Tag: traveling

Cairo Citadel and Egyptian Museum

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/50 sec, ISO640
 “Mosque of Muhammad Ali” Cairo, 2025

We had a full day in Cairo today. After breakfast and a trip orientation meeting, we boarded the bus and headed out to the Cairo Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. The interior of the mosque was absolutely beautiful, and the courtyard was especially impressive. While soaking in the view over the city, we even spotted the Great Pyramids of Giza in the distance. Very cool and totally iconic.

Next, we visited the Egyptian Museum to see a wide range of antiquities. It was fascinating, though the museum itself felt a little run down. We will be visiting the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum later in the trip, so that should be a very different experience.

Afterward, we returned to the hotel for a short rest before heading out again for a night market visit and a traditional Egyptian dinner. The market was lively and crowded, a bit chaotic but full of energy. With our guide and a security guard keeping an eye on things, we felt safe and had a great time.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/1900 sec, ISO640
 “Mosque of Muhammad Ali” Cairo, 2025
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/9000 sec, ISO640
 “Cairo Citadel” Cairo, 2025
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 34.3mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec, ISO640
 “Cairo Citadel” Cairo, 2025
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 55mm, f/8, 1/2400 sec, ISO640
 “Distant Pyramids” Cairo, 2025
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/3.6, 1/100 sec, ISO1250
 “Egyptian Museum” Cairo, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/100 sec, ISO200
 “Egyptian Museum” Cairo, 2025
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 35mm, f/2, 1/105 sec, ISO1000
 “Night Market” Cairo, 2025
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 35mm, f/16, 1/2 sec, ISO640
 “Night Market” Cairo, 2025
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 35mm, f/2, 1/105 sec, ISO1250
 “Cats” Cairo, 2025

Leaving Mexico

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/4600 sec, ISO80
 “To-Go Coffee” Mexico City, 2025

Our last day in Mexico is here, and we enjoyed our time in Mexico City so much. We definitely want to come back someday, and since it is not very far from our home in Texas, I am sure we will be visiting again before too long. Until then, Mexico City, thanks for all the great memories.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/12000 sec, ISO80
 “Last-Minute Photos” Mexico City, 2025

Japanese Curry and Mexican Burgers

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO500
 “Super Sentai” Mexico City, 2025

Today we went to a Japanese curry restaurant, Hayateya Curry Japonés, for lunch. The place had a combination Samurai & Super Sentai Power Rangers theme, which was really fun and unexpected. The curry itself was not quite to my taste, but I did enjoy having a Coke. That felt like a novelty since I rarely drink soda.

Later that night, we stopped by a hamburger food stand for some huge burgers. The place was really popular, so we figured it had to be worth trying. The burger ended up being pretty good and very inexpensive too. A total win win.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO250
 “Curry” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO200
 “Hamburguesas” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO100
 “Hamburguesas” Mexico City, 2025

Coffee, Tapas, and Mezcal

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/430 sec, ISO80
 “Café” Mexico City, 2025

Today was one of those perfect work-and-play days. After a productive afternoon, I met up with Mariko for coffee at a cozy café, then we strolled over to Cudillero Tapas y Vino. We visited Spain a few years back and fell in love with the tapas lifestyle, so finding a place like this in Mexico City was such a nice surprise. We feasted on seafood, sausage, and some amazing croquettes, all paired with a lovely bottle of wine. The service was top-notch, and they even wrapped up our leftover wine to take home – how classy is that?

On the way back, we wandered into Bla Bla Bla Salud! for a mezcal tasting. The host, Andres, was super friendly and taught us a fun way to enjoy mezcal – with lime and insects! It was actually delicious. He even shared his ska playlist with us, which totally matched the mood. What an awesome night out in Mexico City!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO200
 “Tapas” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/60 sec, ISO400
 “Mariscos” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO200
 “Tapas” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO500
 “Mezcal” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/640 sec, ISO80
 “Gato” Mexico City, 2025

Tlayudas and Enmoladas

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO160
 “Tlayuda” Mexico City, 2025

For lunch today we stopped by Tlayudas Metate, and I ordered the Tlayuda Mixta. If you haven’t had one before, tlayudas are a delicious Oaxacan dish made with a giant toasted tortilla packed with all kinds of tasty fillings. Mine was the “mixta,” loaded with beef, Oaxacan chorizo, black beans, melty Oaxaca cheese, a bit of “asiento” (pork butter), and a sprinkle of crisp cabbage. Every bite was amazing! Mariko ordered the Enchiladas de Mole (Enmoladas) which were also fanstastic. And the price was so inexpensive! Two huge dishes of food and two drinks for about $21 USD. Love it!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO200
 “Enchiladas de Mole” Mexico City, 2025

I spent the rest of the day working, but I did get to enjoy the view of the pretty clouds over the city.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/4600 sec, ISO32
 “Pretty Clouds” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 9mm, f/2.8, 1/1200 sec, ISO25
 “Pretty Clouds Over the City” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/7100 sec, ISO80
 “Street View” Mexico City, 2025

Mexican Breakfast, Sushi, and Yakitori

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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, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO200
 “Sushi Time” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO250
 “Yakitori” Mexico City, 2025

Mercado Sonora, Camarones, and Lucha Libre

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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, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO500
 “Pre-Match Education” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO400
 “Red Fire Dragon” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO125
 “Masks Outside the Arena” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 9mm, f/2.8, 1/40 sec, ISO1000
 “Lucha Libre” Mexico City, 2025