No water for you

In Mexico City, water from the tap is not fit for consumption. You don't even use it to make your coffee or boil your vegetables -water in this city has a slightly foul smell, reminiscent of ancient decaying swamps and natural gas.

And to make the taste even worse, it's also heavily chlorinated.

You buy jugs of spring water in the shops -a heavy haul- or have a company deliver the water to your home -also a drawback, as they will not deliver anything if there's nobody home.

Observations in a supermarket

From an Australian perspective, big supermarkets in Mexico:

• They all sell alcohol. From light beer to Jaegermeister and hard liquor, it's all there for the taking.
• They all seem to have an in-house bakery and an in-house chemist.
• Vegetables and fruits are a hit-and-miss affair. Most vegies are better and tastier in Australia.
• Asian food and ingredients are almost unheard of.

But above everything else - Mexican supermarkets have CHOICE.

There is so much to choose from in a Mexican supermarket - I'd never seen so many varieties of cheese in a supermarket in Sydney - a statement to the pathetic supermarket duopoly in Australia, that has killed off choice, all in the name of profits.

Day of the Dead

Out of all celebrations and fiestas in Mexico, the "Dia de los Muertos" is by far, the most original and creative.

For most westerners, death is no joke.

But in Mexico, the surreal country par excellence, the Grim Reaper is a cottage industry that employs hundreds of thousands in any number of jobs; from selling the "cempasúchil" - a local bright yellow flower, to selling the "pan de muerto" - a very sweet loaf that is only baked during the weeks before the 2nd of November.

And everywhere you turn, you will see colourful images, prints, ornaments, garlands and papier mache puppets of all shapes and sizes celebrating Death and the Macabre. Truly, a very photogenic, unique and bizarre celebration worth the airfare ticket to Mexico.