BootsnAll Travel Network



Mexico City: The Blind and the Beautiful…..

Let’s start with the most cliché of all, but as Mark Twain puts it “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Indeed, I have in fact started my round the world.

I am now in Mexico City. I am staying just east of Palacio National in Zocalo which translates to a central square or plaza. Right at the center of the square is probably the biggest Mexican flag that I have ever seen in my life. Just east of the square is the Metropolitan Cathedral. I attended a mass at the Cathedral which makes my mother proud.

It has been a very eventful four days in the third largest city in the world. I took it easy the first day. It’s always nice to take it slow after arriving at a new place. Catch my breath in a way.

I visited Teotihuacan pyramids. The ruins is vast. Although there are many steps that leads to the top, it is definitely worth the labor. I sat on top of the Pyramid of the Sun and enjoyed the magical view of the valley.

Watched Mexican wrestling. It was the real Nacho Libre. It was comical the least. Mystico lost. Every Mexican at the venue was heartbroken.

Friday night I went partying at a club for the first time in Mexico City. It was interesting partying with Mexican tunes. I walked back to my hostel at 4:30 in the morning after partying. I never felt threatened here, I actually feel safe. I hope I’m not talking prematurely.

I went to the massive Museo National de Anthropologia. Going to a museum and trying to culture myself after a long night of partying is not fun. I was so tired I actually took a nap in one of the rooms showing a video about Mayan cultures. The video was very informative for the most part.

After my nap I took the metro towards Condesa neighborhood. I like Condesa, it has a very cool vibe to it. I had a cup of coffee in one of the cafes and just relaxed.

Earlier today I checked out Xochimilco’s Floating Gardens. Long before the Spaniards came to Mexico, there was a lake called Lago Texcoco in the valley where Mexico City now lies. The lake has been drained and the Aztecs dug a series of canals and piled mud’s creating floating islands called chinampas. I took a gondola ride along the canals. The sight was interesting. Vendors in their boats selling tacos, beers and snacks, as well as a boat of musicians playing mariachi music.

A trip to Mexico City is not complete without seeing arts by Diego Rivera. I went to the Dolores Olmedo Patino Museum in Xochimilco. Apparently, the hacienda houses the most important collection of Rivera. Her collection also includes arts by Frida Kahlo and Agelina Beloff, as well as an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic pieces and Mexican folk art. The museum didn’t disappoint. Dolores as I call her lived a very lavish life. The yard is full of peacocks and hairless Mexican dogs roaming the courtyard.

It rained three of the four days that I have been in Mexico City. I hate the rain. I always tell people that I have seasonal depression. Rain just depresses me. What happened to the summer that I came for?

One thing that I noticed in Mexico City is that there are so many blind people. I was hanging out waiting for couple friends in front of the hostel and I literally saw two blind men walked into each other. I just started laughing. I know its not funny, but how can I not laugh.

I really like Mexico City. How can you not like a city that has an extensive subway system (it is the cheapest in the world – dos pesos per ride mi amigo!), street food that does not upset my fragile stomach (50 cents per tacos or if you like just cheese taco 5 for $1), locals who are helpful and friendly even if I try to converse back using my 3-years of high school Spanish (thank you Mr. Andrade, Mrs Costales and Miss Fokuda for teaching me Hola, Cuanto questas? Donde es something, and the most useful Gracias – those phrases is for survival!).

Obviously there are just too much things to do in Mexico City. Unfortunately I can’t do or see them all. It has been fun. Mexico City is Beautiful. Tomorrow I will travel to Puebla.



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6 responses to “Mexico City: The Blind and the Beautiful…..”

  1. Matt Arbuckle says:

    dang man.. that sounds like u had a great time there. I don’t know much or anything at all about Mexico City but u made it seem like a blast.. glad ur enjoying urself.

  2. Ingrid says:

    Are you happy? I read it! When I read the blind ppl part I laughed too, then i felt bad and stopped. I love the 5 for $1 taco… reminded me of the taco truck stand… k have fun and take it easy!

  3. admin says:

    Matt – yes, Mexico City is pretty tight. You should check it out sometime.

    Ingrid – Yes I´m very happy! And yes, its like taco trucks everywhere here but no wheels.

  4. Merlin says:

    That sounds really awesome. I want to see tons of pictures. Very good descriptions. Hope to hear more of your adventures.

    Oh and you should look into going to Cuba from Mexico. Just don’t let the U.S. know that you are going/went. They supposedly don’t stamp your passport in Cuba so that means no proof of visitation. Or I’ve read you can buy an extra page that they stamp and take it out when you come back to the states.

    I’d love to go to Cuba…

  5. Merlin says:

    Actually, i don’t know what country passport you have. so if you have one thats not U.S. you can go no problem. Yeah! (just make sure you leave from a different country to get there)

  6. Janice says:

    Wow Ron! Your writing is so descriptive it almost feels like I’m there! Hope you’re having a great time. Soak it up!

  7. nigs says:

    hey you. love the posts. keep it up, pal.

  8. admin says:

    Merlin – actually thought about it. i met a guy at the airport whose on his way to cuba. i was jelous. maybe next time.

    janice – thanks. will do. hope you are having fun at work.

    nikki – keep reading.

  9. Judy says:

    I’ve been wanting to go to Mexico City! Sounds like you had a blast so maybe I will venture out there 1 day. ya know I’ve never been to Mexico (no TJ, no nothing) – if I go, I want to do it right and go straight to the capital 🙂

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