Somewhere on the outskirts of Mexico City is a magical place known as Xochimilco 😃
It is an ecological labyrinth of canals and islands navigated only by colorful gondola-like boats called “trajineras” 🚣♂️
In other words, it’s the Venice of Mexico 🤩
The canals of Xochimilco are the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs 😳
Each wooden boat is hand-painted in bright colours and take visitors on cruises along the canals while food vendors, artisans and mariachi bands float past 🎺🤵🏻
While these festive excursions are widely used by locals for birthdays, bachelorettes, and quinceañeras, my friends and I opted for a relaxing Sunday afternoon excursion through nature 🛶
We visited islands with makeshift museums full of unusual aquatic wildlife, tribal rituals, creepy landscapes with broken swing sets and misshapen street lights, and gardens of fresh vegetables which we picked to make salad 🥬
All the while, we sipped champagne, soaked up the sun, and took in dreamy landscapes of this whimsical river of dreams 😍
While my time in Mexico City was marred by stolen laptops, COVID restrictions, and more stress than I cared to endure, I’m so glad to have escaped for a moment to experience something so unique and special 💚
Life can be difficult sometimes, but it is what it is. Better perhaps to step away when you can, take a breath of fresh air, and remember -
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Life is but a Dream ✨