Sweets, Sweets, & More Sweets!

I admit it, I have a real weakness for Mexican pastries! After a long day of sightseeing and trekking around the city, I like nothing better than to sit in a cafe, order a cup of coffee, and indulge in a sweet treat. It's the perfect way to end a perfect day in DF (or anywhere else).

As you can see from the price tags, even the fanciest of deserts is hardly more than $1.50 US. Some of my favorites are even less expensive! Best of all, as you can see from these photos, the selection is tremendous. And, day after day, the selection remains great! The biggest issue is deciding which treat best suites your mood on a particular visit. Although there are many choices in pastry shops or patisserias, my favorite tends to be L'Ideal with many locations around the city.

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Many people worry about traveling around Mexico. I happen to love the Mexican bus system. It's efficient, safe, relatively inexpensive, and buses go everywhere in the country. Check out this article about busing around Mexico.

http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/4006-busing-it-in-mexico-what-s-not-to-love

 

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The Palacio National

A trip to Mexico City wouldn't have been complete without a stop at the Palacio National to see perhaps Rivera's best murals. I say best, and not necessarily my favorite, because of the complicated nature and size of this project. This set of murals was begun in 1929. The staircase mural is a real masterpiece showing Mexico Through the Centuries.

Inside Courtyard at the Palacio National

The size, the angles, and the crowds make the staircase particularly difficult to photograph. Nonetheless, the amount of detail in the mural shows why it took Rivera six years to complete it. Rivera returned to the National Palace to complete the project between 1945 and 1951. In the set of murals at the top of the staircase on the first floor, he has a detailed presentation of the pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico. The vision of ancient Tenochtitlan (modern day downtown Mexico City), gives the viewer a sense of how expansive and advanced this civilization was.

Detail from the Staircase Mural

Detail from Images of Ancient Tenochititlan

Tattoos & Piercings! So, what's so different today?

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Just when you think that there couldn't be any new archeological discoveries, something new pops up. Check out this article on previously unknown cave paintings in northern Mexico.

http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2013/05/5000-cave-paintings-found-in-northern.html

 

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Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe 3

From churches to museums to art galleries, it's difficult not to encounter Our Lady of Guadalupe. Including the Mexican flag, it is the most ionic image displayed in the most Catholic country.

This particular image of the Virgin immediately grabbed my attention due to the material from which it was constructed. The artist fashioned her image out of natural materials and gave her decidedly indigenous features. Most likely, this would have been how the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 rather than more European as she is often depicted.

 

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When in DF, I spend most of my time walking the streets in one neighborhood or another. I'll use the metro to get me to the section of the city that interests me, but from there, it's all on foot. Check out this article about walking around this megacity.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2013/feb/08/walking-mexico-city-dbc-pierre

 

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Deconstructing Frida Kahlo

One of my favorite painting by Frida Kahlo is her self-portrait entitled Las Dos Fridas completed in 1939. As one visits the museums around Mexico City, paintings by Kahlo are relatively scarce. However, if you venture out to Chapultepec Park you'll find the very enjoyable Museo de Arte Moderno that houses the Kahlo masterpiece. This museum also contains canvasses by Dr. Atl, Rivera, Siqueiros, Orozco, and O'Gorman.

In this particular painting, Frida presents two sides of her personality. In the top image, she is in a traditional Tehuana costume and represents the woman Diego respected and loved. The bottom image shows her in a Victorian wedding dress and represents the Frida who Diego abandoned. The hearts of the two Fridas are exposed. This is a convention she repeatedly used to express her pain.

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I've always enjoyed Cinco de Mayo here in the States and usually try to catch dinner in a local Mexican restaurant or cook up some delicious recipe at home from south of the border. But, do you know what the significance of this day is in Mexican history?

http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3407-cinco-de-mayo-what-is-everybody-celebrating

 

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A Trip To The Mercado de Jamaica

Flowers By The Dozens

Although not all that commonly visited by tourists in DF with limited time, a trip to the Flower Market is well worth the effort. Centrally located, metro station Jamaica, it's a quick ride where you get off right at the market. Plan on spending a couple of hours wandering through the flower stalls and watching flower merchants prepare dazzling arrangements for customers.

Arrangements For Any Occasion

You'll be overwhelmed by the pure volume and diversity of flowers available on a daily basis most any time of the year.

A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose

Also plan to have lunch at one of the numerous eateries located within the market. The day I was there, I indulged in a couple of delicious tacos de lengua (tongue tacos) along with a tall glass of tepache (a fermented pineapple drink).

Blogger Enjoying A Taco de Lengua At Mercado de Jamaica

 

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An interesting article about an unsuspecting group of American illegals in Mexico. I guess the problem goes both ways.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-radio-and-tv-17098719

 

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