The rhythmic clickety-clack produced by man heels (you read that right!) faintly echoed across the peculiarly peaceful San Francisco International Airport at nine in the evening. It was most audible at our check-in line for Aero Mexico, where Mexicanos donning multihued snakeskin boots, leather jackets and cowboy hats turned our queue into a rodeo catwalk.
We checked in four hours early for our flight. I made sure we had enough time for we almost didn’t make it to our last one (Sydney-San Francisco). And yah know, sprinting with two carry ons, a stroller, a car infant seat and a heavy tot who still couldn’t walk (let alone run) to the boarding gate is like a more brutal version of a baton relay which I ain’t a fan of.
After our last Chinese meal of orange chicken and fried noodles (perhaps for a long time) at the food court we ambled to Gate A5. Our Boeing 737 bound for Ciudad De Mexico taxied on the dot, and soon enough we bid farewell to California’s winter.
At cruising altitude, the captain went through his usual spiel and informed the passengers of the plane’s estimated arrival in three hours and forty minutes. Which didn’t happen. Because of the city’s dense fog at dawn, the pilots were forced to land in Guadalajara and standby for further instructions.
For almost half an hour, we waited in the plane until the airport’s immigration officials decided to stamp us in
He stamped my passport and said “That’s it”. After 173 days, we officially stepped on our third country for this trip. On our way to yet another boarding gate after collecting our luggage and checking in (again!), I grabbed a Guadalajara postcard for the awesome Ada Lajara of Adaphobic.
In fifty more minutes we arrived at our destination. We rode a taxi playing Rick Astley’s Together Forever, got stuck in traffic because of a procession for La Virgen de Guadalupe (The Virgin Of Guadalupe), and finally settled in an 18th century house.
Luna was probably deciding which language and accent she should say her first word. Either in Spanish or English with an Aussie accent.
Or the usual… “Goo goo”. She did repeat the word ‘ola’ after me a few weeks back.
Viva Mexico! Enjoy your third country and third continent!!! I am thinking of how to pack light for the winter trip.Got the idea from you!!
Never packed my down jacket in my backpack Ate Mhe-Anne. Takes up a fourth of the space!
at least it was rick astley and not air supply… haha!
Hahaha! But… Rick Astley is equally insane :p
Omg! I’ve always wanted to go in Guadalajara, Mexico haha! The name! Can’t wait to get the postcard hihih. Thanks lot! Enjoy Mexico and its rich culture 😉
wow, cant wait for your upcoming posts with your adventure in this beautiful city!
No worries Ada 🙂
Rome, will try to write as soon as I got free time… Hihi.
luna is sooo cute 🙂 next post please…
Cool sis! How many more days of travel do you still need to do pa? =)
6 more months 🙂
Ola! Mexico may be one country that not even bad publicity (or reality) can make me not want to go. Take lotsa pictures and blog s’more hippie mum! <3
I envy Luna.LOL Australia, US then Mexico.Wag kayo pumunta don sa lugar ni Juan Manuel Marquez.:p
Will do Rain 🙂 Such a lovely city, and the Mexicans are lovey people as well!
killerfillers, wala pang boxing-related conversation so far. Haha.
Ola Mexico! This country is nice… I’m just quite confuse with your travel story – you took a taki from guadalajara to mex city? Or a plane trip back via AM?
Hi Ian, we were stamped in Guadalajara, then we boarded the same plane as a domestic flight to Mexico City.
Wow! excited to see more of your stories and photos. My request, please do a blog post about the similarities of Pinas and mexico, hehehe.. I believe both countries are much alike in terms of religion and culture.
Happy travel!
They are very much alike! But then again, I don’t want to make a conclusion after spending a couple of days here so will probably write about it after the trip.
I could just imagine Luna ask “Where are we?!” LOL. Wow! Mexico!
Haha, yeah Ding, if only she could talk!
So, we can enter Mexico with US Visa? or did u have to get another visa?
Hi Lil! Yeah we can enter Mexico with a U.S. visa. When do you plan to visit?
ive heard so much of the friendly people of mexico lately and looks like this is another part of your posts that ill be anticipating.
seeing luna in your travel makes me smile.
Wow it would be another adventure trip for you in Mexico, can’t wait to see your post 😉 lucky girl hehehe, I’ve been to Tijuana, Mexico for a business trip but never had the chance to explore the area, it was a pure business trip (we just drove back and forth from CA to Mexico though hehehe)
That’s a sweet photo out the window! I always try to get shots like that but they usually come out dull or blurry.
Aww.. Dong, Luna makes a lot of people smile. Even here, sya na ang bagong Mutya ng Mehiko 🙂
Missy, I’d love to go to Tijuana! Unfortunately, we don’t have time to squeeze that in our IT 🙁
Scott, just got lucky with the P&S 🙂
Ano ba yang Korean guy na yan nang aagaw ng seat! hahaha! I love the postcard! Ganda nung place!
Haha, yeah Anney. I was quite annoyed but didn’t ask him to move anymore since it’s more convenient to be on the aisle when flying with a baby 🙂
and the immigration officer said Pilipinas? eheheh! oo nga pala, Pilipinas yung nakasulat sa harap ng passport… 🙂
Haha! Yeah Mervz. But I think they do call our country Pilipinas.
haha cute naman nung 1st photo
Ah, that’s nice! It’s the same for Panama so I guess same all over CentralAmerica. I’m thinking to go maybe by June or July, after SouthAmerica. We’re so near, sana we bumped into each other like I did with Nina in Morocco! =)
Yeah it is, except for Belize.
I love Luna’s new country face. I wonder what she’s thinking! 🙂
look at that, your little one is already a travel junkie herself (love her first photo)!
Baby travel junkie 🙂
The baby is so cute and I am so envious that she was able to travel with you and i wish I can do the same with my baby girl.
Gay Travel Hawaii