An Afternoon Trip Around the World!

Every year in Mexico City, there is a big celebration of world cultures down Paseo de la Reforma, which is the big main thoroughfare through downtown.  It is called La Feria de las Culturas Amigas, or The Fair of the Cultures who are Friends...basically.  We saw the preparations being made yesterday, and decided to take a trip downtown and around the world this afternoon.

Each country represented has a booth on the sidewalk where they sell a variety of things from handicrafts to cosmetics to samples of the country's cuisine. 

Just in case you forget while we immerse ourselves in the cultural richness of the world, we are still in el DF.

Here is a map of the booths, grouped by region.

Our first stop was Lebanon, where we split a piece of the best baklava I have ever had.  The pistachios really make a big difference!

Our next stop was Algeria for some typical Algerian cookies.  Colorful as they are, they really did not have a lot of flavor.  Maybe they are meant to be enjoyed with tea?

Next, we crossed the street and entered Latin America!  We had to stop for pupusas in El Salvador.  This pupusa was hot, fresh and perfect!

Further down, we stopped by Argentina.  It smelled incredible in this booth, as they were grilling steaks.  It was very packed, though, so we just bought an artisenal alfajor.  It was interesting, as instead of normal cookies the layers were made with meringue...and the dulce de leche in the middle was incredible...mmmm...

Strolling up through the Americas, we arrived home to the USA.  I was really hoping for a hamburger, but the USA booth was not selling food.  So, Eric and I posed for pics with the red, white and blue instead. 

This is the view up Reforma when we were crossing the great divide between the Americas and Europe.

Next up, Italy!  We looked at the pizza here, but it looked pretty sad, so we went with a refreshing, icy treat.  It's funny, in Latin America there is a huge street food tradition, and you can really tell because the fresh cooked foods in the Latin American booths were divine, but the ones from the Europe booths were lacking a bit.  I guess they don't have a taco cart culture.

After Italy we strolled to Greece, where we found this hilarious sign.   Did you guys know that a Gyro is just a Greek taco??

 

This is for V & S...say feta!

After Greece, we made a stop in France.  We sampled a coffee eclair, and picked up a box of the best macarons ever...I think I have found a new French bakery!

Of course, Mexico City had its on booth (between Europe and Asia, oddly enough).  It was pretty, but no one was manning it...they should really get some al pastor going in there!

Finally we made it to Asia!  We stopped by Japan for a delicious and refreshing glass of iced green tea.  It was a combo of brewed tea from tea leaves, which the Japanese woman was making one tiny pot at a time, and bowls of matcha.  So good...

Next stop Indonesia!  We bought the coolest place mat set here and made..... 

The cutest table-scape ever!!!!

Looks like someone missed the party....kind of fitting, no?
REALLY!!! North Korea...you REALLY want us to call you the Popular Democratic Republic of Korea....REALLY!!

Our trip around the world took about three hours, and was really fun.  We finished the evening with a long Peruvian dinner on the patio of one of our favorite restaurants.  Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon!