The streets of Mexico City x 3 (by k2, bixa and htmb)

[Deleted]

Group report created by kerouac2 (who due to a glitch is the "Deleted" in this presentation)

I don't like to do much research before taking most trips, just the bare minimum, because I like to be surprised by a lot of the things -- the sights, the food, the people, the colours, etc. Of course all of us "know" Mexico City to a certain extent, because we have seen it in photos all our lives and also in movies and on television, but it's only when you get into the thick of things that you can appreciate the reality of it all first hand. I have to admit that I was particularly lazy for this trip since I relied on the excellent organisational skills of our very own Bixaorellana for the basics -- accommodations, sustenance, transportation and orientation, and most important of all, the language skills. Htmb, Bixaorellana and I all arrived on various flights at the Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez. They were kind enough to wait for me since my flight arrived much later, and then an airport bus took us directly to the door of our hotel.

We had to laugh a bit because we had all seen photos of the hotel on the internet and it seemed quite nice for the extremely low rate, but what we saw upon arrival was radically different. The hotel is undergoing a major renovation and the front of the building is not looking its best at the moment.

However, the rooms were quite nice except for the terrible and/or non existant wifi, and the rooms faced an interesting plaza on the side of the building, also undergoing renovation.

[Deleted]

Just across the street was an interesting looking church which we never actually visited.







The next morning the exploration began, starting with the big park close to the hotel, the Alameda Central. It was behind the Palacio de Bellas Artes.







Bellas Artes is also a major metro station and has received a gift from the city of Paris.



There were things at which to look in every direction.













Finally reached the park itself!

[bixaorellana]

Well, I just love this so far & can't wait to see more, as you're doing such a great job of capturing the feel of the city. I particularly like the view of the morning street in front of the church and also the beautiful misty shot of the alameda.

[tod2]

Oh WoW! That is a wonderful start to your holiday Kerouac. Just seeing the old metro entrance must have made you feel at ease. Did Bixa know about it or did it come as a surprise to her?
I think she did some wonderful planning.

That tree trunk is tremendous! Don't see many of them around in public parks. Must be thousands of hears old. Oh, and I notice its a peppercorn tree. We have a lot in the Cape area of South Africa. I don't suppose you can pick some to bring back home...

Looking forward to more soon.

[Don Cuevas]

Oct 29, 2016 19:49:49 GMT bixaorellana said:

Well, I just love this so far & can't wait to see more, as you're doing such a great job of capturing the feel of the city. I particularly like the view of the morning street in front of the church and also the beautiful misty shot of the alameda.

I also was going to comment on that misty path in the Alameda. Very nice.

[Don Cuevas]

There are photos of what K2 ate here

The best is yet to come.

[htmb]

As you can see, this thread will be a joint effort by Kerouac, me and Bixa.

Here's a picture of my room. It was a very adequate space, but even better was its proximity to many wonderful spots.





Watching the on-going work on the plaza outside my window was almost mesmerizing.







As Kerouac mentioned, there were interesting things to see on the way to the park the first morning, and the park itself was a fabulous space.
















This organ grinder man across the street was the first of many we would see.

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As you can see, I am not the only person who will be adding information and photos to this thread. Clearly I did not take enough photos of the Alameda, but I'm sure that my compagneras did.



Huge numbers of old buildings share the city with newer constructions.







The Palacio de Bellas Artes is a splendid building seen from the front, even when photographed by someone who cannot hold the camera straight.







It was time to start exploring the avenida 5 de Mayo which leads to the cathedral.







This entrance intrigued us immediately. In we went.

[Don Cuevas]

Looks good. Hotel room is cute.

We were last in Mexico City in late August of this year, in transit to and from the U.S., but we never went to the Centro Histórico, staying instead in Colonia Roma Norte.
(That's where we trendy hipsters hangout.) We haven't stayed in the CH since 2004.

In April, we spent several days, just for fun, and passed part of one day shopping for kitchen equipment and spices in the Mercado San Juan area, just to the immediate west of the true CH.

[tod2]

Oh I can feel some really terrific stuff coming....not that there hasn't been any! In fact I am loving this report from the three amigos. Combining it is giving us a real treat.

I know Mexico City is just ginormous, and have always imagined small narrow alleys and being lost in a maze of buildings. This has really opened my eyes as to what a huge city can offer. Certainly big wide streets
I even went to look at the part Don mentioned (on Google).

Do I see two ladies that might be known to us....

[lugg]

Wow - how lovely that you are all meeting up again.

Great start. I am anticipating that this whole thread is going to be just so good .

[Deleted]

Oct 29, 2016 19:51:35 GMT tod2 said:

Just seeing the old metro entrance must have made you feel at ease. Did Bixa know about it or did it come as a surprise to her?

It was a little surprise to all of us to see it on the very first morning, especially since Bellas Artes was the closest station to the hotel. I remembered that Mexico City was one of about seven cities around the world which have been presented with Guimard metro entrances, but I didn't really expect to see the one in Mexico City. We probably could have missed it easily, because the station has at least 20 different entrances in the area.

[htmb]

At this point we were on a street open only to pedestrians.



This church had a nice, quiet courtyard.







I only took one photo of the interior.







As you can see, it was early enough in the morning so that the street wasn't yet crowded.




Several vendors were set up along the way.













One nice thing about Mexico City, for just a few pesos, relief can always be found nearby.

[Deleted]

I am always fascinated by the details on churches and since this was our first one, we did not yet have visual overload.















I have seen so many intricately carved confessionals in my life that I suspect there may be quite a few sinners out there.





Free of sin, we were back out on the pedestraian street.













I regularly found myself waiting outside of those WC boutiques for some reason.

[bixaorellana]

So much fun for me to see/re-see these sights through the eyes of my companions & to marvel at the diffent takes we had at those sights. Now I'm curious to see what's lurking in my camera & how it will stack up against the delightfully fresh visions of the two insightful Mexico newbies.

Don C, next time I go to The Big City, I'm going to pick your brain @ the other colonias.

[htmb]

The size of the crowd was growing as we got closer to the Zócalo, the huge central square.







The Zócalo was filled with boats. Perhaps a little ride would be in our near future.

[Deleted]

As you can see from various shots, the cathedral is on the square, but the interior is sure to be covered in its own report.

[htmb]

[tod2]

Very very interesting - and I want to know - WHERE IS THE STREET LITTER??!!
This is not a first world country like Switzerland...is it? But the street are on an equal with any clean European country. I'm shocked. Good shocked of course!

Love the last photo - does it pose the question 'does Jesus exist'? And by the poster picture I am sure they know which Jesus they mean as it seems to be quite a common Latin American name.

[htmb]

The women are Jehovah Witnesses. They were standing not far outside the cathedral with their free literature. You can actually see a broader view in the third photo from the last..

[Deleted]

What a special treat this is for us which is already proving to be one of the most a spectacular and singular conjoint thread ever by three amigos!!!

The only time I was ever in Mexico City was regrettably only at the airport en route to Oaxaca this almost exact same date circa 1995.
The airport so huge as to almost being a city unto itself, it was overwhelming and ever so bustling.

Two of you are in for a really special treat lead by Bixa I can only assure you.
But, you already know that.

Superb photos amigos!!!

[Don Cuevas]

Oct 30, 2016 12:35:34 GMT tod2 said:

Very very interesting - and I want to know - WHERE IS THE STREET LITTER??!!
This is not a first world country like Switzerland...is it? But the street are on an equal with any clean European country. I'm shocked. Good shocked of course!

Love the last photo - does it pose the question 'does Jesus exist'? And by the poster picture I am sure they know which Jesus they mean as it seems to be quite a common Latin American name.

The CH is a specially cared for area, so there is a minimum of litter. other areas of the vast metropolis have more than their share of litter.

Oct 30, 2016 11:48:28 GMT bixaorellana said:

Don C, next time I go to The Big City, I'm going to pick your brain @ the other colonias.

I would be glad to show you around, if you wish. THe CH is fascinating, but old, while newer areas, such as Condesa and Roma Norte have charming buildings and parks dating from the turn of the 19th century and later.

While there are churches there, bars and restaurants are far more prevalent. 

Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia, Colonia Roma. Dates from around 1910. New church on the block!

[Don Cuevas]

I don't wish to be a pan in the dulce, but you might enjoy visiting the Pastelería Ideal, at avenida 16 de Septiembre #18.

[bixaorellana]

Gracias, pero demasiado tarde para la pasteleria. Estamos en Puebla, al punto de salir a Oaxaca.

Don C, I totally plan to take you up on your tour guide offer -- thanks!

[Don Cuevas]

Oct 30, 2016 14:29:00 GMT bixaorellana said:

Gracias, pero demasiado tarde para la pasteleria. Estamos en Puebla, al punto de salir a Oaxaca.

Don C, I totally plan to take you up on your tour guide offer -- thanks!

Then, in Puebla, Tacos Árabes "La Rana", in Centro.

[tod2]

Just curious to know if you have seen any hubub in the city because the F1 is in town?
Someone I know very well is lying back on his pillows waiting for the race to start shortly. I want to hear the Mexican National Anthem, then maybe watch with one eye open. It's 8.34pm here and Diwali is in full swing with crackers exploding at different decibels. My dog couldn't care less and I have not medicated her either. She has to be On Guard duty.

[Deleted]

The only thing I saw was some British motor team arriving from London at the same time I arrived from Paris. Did not know there was a race on in Mexico and saw nothing about it in the city.

[Deleted]

After visiting the cathedral (report soon!) we were back out on the street in a bit of a daze.







There was no doubt that we were in Mexico.













Those omnipresent WC signs often obstructed the view of other buildings.

[tod2]

How different the city looks with hundreds of people thronging the streets!
An hour ago I watched the Day of The Dead Parade on SKY News - it looked fantastic! I tried to find 3 Amigos in the crowd

[Don Cuevas]

"There was no doubt that we were in Mexico."


The hills in back of our house have thickets of nopal cactus. To fully appreciate the plant, you must eat some. At this very moment, I'm drinking a glass of jugo verde, which contains a small amount of nopal, as well as celery, parsley, pineapple, etc.
It's excellent as a cold salad, if prepared properly.


I saw that K2 had some grilled nopales in his molcajete, early in the photos series. I like them best that way, or in jugo, but when cooked they have a tendency to become very slimy, like okra. (But tastes completely different.)