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Be Speedy Miss González!
  • Jonny Gzlz
  • Jonny Gzlz

Be Speedy Miss González!

Just one week for Mexico City! So much to do - so much to see! Another travel adventure with Ingrid 👯 Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 8, 2026
    Jonny GzlzBe Speedy Miss González!Traveler

    Welcome to CDMX!

    February 8 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Taking advantage that I was visiting my family in Costa Rica, I took a three-hour direct flight to Mexico City. The excitement already started while standing in the immigration line, when a shrill alarm sounded and the staff started to open all the lines and shepherded us towards two columns label "safe zone". There had been a 5.7 magnitude earthquake in Puerto Escondido Oaxaca. Apparently, seismic waves take about 60–90 seconds to travel from Oaxaca to CDMX. The warnings are triggered automatically so people move to safe zones before any eventual shaking arrives - but in this case the quake didn't reach CDMX. Once I had cleared immigration and changed some dollars to pesos (do it AFTER customs - the first booth in the luggage pickup area has a terrible conversion fee), I ordered an Uber to take me to my humble AirBnB in La Condesa.

    It turned out to be, quite literally, a hole in the wall. But it looked clean - so I guess as long as there are no cockroaches, I'm dandy!    Read more

  • Jonny GzlzBe Speedy Miss González!Traveler
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    But first... TACOS!

    February 8 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    I hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast so the first item on the agenda was to fill the void with some TACOS. My friend Ingrid, who was still on a bus to Mexico City, had sent a couple of recommendations, so I walked to the nearest and was not disappointed. Those were the most splendid, scrumptious tacos I've ever had so far. I'm not sure whether it's just because they were my first ones in Mexico or because they're actually that good... In any case, I think I could easily spend the entire week on a strict taco diet.Read more

  • Jonny GzlzBe Speedy Miss González!Traveler
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    La Condesa

    February 8 in Mexico ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    After this very late lunch (or pre-dinner), I wandered through the colonia I’ll be calling home this week: La Condesa. What struck me immediately was how green it is—tree‑lined boulevards, parks, and an eclectic mix of architecture that ranges from sleek modern apartments to elegant Art Deco buildings dating back to the 1920s, when the neighborhood was first developed as a fashionable district.

    Around Parque España, the atmosphere feels especially welcoming - lively with joggers, families, couples on dates, dogs in all shapes and sizes and even a cat on a leash (the area is famously pet‑friendly). It also feels very safe: good lighting, visible police patrols, and SOS emergency buttons.    Read more

  • Jonny GzlzBe Speedy Miss González!Traveler

    Historic Center: Zócalo

    February 9 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    After sneaking into Ingrid's hostel lobby and getting some work done, I headed to the historic center of Mexico City. I quickly got the hang of navigating the metro system—which moves about 3 million people daily—and eventually emerged via the escalators at the Plaza de la Constitución (a.k.a. Zócalo). This is the third‑largest plaza in the world (after Tiananmen Square in Beijing and Red Square in Moscow), a vast expanse of pale grey stone with almost no escape from the blazing sun. It’s framed by monumental buildings that make people look like miniature figurines in comparison: the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, the Federal District Government Building, and the Old Portal de Mercaderes with its long arcade of shops and cafés.

    Today was one of the rare moments when the plaza felt almost empty. Earlier that morning, the President had given a speech, and rows of soldiers had stood in formation across the square. By the time I arrived, the military was still dismantling the stage, stacking metal barricades and rolling up cables under the midday sun. On the opposite side of the plaza, facing the cathedral, a group of Indigenous protesters had set up camp. According to the tour guide I’d meet later, the government keeps a steady rotation of official events in the Zócalo precisely so protesters can’t occupy the most visible spots—especially the area directly in front of the National Palace—pushing them instead to the margins of the square.    Read more

  • Jonny GzlzBe Speedy Miss González!Traveler

    Historic Center: Ruins of Tenochtitlan

    February 9 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    The free walking tour’s first stop after the introduction at the gates was the ruins of Tenochtitlan—or more specifically, the Templo Mayor, the most important edifice of the Mexica (later called the Aztecs). For a brief period, this symbol of indigenous power stood just a few steps diagonally across from the colonial Cathedral before being destroyed by the Spanish. We learned that the ancient city was originally built on an island in Lake Texcoco, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. Early European chroniclers nicknamed it “the Venice of the Americas” because of its canals and causeways. Like Venice, it was partially built on stakes driven into the lakebed, and instead of streets, it had waterways.

    When the Spaniards subdued the Mexica—with the help of rival indigenous armies—they began draining the lakes to build their own city. The last remnants of water were drained as late as the 1970s. As a result, modern Mexico City sits on swampy ground, causing many buildings to sink at rates of up to 10 cm per year.

    Among the ruins, you can still see the famous Coyolxauhqui Stone, a massive circular carving discovered in 1978. It depicts the dismembered moon goddess Coyolxauhqui, slain by her brother Huitzilopochtli, symbolizing the triumph of the sun over the moon. Her image was even featured on a commemorative 50‑peso coin in the 1980s, making it one of the most recognizable Aztec motifs.

    The best view of the ruins is from a rooftop café perched on top of a long, white, slightly lopsided building right across the street. To get there, you enter through the Porrua library on the ground floor and take the elevator up to the terrace, where the café section of El Mayor awaits with coffee, snacks, and full meals at reasonable prices. From above, you can sip a drink while looking straight down at the excavated remains of the Templo Mayor, with the Cathedral looming just behind—a perspective that really drives home the collision of ancient and colonial worlds.    Read more

  • Jonny GzlzBe Speedy Miss González!Traveler

    From the Cathedral to Bellas Artes Palace

    February 9 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    From the ruins, we turned around and visited the Metropolitan Cathedral, rising opposite as if locked in a centuries-old standoff with the remnants of the Aztec world beneath our feet.
    Built over almost 250 years on the site ofy another Aztec temple, it combines Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical architecture into one impressive structure. Inside, among the many richly decorated chapels, I came across the Señor del Veneno ("Lord of the Poison"). According to legend, someone tried to murder a priest by poisoning the crucifix he was about to kiss, but Christ miraculously absorbed the poison instead. The darkened crucifix remains one of the cathedral's most unusual and memorable treasures.

    From the cathedral, our guided tour continued along Avenida Francisco I. Madero, one of the city's vibrant pedestrian streets. As daylight faded into the golden hour, the elegant colonial façades glowed in warm amber light, providing the perfect backdrop for photos and videos. Musicians, artists and street performers added to the lively atmosphere, while we passed landmarks such as the beautiful Casa de los Azulejos, with its striking blue-and-white tiled façade, and the Torre Latinoamericana, one of Mexico City's iconic skyscrapers.

    Our walk ended at the Plaza del Palacio de Bellas Artes just as the last rays of sunlight illuminated the palace's gleaming marble façade. The square is framed by an eclectic blend of architectural styles, where ornate Beaux-Arts and Art Nouveau buildings stand alongside elegant Art Deco landmarks and modern towers, reflecting the many layers of Mexico City's history.

    The Palacio de Bellas Artes itself is one of the city's greatest architectural treasures. Its dazzling white marble exterior was designed in the Art Nouveau style, while its sumptuous interior embraces Art Deco. Today it is Mexico's premier venue for opera, ballet, concerts and major art exhibitions, and its walls display celebrated murals by some of the country's most renowned artists. We had already booked tickets for a performance later that week, and standing in the golden evening light, admiring the palace for the first time, I could hardly wait to return and experience its magnificent interior.    Read more

  • Jonny GzlzBe Speedy Miss González!Traveler

    Maizajo (TACOS!)

    February 9 in Mexico ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    A bit later, I met up with Ingrid for dinner at Maizajo, a restaurant and taquería recommended by the Michelin Guide. Ingrid had walked past earlier that afternoon when it had been almost empty, so she suggested we give it a try. Much to our surprise, there was now a huge queue stretching out the door. We were eager to see what all the fuss was about, though, so we decided to brave the wait.

    That wait turned out to be considerably longer than the hostess's optimistic estimate of 45 minutes. I suppose that's what happens when a restaurant is this popular! To make up for the delay, they gave us something far better than the bar seats we had originally been promised: a table right in the middle of the open kitchen.

    It felt like having front-row seats to a culinary performance. We watched the cooks press tortillas from freshly nixtamalised heirloom maize, grill meats, assemble tacos with astonishing speed and precision, and keep the whole operation running like a perfectly choreographed dance. As an apology for the wait, we were treated to complimentary tequila, and the head waiter took the time to answer all our questions. He enthusiastically explained the different native varieties of corn they use and how important they are Mexican culinary tradition. Talk about a dining experience!

    And then came the food. It was absolutely sensational. If yesterday's tacos had already impressed me, tonight's completely blew me away. Every bite showcased just how much difference exceptional ingredients and meticulous craftsmanship can make. It wasn't just one of the best taco meals of the trip—it was one of the most memorable dining experiences I've ever had.    Read more

  • Jonny GzlzBe Speedy Miss González!Traveler

    Hot Air Ballooning over Teotihuacan

    February 10 in Mexico ⋅ 🌙 5 °C

    I had an extremely early start and was the first one to arrive at the meeting point. Little by little, other guests—looking at least as sleepy as I felt—started to appear, blinking into the morning like they weren’t entirely sure what time zone they were in.

    On the way there, I managed to sleep a bit in the van, and by the time we reached the hot air balloon site it was still pre-dawn. The sky had that deep blue-black hush that only exists right before the world turns itself on.

    Before anything else, we were weighed for balloon balance calculations, which made me unexpectedly nervous. As a plus-size traveler, there’s always that quiet moment of wondering if this will be the time something becomes complicated or awkward.

    But nothing like that happened. No fuss, no comments—just a quick check and we moved on. Relief settled in immediately, and I could finally focus on what I was actually here for.

    Outside, the balloons were being inflated, enormous shapes slowly coming to life in the half-light. The burners roared in sudden bursts, flames lighting up the inside of the fabric like glowing lungs. Around them, excited chatter, nervous laughter, and plenty of selfies.

    Then came the moment I’d been vaguely bracing for: climbing into the basket.

    I tried to do it gracefully—one hand on the edge, upper body leaning in first, then swinging my legs over like I had done this a hundred times before. In reality, it was absolutely not graceful. But somehow I ended up inside, which felt like a victory in itself.

    And then—lift-off.

    The ground softened beneath us as we rose into the morning air, drifting silently over the landscape as the first light of day spread across everything below.

    We floated over Teotihuacan like a map unfolding beneath us.

    First we passed over the Sun Pyramid, the largest structure in the ancient city, rising out of the morning haze with quiet dominance. Then we drifted toward the smaller Moon Pyramid at the end of the Avenue of the Dead, the entire ceremonial axis stretching out beneath us in perfect geometry.

    At one point, we even saw nearby Popocatépetl volcano cough up a plume of smoke into the morning sky—a reminder that the landscape below was very much alive, thousands of years of history laid out beneath us.

    Then came the descent.

    We dropped faster than expected, the ground rising up in uneven fields. The landing crew ran alongside us, grabbing the edges of the basket and guiding us down as we touched the earth again.

    The basket rocked more than I expected, and for a moment it felt like we might tip. I laughed—probably slightly unhinged at that point—as I held onto the edge and tried to keep my balance.

    Once we were safely down, we celebrated with apple cider (no champagne, unfortunately), which somehow felt exactly right for the kind of morning it had been—bright, surreal, and just a little bit unreal in the best possible way.    Read more

  • Jonny GzlzBe Speedy Miss González!Traveler

    Breakfast and liquor tasting

    February 10 in Mexico ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    After our balloon flight, we were taken to a nearby restaurant for breakfast before heading to Artesanías El Quetzal.

    The star of the show was the maguey, a giant agave with thick, fleshy leaves that has been part of life in central Mexico for centuries. I knew it was used to make tequila and mezcal, but I hadn't realised just how versatile it was.

    The sweet sap can be fermented into pulque, a traditional alcoholic drink that predates the arrival of the Spanish. The tough fibers from the leaves can be spun into thread and woven into textiles, something we watched being demonstrated on a loom. Even the sharp thorns at the tips of the leaves were once used as sewing needles, while other parts of the plant could be turned into a paper-like material and inscribed using those same thorns.

    Naturally, after learning all of this, we were rewarded with a tasting of various agave liqueurs before being released into the souvenir shop. Whether the tasting was intended to make us appreciate the craftsmanship or simply loosen our wallets is open to debate, but I can't deny it was an effective strategy.    Read more

    Trip end
    February 14, 2026