I checked into the W Hotel in Mexico City, a hip, cool and trendy hangout for Mexico City's media set, courtesy of my dear Shaun. One night here is an entire week's budget for me! The first suite I was shown was gorgeous, with a hammock in the window area. Only one problem - there was just one bed, admittedly an enormous kingsize, however, Shaun doesn't like sharing a bed with me, as apparently I thrash around and take up too much room! Our suite is now a few floors lower, on the 17th, with amazing views from the hammock in the bathroom area...
Time enough to surprise Shaun by meeting him at the airport. The concierge recommended me to take the hotel limo, at the cost of 300 pesos, or $30! I said I was quite used to travelling on the Tube in the rush hour, and asked for directions to the nearest station. The journey, about 50 mins across the city, cost just 2 pesos, barely ten pence! The metro is pretty new, and the stations and interchanges are built to cope with huge numbers of people - it is said that nearly 18 million people live in the DF area!
I was struck by the lack of racial diversity in this huge city - something we take for granted in London. The guide book says that 30% of Mexicans are from indigenous descent, 60% mixed indigenous and Spanish, and the rest mainly pure Spanish. There is a distinct lack of eye candy here, and I like guys with darker skins! Back in Mante and Victoria, I was horrified to see short men with bodies like a huge inflatable ball, and short arms and legs. It is no different here. Too much Gringo fast food and full fat Coca Cola, on top of the already high carb and high fat Mexican tacos?
It is lovely to see Shaun again, and we celebrated with an excellent dry martini in the cool hotel bar, full of the Mexico City jet-set.
An early night.