el crispito

Parque España, Condesa

The Condesa df hotel overlooks Parque España somewhat. They have "city view" and "park view" rooms, but really, only the rooms in the corner of the hotel, the most expensive, overlook the park, and only the ones on the third floor have any hope of overlooking the city. All the rooms really have a view of the buildings across the street because it's a short little 4-story affair.

Condesa df Exterior, Condesa

Street Signs, Condesa

The street signs at the corner just outside our hotel. This reinforces my persistent claim that once you've been to Guadalajara, there's something about it that will always stay with you.

Sidewalk Café, Condesa

Lots of Mexico City has a European feel, and this is one reason. There are many cafés and restaurants that have sidewalk seating. And why not? The weather is beautiful.

Some photos of housing in Colonia Condesa.

Private Residence, Condesa

Private Residence, Condesa

Private Residence, Condesa

Private Residence, Condesa

Private Residence, Condesa

I just can't help it.

"Hey lady! Nice jugs!"

Fountain, Condesa

Last night we took in a midnight snack at the Barracuda Diner (Nuevo León 4-A), and it was really interesting. When we walked in, it was like Cleavon Little walking into the saloon in Blazing Saddles, with everyone in the place staring at us. Later I figured out this was because it's a very neighborhood-oriented joint, despite the fact that it's very strangely specialized. It's a diner, set up to be like a 50s diner in the United States, but they serve coctails alongside the shakes, chili dogs and chilaquiles. They have framed advertisements from 50s magazines, but they're 50s Mexican magazines, mind you, so they have slogans like: "¡Es nuevo...Es un Nash!" The waitresses are dressed up in typical waitress uniforms, which look incredibly frumpy down here in Mexico. I guess they look kind of frumpy anywhere, but because they're so out of place here, they look particularly unflattering.

There was a waiter there that looked just like Phil Silvers. No joke. I couldn't keep my eyes off him, because I kept expecting him to do something hilarious.

I also want to take the time to mention Barney's (Montes de Oca 43), a great bar in Condesa. It's got a hip, interesting mix of people as well as decent music. It's small, dark and red inside, and if you order drinks, you have to order some kind of food also. Luckily they have little antojitos like a cheese plate, olives and french fries. The look, for those of you that can identify, is sort of like a darker version of the old Skylark without the rockabilly and the old movie posters. They go for kind of a decadent swank look and feel, and it's obviously popular with folks because we could barely get a table there when we arrived at around midnight. They close at 2 am.