Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64 “Sopa Azteca” Mexico City, 2025
It was back to work for me today, and I have to say, I’m really enjoying this whole workcation idea! Mexico City is only one hour ahead of US Central time, so it’s super easy to stay in sync with my coworkers. It’s been a great way to dip my toes into the digital nomad lifestyle.
For lunch, we kept it simple with eggs, soup, and coffee. Later in the evening, we walked over to a Japanese restaurant for sushi and yakitori, which turned out to be pretty tasty. After dinner, we did a little shopping at the market and then headed back to our Airbnb to watch the Independence Day festivities on TV. We decided to skip the crowds at the Zócalo for el Grito, but it was still fun to watch all the excitement from the comfort of the couch!
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO160 “Café de Olla” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO200 “Sushi Time” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO250 “Yakitori” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/160 sec, ISO64 “Molcajete” Mexico City, 2025
Today kicked off with a visit to Mercado Sonora. I had heard it was big, bustling, and perfect for finding inexpensive dishes, and it did not disappoint. We were also hunting for a molcajete to bring home, and ended up scoring a fun pig-shaped one!
After our shopping spree, we had lunch at El Puerto de Don Roque. Shrimp is their specialty, so of course we ordered a couple of plates. The food was fantastic, and since the place was packed with locals, we knew we made the right choice.
We lugged home our heavy haul of plates, bowls, and the pig molcajete, then took a quick rest before our next adventure: a Lucha Libre experience. The evening started in an apartment near the arena, where our host gave us a crash course on the history of Mexican wrestling, the rules, and the etiquette. We even learned a few colorful phrases to shout at the wrestlers, which is actually encouraged! A young wrestler stopped by to answer our questions about his career, and all the while we enjoyed beer, mezcal, and vegetarian tacos.
Then it was time for the main event at Arena México. There were six matches in total, including one with women wrestlers. Each fight was full of energy, drama, and fun. We had such a blast, especially once we got the hang of yelling our new swear phrases at the villains. What a night!
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/250 sec, ISO64 “Camarones” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO500 “Pre-Match Education” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO400 “Red Fire Dragon” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO125 “Masks Outside the Arena” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 9mm, f/2.8, 1/40 sec, ISO1000 “Lucha Libre” Mexico City, 2025
Today was packed with adventure! We started the morning with a photoshoot with a professional photographer, hitting up Mercado Medellin, Libertario Café, and the nearby park. I wore my brand-new Mexican shirt along with my trusty Hawaiian ukulele aloha shirt, and Mariko wore an amazing Mexican dress. I can’t wait to see the finished pics!
Afterward, we headed back to the Airbnb for a bit before catching an Uber to San Angel Inn Restaurant. The food was amazing. We tried wild mushrooms, empanadas, beef tongue tacos, and the classic Chile en Nogada. Mariko sipped on a mezcal margarita while I treated myself to a Coke, which tasted extra good since I rarely drink soda. The prices were on the higher side, but the courtyard was beautiful, and the staff was super. Also, the bread they served before the meal was really tasty! There’s something special about Mexican butter too… super creamy.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/310 sec, ISO80 “Chile en Nogada” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/340 sec, ISO80 “Wild Mushrooms with Ajillo Sauce” Mexico CIty, 2025
Next up was the San Angel bazaar, where we picked up some mezcal. We were hoping to find a tortilla basket but couldn’t find one we liked. To recharge, we stopped at Le Pain Quotidien for coffee, “matchai”, and a giant concha pastry that was almost too pretty to eat (almost).
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO80 “Afternoon Coffee” Mexico City, 2025
Our Uber ride back was entertaining thanks to a very chatty driver, and after a short rest at home, we ventured out again. Despite a rainy walk, we made it to a wine bar that was unfortunately closed, but luck was on our side because we ended up at Bar Basico. It turned out to be a fantastic spot and the perfect ending to a fun-filled day.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO640 “Bar Basico” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/4, 1/450 sec, ISO640 “Mezcal Margarita” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec, ISO640 “Peppers for Salsas” Mexico City, 2025
Today was easily one of the highlights of our Mexico City trip. We joined a cooking class called Mastering Mexican Salsas, and it was amazing. Our instructor, Pame, was a fountain of knowledge. She didn’t just show us how to make salsa, she also taught us about the peppers, what makes each one special, and how they connect to Mexican culture and history. It was fascinating, fun, and just the right amount of overwhelming. I kept wishing I could record everything so I could play it back later.
We started off with refreshing agua frescas before heading to the tortilleria to watch how corn tortillas are made. I learned that tortilla prices are regulated by the government to help keep them affordable. From there, we explored Mercado Medellin where Pame gave us a crash course on the fresh produce. We even sampled dried bugs, and to my surprise they were delicious. Crunchy, salty, and definitely a first for me. Would be perfect with beer, tequila, or mezcal.
Back in the cooking studio, it was time to roll up our sleeves and make salsas. We charred peppers on the comal, ground ingredients in the molcajete, blended, chopped, and even squeezed in a little dancing while we cooked. By the end we had created ten different kinds of salsas, which blew my mind. Of course, the best part was tasting them all with tacos until I was absolutely stuffed. Mezcal, beer, and Mexican sweets rounded out the feast perfectly.
This experience is one I’ll carry with me forever. Cooking classes like this make traveling even more special. If you’re ever in Mexico City, I definitely recommend the Mastering Mexican Salsas class at Aura Cocina Mexicana in Roma Norte.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO50 “Kitchen” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/100 sec, ISO50 “Agua Fresca” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64 “Tortilla Factory” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO160 “Peppers” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/250 sec, ISO80 “Molcajete Time” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/800 sec, ISO80 “Pepper” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO80 “Salsas” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec, ISO1250 “Salsas” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/100 sec, ISO80 “Taco with Salsa” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/100 sec, ISO160 “Mezcal” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 6.86mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO100 “Students and Salsas” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO100 “Coffee Time” Mexico City, 2025
The food in Mexico City has been incredible so far, and the prices have made it even better! After work today we wandered over to a nearby café, Brown Caffeine Lab, for coffee and a pastry. There are cafés everywhere here, so it feels like we could pick a new one every day.
Once we had our sugar and caffeine fix, we hopped on the subway and headed to Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela where we picked up some beautiful glassware and a few items of clothes. With a photoshoot coming up in a couple of days, we wanted to find some special outfits. I ended up buying two shirts that I really like.
Dinner was at Cantina El Gallo de Oro, which has been serving customers since 1874. The decor only gets a 4 out of 10 from me, but the food was excellent. We ordered an Octopus Cocktail and a Molcajete that was so huge it could have fed a small army. Mariko surprised me by ordering a shot of mezcal to finish the meal, and it was exactly the right way to end it. With leftovers packed up neatly, we strolled over to a couple of bakeries to check out their bread and pastries before making our way home.
With meals like this, you’d think I would have gained a lot of weight by now. Thankfully, all the walking balances it out and keeps things steady.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO250 “Molcajete” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO160 “Mezcal” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO500 “Taco” Mexico City, 2025
Mariko and I had such a blast today at a Mexican Cooking Class. We kicked things off with a trip to the local market, where our instructor showed us how to pick out the best tomatillos, limes, peppers, and all the other fresh ingredients. I loved learning those little tips that make shopping so much easier.
Back in the kitchen, the real fun began. We got our hands messy making corn tortillas from scratch, learned how to use a molcajete the proper way, and whipped up a delicious spread of guacamole, salsa, milpas soup, and chicken enchiladas. Everything tasted amazing, and by the end we were completely stuffed.
To top it off, we even got to sip some craft mezcal. It was the perfect finishing touch to an already awesome class. I’d definitely do it again! The instructor said that a second class would have more advanced techniques and of course different dishes.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/40 sec, ISO1250 “Sopa Milpas” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/40 sec, ISO800 “Chicken Enchiladas” Mexico City, 2025Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO800 “Cooking Class” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO125 “Antojitos Trilogia” San Antonio, 2025
Today we had lunch at Los Azulejos in San Antonio, and it was fantastic! We started by sharing an Azulejos Margarita, which was a great way to kick things off. For my meal, I ordered the “Antojitos Trilogía,” and it was absolutely delicious. Each of the three main items complemented the others perfectly. I loved every bite.
Description from the menu: “Trio of Quesadilla with pork belly in a flour tortilla with a chili and honey glaze, chicken tostada with rajas, cream and a corn sopecito with guacamole and homemade chorizo.”
Also worth mentioning—the basket of chips they serve before the meal was incredibly good. They only give one basket for free, which makes sense. I could have eaten them all day.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO80 “Azulejos Margarita” San Antonio, 2025
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