I have been fortunate to pass through Mexico City many times over the past decade. It is an exhilarating city: lively, approachable and full of vitality. Its wonders abound:
- the awe-inspiring pyramids at Teotihuacán with foundations greater in size than those at Giza in Egypt
- the world-class Anthropological Museum with a stunning displays of Mexican culture through the ages
- the expansive zócalo flanked by the teetering cathedral, the foundation of the Aztec templo mayor, and the National Palace with Diego Rivera’s masterpiece mural of Mexico’s history
- the irresistible Plaza Garibaldi with hundreds of mariachi bands serenading the locals
- quaint Coyacán featuring Trotsky’s home (replete with fortified walls still with bullet holes) and Diego and Frida’s “blue house” studio
- dining in the centro histórico at establishments such as Café Tacuba with superb Mexican food and atmosphere
- strolling with the locals on a Sunday in Chapultapec Park, eating ice cream and enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of a day of leisure
- the illustrious Casa Museo Dolores Olmedo with exceptional modern art and extensive grounds roving with peacocks and the curious Xoloitzcuintle dogs, a pre-Hispanic canine
- the many markets, especially La Merced covering 16 square blocks with its own subway stop at its center
The list goes on and on. During each visit I saw and experienced new things, but this time I was eager to do something different in the city. Find the “alternative” Mexico City, or at least something new to me. So in the 2.5 days I spent in Mexico City before returning to the United States I found the following “new” things that were well worth checking out.
Continue reading “Desperately Seeking Lo Nuevo – Alternative Mexico City”