Strolling back from lunch at the Mercado Abelardo Rodriguez, I stumbled upon these recycling bins near the Plaza de Loreto. In the city's effort to become more "green", it also appears that they kept ascetics in mind when designing trash receptacles. Colorful, playful, and visually appealing bins encourage anyone in this neighborhood to recycle. I bet kids love to throw items into these containers. Jump on an Ecobici and start saving the planet!
One of my favorite early evening activities is having a nice cold cerveza in the bar at the Majestic Hotel. High above the Zocalo, you have one of the best views in the city center and of the cathedral. For only about $3, enjoy an afternoon beer while watching the late day light change on the stones of the cathedral. Grab a table by the window for a drink or have dinner on the terrace. There is no better place in the city to quietly unwind and brush off the dust from a full day of trekking around DF seven stories above the crowds below.
Does anyone know the name of these beautiful, purple flowering trees? One sees them throughout the city this time of year. Walking around the Condesa neighborhood, this extraordinary plaza is just one of the attractions that grabbed my attention. While in DF, don't just visit the major tourist attractions. Be sure to take the time to simply walk around neighborhoods in order to glimpse life as Chilangos experience it. Better yet, rent an Ecobici and cruise around in style. On Sundays, many streets are closed to traffic giving bikes the full right of way.
Architecturally, this is one of the coolest places in Mexico City. It was designed by architect and painter Juan O'Gorman for "famous" friends of his in the 1930s. If you saw a recent film staring Selma Hayek, this is where a number of scenes were filmed. Alright, I've probably already given it away. If you guessed that the famous friends were Diego and Frida, you're correct. This is the outside of the Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera Y Frida Kahlo. Each had a separate house and studio here at the residence in San Angel. After their divorce, Frida then moved to the Casa Azul in Coyoacan. Inside, one can view Diego's studio just as it was when he worked in it.
On my visit to he San Angel neighborhood, I took a few minutes to stroll through the Casa del Risco just on the north side of Plaza San Jacinto. Throughout this wonderful colonial building now free museum, delightful objects and art appeared where least expected. This arrangement of flowers and the Virgin was just one of the treats the Casa had to offer. In a future posting, I'll share with you a photo of the amazing two-store fountain also found inside.
One of the very best reasons to venture into Chapultepec Park is to see the most unique and intriguing of Rivera's creations in Mexico City. The Fuente de Tláloc presents one a 3-D tiled fountain sculpture capturing the essence of the Native Mexican spirit.
The image one sees depends on which side of the fountain one views this masterpiece that Rivera started in 1952.
Inside the municipal water system building, Rivera muraled the Carcamo, the water tank designed for diverting water to the fountain.
As the murals quickly deteriorated due to the water, only recently has their restoration been completed and reopened to the public for viewing.
One may not be able to find a more peaceful spot in the city than this section of the park.
The Classic bronze sculptures that adorn the Alameda, bring both a sense of tranquility and grace to the park. Their watchful eyes make sure all is well. Early spring only enhanced the park's beauty dormant during the colder winter months.
The side of a building in the neighborhood of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe offered the perfect surface to advertise a local museum incorporating a little Day of the Dead imagery.
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| Thomas the Train? I Don't Think So. |
Closer to my hotel, this eery image appears amid eateries, coffee shops, and tiendas (small grocery stores) on a busy pedestrian walkway.
Mexico City is no different than other major metropolitan areas. The excitement of street art just might show up around any corner in the city.
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| Delivery To Your Front Door |
Fresh mangos and avocados delivered to your doorstep in some cases! Whether it's in the city or in a smaller town, vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables from the back of their trucks throughout the neighborhoods is a fairly common site. For as little as 10 pesos (less than $1US), one can buy a bag of ripe mangos. These guys even beat the nearly rock bottom produce prices you find in the mercados. But, they're always on the move so you have to catch them when you see them!
Hardly any shopping experience will compare to that found at the local market. Fresh produce, dried peppers, and an array of exotic to typical products are to be found throughout. Although markets vary in size from the large Mercado Merced to the much smaller Mercado San Juan, they all draw local shoppers in for their daily needs. From the housewife to the professional chef, all can find what they need to prepare the tasty dishes Mexico is know for. Most market also offer a number of inexpensive eateries where one can have an excellent lunch.
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| Fresh Veggies To Die For! |
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| Chicharron - A Mexican Favorite |
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| Wall to Wall Peppers |
When in DF, take the time and pay the small admission fee (about $1 US) to climb the narrow steps in the 16th century Catedral Metropolitana up to the bell tower. At the top, the view is great! After a short introduction (in Spanish) about the bells and towers, the real show is the striking of the bells on the hour.
Can you imagine mailing a letter or picking up a package in a building that more resembles a palace or a fine arts center? Well, that's exactly the case for anyone looking for postal services in downtown Mexico City. The Palacio Postal is just across the street from the Palacio de Bellas Artes. This early 20th century building was designed in Italian renaissance style and is a real stunner. The bronze rails of the staircase were actually cast in Florence.
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| Picking Up Your Mail In Style |
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| Florentine Railings Highlight the Ornate Staircase |
Quoting Shakespeare's Hamlet seemed most appropriate here. Whether through large rallies in the Zocalo or by smaller groups of individuals, there is a rich tradition of protests or demonstrations in DF. Here, this lively character is decrying the intrusion of the church into public education. Our nun's calculated location for this protest? Right in front of the Mexico City Cathedral. How fitting!
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| Plaza Santo Domingo |
Just two blocks north of the cathedral and the Zocalo is one of my favorite squares in Mexico City - Plaza Santo Domingo. In addition to simply being a picturesque spot for sitting and watching people, this square is the spot to go to if you need anything printed from First Communion and wedding invitations to business cards. Further, the square is surrounded by historical buildings from the 16th century Iglesia de Santo Domingo, the Secretaría de Educación Pública (loaded with great Diego Rivera murals), and the Palacio de la Inquisición which served as the headquarters for the Holy Inquisition in Mexico in the 1700s.
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| Historical Drawing of the Plaza |
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| San Jacinto Plaza |
One of the wonderful things about visitings the parks and plazas is the rich array of things to eat. Who doesn't love ice cream? This vendor is selling a variety of flavors, all handmade. Vanilla and lime are familiar enough flavors, but queso (cheese) or Angel's Kiss. Be adventurous, get a scoop of two different ones you've never tried before. I'm a sucker for anything mango! But, tuna (not what you think) is also a killer flavor. More on that one later.
On my visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I ventured up the 100m to the top of the hill to see the oldest structure in this very large complex. To my pleasure, the old chapel didn't disappoint! The Capilla del Cerrito (Hill Chapel) is on the spot where Juan Diego had his vision of the Virgin Mary in 1531. Inside, I was treated to these wonderfully carved wood and guilt statues of the saints. In a small niche in the chapel, St. Jose, St. Joaquin, and Sta. Ana watch over their flock.
Whether for your home or your business, any size chopping board can be found at this stall in the Mercado Merced. No matter what taco joint you pass in the city, you'll see all of them using these exact chopping boards/blocks to prepare the taco filling. Over time, as with any well used and seasoned utensil, these blocks become concave in shape due to nearly non-stop daily chopping of everything from beef to sausages to selected innards like tripe. Yum!
Everyday images to the local shopper are often extraordinary experiences for the traveler. One of my favorite activities is to walk around the markets in Mexico. It's all so different from what we experience at home. Although the smells can be strong (not necessarily unpleasant), I particularly enjoy seeing the variety of meats and seafood available on a daily basis. This small market off Lopez Street and just steps from the larger Mercado San Juan, would be just the place I'd go on daily to get whatever I might need for dinner that evening. By US standards, fresh food is inexpensive and the variety is tremendous.
This billboard is advertising several daylong music extravaganzas at the restaurant and dancehall La Terraza del Marquez. Admission is either free or no more than a reasonable $4US donation. Food in the form of botanas (snacks or small dishes like tapas) are available.
Ecobici stations can be found all over the city. For those with a membership, it's a very simple system. Borrow a bike a one location; return it to any other Ecobici rack. To further help fight the tremendous air pollution problem Mexico City faces, on Sundays, many downtown streets are closed to traffic and only permit bicycle or pedestrian usage. Increased, efficient public transportation like the more rapid Metrobus further promotes a greener DF.
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