We laid low on Monday as it was May 1st, the day of huge demonstration in the US by illegal immigrants against potential new laws there to make them criminals. Shaun was worried that we might be caught up in any anti-gringo dissent. We did venture to a local cafe for breakfast to plan the next day though. Here is Shaun with his head in the guide book...and later tucking into a meat feast at a Uraguayan Parilla in the cool neighbourhood, Colonia Condesa.
Tuesday was our last day, so much to do (not about nothing!), so I managed by a combination of enticement and trickery to get Shaun up at 6.30am to make it to the Terminal del Norte to catch a bus 45 mins out of town to the Aztec pyramids at Teotihuacan. It was worth the early start as we arrived at 9am - only two others were there already. We didn't beat the hawkers there though selling gaudy mass-produced trinkets.
The size and height of the pyramids is truly stunning. I would like to say "awsome", but that adjective has been overused and abused by so many Norte Americanos. The size of the site is immense, apparently home to some 200,000 people in its heyday. I had thought that it was an Aztec city, but they simply took it over after it had long been abandonned by previous inhabitants. They named one huge avenue the Avenue of the Dead, where they believed gods to be burried...
We left soon before midday, just as the place was filling up with tour groups and school parties. There was literally standing room only on the bus back - you can imagine how that went down with Shaun! Luckily, a woman and her offspring got off the bus at the next village, and we could nap on our way back to the city.
Continuing the theme that day of doing things on the cheap, we took the metro to Chapultepec park and ate tacos for lunch at just over a quid each.
We both had different priorities for what sights we wanted to see the rest of the day, so we split, me taking the metro into the Centro Historico to see Diego Rivera murals. The building was closed for rennovation! Here is a glimpse of the inside of the building though. I hurried over to the Palacio Nacional, where there are a few murals by Diego.
The murals are stunning, depicting all manner of historical stories about Mexico. Here is his wife Frida Kahlo in one of the murals.
Back at the hotel we caught up - Shaun had been to the excellent Museo de Anthrologia.
Our last night in Mexico City, so we headed to the trendy and gay friendly neighbourhood of Colonia Condesa for dinner. This area has such a Parisien feel about it, with restaurants packed full of locals, gay and straight. We found an excellent fish restaurant. Fabulous food, half the price you would pay in more touristy areas such as Zona Rosa, relaxed atmosphere and, that night, a jazz band playing. I had the best view of the drummer (or do you call him percusionist?) who was gorgeous, and I would have liked him for desert. Certainly not Mexican looking, Shaun reckoned he could be from Cuba. Yum! I am off there this weekend.
Before Cuba, a few days of R&R at the Pacific coast resort of Puerto Vallarta. I have really enjoyed Mexico City. It has a "great capital city" feel about it, wide boulevards like Paris, and wonderful Spanish baroque architecture, dare I say, so very similar to Madrid?! If you go, try to find a boutique hotel or hostal in Colonia Condesa.
Bye,
Chris x