Christmas Break in Mexico

During the week of Christmas I've been on a break, a regular thing to do in the US around Christmas and New Years to celebrate the end of the year with family and friends.

In my case this was in Mexico, to spend some quality time with Rosario, in both Acapulco and Mexico City. Great to explore the land of Guacamole, Taco's and nice and warm weather! Acapulco is a holiday paradise on the west coast, that has developed over the years around a beautiful bay. If you are planning to go, we highly recommend the restaurant Becco al Mare, a fantastic Italian restaurant with stunning views over the bay and a wine list to dream of...

Acapulco

Mexico City is a monstrous big city with wonderful parts and darker sides, often right next to each other. Traffic is horrible, El Periferico is stuck almost every day, except on Christmas Day, so we took advantage to discover the city that day.

We had a wonderful Christmas diner with Rosario's family in La Hacienda de los Morales, an old Hacienda that wasn't part of the city when built, but is now almost in the middle of it, in the Palenco neighborhood, one of the more green and nicer areas in the city. Next to celebrating Christmas and sightseeing we met lots of Rosario's friends and family, a lot of times in combination with having lunch or diner. Getting together in Mexico means that there will be food, music and dance waiting for you around the corner, 3 important parts of Mexican culture...I super enjoyed!!

Christmas diner

My First Visitors

Last week was the week of "My First Visitors" since the start of my life in the Big Apple. Olivier arrived from Seoul on Saturday 6 December to stay here for the week. Reason for his visit? Not me, but a training at Columbia Business School...what a coincidence and fantastic to have him here!

Anyway, I tried to get him over his huge jetlag, his departure from Seoul was approx the same time he arrived in the US, so that felt kind of weird... Olivier kept on going very strong through Central Park, along 5th Avenue, Wall Street and SOHO where we crashed in Félix, a nice spot for aftershopping drinks or just a Sunday afternoon (when it's raining).

After the long walks, being confronted with this city full of people, cold weather, noise and highrises, the drinks did the rest!
On Sunday night we went to a Rangers hockey game, they played the Calgary Flames in Madison Square Garden, `the world's most famous sports arena´ as the enthusiastic New Yorkers call it. It was a nice game played by the Rangers but they failed to fight and score...and the Flames did not...so they won. Bad luck!

During the week I met with H & M who were in town for a wedding - a Dutchie getting married with an American girl. We had a great diner in TAO, a restaurant with a giant Buddha statue inside. Shopping and having diner were the main ingredients of the days they spent, looked like they were enjoying it!! And last but not least, I had lunch with Alexandra at Union Square, it was special to catch up with her after such a long time.

Olivier was in town all week long, so on Friday we were off to Meatpacking District and wanted to go to one of the topspots out there: the Spice Market. Both entourage and food of this Asian Fusion restaurant were not disappointing at all!
Saturday we went clubbing in the Mansion, we had a fantastic night full of dancing and drinks, among the crowd that was dressed for success...

My dear visitors, thanks for coming over, it was a special week!!