This morning I woke up to the busy sounds of the street in Mexico City. Cloudy and overcast I hear the toot toots and the wiz of passing motorcyclists hissing through the thin veil of water the night rain had brought, big clanking trucks and people shouting at one another. I grew up on a noisy street and the sounds of the city outside my bedroom window have always been a strange comfort. It is always makes me feel safe to know that there are people living all around me, going about their daily Monday morning business without me. I got out of bed without any idea of what time it was, no clock and not caring. I poked around in the kitchen and found the coffee, made a tiny cup of espresso and honey and resisted the urge to wake my beloved up.
Sitting in the sunshine at the big oak desk in Julie's office staring out white bars accross the windows brick walls have never looked so rustic or romantic. Soft green moss grows between the stones of the roof top and I wish I could squeeze through the bars and feel the velveteen carpet under the soft pads of my feet. que rico. I heard my beloved stirring and greeted him with a tiny cup of sweetened espresso. He smiled sweetly and took the warm liquid from my hands. "Good morning my handsome" I whisper kissing his chest. We agree to explore our new neighborhood today and the song of the city streets calls me like a siren. Before long we are picking up fresh bread; watching the other customers in the bakery to know what to do. It's just like the panaderias back at home. Take a set of tongs and an orange cafeteria tray, select your pan and sweets and take them to bakery counter where they wrapped and priced. Wandering around the supermercado I fill our basket up with goodies. Homemade tortillias still steaming in their wax paper, salsas, cervezas, fidello y aqua fresca. I am in culinary heaven. . Kalil convinced me to leave the soy milk machine at home and I am glad he did, I thank God that people in Latin America are prone to lactose intolerance-they have soy milk.
<>
I've been speaking Spanish to everyone and people seem to be glad to try to understand me or to help me with my pronunciation. Since the moment we stepped off the plane I have been amazed at the hospitality we've been shown by total strangers not to mention the fact that it appears we live in a particularily queer friendly neighoborhood. Just two doors down there is a safer sex farmacia where we picked up a copy of "Homopolis" the LGBT guide to the city. Sadly we missed all the pride festivals in Mexico by about a week and a half. Before I came I had fantasies about making friends with dykes and other queers here but I realize now that I only want to enjoy my sweetheart and reconnect with my beautiful culture all around me.
Today I made a lovely lunch for us and (just like at home) Kalil is in the kitchen cleaning up, only this time I asked him to do it en espanol "Papi, porfavor lavanse los platos porque yo preparando almuzar?". Now we're on our way to explore the outdoor fruit and vegetable market. Stay tuned for more honeymoon news from Mexico D.F.
Love,
Karin (and Kalil)