I know this blog is about my life in Mexico City, but I have not posted because I was in Dallas, my home town, and then have been busy while back home in Mexico City.  But anyway – here goes:

Sofa Surfing in Dallas

Sorry for not posting lately but I was visiting my old hood, Dallas.  Too I was doing Dallas without a car, a permanent place to stay, sofa surfing: it was an adventure, and I loved it.

When I landed in Dallas for my April Spring 2010 visit a dear friend of mine, and my Old East Dallas neighbor, picked me up at the airport.   As we drove along 183 towards Dallas I couldn’t help but enjoy the modest traffic, no cars honking and the lack of 100’s of taxis on the streets.  Even as we drove along Gaston Ave. to my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of people walking on the inner city streets, plenty of elbowroom.  Dallas – seemed so quiet and serene compared to my new home in México City.

I landed during lunchtime so the first thing we did was go to Matt’s Rancho Martinez in Lakewood.  How I had missed Matt’s foot long chicken enchilada in green sauce – I was in ecstasy with the first bite; how I missed this delicacy.

Funny in that when I mention eating Tex-Mex to my gringo friends in Dallas, they always say, Why?  You just got back from México:  Some don’t get, Tex-Mex is NOT Mexican food. I miss that about Dallas, Tex-Mex, Chicken Fried Steak @ the Black-eyed Pea, Sonny Bryan’s BBQ and Whataburger – foods not found in Mexico City.

Even before I left México City I realized early that if I was going to sofa surf and not use a car I should stay with friends that live close to a DART bus or train stop.  So after lunch I visited my first home, which happened to be two dear Mexican friends: their apartment located in Oak Lawn and one block from a bus stop.  Heck I guess I miss México when in Dallas because I choose to first stay with Mexican friends, LOL.

Being that when I lived in Dallas I never rode the bus, or the train, I found my first walk to the bus stop amusing: I asked a young lady questions about the bus and train and she replied in Spanish that she didn’t speak English. For a moment I felt like I was in México again speaking Spanish.  This is something I don’t run into in México City, people speaking only English – but this is another story.

When I got on the bus, I found the $1.50 one way fare rather steep considering I only pay .20 back home.  But I liked the idea of the all day pass so I bought one.  I made it to the DART train station at City Place; the first time I had traveled so far below Dallas city streets that wasn’t a sewer hole.  Yes, I used to explore sewer holes and creeks when I was a kid in Dallas.

It was like 10:30 AM the first time I made to the DART train station and I found the platform almost deserted.  There were no crowds and I found only seven people waiting for a train, not like in México City where there are 100’s of people waiting for a train that come and go every 5 minutes and not every 20 minutes.

Though I found the wait sort of tedium I was thrilled that the train was not packed and that train had cushioned seats that I could sit comfortably. I found the train experience pleasant and I felt like a first class passenger, I could only wonder how DART can stay in business with such few riders.  I guess some things are hard to change, people prefer their cars in Dallas.

I attended lots of lunches, dinners and soirées but in big D: The main reason I travel to Dallas in the Spring, is for the annual spring fundraiser, “Spanke’s Toilet Paper Party,” and amusing title for a paper products fundraiser for AIDS Services of Dallas held in Studer’s backyard in Old East Dallas.

Being that this was a fundraiser, I invited several friends to attend so I could kill tow birs with ne stone.  Spanke does live one block away from the bus stop, but I a friend offered to pick me up on the way to the fundraiser.  I was glad for this because the party was on a Sunday and the buses run less frequent on Sundays.

below is a pic from the Toilet Paper Party

My last stop of my sofa surf tour of Dallas was returning to the area of Dallas I had left, Old East Dallas.  I stayed with a friend who lives on Weldon Street, a short walk to City Place and the West Village.  Though my friend is semi-retired and offered to give me rides, it was nice to be to be able to catch the train to Northpark when I wanted too.

At my friends home I did something I had not done since I was a kid living at home with seven kids and two bedrooms to divide: I shared a bed.  When I got to my friends home, I looked around and said, where am I sleeping and he said with me, on his king-sized bed.

Not wanting to offend I said OK.  But it was fun sitting on a bed, watching late night television and movies with a friend.  And when it was time to sleep we built a wall of pillows between us, a sign that though we are close friends – stay on your side of the bed.

I am back in México City with more posts to follow.