Interesting tidbits about Ixtapaluca

Little by little, I’m learning about this corner of Mexico City (and Mexico City in general).  It’s different from Cuernavaca, no doubt.  Here are some random things I’ve learned:

A Mexico City combi Photo courtesy of rageforst

• I heard from a very reliable source that the highest revenue WalMart store in the world is here in Ixtapaluca.  I don’t shop there that much, so I don’t think I can get the credit.
• There’s a law in Mexico City that certain vehicles can’t drive on certain days of the week.  One day a week, depending on our license plate number, we don’t drive.  However, they’re tightening up the laws – they’ve added one Saturday a month, and plan in September to add a new law that would mean we couldn’t drive any weekday from 5am-11am!  These measures are in place to cut down pollution (of course when the law came into effect in 1989, many people just bought a second car!).  Apparently you might be able to avoid some of the restrictions with a special vehicle inspection – we’re looking into that!
• Here in Mexico City one major form of public transportation is the "combi" – a van type of vehicle that is as plentiful as mangos around here.  In Cuernavaca we had the "rutas" which were large mini-buses.  The combis are quick enough to get in your way when you least expect it, and that’s often!
• Of course you can’t move from Cuernavaca to Ixtapaluca without noticing the bicycle taxis.  You can drive around them and almost hit them everywhere you go in our housing development – a bike pulling covered people-conveyor with seats.  (Cuernavaca is so hilly that cyclists are a rare oddity)
• The people here are great.  Of course, that was the same in Cuernavaca, wasn’t it?  Yesterday we were invited to crash our (little) friend Angel’s birthday party.  We had shrimp tacos and mole, and talked about the neighbourhood, Canadian food, whether or not Jesus is God, upcoming community events, and speaking Spanish.  🙂  On Saturday I was at the house of a church family (Martin and Laura), where I was reminded again that if we needed anything we can just ask.

Cool place.  Come visit!  8)