Working Out

Mexico City is one of the food capitals of the world.  There are countless restaurants and food stalls everywhere.  It would take a lifetime to sample every establishment.  Of course there are Mexican restaurants, authentic Mexican food, not Tex-Mex, and all of the country's distinct regional cuisines are represented.  Beyond Mexican cookery there is an enormous range of international foods.  In my neighborhood alone I could take a culinary tour of Italy, India, Poland, China, Spain, Argentina, the Middle East and more.  Is it any wonder, that with so much good food, after a year of living here, my waistline has expanded.  After the holidays, I weighed myself and decided that this has to stop.

I had considered joining a gym, but then I remembered the neighborhood park just a few blocks away.  It has a fitness area with a number of exercise machines.

No, they are not the modern, state-of-the art equipment you would find in a private gym, but they serve the purpose.  And the setting, amidst the greenery of the park, watching families strolling with their children, people walking their dogs, guys playing basketball at the adjacent court, is very pleasant.  I have started my third week coming here.  My goal is to spend at least a half hour exercising four days a week... in addition to the walking that I do most days.

The first week that I was here I discovered another advantage to coming here.  I had forgotten that every Thursday there is a "tianguis" (outdoor market) around the periphery of the park.  I can stock up on fresh vegetables.  Their produce is certainly better than what I find at Walmart!

A couple of items in this photo that you won't see at the supermarket in Ohio...

squash blossoms, which are used in many Mexican recipes, and "nopales", the pads of the prickly pear cactus.  The thorns are thoroughly removed, and they are served as a very healthy vegetable.  (Although neither are favorites of mine.)