We have begun the adventure!! Mike and I made it Mexico City on February 20th and spent three, jam packed days trying to take in as much as we could of the life of the city. It was a wonderful time filled with museums, street venders, traditional dances, more museums, walking, metros, wonderful food and fresh juices, more walking, more museums, nice people and gallons of jamaica to keep us going in the heat of the day!
Adriana and Frank, our generous friends who Mike found on couchsurfing.com opened up their apartment to us and showed us newbies around. Frank is from France and Adriana from Chiapas, Mexico. This is from when they took us to lunch our first afternoon in Mexico.
Noteworthy places we visited:
The Palacio de Bellas Artes which houses wonderful murals and cultural artifacts.
Especially amazing was the Palacio National which houses Diegos Rivera´s murals and frescos as they gape down at you from every wall surrounding the open air courtyard. They are stunning visual histories and social commentaries on Mexico´s indigenous past, colonial conquest and complex political structure.
That same, exhausted night after the palacio National we were able to change tempos a bit and go to a Lucha Libre, or mexican wrestling match. Needless to say there was a lot of flying through the air and playing to the crowd. It was interesting, loud and full of families. The bouts inspired cheering, name calling and five year olds puttting any family member they could get their grubby little fingers on into headlocks.
One musuem that cannot be missed is the Museo Anthropologio or the Museum of Anthropology which houses an amazing collection of mesoamerican artifacts that I could not have imaged prior to seeing them. It is worth any amount of walking, metros during rush hour while you breath through some strangers armpit, or heatstroke that might result from the journey. It truly is.
Never fear, a leter of jamaica will pick you up.
Also in the zocalo was a beautiful church that was simply massive with a main center for masses and two huge wings that were the same size as the main hall. The churches inside are embellished with gold and have intricate statues and soaring vaulted ceiling.
Coyouacan
After the museo we jumped on the metro and then the light train to Coyouacan (about 45 min away). Public transportation is very efficient here, except for one hitch we found on the way back when the winds had blown a tree over the train tracks and we had to get off and take a micro (small shuttle bus-packed with people in every nook and cranny) back to the metro station.
Coyouacan is a very posh, affluent suburb of Mexico d.f. with expensive shops and resteraunts, ice cream parlors, street vendors and old men playing chess games in the town square. It sort of reminded me of Carmel or something ( not near the ocean of course) but full of specialty shops and book stores. It is also where the home of Frida Khaula resides.
Xochimilco
The next day we went to Xochimilco, which is where the canals of old Mexico still thrive with people living on little parcels of land surrounded by water. Foot bridges connect them to eachother and launchas or small boats take tourists and families come to picnic and party around the canals. It is an extensive and intricate maze which is full of music, dancing, eating, and life. On the banks the people grow flowers and plants to sell to visitors on the boats. The launchas will let you off at any garden or the main craft market to buy or look around. Smaller boats filled with men and women cooking and selling tacos, corn, candy apples, toys, roses, fruit, refreshments, and anything a person might want maneuver in and out of the larger boats in search of customers. Small boats with mariachis and other musicians will tie to your launcha and play for your boat as your boat man pushes along...what a beautiful place it really is.
Next...on to Puebla!
10 comments:
Hey Baby ... this looks absolutely fabulous already ... keep it up sister and don't forget the CHURCHES!! We miss u like crazy but can't wait to see what's up next for you!! I love you lots. A.L.
Hi M&M!
I love living vicariously through you. Your description of everything is wonderful. It's almost like I'm there, but not!
Love you.
Auntie
Moe, don't go buy a hat like Mom has, it's a fashion statement that Mexico may not know how to handle. Sounds like your having a blast.
Mija.... it all looks so yummy and beautiful...
gb/auntie shar
Marissa, Don't you listen to Loren,you buy your hat and we'll wear them to Del Mar when you come home. Your trip sounds wonderful. Love you and miss you. MOM
Hey Marissa,
Loren finally showed me how to sign on to leave comments. Hope you are having a wonderful time.
Love, MOM
Marissa...my name is Robin. I work with your mom and she shared your blog with me. It looks very exciting and the photos are great. The photos of the food look so good they are making me hungry. Enjoy your trip and thanks for sharing your experiences.
Mariss! I am so jealous of you! I have been reading your blogs all day and always keep coming back to look at the amazing pictures! Someday you will have to take me to all these amazing places, please! I miss you bunches but I know you're having a great time! I love you and stay safe, I'll be thinking of you! :) I will talk to you later mariss!
Love,
Bub :)
Hi Marissa,
Dominic is napping, so Maggie and I are looking at all the beautiful pictures on your blog. I have to figure out how to pronounce all the places you have been! Thanks for keeping us in the loop. Have fun.
Anne
Hi baby, waiting for some updates!! Can't wait to see more pics and hear how your diving trip went. we all miss you like crazy!! I'm so happy that your mom and dad and loren are going down to visit you ... I'm just jealous!! ok, keep me posted. Love you so much.
XOXO
A.L.
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