Discovering Mexico City: Modern, Vibrant, and Friendly!
We’ve had way too much gray, dreary weather lately. So I’ve gone fishing through my archives to find something to remind me of warm sunny days, and came up with photos from a trip I never shared: two weeks in Mexico City, last winter.
This destination was not on our radar, mostly because of its old reputation as being unsafe for tourists. However, good friends convinced us that it was safe and very much worth a visit. And we’re so glad we went!
We discovered a modern, vibrant, green city with lots to see and do, great food, and friendly people. And yes, we felt as safe as we do in any big city.
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So many trees! There are lots of parks and green spaces, and there is colour everywhere.
Everywhere you look, there’s art. Murals, sculptures, and Sunday art markets in the parks.
Mexico City boasts a remarkable number of museums. One website I found lists 188! Wanting to get a better understanding of the local history and culture, we checked out five, all of which I would recommend: Chapultepec Castle, the Frida Kahlo museum, the Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Anthropology Museum), the Museo de Arte Popular (Museum of Popular Art), and the murals inside the Art Deco Palacio de Bellas Artes.
I’ve never seen so many dogs wearing clothing! Large and small, they all seem to be wearing sweaters or even dresses and hats. My Spanish is rudimentary at best, but I quickly learned to say, “May I take a picture of your dog?”
On Sundays, this main thoroughfare is closed to vehicles, and thousands of people–entire families, as well as singles and couples of all ages–come out on their bicycles and roller blades, or just to stroll.
On weekends, the Coyoacán neighbourhood, home to the Frida Kahlo/Diego Rivera house and museum, is crowded too, filled with tourists and locals. We returned several times, on a quieter weekday as well as on the weekend.
There are several trendy neighbourhoods with all the amenities to appeal to young professionals and expats, including coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries.
More colour
I love the contrasts, from modern shopping streets to ancient churches, and places where they meet.
There are many aspects that seem to hark back to an older time. For example, street vendors selling every kind of food, shoe shine stands, and even organ grinders–organilleros–following an age-old tradition. This informal work force contributes to the city’s vibrant character, but is also a reminder that there is still significant income inequality here.
I can never resist a market! At the outdoor Sunday market in Colonia San Rafael, a vendor offered a taste of a melon-like fruit we had never heard of, and I bought a few cotton blouses at rock-bottom prices. People go to shop for produce, to eat at the many tents offering hot food and seating, and to pick up clothing and household items. But it was the indoor markets that knocked my socks off–and in particular the enormous Mercado Central. A seemingly endless maze of narrow walkways through multiple structures, spilling into the streets outside, it was overwhelming and magnetic at the same time!
I didn’t expect to see religion in the markets, but it’s never far away! This man is repairing baby Jesus dolls, known as “niños dios“. There are also stalls where you can buy them, as well as clothes and accessories for them.
Street food is usually safe as long as it’s fresh and hot. A busy stand is best, as the food never sits around. This man is slicing meat for tacos which, topped with a bit of the pineapple you see at the top of the spit, were to die for. We also drank many liters of freshly squeezed orange juice, from fruit/juice stalls.
After a morning checking out the historic city center, we walked along Ayuntamiento street, where we discovered entire blocks dedicated to single types of stores. Need plumbing fixtures? There are dozens of shops, all in a row, selling everything from toilets to pipe fittings. Electronics, electrical, car supplies, hardware, etc.: each has its own block or two.
The quinceañera stores, closer to downtown, are decidedly more upscale.
Public transportation is cheap: only 5 pesos (about 35 cents Canadian, 25 cents US) for a bus or metro ride to go just about anywhere. These gondolas, called the Cablebus, are included! We got on at Indios Verdes and stayed on for the round trip, for an amazing overhead view of the city’s outlying areas.
It was a wonderful way to see a variety of neighbourhoods. We could hear roosters crowing and dogs barking, saw backyard gardens and rooftop terraces.
If you go, try to see the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. During our stay they were performing outdoors at the castle, and it was a magical evening of live music, phenomenal dancing and costumes, and a gorgeous setting.
A day trip to the ancient city of Teotihuacan is a must. It’s about an hour-long bus ride. Bring water, food, sun protection, and CASH. Credit cards are not accepted, for the entrance fee or in the one souvenir/snack shop. We were low on cash and were lucky to find a vendor who was willing to trade some US dollars.
A few more favourite photos:
Seeing these–especially given this week’s cold, gray weather–makes me want to go back! If you’ve been to Mexico City, what are your favourite things to see and do there?
