My Nomad Diary, Week 6: This Party’s Over

Moments from the week:

Visiting a museum in a subway
Exploring the different districts of CDMX

What I’m reading this week:

I haven’t picked up a book this week, but hoping to get back to it next week!

Today was supposed to be my last full day in CDMX before moving on to my next stop, Oaxaca, but I’d like to spend some more time in CDMX, so I’ve called time on this hostel and booked myself an Airbnb for a week. I’ve only been in the city six days but it feels like a lifetime ago that I arrived and I’m really starting to feel guilty about the low volume of work I’ve done the last few days. Going forward I need to get back into time blocking and put aside some daily time to focus on work and being in a private Airbnb will give me that much needed time.
I’m definitely starting to feel a little burnt out today, a lot of socialising and not a lot of sleep, so the next few days will be a welcome respite.
I caught up on some Spanish with a couple of lessons, finished off last week’s diary as I was a couple of days behind and packed my bags ready to move onto my Airbnb for tomorrow. A much more civilised and peaceful day, just what I needed.

Tuesday and it’s moving day, I’m feeling a lot better today after a decent bit of “me” time and staying away from tequila.
Started the day off with a Spanish lesson and chilled for the afternoon, then I met a friend… get this… and we went to a museum in a tube station. Yep, a museum dedicated to Mexico’s metro, a unique experience. After this we decided to grab a coffee and now, when I travel, I rely on Google Maps reviews religiously, if it’s below a 4.0 I’m not stepping foot through the door.
Imagine my delight when I find a café rated 4.9, which turned out to be a biker coffee shop that looked like Marilyn Manson’s front room.
Fast forward to after our coffee, we headed to a little Italian restaurant, enjoyed some wine and some fondue. This neighbourhood continues to surprise me and I much prefer it to the chaos of Centro and the overly gentrified alternatives that are Roma Norte and Polanco. All-in-all, my favourite day in CDMX so far.

Today, Wednesday, was the day I fell in love with CDMX. Yeah, I know I say this with a lot of countries I visit, but I really want to live here for a little while. And I think that’s the point, that’s why I do this. I really, really like Mexico, and Mexico City has surpassed all of my expectations.
I’ve spent the last 30+ years of my life living in the same place, limited to 25 square miles of land, and frankly, I’ve come to realise what a sheer waste of a life to live that is.
This isn’t to say I want to spend 20 years here, I don’t think I ever want to spend 20 years anywhere (not again), but I’ll definitely be coming back for a temporary residence visa next year. Congratulations CDMX you’re going on the list, and I’ll see you again very soon 💚🤍❤️

It’s Thursday and something doesn’t feel right this morning. The doubt is creeping in. Is this going to work? I’m not at a point yet where my income is matching my outgoings so that’s playing on my mind. It’s fine, I’ve budgeted for zero income for six months and, in worst case scenario a negative balance sheet for up to two years if I really have to, but I’d rather not. I’m also behind schedule, I shouldn’t still be here in CDMX (I have a good reason), but the imaginary schedule I set for myself is not being adhered to and it’s mildly triggering.
Back to time blocking again, I need to stay on the straight and narrow.
I pulled myself together and today went pretty well, I’ve found a really nice coffee shop nearby which is now my morning routine followed by lunch at a little torta stand, which would give the average British health inspector a mild heart attack, but I think that’s the charm of travelling in LATAM, sure I could sit and eat in overpriced polished westernised restaurants, but what would be the point? I’m eating a Cubano torta and it costs £1.90 and it’s, quite simply, bloody brilliant.
This afternoon I will endeavour to finish my website, swallow my damn pride and go touting for business (literally my worst nightmare haha) wish me luck 🙏

It’s a fresh start for Friday and I’m back on the wagon. I’ve followed my earlier advice and adopted time-blocking again, it’s pretty bloody handy when you’re no longer in that typical 9-5 swing of things.
An early start with a Spanish lesson, coffee at my favourite little café and then to knuckle down to finish my trip report for Valencia.
I feel really off about writing about Valencia, like here I am talking about what a wonderful city it is, smack bang in the middle of a natural disaster, so I am very careful with my words and always try to take the opportunity to direct traffic to the Red Cross.
After I finished my report I took the opportunity to visit the neighbourhood of Coyoacán, a little bohemian paradise packed with gardens, museums and UNESCO sites – unsurprisingly a firm favourite for me. I got back at about 6pm and I booked a few excursions to make the most out of my last few days in CDMX.

It’s the weekend again, although I’m struggling to keep track of days now… I started the day by heading to Museo Nacional de Antropología, probably one of CDMX’s most visited museums and certainly the biggest museum I’ve ever stepped foot in, it took me over two hours to experience it all and I wasn’t taking my time either, I needed to be back home for my daily lesson.
I was exhausted today, I really wanted to get an hour in on my website but I’m feeling super-demotivated today. So I had a siesta, and just watched TV, another early start tomorrow! I seriously need to pull my finger out this week, I know I still have nothing but time but I need to focus and get my portfolio finished, I will get it finished next week, watch this space!
I have a couple of days left in my current apartment and it’s time to move on from the City, I really don’t want to leave but I have a lot of places to see and I’m a bit behind. I’m heading to Oaxaca next, somewhere a lot quieter but back into a hostel again. I am still weighing up the pros and cons of hostels vs co-livings vs Airbnbs. Hostels are a great way to save money, but I can’t keep this up for the next six months, although, things will get remarkably cheaper as I head further south.

Ah Sunday, my day of rest… except I had a lesson at 8am and then I’m off on an excursion… a taco crawl. Yes. A pub crawl but with tacos instead of beers and I can’t wait!
I hopped into an Uber and headed to the district Roma Norte; one of CDMX’s more affluent areas. I’d arrived early and grabbed a coffee from a nearby café and as I sat there, a little dog with an adorable underbite burst out from behind the counter to say hello, what made me laugh was, his funny little face was the logo for the café (see pic).
Anyway moving on… I had signed up for a taco crawl, billed as the most popular Airbnb activity in CDMX and I could see why.
Eight of us headed out on bicycles to a variety of different taco hotspots throughout the city.
What I loved about this the most, was that they took us to authentic places where we sat on plastic picnic chairs on the side of the road instead of the polished chain taquerias you see in upscale neighbourhoods. Here’s the link, if you’re ever in CDMX, I highly recommend it.