Well, I was sharing a place in Col. Roma but now have a place of my own, in Col. Santa Maria la Ribera; established in 1861. I decided NOT to take an apartment in Col. Condesa nor Col. Roma because the rents are too high for me; since I like living alone. I went for a smaller place in a more bohemian neighborhood and too it is less rent at half the price – most funky hood.

Since I brought most of my stuff to México City in large burlap luggage (4) from Dallas I thought moving would be easy. BUT I most have bought more stuff in D.F. than I realized. The first haul was Friday, December 19th and I packed a taxi with stuff. Because I got my keys late and moved late I thought I would rest after the first load. But nooooo, a friend calls and says, he is coming over with his friends’ SUV and moving me at 11:30 PM. So I got up from the sofa and packed some more stuff and at midnight, when my friends Abel and Rafa, got there we moved the rest at midnight. It was awesome traveling down Paseo de la Reforma and on to Insurgentes to my new place, the great escape.

Because I needed a bed to sleep on I stayed in my old place one last time. I finished moving one last big bag of sheets, blankets, pillows and computers on Saturday, December 20, 2008; the last haul was Saturday arriving at my new place at 5:00 PM.

It felt so good to be in my new place that overlooks the park called Alameda Santa Maria la Ribera. My first evening I opened a fine bottle of wine and watched all the people below. My big glass windows open to the street below so on Saturday night; I watched people waking their dogs, couples holding hands, joggers – it was great.

If any one wants to send me a Mariachi band to serenade me, bring it on, I am now ready. My last apartment had a view of a backyard mechanic, not too pretty.

Below is a picture of the Moorish Kiosk that sits in the middle of the park and it looks fabulous lite up underneath at night . The Kiosk was designed by the Engineer José Ramón Ibarrola as Mexico’s Pavilion for the Universal Exhibition of 1884 – 1885 and for the St Louis Missouri Fair in 1902 and then back to Mexico! Well the whole park is under going renovations, like mostly the walkways and sitting areas. The Kiosk will stay.
On Sunday I took a walking tour of the neighborhood and loved all the street vendors and el Mercado that is nearby. I have a cool Russian restaurant downstairs from me and on the other side of the park a funky cantina called Salon Paris and I am in walking distance to the Chopo Museum. Want more info of my new hood read this travel article in the New York Times.

I do not have Internet at home at the moment and there are no wireless cafés in my new neighborhood so my posting will be somewhat limited, but will keep you posted when I can.