:-)

Benoit in 7th heaven with his bbq meat.

Best salsa I've ever tasted!

Decoration for Dia de los Muertos (day of the dead) on the first and second of November when Mexicans remember and celebrate friend and relatives who have died.

I don't remember the name of everything in this plate. Fact is that I had to take half of it home, too much to finish in once...But so good!

Sugar skulls for Dia de los Muertos. 

Let's end the weekend with some gordita's:-)