Great metal scene in Mexico City
One of the things I loved about Mexico City was the big and active metal scene with cool bars like Bizarro Café, The Real Under or Gata Cavalera.
There is also the "El Chopo", a paradise for metal fans, which took place every Saturday near the Buenavista Metro station. Here you can find shirts, CDs or gothic accessories for a really good price!
Furthermore, there are many good concerts taking place in Mexico City. When I studied Spanish here between October and December 2016, I took the opportunity to attend some concerts. First the Symphonic Black Metal band Carach Angren from Holland, who played disappointingly short.
Police arresting 2 of my mates
The next day I saw the Finnish folk-metal band Finntroll, who played a great concert. After the gig we met the band and we had a few beers with the really cool Finns in front of their five-star hotel. Again and again the servant of the hotel came and told us not to drink there. We kept on going anyway and then eventually the Mexican police came. Quickly I hid my beer in my trouser pocket in such a way that one could not see it. They arrested a Mexican and a member of the band. In Mexico it is forbidden to drink in public. The police then told us that we had to pay a $200 fine or we all had to go to jail. Well, the manager of the band agreed to pay the fine and we could all sleep in our beds again.
Mayhem - the fathers of black metal
Another great concert was the Norwegian band Mayhem, whose stage setting consisted of a destroyed church and pig heads.
Getting a metal tattoo in Mexico
To express my passion for metal, I got a (small) tattoo in Cuernavaca, about 2 hours away from Mexico City, for the first time in my life. My mexican friend had a fellow there, who could give us this tattoo for a good price. She also got the same tattoo, but in a different place. On my upper arm I got Χ Ξ Σ, which stands for 666 in Greek and is also a song of the Black Metal band Rotting Christ. The tattoo did not hurt at all, only the sound of the needle made me nervous.
In the evening the family of my Mexican friends even let me sleep on their marriage bed while they slept on the guest sofa. So much hospitality rarely exists.
My last concert in Mexico was then also a concert of this band, where I could even meet the singer and the bassist for a short time.
A national holiday to celebrate Mary
Besides the many metal shows I visited the Soumaya museum, a light show or the cinema during my free time. I also got a visit by my Korean friend that I had met in Ecuador and Colombia.
On the day of my departure I watched many Mexicans from many different states and with various uniforms on pilgrimage to the Basilica de Guadalupe, because the holiday of St. Mary, who is so worshipped in Catholicism, was coming up.
Sending a package to Germany
It was already middle of December in Mexico. The first time I was to spend Christmas away from home. And to give my family at home a little comfort, I sent them a package from Latin America with souvenirs I had already bought. The package weighed about 2 kg, so not much. Nevertheless it would have cost me about 200 € (!) with DHL to send it to Germany. I preferred to send it with the Mexican Post for about 80 €. I had to wrap the package opaque several times and all fragile parts had to be packed well padded. So they ordered me at the post office. In addition I had to write for the customs, what all is included. Unfortunately the parcel did not arrive for Christmas, but only in the new year. Also my souvenir knife was missing. Anyway my family was happy to receive something from me.
Christmas I should spend this year in Colombia. I left Mexico for Medellin on December 12th.
