This was a shot from my hotel room window Sunday evening. A bit of rain and about 58 degrees. The days are supposed to be 70 and sunny.
We did make one quick stop at a Diego Rivera sculpture in a huge park. Very astounding on the ground but from the air it’s mind boggling.
Not being birds or having a drone - a picture of overhead view from the information boards will have to do.
Day Two - Monday the 3rd
We have a car and a new guide for the day. \240Off for an early start to visit the ancient pyramids in Teoticuama, about an hour from our hotel.
On the way out of town we visit an old basilica. \240We didn’t hike to the top to see it but did enjoy the 1800 version which is quickly sinking into oblivion. The more interesting basilica was built in 1964 and ugly as hell on the outside but wild and wonderful on the inside. \240Built to represent a honey comb to honor the queen, Virgin of Guadalupe.
Honeycomb or the Jettson’s?
Mass was in process. I loved how the chandeliers resembled honey comb cells. And those organ pipes!
For 1964 it was quite spectacular.
So , the most dreadful thing happened as we were leaving the church. We stood on the front entrance steps asking questions of our guide, Enrique (different Enrique than day one and NOT sick) A bird of some large size flew over and dropped POOP on the his head! \240Gross!
There was poop on his head, down the back of his neck and down his shirt and all over his jacket! \240He went somewhere to clean up and Cyn and I stood guard over his poopy jacket. \240Had lots of goods laughs later. He was a very good sport about it.
Next stop was the the pyramids at Teotihuacan about an hour from the city. On arrival we made the obligatory stop at a tourist sight/shops. It was very interesting actually. We got to meet some Mexican hairless dogs. They are vegan dogs that eat only crickets and vegetables 🥕! Astounding. The breeding female pictured would sell for $5K US!
We had to do a little shopping, of course, and ended up buying beautiful (high quality) silver bracelets. Mine is Lapus and Cynthia’s in turquoise.
These pyramids were built by ancient indigenous people of the times, pre Mayan, pre Aztec, \240starting in 150BC. Lots of history I wont bore you with but really great educational experience. \240Zoey, I want one of these when I die!
We started at the Pyramid of the Moon and then walked down the street of the Dead to the Temple of the Sun.
Looking back at the Moon pyramid
They stopped letting people walk on the pyramids only about 7 years ago. This place needs to be preserved!
After our tour we had a wonderful Mexican food lunch in El Grotto, just a short drive from the pyramids.
A fun and delicious outing. \240We headed back to Mexico City after lunch just in time to get all snazzy for a gallery opening we’d been invited to go to by my interior designer. \240She is friends with the owner and has designed many interiors of homes in this city. \240The artist being shown was a young emerging artist named Ad Minolti. Both Cynthia and I liked most of the work but loved meeting Georgina, the young woman representing him. The “people” watching was the best part. WOW, talk about local art society glamour. \240I couldn’t be so rude as to just stop people and ask if I could take a picture so none available. We were definitely the oldest duo there!
This is Georgina. Very colorful evening.
This was our favorite work.
As a young emerging Mexican artist his price point was already way out of my league in the 50k range!
Day Three — Tuesday February 4th
Museum day! \240We are both crazy about art museums and this city had many spectacular ones. \240Cynthia originally had 9 on her list but… give me a break! We cut it down to 4 and filled the entire day. \240First stop, was the Soumaya Museum. A crazy architectural work of art in itself. \240 Wonderful collection. \240Right next door was the Museo Jumex. It had a fantastic exhibit of Gabriel Orozco. \240What a multi media talent he is. photography, sculpture, painting. \240All 3 floors of this gallery just showing his works.
Gold leaf pillars with his signature geometric patterns.
Sculpture called elephant foot (it wasn’t) with hundreds of embedded eyeballs.
Cynthia contemplated the paintings and murals. \240So much to see. I wish I had taken more pictures
Next was the home of Frida Kahla. \240I always liked her work but after learning more about life and relationship with Diego Rivera, her miserable health and short life…. I now love her work. \240I can’t wait to get home and watch the old (2002) movie that starred a young Selma Heyek as Frida.
The Blue House. Frida’s childhood home and the home she died in in 1954 at age 47. \240It is located in a cool neighborhood called Coyacan.
Interior courtyard of the Blue House.
She and Diego collected paper machete art from their friend, Pelisier and have hundreds of pieces. Love it. I want to investigate modern artists working in this medium.
She was only 21 when they married and he was 42.
Margaritas after the tour in the picturesque Coyacan town square. More tacos.
Next up was Diego Rivera’s studio not far from Frida’s house. \240Wow, what a studio. \240The light was spectacular and his collections stunning.
Really Love these giant paper machete figures.
Frida’s studio was next door connected by a bridge but it was not as well preserved and contained none of her personal things.
Surrounding the compound was this cactus fence. No one getting through that unscathed!
By this time it’s 5pm and we are “dry as a chip”! \240Cynthia had made reservations for us at this glorious small hotel restaurant San Angel, just down the street from the studio.
We had a couple of cocktails and a lovely meal of chili rellenos and black beans.
Have I mentioned the weather! We have been so lucky. Except for an afternoon thunderstorm on our arriving day it has been perfect touring weather. 70 and sunny days evenings chilly at 55/60. \240Could not ask for better!
Mexico City is at 7300’ and was started in the basin of a dried up lake. It has perfect weather all year round.
Day Four — February 5th
A more cultural approach today. \240Driving to a park, forget the name. It was so fun! \240You hire these boats and cruise the canals for a couple hours. This is NOT a tourist destination at all. Very much local. People can hire from one to 6 hours. Bring all your friends, picnic baskets, cerveses. \240Many birthday celebrations, family reunions etc.
We got a couple of ice cold Victoria’s and bags of potato chips for our 2 hour cruise.
For 300 pesos ($12) we hired a mariachi band on our boat to give us a rousing song. They were fantastic.
Video above
I enjoyed it thoroughly, we both did.
Apparently there are 100 plus miles of these canals you can cruise around.
Great day.
We made it back to our wonderful hotel. \240A short walk down the street to an authentic marvelous Mexican restaurant. \240I think I have had at least 100 tortillas and 50 margaritas! Oy
Day 5 — February 6th
Our last morning Cuidad de Mexico. \240I have loved our quick trip and I think we planned our itinerary perfectly. We drive 3 hours up to San Miguel de Allende at noon for 3 days in this smaller town of 174k. \240It has a 10% international expat community. Looking forward to a slower pace and more tortillas.
Overall, Mexico City was extraordinary in so many ways. So beautiful , so green, obviously so much citizen pride because they keep it so pristine. However, the local and federal government is totally corrupt. \240The police are totally corrupt everywhere.. we heard horror stories. \240I think it was a blaring example of what the USA might be like in a year or less. \240So much for getting away from politics!
Last morning spent walking around Lincoln park. Looking for a little hope and inspiration.
More on Sunday before we leave.
Day 7, 8 and 9 — February 7th, 8th and 9th
We are now in San Miguel Allende. 3 hours north west of Mexico City. \240174K. Large expat community. \240Many Americans retire here. \240Very inexpensive to live. We never had a meal that was over $50 for the 2 of us! Tiny village compared to Mexico City!
Rocio, my travel agent, said trust me on the hotel choice and I am glad I did!…. Actually I always do. \240Fabulous medium size hotel only a 8 minute walk from the town square. \240Above is my breakfast on Friday morning! \240More tortillas. I can’t seem to get enough.
Hotel Live Aqua. \240Entrance sculpture, haven’t a clue who it is but very cool.
We decided to take the day off from being tourists and had a fabulous day at the hotel pool. Stunning. \240The weather is ideal. \24080 at noon, 50 at 7am.. very relaxing day.
Video above
What a a colorful place. \240We finally get our butts off the pool loungers and walk into the town.
The homes we past along the walk to town were lovely with luscious courtyards.
Everywhere you turn, every street you saunter down is more special than the last.
Hitting the square, Jardin Allende, we needed a refreshment.
The giants are everywhere.
The pink cathedral is really a beautiful site in the evening.
Do I look relaxed or what?
Tonight we are going to a international cuisine restaurant, called The Restaurant. Clever?
Wedding happening at the cathedral.
Dinner was great! We had meat loaf and mashed potatoes! Dessert was better.
Video above
This was a wonderful relaxing interlude after the fast pace of Mexico City. \240We did a little shopping, bought ponchos, a few souvenirs and I bought a great necklace. \240The best part was coming into the square in the late afternoon and sitting at a small barista, people watching and listening to great mariachi. \240It would not be a bad place to escape to if our government collapsed.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that! \240Thanks for coming along.
Many thanks to Cynthia for taking much better pictures than I do…. As you can see from the two above.
Till next trip,
⭕️❌❌⭕️
PS: for those readers out there. Finished the most wonderful book while at the pool yesterday called Orbital by Samantha Harvey. \240Even you non-fiction readers would love it. It won the Booker award last year. The British author has a philosophy degree from Sheffield University. Anyway, it is about 6 astronauts working in the Space Station and ruminating about the the meaning of being a human, an earthling and a scientist. She researched extensively with NASA and the description of life on the shuttle is accurate. \240Beautifully written and extremely thought provoking. I highly recommend it!
