It’s that time of year in Mexico City. The rain is slowing, the weather is warming, and everyone is preparing to head back to school.
It’s a happy and stressful time. In my house, the stress builds slightly as my girlfriend prepares to head back to teach for the year and we have to figure out the logistics of work schedules, dog walkers, gigs and all the other things that tend to clog up a calendar for months in advance. As a reprieve before the year started, we decided we needed a vacation. An escape from the city.
We decided to rent a car, load it up with camping supplies and the dog and head towards the wood and fresh water. All the plans were in motion when suddenly our dog got sick. Our vacation funds were quickly depleted and the realization that we wouldn’t get to swim in any fresh water began to sink in.
Our now-healthy dog seemed to mock us with his adorable, tilted head stare. Fortunately, though, we live in one of the most metropolitan cities in the Americas. There’s always fun to be had. And so we decided to try our hand at this “staycation” thing we’d heard so much about.
Many embassies lie blocks away from El Ángel de la Independencia (the Angel of Independence). The US embassy is there, the Japanese and Colombian embassies as well, to name a few. As a result, there are also many high-end hotels in the neighborhood. A quick Google search taught us about Hotel Carlota, where for 850 pesos per person you can get a day pass to the pool, two cocktails, a beer, and an entré.
While it wasn’t the open road and fresh water our Canadian spirits craved, it was enough of a respite from the congestion and noise of the city to reset our batteries and prepare us for the days ahead.
Last week, I wrote about how Mexico is more than just a land of beaches and resorts. Some of my favorite parts of this country are off the beaten path. But it’s also nice to know that if you’re just looking for a quick escape from the day-to-day it’s just a short taxi ride away.
Ty Trumbull, from his base in Mexico City, covers the entrepreneur’s journey and business continuity for ChannelE2E. Each Tuesday (well, sometimes Wednesday…), he offers views about his new hometown.
