Editor’s Corner – Moving in Courage

When I was little, I was afraid of a few things: The Wizard of Oz, holding sparklers on the Fourth of July, and Brutus—the Doberman Pinscher who lived behind us. In retrospect, I am not sure where some of the fear stemmed from. I understood my fear of Brutus, and it was a fear shared by all the neighborhood kids—the dog was a menace. The movie—perhaps the flying monkeys. The sparklers—perhaps my young mind thought it was fire.

It is such an odd thing because there were so many other things I should have been scared of that I wasn’t. In the main, children tend to be carefree and wild until parents or life teaches them to fear. According to Psychology Today, we are not born with fear. Fear is something that is developed over time, and we don’t demonstrate fear until 8 to 12 months. It is something we learn by conditioning, having a negative experience, or taking on someone else’s fear.

I won’t go deep into the woods about the types of fear. What I want to hone in on is addressing fears that keep us in bondage, from reaching our full potential, or moving to the next level, which delays our progress. One fear or anxiety I developed after a car accident is fear of driving on the freeway. After talking to a therapist about this, I learned about exposure. So, I would drive on the freeway for two exits just for exposure. Then I went on longer drives. If I got spooked, I would get off.

Another way to conquer fear is to vocalize it. Sister Rachel recently talked about shame, and I found her remarks spot on. Shame keeps us in fear. I have learned two things about vocalizing fears. One, for some reason, voicing fears reduces the power they hold over me. Two, I have found that, once I share, I learn how many people also share the same fear. I was surprised how many people I know that have anxiety around driving, driving on the freeway, driving during rain, driving at night, etc. And people facing their fear and driving anyway gives me the courage to continue to face mine as well.

The Bible is filled with verses about not fearing and not being afraid, which leads me to believe that God knew it was something we would struggle with. If you are dealing with fear and anxiety, you are in good company. I also believe that God doesn’t want us to live our life in bondage because of fear or anxiety. We can take our fears to God. As mentioned above, we can also practice exposure and share our fears with trusted people—be it a therapist, pastor, or close friend.

I attended a Be Bold Be You conference some years back, and a speaker shared a quote she used for inspiration. The essence of the quote is to be afraid but do it anyway. It is in line with another saying, which says courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to act despite it. When God gives you a vision, you can do it even when fear tells you that you can’t.

I’m currently in a season of reflection, and I’ve been thinking about opportunities I didn’t take because I talked myself out of because of a mixture of fear, lack of courage, and uncertainty. One thing I know today is that I want everything God has for me. I don’t want to let anything cause me to miss anything, especially anything God has given us authority over!

This issue is about moving in courage, and our fears keeps us from that. Look at your life and begin tackling whatever is holding you back. Remember Deuteronomy 31:6, which says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Word of the Quarter – Moving in Courage

In the fall issue of The Scroll, we began a new overarching theme, “Submitting to the Spirit of God” with the topic “Hearing the Voice of God.” In the winter issue, we continued with the subject, “Coming Out of the Shadows.” In this issue, we continue the overarching theme with the topic “Moving in Courage.”

The Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines the word courage as, “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” When the editing team met to outline the overarching theme, we thought Mary and Joseph were perfect for the “Women of the Bible” and “Men of the Bible” sections, particularly the courage they needed when they had to flee to Egypt. The Bible is full of many other examples of people moving in courage because of the confidence they had in God.

We are sure you can look at your life and see examples of everyday people moving in courage and making huge impact on the world around them. When the editing team met a few issues ago, we each talked about a time when fear, insecurity, and self-doubt threatened the courage we needed to walk boldly through doors God opened.

One editor shared about starting a youth choir. She had been dreaming, asking, seeking, and knocking. She had made connections, and she had support. When everything fell into place and the door opened, she realized that getting to that point was not enough. It would take courage to put aside and navigate fear, insecurity, and self-sabotage and courageously walk through the door with faith that God had equipped her. Today her choir, Lifted Youth Gospel Choir, has grown substantially and is a nurturing community that empowers young voices and hearts through music.

Another shared when writing opportunities began to come. She thought of a million reasons why she should not pursue them. In the end, it was fear. Fear of opening her writing and words to criticism. She decided that she would rather be someone who had the courage to create. She also felt like part of her responsibility as a writer was to give a voice to the voiceless by putting into words what someone felt but could not find the words to express. Today, she continues to seek and create new writing opportunities as well as expand into the area of social media and corporate communications.

Another shared when she was getting married for a second time. She was afraid of getting into another relationship, and she wondered if she could make it work this time. She felt like she was not ready and that it was too soon, but God spoke to her. He told her to go ahead because this marriage was ordained, and He would be with her. She felt she could rely on God’s voice and not her own feelings or past. Now she is celebrating 53 years of marriage with a vow renewal service. In addition, she and her husband answered the call to begin a ministry that will celebrate 30 years in 2025.

We will all have moments of extreme fear. Moments where we must decide if we will settle for the status quo or reach down for the courage to move into the position that God is calling us to. When God opens a door for us, it is our opportunity to release doubt, accept the blessing, and walk confidently and courageously in our calling.

PCC Scroll: Editor’s Corner

Filling the Void

I recently spent many, many, many, many hours listening to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Rings, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King) on Audible. There is so much detail in the extraordinary world Tolkien created, and I have only just brushed the surface.

I have now begun the huge task of digging deeper into Tolkien’s world by listening to The Silmarillion. It is my first time tackling this epic tale. There is a lot to absorb, and it will take multiple readings to fully take it all in. I am early in the book, but one word I keep hearing is void. The word void can be defined as, “a completely empty space.” In the Tolkien world, the Void is the uninhabited space outside of time and creation. In certain context, it refers to the state of not being.

Knowing Tolkien’s religious background, it is not hard to notice certain spiritual themes. There is an ongoing battle between good and evil. There are characters who start off shaky or lose their course who find redemption in the end. There are characters whose pride and ambition lead them to destruction. In listening to The Silmarillion, one can’t help but think about the book of Genesis and the creation of the world. There was a void, and God filled it.

Since Genesis, the created have become creators by molding material provided by the Creator. Fueled with strong imaginations, we have come a long way from the rudimentary tools found in museums worldwide. Countless inventions have been envisioned and eventually perfected, prototype after prototype. We have created boats to sail on the sea. We have created planes to fly in the air. We have made life-saving discoveries in medicine. Our imagination, it would seem, has no limit.

It was this desire to create that got Melkor, a character from The Silmarillion, in trouble, and it can sometimes get us in trouble. While God gave us dominion over the earth, we have always struggled with dominion over ourselves. If there is a void, it is in our nature to try to fill it, sometimes with unintended consequences.

We have 24 hours in a day and most of that time outside of sleep is spent doing something. We work. We spend time with loved ones. We watch television or read. We exercise. We eat. We do; we do; and we do. But, in all of our doing, how many of us are focused on doing our passion or what we were created to do?

We not only fill time with activities. We also find ways to fill our emotional spaces. When we are sad, we shop, eat, or mope. When we are angry, we lash out at the world around us. We can also fill the void with empty sex, illicit drugs, excessive alcohol, and other coping mechanisms that are unproductive and unhealthy.

In relationships, when we sense uncertainty, we can fill voids with (mostly unvalidated) internal narratives. For example, we create a story when we think someone is upset with us. The story becomes reality in our minds, yet we never take the time to challenge or validate it.

When we attempt to fill voids, we fill them with everything but the thing that will fill it: walking in our God-given purpose. We are made to create. We are born with purpose and the gifts and talents to bring it to life. It is when we are out of alignment with our purpose and call that we begin to fill the void with unproductive and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

In this new year, ask yourself what you are filling your void with. Make sure they are things that bring you closer to God and fulfilling your purpose and calling in this life. Don’t give in to fear. When given the choice to be a creator or a critic, choose to create. You were created to create, so get to it!

PCC Scroll Your Money Matters

Starting Points: Where do you start?

When I was in college, certain events would cause a friend to sadly shake his head and say, “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” It is a quote that is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin. It basically means that, if we do not plan, we are setting ourselves up to fail. On the flip side, if we plan, then we are setting ourselves up to succeed.

Our financial success is a great example where this motto plays out. Although we are at the beginning of the year, I will not lecture you about goals and resolutions around budgeting, saving, investing, and getting out of debt. I will advise you to take this opportunity to take the pulse of your financial situation and will sprinkle those words in this article.

A few years back, Sister Mei-Li wrote an amazing article about “Starting with the End in Mind.” She called it backward planning—starting with the end goal and working backward to develop a plan. Some common examples of backward planning are college funds, retirement accounts, and estate planning.

Habit 2 of Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is to “Begin with the end in mind.” He encourages people to envision what they want in the future, so they can plan and work toward it. Covey recommends thinking (long and hard) before acting. Ask yourself, “If I do this, will it lead to my goals or delay my goals?”

These are both great reminders. When I saw the topic “Starting Points,” my first thought was that creating a financial plan is the first step. From there, future financial decisions should be made based on the desired endgame. It is something I did this fall. I looked at my life (all areas) and wrote how my life looked right now and how I wanted it to look in the future. A big part of the process was thinking (long and hard) about what success looked like for me. From there, I created a vision board. In terms of finances, I had to determine what financial stability and security looked like for me.

Ask yourself where you want to see yourself financially in one year, five years, ten years, and so on. Create a list of all your financial goals. As you are thinking, the goals will begin to fall into short-term goals (within a few months or years) and long-term goals.

Possible Short-Term Goals

· Create an emergency fund: For example, save $1,200 in a year by saving $100 each month.

· Pay off credit card: In the meantime, try not to use your credit card(s).

· Travel fund: Yes; there are some “fun” things beyond necessities.

· Down payment for a car: Save 10% to 20% of price.

Possible Long-Term Goals

· Retirement fund: Some recommend 15% of your gross salary every year. Start where you can and build up.

· Home down payment: This could be anywhere from 5% to 20%.

· Pay off mortgage early: Pay extra toward your principal each month.

Education Fund: Investigate a tax-advantaged 529 Plan.

Building a financial plan is not a one-time event. It is a living plan that can change quickly with life events such as marriage, divorce, birth, death, new job, etc. It’s hard to balance with so many competing needs, but, if you have certain things in place like savings and emergency funds, it does make it easier.

Make sure your plan is something you can commit to and then make sure your financial moves support the life you are trying to create. Create a vision board of where you want to see yourself and consider the steps needed to bring them to light. Whether your goal is for one year from now or 20 years from now, it starts with planning today. Plan so you don’t fail.

Wanderlust 2024 — Travel Plans from Family and Friends

Always a pleasure to write for the Port of Seattle. Adding in the topic of travel makes it particularly sweet!

Editor’s Corner—Hearing the Voice of God

Many years ago, I was talking to a woman who had been following God for decades. I remember her saying that she seeks God’s input in everything, even for small items like what to wear each day, which I found a little odd.

Hearing the voice of God is such an interesting topic to me. In our humanity, we are very capable of convincing ourselves that whatever we want and desire is the will of God. When it comes down to it, some of my choices are made from gut instinct followed by me asking permission later. I am not sure if this is necessarily a bad thing, but the theme of this newsletter does make me mindful of thinking before leaping.

Something happened recently that reminded me of the importance of slowing down to hear the voice of God. I have an older car (circa 2001), and the car is starting to show its age. There are certain parts of the car that wear down because of use and other parts because of time. I went to get what was supposed to be a routine repair. The mechanic recommended some other services, and the quote made me wonder if it was time to buy a new car.

I do research for a living, so I quickly sprang into research mode. I looked up the value of my car for trade in and private sell. I also investigated certified used cars, and I found three that were reasonably priced, had good gas mileage, were available, and still under warranty.

Quite frankly, buying a new car is not something I was planning on doing for another few years, but my more reactive side was ready to turn my old car in that very day. I bought the car from a friend, who had said she would buy the car from me if I ever decided to sell it.

I am so glad the Spirit led me to call her. From that conversation, I was able to find a company to get a second quote. I was also able to point out some of the cost differences to my mechanic based on average prices found online. The mechanic came back with another quote, and I was also able to get a better understanding of what was crucial and what could wait. The second quote I received was much lower because it only addressed the part (of the part) that needed to be repaired.

This experience is a reminder of a few things.

· One. When you feel like God has you on a path, do not to get detoured when interruptions or distractions pop up.

· Two. Seek trusted wise counsel before you act.

· Three. Don’t make decisions on the cuff. Stepping back to think through options helps you make sounder choices.

· Four. Sometimes a second opinion is needed. The Bible asks us whose report will we believe. When life happens, it is often easy to lose sight of the promises of God because of what our natural eyes see.

· Five. Know what costs you are willing and able to bear.

There is a meme I see quite a bit that says, “God answers requests in three ways: Yes, No, and Wait.” The “No” is because God gives you something better. The “Wait” (or “not yet”) is because something better is coming.

As life happens, I intend to fully seek the voice of God in all things. Little things. Big things. Now I might not get to the level of asking God about what to wear, but I will be more mindful of seeking God’s will instead of asking for God to meet me wherever I find myself.

Luckily, God knows me. Just like He knows you. As we edge closer to a new year, hear from God before you move. It will save you from unnecessary costs down the road.

Word of the Quarter—Hearing the Voice of God

In the last issue of The Scroll, we finished the overarching theme “Discerning Truth: Learning to Recognize the Character and Word of God in a Sea of Information.” In this edition, we begin a new overarching theme: “Submitting to the Spirit of God.” In this issue, we come from the topic “Hearing the Voice of God.”

How did we get here? We are not sure if we have ever shared our process with you, but since our new overarching theme is “Submitting to the Spirit of God,” we wanted to share how we practice “Hearing the Voice of God.” The editing team has an annual retreat to plan the calendar year, which runs from October to September. Prior to the retreat, each editor is asked to reflect on what God is doing in their life and the lives of those around them. Not only what God is doing, but also what God is saying.

At the retreat, we have a conversation and develop an overarching theme. Once we have the overarching theme, we then drill down to four topics. Based on the topic, we can assign people to “Women of the Bible” and “Men of the Bible,” as well as topics for “Fit for the Kingdom” and “Your Money Matters.”

During the retreat, one editor wondered if we are prepared for what is ahead of us? Are we preparing for what is next? Are we factoring in rest and restoration, which are important for the journey ahead? With all that is going on in the world, it is important for us to stay in the fight and not become disillusioned, discouraged, or worn out. We must stay focused on our journey and remain built up. If we follow the voice of God and focus on our calling, we will impact the world. If we seek God and don’t limit ourselves or our gifts, there is so much we can do.

Another editor has been reading the book of Acts. The upper room experience was a catalyst for ministry in the world. The focus of our last couple of issues has been establishing and strengthening ourselves. Now what? It is time to turn our inner-view focus and learn what it means to be the church in sacred community as was modeled by the early church. We must ebb and flow when we allow people to journey with us, otherwise we can create harm when we share in community.

One editor asked what does the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among people look like? If we are trying to become Christ like (living out the word of God and following the example of Christ), how does that change our actions, thoughts, and attitudes? Christ spent His life in service to those marginalized in society, showed love to people around Him, put God’s will before His own, and fulfilled His purpose. Christ’s life was one of sacrifice and serving, not a life of being exalted and served. What changes do we need to make to model Him?

What is the voice of God saying to you in this season, and how will you submit to it? Often, we are moving at a fast pace, so what does it look like to slow down and be present even if it feels like an “inconvenience.” Why the word inconvenience? The Holy Spirit often interrupts our day and our agenda to bring us back to God’s will for our lives. Even when we only recognize the voice in the distance, it is what is needed to bring us back to focus on our calling.

As we prepare for what is coming, live in sacred community, and strive to become more Christ-like, let us submit to God’s Spirit and follow His voice.

Your Money Matters—Best Practices

This is an article I wrote for The Scroll, my church’s quarterly newsletter.

When it comes to financial best-practice articles, it often feels like rinse and repeat. When I research the topic, I see the same items over and over.

Budget

While we probably have a rough idea about how much we spend, it is worthwhile to track spending over the course of two months. Budgeting is important because, if followed, it can stop you from spending more than you make.

I see the 50/30/20 spending rule a lot. You spend 50% of your monthly budget on needs. Needs are expenses essential to your wellbeing. Think groceries, housing, and transportation. You spend 30% of your monthly budget on wants. Wants are things that, while nice, are not essential. Think eating out, cable, and the newest gadget. I feel wants and needs are subjective. For example, some lists include gym membership as a want because you can work out for free. However, others consider it a necessary investment for later health. You spend 20% of your monthly budget on savings or paying off debt. This is considered paying yourself. This 20% includes savings as well as investments for retirement. More on both later.

Don’t forget God in your budget. Whether tithes or free-will offering, invest in the Kingdom. I would also add the importance of giving to charities as part of your budget. During times of inflation, people cut back on charitable giving. If your budget allows, consider donating to a cause that is close to your heart. Whether a children’s hospital, foodbank, or homeless shelter, the need is great.

Eliminate Debt

Eliminating debt is important so you can invest and save. Some debt like student loans, mortgages, and car loans are “good” debt. If you can, eliminate debt early by paying extra each month. When it comes to using your credit card, ask yourself if it is something you need urgently. Some people use their credit card throughout the month. This helps them build reward points that can be used for travel. Just be sure to pay it off each month to avoid costly interest.

Savings/Emergency Fund

Having an emergency fund is a way to stay out of or minimize debt. Set up automatic deductions to streamline the saving process. It may be a good idea to separate savings and emergency funds into different accounts. When I think of savings, I think of something I am saving for. For example, saving for a vacation or putting money aside for a big-ticket item I want to purchase. When the expense occurs, the money is already in place.

When I think of an emergency fund, I think of money set aside in case I lose my job or for an unexpected expense, such as unplanned car maintenance or appliance replacement.

Save for Retirement

A common best practice for retirement savings I hear often is 15% of your income. This may not be practical for everyone, and it is something that can be built toward. As you get your yearly increase, increase the money you have going toward this fund. Having the money automatically withdrawn is another best practice.

The future will hold unknown expenses, so plan as best as you can. For most, Social Security will not be enough to cover all expenses, so it is important to have multiple streams of income including IRAs and 401s. Discussing medical care is another topic entirely. Medicare and/or Medicaid will need supplemental insurance.

It is a good idea to think about how you want your retirement to look. Do you want to travel? If so, add that to your budget.

Plan to be debt free when you retire.

Invest in Yourself

Managing your money is all about balance, so it’s important that you treat yourself. The extent of this treat will be unique to your budget. Whatever the treat, make sure it falls within your budget.

When it comes to financial best practices, think about the life you want to live and make decisions based on that.

Produced in Washington State Dinner Menu

Always a privilege to write for the Port of Seattle’s blog!

Eating local is the way to go, and we’re so lucky that Washington state is a top U.S. producer of many delicious agricultural commodities. Celebrate the economic bounty on your dinner table with these recipes for a three-course dinner featuring some of the top Washington state products! These products make it to global markets by ship through The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) and by cargo plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA Airport). 

Mexico City

I recently traveled to Mexico City.

Mexico City is the largest city in North America — followed by New York City and Los Angeles — with around nine million people in the city and 25 million in the greater metro area. Depending on the list, it is the fifth or sixth largest city in the world by population.

As of 2018, there were 35 World Heritage Sites in Mexico. Mexico ranks first in the Americas and seventh worldwide by number of sites.

I had the advantage of staying with my friend and her family while in Mexico City. Before I left Seattle, I had curated a list of things I wanted to do and crosschecked my list against her recommendations as someone who grew up in the city.

Things to Do

Visit Different Neighborhoods

Coyocan

Coyocan is a vibrant borough in Mexico City. In the main plaza, you can find a market with vendors selling ice cream, fruit drinks, corn-on-the-cob, quesadillas, tortas, and more. The smells are a sensory delight. There are also street performers entertaining the crowds.

The Frida Kahlo Museum is in the neighborhood. Frida was born and grew up in the house that now serves as the museum. She also lived there with her husband, Diego Rivera, for several years. It is also where she passed away.

San Juan Bautista Church and Monastery was built between 1520 and 1552 and is one of three oldest parish churches in the city. The complex has been reconstructed and restored various times so not much of the original church remains.

The area has a great vibe and is worth visiting. Besides the above-mentioned there are restaurants, cafes, museums, bookstores, and other attractions.

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La Condesa

La Condesa was my favorite neighborhood and is split into three sections Colonia Condesa, Colonia Hipódromo, and Colonia Hipódromo Condesa. There are many cafes, bookstores, restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. I walked around Amsterdam Avenue and enjoyed watching people walking their dogs, jogging, or enjoying outdoor dining. Amsterdam Avenue is a street that is shaped like an elliptic so you can literally walk around it. For those familiar with Seattle neighborhoods, I would say it is a cross between Capitol Hill and Freemont.

Mexico Park is also a place you can walk around or have a picnic.

There is also a vibrant market called Mercado de Medellín, which has everything you could think of buying from fruits, vegetables, and warm foods to fish and other meats to home décor. It’s quite large, and it was filled with locals buying from their neighborhood market.

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Polanco

Polanco is a neighborhood in the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Mexico City. Polanco is home to the most expensive street in Mexico and is known as a (luxury) shopping district. You can find restaurants, hotels, as well as diplomatic mansions and embassies. The area is one of the most expensive real estate markets in all Latin America.

Chapultepec Park lays within Polanco’s borders. Other parks include Lincoln Park,

 America Park, Machado Park, and the Plaza Uruguay.

The National Museum of Anthropology, which is in Chapultepec Park, is also part of the neighborhood. I can’t say enough about this museum. I was there five hours and would have stayed longer if it had not closed. If you like history, visit and plan to be there most of the day. It takes you through the history of Mexico and the people who lived there throughout the ages. Crushed for time? My friend’s aunt, who is an anthropologist, recommends Olmecas Room, Teotihuacan Room, Mexico Room, and Mayan Room. I explored the latter three rooms twice.

Other museums located in Polanco include the Museo Tamayo (in Chapultepec) and the Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros.

In the area you can find the Maguen David Synagogue, San Augustine Church, and San Agustine Park.

The area also has street names like Socrates, Edgar Allen Poe, and Galileo.

You can get to the area by the Metro using the Polanco and Auditorio stations.

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San Angel

If you are in town on a Saturday, visit the Saturday Bazaar. There are tons of handcrafts, including jewelry, textiles, woodwork, and ceramics. There are also areas where artists sell their paintings. The bazaar is a mixture of tourists and locals buying goods. There are many shops and boutiques as well as street vendors (food and goods).

The neighborhood has cobblestone streets and colonial homes. There are also galleries, museums, cafes, and restaurants. One of the museums includes works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Behind the market you will see San Jacinto Church and Monastery. 

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Historical Center

There is a lot packed in the Zócalo or main square and the historic center. I went there over several days to do activities.

When I first saw the Cathedral of Mexico City, my jaw dropped. It rivaled those in Europe. The cathedral is in Zocalo (the main square). You will notice a European feel to the area as Italian designers were brought in for some of the buildings. In the area you can find the Palace of Fine Arts (be sure to stroll the adjacent park, Alameda Park), Templo Mayor (you can see quite a bit from outside), National Palace, House of Tiles, and the Postal Palace.

Be sure to walk along Tacuba Street, which is the oldest street in Mexico City.

The National Palace is worth the visit. Please note you must sign in using some sort of photo identification (and leave the identification for the duration of the tour). There are scheduled tours for different languages, so check before you go for the current times. The tour is free, and you are shown the murals of Diego Rivera and given in-depth analysis of each mural. At the end of the tour, you are given a complimentary book about the palace. Please note this is as of August 2023.

There are other churches nearby such as St. Francis Church and La Santisma Church. Please note, I was told to visit the latter church early in the day due to unsavory activity in the area at night.

Walking along, I ran into the Barrio Chino, which is near the Palace of Fine Arts. The neighborhood consists of two blocks and has restaurants and businesses that import goods.

The San Juan Market is mentioned on a list I saw, but for me, it was underwhelming.

You will also encounter different plazas including Plaza de la Constitución and Plaza del Caballito.

You can get to the area by the Metro using the Zócalo station.

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Walking

You can walk along the Promenade of the Reform and run into many sculptures and statues including the Angel of Independence, the Monument to the Revolution (which is not on Reform but can be seen from the street), and Monument to Cuauhtémoc. You can see a great view of the street from Chapultepec Castle. Be mindful to follow the street. There is a plethora of roundabouts, so it’s easy to veer off course as I personally experienced.

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Bosque de Chapultepec

Bosque de Chapultepec is divided into four sections. The first section is the oldest and most visited and includes Chapultepec Castle, Chapultepec Zoo, the Museum of Anthropology, and the Tamayo Museum, among others.

Chapultepec Forest is one of the largest city parks in Mexico at around 1,700 acres. The area was a retreat location for Aztec rulers. Chapultepec Castle was built during colonization and became the official residence of Mexico’s heads of state until 1934.

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Teotihuacan Pyramids

I visited the Teotihuacan Pyramids via a tour operated by Turitour. The tour has two options, one of which is an express. The guide was very knowledgeable, and I learned a lot of history. The “pyramids” are not pyramids; they are temples, including temples to the sun and moon. The temple to the moon may be a temple to the Goddess of Fertility.

Note the area is hard to navigate, especially the steps. A family with two strollers decided to forgo the tour of the pyramids. Also be sure to bring water and a hat. There are vendors who sell hats for 200 pesos (price as of August 2023). Also dress comfortably and wear sunscreen. The area was hotter than the city.

I won’t get into the history of the location, but it is rich and worth researching.

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Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

I went to the basilica thinking I would be there for 30 minutes to an hour. I was there much longer. There is a lot to see, and it is a place of pilgrimage for many. I read that only St. Peter’s Basilica has more visitors among the Marian churches. Around nine million people visit around December 12 alone, which is the day on which Saint Mary of Guadalupe is celebrated. The site has two basilicas, the Templo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey (Old Basilica of Guadalupe) and the New Basilica of Guadalupe as well as Capilla del Cerrito, Temple and Convent of Las Capuchinas, Capilla del Pocito, and Capilla de Indios.

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The Mercado de Artesanías de La Ciudadela

The market has around 350 vendors selling handicraft items from around the country. The market has blankets, tablecloths, and other textiles as well as dishes and glassware, mirrors, clothing, handbags, silver, ceramics, jewelry, and much more.

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Eat like a local

The main meal is in the afternoon. It is a great time to catch up and eat over several courses. Eating with the family are treasured memories!

While I did not eat from any street vendors, the smells were delightful! They were everywhere, especially by Metro stations and places of interest.

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Getting around

There are many ways to navigate the city. While renting a car is always an option, I would not recommend it. The Metro is a very good way to travel. As of August 2023, Metro tickets are a very affordable 5 pesos a ticket. The system is like London and Paris, with connection points throughout the system. When using public transportation, secure your belongings. There are cars upfront that are women only. I gravitated toward those. When traveling during rush hour, plan for extra time because you may have to wait for several trains before you can fit. Also edge closer to the front when your stop is close. One stop, I had to be very aggressive to get off.

It is easy to get turned around. When I veer off course when I travel (and I do), I find a Metro station to take me back to a place I am familiar with.

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Before you go

Before traveling to any country, it is always a good idea to visit the U.S. Department of State for the latest information. Here is a direct link to Mexico. Please note that there are several areas of the country that the U.S. Department of State is currently recommending not to travel to.

As with any major city, use caution. Be mindful of pickpockets, be aware of your surroundings, and research which areas to avoid at night (or altogether).

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has many direct flights, including direct flights to international locations, including Mexico City.

There are many ways to arrive at SEA. My favorite is the light rail. SEA is a very busy airport. A recent blog post overviewed the different travel programs. You can also expedite the security process by using Sea Spot Saver. After you clear TSA, visit the two Little Free Libraries in the A Concourse. Bring a book to leave and take a book to read.

Colonization

When I was there, there were protests from indigenous groups throughout the city. Whether the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the list goes on, one thing I have noticed is that indigenous groups struggle. It is shameful, and I lack the words to adequately express how I feel at the moment.

The USA

Whenever I travel, I look at my passport. I feel a certain way when I read, that “The government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Let it be so.