I like Mexico City. Even Shaunie has given it the accolade of "I haven't seen anything really scary here, like Sao Paolo". We haven't been out of the city yet past the shanty towns though. The centre has wide Parisien style boulevards, such as Paseo de la Reforma, and many parks. We have a small park within a few minutes walk from us, packed full of modern sculptures...
...and just ten minutes walk from our hotel is the much larger Bosque Chapultepec, equivalent to Hyde Park, packed full of locals at the weekend. All ends of the social scale are catered for, including a polo match for the extremely wealthy! There is Castillo Chapultepec, which we took a tourist "train" up the top to see views over the city.
Indeed, Mexico City seems far less polluted than every other Latinamerican capital I've visited. Shaun is feeling the effects of the high altitude here, so we have not yet ventured to any of the late night gay venues. I wanted to see a ballet version of Carmen, but it was sold out. Must have been good. Instead we did go last night to the Teatro Bellas Artes for Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. It was excellent and very colourful, although only one dance in contemporary in style. But the main attraction has got to be the theatre itself; with one of the most stunningly beautiful interiors I have seen. Art Deco style, and recently rennovated. My photos don't do justice to the amazing Tiffany safety curtain, wonderful lighting, and ceilings...
Shaun is infatuated with Mexico's green and white VW Beetle taxis! The front passenger seat is removed to allow easy access into the otherwise cramped back! All guide books tell you not to flag these in the street, as tourists have been robbed. I hope these are not famous last words, but we have been OK so far, and they are cheap.
Getting Shaun to take the bus is not quite such an easy matter, but we did on Sunday to an area in the south of the city called Coyoacan, home to Freda Kahlo, and Trotsky's hideaway before Stalin's henchman killed him with the famous ice pick! The Freda Kahlo museum is OK, but not a patch on the exhibition last year at Tate Modern. Oh, there are markets in the small squares, and free shows...
That's it up to date,
Have a relaxing bank holiday!
Love from Chris x