MEXICO CITY is the Capital City of Mexico. There are over 12 million people living here and the population grows even as I am typing this.
We have stayed at the American Hotel, (at the Airport), the Camino Real and the Nikko, (both in the park), but we like the Sheraton Hotel in the Zona Rosa the best.
THE CULTURE:
The cultural area is around the ’Historic Center’. When we were there we saw how the Aztecs, (the original people of Mexico), had a map of the skies that were aligned to the four cardinal points. The Spanish then retraced the area in a checker board pattern and the ’Historic Center’ was build following this pattern. We went to the center to attend a performance of Mexican Folklore.
The University of Mexico is amazing. Each building has a design on the side of it. At first I though they were large paintings but when we got up closer we saw the design was made from tiny mosaic tiles.
The Cathedral was designed in a baroque style that has neoclassical facades. I should make it very clear that although many buildings in Mexico look similar to ones in Spain, (such as this Cathedral), the Mexicans are insulted if you refer to them as Spanish as they fell they are they have a different culture that blends with the Spanish settlers, the Aztecs and the other First Nations people who live here.
Down town is divided into 4 sections: San Sebastian, Santa Maria, San Juan and San Pablo. These streets are named after Latin American Countries. We only visited this area once to see the statues of Mexico’s hero’s and visit the older squares in the areas nearby. When we got to the Santo Domingo Square is a reminder of the Spanish Inquisition, (this is often referred to as the first ’holocaust of the Jewish People’), and when I saw the displays of tribunals we left. We did enjoy the Plaza de Garibaldi because they were celebrating the festival of one of their Saints when we arrived there. The music was peppy and we ate a nice Mexican meal before we went back to our hotel.
From the downtown we thought it would only be a short walk down the Paso de la Reforma because it reminded us of the Champs-Élysées in Paris, (and we walked that often). What a mistake that was as it is 12-kilometer long. We walked as far as we could and enjoyed the fountains and statues before we got to weak to walk any more and stopped a taxi to take us back. The reason we got weak is because Mexico City altitude is very high and we learned a lesson from this experience and paced our time from then on.
We did visit the Jewish area and visited a beautiful Synagogue, the Community Center and the Jewish School. The last time we were in Mexico City I had found a Cousin who lived there, (it is normal for Jewish people to find relatives because so many of our families were separated during the Inquisition, Russian Pogroms and the Holocaust). He managed the Jewish Golf and Country Club and we had dinner there with his Family one night.
SHOPPING:
Zona Rosa, (the red zone), is a lovely area that has cobble stone streets, (that all have European names such as Geneva, Londres and Prague), and once you hear the Mariachi Bands playing as they stroll thought the streets you know you are in Mexico, (unlike the new looking trendy Polano area). There are a lot of shops, International cafes and bars to make everyone happy. There is a Cartier and Gucci Stores, a lot of Mexican designer labels and tourist shops.
I also like the Insugetes Market that is very large. Hire a young boy to help you when you arrive. He will take you to numerous shops that you tell him you want to see, he will not bargain for you but he will carry your parcels. We found some bargains in the shops that sell Mexican artisan wares, crafts and silver jewelry. We bought 2 blankets, (that we use as on our sofa to use when nights get chilly), a silver ring with a initial in black onyx and a large pottery jar, (that my Husband didn’t want me to buy and drop it and it broke in the customs area when we got home).
We took a taxi one Saturday morning to the San Angel neighborhood to spend some time looking at the homes and then to go to the Plaza San Jacinto to shop at the Bazaar Sabado San Angel. The stalls held most of the same items we saw everywhere. There was a villa that sold expensive merchandise. We bought a beautiful brightly colored Mexican painting of cats climbing through the streets of a city, (they really do that). If you can’t afford expensive things give the market a pass as the items in the stalls you can find elsewhere.
WHERE WE HAVE DINED:
I love the Japanese Restaurant and Les Celebriteis in the Nikko Hotel.
We dined in style at Fouquet’s French Restaurant when we stayed at the Camino Real.
Even if we aren’t staying at the Sheraton in the Zona Rosa we go to their bar to have a drink and watch the people go buy.
We went to the Antigüa Hacienda de Tlalpan that is in an old mansion. The food expensive and not worth it. The only good thing about being here was sitting in their garden and watching the peacocks
The German, Dutch and Swiss Cafes in the Zona Rosa are wonderful. The food is tasty and the prices are reasonable. In fact we have eaten in many cafes here and have never had a bad meal
SOME THOUGHTS:
Yes we did see the Pyrmads..but that will be another review. We love Mexico City and that is why we go back as many times as we can.
©LL