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Each day, two students on the trip will share their summary of the day's adventures and we will publish them here for friends and family to follow along. Let's travel together to Mexico!

Day 1 - Tessa and Camille

We started the day off at 4am and met the class at St. Lawrence in order to take the bus that will lead us to Montreal, where we ultimately began our journey. We boarded the plane at around 10:30 am, and arrived at the Mexico International Airport in advance, at around 14:30 pm, local time. To reach our hostel, we had to take another bus, but we had the unexpected surprise of facing a manifestation, which the tour guide Laura warned us about. Nevertheless, due to the several closed streets, we experienced a quite long tour of the city and its different neighbourhoods, which we would not have necessarily otherwise gotten to see. Despite this little hiccup, we concluded the night with a great traditional Mexican meal and an interesting salsa lesson that quickly immersed us into the Mexican culture.

  

 

Day 2 - Paloma and Thierry

The official 'día uno' in Mexico was one full of magic, incredible architecture, and museums. We started our day visiting the ruins of Templo Mayor under the intense sun. This was followed by the visit of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, which is right next to the former site. An interesting fact is that the cathedral is slanted due to the soil being very soft (as Mexico City was once a little island surrounded by a lake). Next, we walked by a very touristy street to reach the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The architecture was very Art Deco, something reminiscent of the Great Gatsby! Same with the Museo del Banco Nacional. We finished the afternoon by taking a Touribus ride, visiting the fancier spots in town.

  

  

 

Day 3 - Berthe and Danica

Today marks our third day in Mexico, and it's already been unforgettable! This morning, we visited the famous Casa Azul—Frida Kahlo's house—and it was absolutely breathtaking. Walking through the vibrant rooms where she lived and painted felt surreal, especially since we saw so many of her personal belongings. Her artwork and personal story really moved us. Later, we finally had the chance to try a classic Mexican treat: sliced mango with Tajín and lime. We'd heard about it before, but nothing compares to the real thing. It was so sweet, tangy, and perfectly spicy. I can't believe how much we are learning and experiencing here. Every moment feels like a step deeper into Mexico's beautiful culture and we are very glad to be experiencing that with the group.

  

 

Day 4 - Fares and Ariane

On May 25, our group rode towards of the northeast of Mexico City to reach the archeological site of Teotihuacán. This sacred ancient city is referred to as "the place where gods were born." The most majestic pyramid observed by our group was the "Sun" pyramid, designed to each day venerate, respect and appreciate the rising of the Sun, the greatest god. Following the guided tour, we explored the surroundings while stopping by some local craft kiosks for gifts and souvenirs (real obsidian was sold!). We then returned to Mexico City to enjoy some free time with friends in and near the hostel despite the rainy afternoon: A truly knowledge-rich and amusing day for our group! Next up: A visit to the Québec Delegation in Mexico and to Xochimilco.

¡Vámonos!

  

 

Day 5 - Anne and Jacinthe

We began the day by visiting Mexico's "Délégation Générale du Québec." Formed in 1980, this assembly is currently celebrating its 45 years! Lucía Arias, l'Attachée aux affaires francophones et éducatives, gave us a presentation to showcase why it is so important for Québec to be represented in Mexico. Indeed, more than 700 enterprises from Québec do business with Mexico.
After eating lunch in Polanco, we headed to Xochimilco; we boarded colourful boats and were pushed across a canal by guides. The weather was not exactly ideal—it was freezing and pouring rain—but we were comforted by the sight of dogs, great egrets and ducks along both sides of the canal. Our group was also serenaded by mariachis (and by our teacher Sandra, who sang along)! Did we mention that we witnessed dozens of creepy dolls hanging from trees? Although the rain took us by surprise, the day was filled with new experiences!

  

 

Day 6 - Laurence and Maïlao

Today was marked by an abundance of culture and steps! Our day started by the exploration of the Anthropology museum of Mexico City. In there, we learned how Mexican culture evolved throughout time as seen through 36 different expositions both inside and outside. We explored themes ranging from the Mayan and Aztecs civilizations to the human evolution. Walking through the Chapultepec park, which is almost twice the size of Central Park, led us to the Chapultepec castle. This castle built in 1785 served as an residence for the viceroy and a military training base before becoming a museum in 1944. It is situated on a hill, offering a gorgeous view overlooking Mexico City.

  

  

 

Day 7 - Raphaël and Arielle

Our last day in Mexico City was truly memorable. We started with a visit to the "Museo Memoria y Tolerancia," which was incredibly thought-provoking. It featured exhibits on various genocides from the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, and the Rwanda Genocide, giving us a chance to really reflect on how we respond to injustice, whether we want to be perpetrators, bystanders, or those who stop them. After a heavy morning, we split into three groups to make the most of our remaining time in the city. Some went to the mall and explored a new area near the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, others visited the "Palacio de la Medicina," and the rest headed to the National Arts Museum. We're sad to be leaving Mexico City already, but we know more pleasant activities await us in Oaxaca.

  

 

Day 8 - Juliette and Elizabeth

Today we travelled from Mexico City to Oaxaca. Normally, the drive is around 6 hours long, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it took us around 8 hours for the journey. As we travelled, we saw many landscapes, including mountains, volcanoes, cacti, and even wild animals, as some of them can be seen in the pictures. When we finally arrived, we checked into the hostel at around 8pm. We were too late to enjoy the hostel activities, as we got caught into a heavy storm, but we were still able to enjoy a meal as a group at the end of the day.