While wandering around San Angel, I came upon this rather plain entryway framed perfectly by this flowering tree. Light, shadow, and color all seem to capture the stark, simple beauty of what so many of us enjoy about Mexico. I am set wondering about who might emerge from this door and where they will head only later to return to life behind these walls.
Around the Catedral Metropolitana one can find "shamans" cleansing away evil spirits (for $10 MEX, of course) or troops of Aztec dancers providing great entertainment for the throngs of tourists who visit the Centro Histórico in downtown Mexico City. A visit to the Zocalo is mandatory for any number of reasons. Art and architectural reach their zenith in the urban center. For those just interested in people watching, the Zocalo offers a bit of everything from local characters to organized demonstrations. Day or night something is going on!
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| The Palacio de Bellas Artes |
Built around 1905, the Fine Arts Museum is one of the showcase buildings in Mexico City. Located next to Alameda Central park, it houses some of the finest art found in the city. In addition, the Ballet Folclórico de México regularly performs here on Wednesdays and Sundays. From the Palacio, it's just a short walk down Madero Street to the Zocalo.
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| A Touch Of Modern Art In Front Of The Palacio |
On Sundays after 10 am, one can visit the museum for free. Between the park, numerous museums, and its proximity to the Catedral Metropolitana and other city center sites, one can easily wile way the better part of a weekend.
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| Choc Mool Meets Art Decco |
Inside the museum, one is treated to the mural masterpieces of Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros Above all of them, Rivera's Man at the Crossroads stands out. This piece was recreated after the original one commissioned for the Rockefeller Center was thoughtless destroyed due to anticapitalist themes.
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| The Blogger At Work! |
Walking down Madero Street (the wonderful pedestrian thoroughfare from the Zócalo to the Palacio de Bellas Artes), I stumbled upon this playful piece of modern sculpture just calling out my name. In a moment of whimsy, my creative brother snapped this shot promising me that it was truly a "one of a kind" moment now captured forever digitally. Alright, so how do I now get even with him? Let me think! Oh yes, go back and check out my "Doors and Windows Series" blog posting!
Real mole is nothing like what is sold in the jar in American supermarkets. Actually, if I can't have the Real McCoy, I don't even bother to eat its watered down substitute. Although I first tasted mole in the mole capital of the world, Oaxaca, home of at least seven different types of mole, I have more recently found it available in any number of restaurants in Mexico City. Of course, some restaurants do a better job preparing it than others.  |
| A Typical Display of Mole at a Mercado |
Mole poblano is a marvelous combination of spices, nuts, seeds, fruit, and chocolate that takes the form of a thick paste (as seen in the photo above). This then gets easily turned into a savory sauce often served over chicken or enchilladas. On nearly every trip to Mexico, I'll bring home a couple pounds of the paste that can be found in most markets. It keeps very well refrigirated and one can enjoy the authentic tastes of Mexico long after returning home.
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| Mi Lupita, Hole-In-The-Wall Fonda Serving Some Of The Best Mole In DF |
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