Thoroughly enjoyable things to do in Mexico City
In one of my earlier posts, I had listed down some of my initial thoughts and observations about the exciting, colourful and bustling Mexico City. In this picture story, I will take your through some of the best things I found enjoyable about the city. Follow along:
The City
This is the first image I captured of Mexico City, while seated in a cab that was driving me from the airport to the hotel I was booked in. It was dusk; there was a slight drizzle and this scene reminded me of the movie ‘Godfather’ for some reason. I found this old VW Beetle very interesting, and hence clicked this image. Later I found that VW Beetle is a very common vehicle in Mexico City and is known by the nickname ‘Vocho’ around here.
View of the city from my office. It indeed is a very crowded city.
Right next to where I was put up (in City Express Insurgentes Sur hotel) is Teatro de los Insurgentes – a theatre with a facade that has a mural painted by the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera.
Graffiti and paintings adorn almost all walls, shutters and buildings. There’s art just about anywhere in Mexico City.
See – what did I say in the caption above. Art is everywhere!
A super-sized bull I saw in a place called Tepotzotlan. Price of a picture with you sitting on the bull: 10 pesos. I, however, saved the 10 pesos and my life by staying as far away from the giant as possible.
Mexico has a very fascinating and violent history. It is very interesting to read about the pre-hispanic times, and the Spanish conquest led by Hernan Cortes (Read about him here: https://www.livescience.com/39238-hernan-cortes-conqueror-of-the-aztecs.html). While in Mexico City, my friend Ivan shared with me a book that is set in those times – a book by Gary Jennings, titled Aztec. It details the life of times of the aztecs – the culture, the Gods, the human sacrifices and the conquest. You could buy the book from Amazon by clicking on the link below (it has my affiliate id):
Turibus Ride
A Turibus ride is the best way to get introduced to this city. These are hop-on, hop-off buses that ply all year round through different routes covering the various attractions of the city. You could choose to site in the lower deck, or the open upper deck (keep lots of sunscreen and a hat handy). For more details on the routes, check out their website https://www.turibus.com.mx
Turibus ride – the best way to discover Mexico City’s history, architecture, culture and fabulous cuisine
Sitting on the upper deck has its own perils – as you see in this image: you have to be ready to dodge branches
A view of the city from the bus
Another view I captured while on the Turibus. ‘Where is Mariela’, the graffiti says. Hope she is found.
Coyoacan
This is a very colourful neighbourhood where I used to spend many a weekends, clicking photographs. The place is extremely lively, and is also legendary for being the birthplace of Mexico’s most notable artist Frida Kahlo.
Walking around Coyoacan is indeed a refreshing experience. Music, aromas of various kinds of food and colours are all around.
A painter in Coyoacan
The fountain in the centre of Coyoacan featuring 2 coyotes
Every other weekend, I saw this person with a different contraption attached to his cycle.
The Frida Kahlo museum. If you plan to visit this place, do book in advance.
The other lovely neighborhoods that I enjoyed walking around are Roma and Condesa.
Centro Historico (a.k.a Zocalo)
Zocalo is the throbbing historic centre of Mexico City. Walking around Zocalo is the best way to absorb the history, sights, sounds and smells of this place.
The most recognizable structure in Mexico City – the Palacio de Bellas Artes is a prominent cultural center.
Aztec shaman doing “limpia” (spiritual cleansing) in Zocalo square
Even the snacks in Mexico City are colourful!
Organ grinders (street musicians) are a common sight all over Mexico City. They live on the tips they receive.
You can get the aroma of meats getting roasted all along the streets
The China town near Zocalo
Me, posing between two aztecs in Zocalo.
There was a photoshoot of these models going on in Zocalo at the time I visited the place. I joined in and clicked this pic.
The beautiful Jacaranda trees in full bloom in Mexico’s oldest municipal park – the Almeda central. Apparently the Jacaranda tree was a gift from one of the first Japanese immigrants to arrive in Mexico.
A full view of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, which I shot from a coffee shop right across the street.
Parque Hundido
This awesome park was located very close to my hotel, and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting this park on Sundays. This is a place where dogs have a separate enclosure where they are let free.
The park has an awesome jogging track!
I thoroughly enjoyed watching these playful dogs
The park is set below the street level, and is a great place for a peaceful stroll.
San Angel
San Ángel is a colourful and picturesque neighborhood hat houses art galleries and artisan markets. The place comes alive on Saturdays for the ‘Bazaar del Sábado’ – where the best handicrafts of the highest quality from all over Mexico can be found.
Notice the cobbled streets
The Plaza San Jacinto
I met this amazing artist named Julie inside Plaza San Jacinto. She creates wonderful ceramic and stone art – awesome work indeed!
Pictured here is a paper based creation by an named Yuri Angel Zarate. He told me that he has given some name to these creatures, but I forget what it is (gimboos or something). ***Update July2020 – Please see the comments section. The artist has updated the name of his creation, and a link to his website.
A street musician in San Angel
Tamales for sale in San Angel. A Tamale is a dish made of dough that is stuffed with fillings and steamed in a corn husk
Teotihuacan
Located about 40kms off Mexico City, Teotihuacan is the site of many of the most architecturally significant Mesoamerican pyramids built in Mexico. Teotihuacan’s origins, history, and culture largely remain a mystery, but this was a city founded as early as 400 B.C. When the Aztecs found this the city in the 1400s and named it Teotihuacan (“the place where the gods were created”), the city had been abandoned for centuries. The city contains The Pyramid of the Moon, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (the Feathered Serpent) and many smaller pyramids. Human and animal sacrifices were practiced here. I took a Turibus tour to this site.
Decorated streets that lead to the site of the Pyramids. Those paper flags are known as Papel picado.
This shot was a stroke of luck. When I was standing around the pyramids wondering how to compose the image, these ladies in Sombreros showed up and I got them into the frame.
The temples are constructed in the shape similar to the mountains in the background. You can see the Sun temple and the mountain behind it to get an idea.
Xochimilco
Xochimilco – A world heritage site, and one of the most lively places in Mexico. Riding the waterways in these brightly painted and decorated trajineras (traditional flat-bottomed boats) is quite an experience indeed.
Hire a boat for about 500 pesos an hour
The colourful boats of Xochimilco
While you navigate through the waterways, you could hire Mariachis to sing for you, listen to Marimba music, or buy food and drinks from vendors
So these are the places I most enjoyed visiting in Mexico City. There’s a lot more to write about the place – the history, the food, the art and the music. But that’s for another day. Hope you enjoyed this brief photo journey.
If you have any comments, feedback or suggestions on this article, please leave your comments below.
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Hello, I hope you are well. My husband is the artist Yuri Ángel. I remember that you visited us in the garden of art in San Ángel in Mexico City. The character’s name is Chimbo. You can find more of his work at http://www.yuriaz.com We send you a hug.
Heyyyyy! Gracias…what a pleasant surprise, and thank you for commenting here. Yeah, I loved his art – hope you are all well and safe. Thanks for the link; this will help any visitors here to find you. Cheers!