back in mexico city

mexico city

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this was the final stop on our trip before heading back to the states, and it was a prefect place to end [and meet up with kyle's dad & step mom!]. it was a short and sweet 2 nights, but filled with a lot of food, drinks and exploring. we hit up some of our favorites from the last time we visited, and also popped into many new places.

some favorite places from this trip:

• frida khalo's house, tip: print your tickets out vs. using the app – you'll get in much faster 
• bravo loncheria: for delicious sandwiches 
• la casa de toño a must for pozole, nothing fancy, but packed with locals and muy authentico
• taquería tlaquepaque a great stop near city center for al pastor tacos & tortas - a very special hole in the wall type place
• la botica dive mezcal bar that has a very cozy vibe
• el hidalguense famous for their barbacoa tacos on blue corn tortillas! 
• exploring coyoacán neighborhood and the centenario garden

a quick weekend in oaxaca, mexico

oaxaca city, mexico

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it had been a dream of ours to go to oaxaca, but it was starting to feel like it might not fit in with our current plan [we were still in colombia and were meeting kyle's parents in mexico city, in about 5 days]. when katrina offered to have us stay with her and to show us around, though, we realized it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up [even if it did feel a little rushed].

oaxaca is one of those places i could dedicate a lot of time to – known for its mild climate, rich culinary traditions and of course the mecca of all things mezcal, we really only scratched the surface. most of our time was spent in oaxaca city exploring the town, tasting mezcal, trying as much food as we could and enjoying katrina's beautiful apartment. we also explored the surrounding area when we toured the small village the mendez family lives in [read more about that, here]. 

some quick favorites:

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• don't feel like walking? bicibella is a fun bike rental  
• casa carmen is a cool hotel in town to explore 
• mercado 20 de noviembre OG market to wander - find dona vali and try her mamilas - a traditional snack that is magical. (also visit central de abastos market)
• cafe el volador is a great place for morning coffee and people watching in town
• la biznaga or zandunga for lunch or dinner – try the traditional mole negro
• oaxaca botanical garden beautiful cactus garden showcasing all of the local flora of the region
• zocalo the big famous church in the middle of town
• casa oaxaca brunch or lunch place with huge patio and great traditional oaxacan food
• itanoni traditional place for breakfast – no frills and full of locals

for mezcal:

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• mezcaleria in situ mezcal sipping bar
• la mezcaloteca learn a ton about mezcal and do a tasting from 5-10PM [reservations accepted]
• los danzantes mezcal and food with a nice outdoor patio

Y O U  M I G H T  A L S O  L I K E:

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august etta photo journal | oaxaca, mexico

 

ah, time flies too quickly

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here we are 1 year from when katrina welcomed us into her stunning oaxacan home. 2 months prior to our arrival we were in ecuador and i stumbled upon the beautiful handwoven caftan & tunics on august etta's instagram through a mutual friend of ours [hello, kate!]. i started exploring the page in more detail and knew that i wanted to meet the gal behind this beautiful content – her texas roots paired with her eye for design and the fact that she was living in oaxaca running her own business, i knew she had to be just straight up cool  - so i sent her a note. 

emails were exchanged and she ended up welcoming us with open arms to come stay with her, learn about her craft, meet the mendez family, and even photograph some of her new pieces. we were both amazed by her kindness and generosity, and will be forever grateful for the friendship we made and the truly unique + local experience we had visiting this part of mexico. 

august etta

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august etta, in short,  is handwoven artistry by women & men in oaxaca, mexico, designed by katrina herself. 5% of profits help support the women of fundación en vía. each piece is named after a person that is important to katrina [friends, family, mentors]... and is unique in it's own little way. the mendez family are some of the warmest, sweetest, most interesting people we met during our time in mexico. this was my first time to see a handloom in action, and learning about this process  gave me such a deeper appreciation for this kind of work. seeing the pieces grow from start to finish was so inspiring and i can only hope i get to return one day! 

in these photos i am wearing the agnes caftan and the elizabeth tunic paired with some no. 6 clogs. 

Y O U  M I G H T  A L S O  L I K E:

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weekend in baja, mexico: wine tasting in ensenada

here are a few more photos from our trip down to mexico last weekend. who knew that baja had it's own little wine country? i can't wait to get back. 

stay @ Cabana Cuatro Cuatros: where we stayed, beautiful grounds with 18 tents that are equipped with heat or AC depending on the weather. they have a spa, tons of activities, food, drinks and a firepit. || Encuentro Guadalupe: unfortunately we didn't have time to see this spot, but next time we visit this area i am staying here! 

eat and drink @ Finca Altozano || The Restaurants at Cuatro Cuatros or Encuentro Guadalupe || Taco Surf [on the way into Ensenada] || Cafe Toya 

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glamping in baja, mexico: cabanas cuatrocuatros

california really continues to amaze me. i had no idea how easy it was to zip down to mexico, and i'm so happy we made this trip happen. this was my first time to drive over the border and it was so freakin' easy – from the moment we landed in san diego to stepping foot into our glamping paradise was just under 3 hours [including border 5 o'clock traffic]. this trip was everything we hoped it would be. sharing photos from our home for 2 nights here, and will follow up wineries and restaurants and other hotels worth exploring in the ensenada area. we're already planning our trip back. 

some of our other favorite glamping spots can also be found here

DETAILS:

where: ensenada, mexico
time of year: february  
how to get there: we drove from san diego [which took about 2 hours including crossing the border]
price per night: depends on your tent size/package [roughly $200/night]
activities available: whale watching, wine tasting and more
things to know:  a delicious mexican breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the restaurant on the property. there are also many restaurants in ensenada, a short drive away. more information can be found here. 

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