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

[Don Cuevas]

Random comments:
 The fantastical creatures are large versions of alebrijes. The background story is all new to me.

The marigolds are some of the flowers traditional during Los Días de Los Muertos.

[fumobici]

This is fun! I knew MC was cool, but not *this* cool. They're going to need to build a wall to keep ME out of Mexico!

Interesting to see the differences in the photos each of you have chosen to take. Between you three it's obvious who the best photographer is

[htmb]

[lagatta]

I've always heard Mexico (City) called DF before, is the CDMX a new thing? Sure, I figured it out, but was that expression used before?

[Don Cuevas]

Nov 1, 2016 22:06:50 GMT lagatta said:

I've always heard Mexico (City) called DF before, is the CDMX a new thing? Sure, I figured it out, but was that expression used before?

Geopolitics are the reason for the name change. For me, it will always be "El D.F.". Or "Chilangolandia".

[tod2]

Experiencing a new city and all that goes with it, I have to congratulate Kerouac & Htmb along with Bixa too, for having the fortitude to relate all this wonder to us after walking miles, taking photos and having their eyes open for anything and everything.....and then forwarding, or should I say relating it all to us within hours.
I am truly in awe.
I always have to wait until I get back home - and then it takes weeks. When do you guys find the time? And thank you!

[Don Cuevas]

This has been one of the most enjoyable discussion threads on APIAS in a long time. ¡Gracias!

[Deleted]

After the long walk along the Reforma, we finally made it to the back side of the Alameda and its colourful fountains.



As the day waned, the buildings lit up.









After a short stop at our hotel, we went back to the Plaza Garibaldi to get some dinner. Most of the restaurants are cheap and colourful.







We found an excellent place where I had a goat stew/soup.

Plaza Garibaldi was apparently a place to avoid for security reasons until quite recently, but it has been vastly improved as per this article from Wikipedia.

The next morning it was time to go to the TAPO (Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente) to get our bus to Puebla. Passenger rail service was unfortunately allowed to completely wither away in Mexico, but the bus stations have taken over the transportation of passengers who do not fly and are every bit as impressive as the train stations of major cities in other countries. Passengers are searched and screened like in an airport before boarding the buses.

the TAPO



After a short wait, we were on the road to Puebla, even though it takes the buses more than an hour to creep out of the gigantic CDMX metropolitan area.

[mossie]

Your goats stew looks positively revolting but the fountain twitching too and fro is mesmerising.

Trusting we will soon get Puebla.

[Don Cuevas]

Nov 2, 2016 15:57:34 GMT mossie said:

Your goats stew looks positively revolting but the fountain twitching too and fro is mesmerising.

Trusting we will soon get Puebla.

I would eat that goats stew ("birria"), but I have had better looking versions.


Unusual birria at the exposition of Cocineras Tradicionales de Michoacán


Birria at Taquería El Venadito, Pátzcuaro. My favorite in Pátzcuaro. I must get there more often. The definitive birria definition here. 


Birria de chivo (goat) at Birrieria La Nueve Esquinas, Guadalajara

[lugg]

This continues to be a wonderful thread - love , love , love it ; thank you to all 3 of you. Enjoyed seeing the variety of districts

What is the purpose of the vacant blue chair in Htmb's NO 12 and K2's # 13 ?( I think I've got the post numbers correct) Is it for shoe shining or something else? Love the photos of the food as I ( think) I love Mexican food but rarely have had the chance to try the real deal. Looking forward to more. Were the protests all about the same issue or varied?

[Deleted]

Nov 2, 2016 19:22:31 GMT lugg said:

What is the purpose of the vacant blue chair in Htmb's NO 12 and K2's # 13 ?( I think I've got the post numbers correct) Is it for shoe shining or something else?

Yes, those are shoeshine stands, which are absolutely everywhere in the business areas. Mexicans have some of the shiniest shoes in the world.

[bixaorellana]

Many thanks to all of you for the enthusiasm shown for my talented companions' coverage of this remarkable city.
I'm just scrambling to catch up and will continue to let them do the heavy lifting of explanation.

Casa de los Azulejos / House of Tiles <-- click

[tod2]

I'm curious to know if you guys are in Oaxaca?

[bixaorellana]

Hi tod2! anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/7896/de-muertos-oaxaca-2016

[bixaorellana]

[tod2]

Thanks for the link Bixa - all the photos are interesting and need a going over more than just once! I can't for the love of money see any of Kerouac's photos...just green squares. Hoping this will right itself shortly. All his others came out just fine.

[Don Cuevas]

Nov 4, 2016 6:16:30 GMT tod2 said:

Thanks for the link Bixa - all the photos are interesting and need a going over more than just once! I can't for the love of money see any of Kerouac's photos...just green squares. Hoping this will right itself shortly. All his others came out just fine.

Your avatar shows as a green square!

[lugg]

Thank you for the additional photos Bixa . I could see all of K2's photos but not now. Anyway I am sure that will correct in time. Thanks for the answer re the shoe shiner K2

[bixaorellana]

Something is wrong with Photobucket, so no pics from Mossie, Kerouac, & others who use that host site. It also means that many forum icons (the smilies!) aren't showing up. I know everyone will check back later though, to see what they missed. :-)

Many thanks, Tod & Lugg.

[mich64]

I have spent what seems to be a few hours going over the threads tonight, I have been quite busy lately but I am very glad I took the time to sit down tonight and view everything. The three of you have done a marvelous job! Having never been to Mexico I am always excited to see reports as I enjoy the culture/lifestyle there and also appreciate how intricate the architecture is, you all have showcased some brilliant examples.

It makes me happy to think of the adventures the three of you are having.

[bixaorellana]

Belated thanks for your generous attention to our thread, Mich. There has been a lot going on, but I still have much to add to this thread.

Note the McDonald's with no one in front of its counter ~



That's because all potential customers were mobbing the traditional food stand instead ~











The cathedral dominates the center of downtown ~















These infant telamons instantly reminded me of Kerouac's demon babies of Lille ~



And speaking of statues, here is one honoring an anyport hero ~

[Deleted]

Just a short video to show the ambience of Plaza Garibaldi, where the biggest 'danger' is not to be attacked, as some of the travel sites and guidebooks seem to imply, but to get a little too much music as you have dinner or walk around. But I will always prefer little places open to the street to the silent establishments of fine dining where the only thing you hear is the clicking of silverware on the plates.

[Don Cuevas]

K2: I agree with your dining preferences!

We have been to Plaza Garibaldi only once, years ago, near midnight. We went into a tent restaurant and had pozole. The pozole itself was o.k. but the optional salsa, of fried garlic, chiles and vinegar was memorable.

[bixaorellana]

Just steps away from the zócalo you can see a great deal of street art, bootstrap businesses, and people going about their lives ~

[bixaorellana]

Later we'll be showing a zone of quite striking modern buildings, but there was a wealth of architecture to be admired right downtown.

I love how the utility cover features a design referencing pre-hispanic art and history. (totallyhistory.com/cuauhtemoc/) 

[tod2]

It was wonderful to see how alive the place is - great video~ and wonderful photos!

[Don Cuevas]

Nov 10, 2016 17:20:20 GMT bixaorellana said:

I love how the utility cover features a design referencing pre-hispanic art and history. (totallyhistory.com/cuauhtemoc/) 

I always thought those were waffle irons!

[bixaorellana]

No, Don Cuevas ~ they used hand-held waffle irons back then, as you can clearly see in this picture. (4th from bottom, #19 in that thread)

[bixaorellana]

So, finally getting back to this thread. I didn't bring the tools to do any heavy posting on the trip to Mexico City and then Puebla, so fell far behind my companions in keeping up my end of the threads.

Anyway, backtracking a little, let's take a late afternoon stroll around Plaza Garibaldi ~

There is a terrace bar on the roof of the tequila museum. We skipped the museum, but did try some tequila and some mezcal ~