¡Vamos a México!

 Last year over President's weekend, we went to Paris, and thought about doing the same thing this year.  Shelley wanted to try somewhere warmer this year though so I was on the search.  I found super super super cheap flights (8,000 points per person) to Mexico City, and weather there is around 75-80 so we started to look at that possibility, even though we never thought about going to Mexico City.

Every travel group and forum I read about Mexico City was extremely positive, everyone loved it, felt safe and had a great time.  The more we read about it, the more we felt good about it, so Mexico City it was and it did not disappoint! 

Going there, we flew on AeroMexico first class and were served a very traditional breakfast that was tasty.  We had a short layover in Guadalajara and then off to Mexico City.

Fun Fact:  Mexico City is the largest city in North America with with city proper having a population of 9.2 million, and the metro area having over 22 million people.  The city is huge!  And extremely spread out.  Traffic is one of the worst in any cities anywhere.  You can spend 20-30 mins in traffic to go 5 miles.

Another fun fact:  Mexico City is surrounded by volcanos - around 7-10, with only a few of those spewing ash infrequently. Mexico city sits at over 7300 feet in elevation, so it's quite high!  The run off from rain in the mountains and volcanos nearby provide water for the city.  And Mexico City is very prone to earthquakes with large earthquakes over 7.0 killing thousands and causing extensive damage have happened in 1985, 2017 (twice), and 2022.  Mexico City is right in the "ring of fire" where 90% of the worlds earthquakes and volcanos are. 

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Mexico City, which was in the "Polanco" area, which is considered the Beverly Hills of Mexico City and the stores in the area were very upscale.
Our hotel had nightly "snacks" in the club lounge,  that were one of the most substantial offerings we've had at any Hyatt Club.

We were on the 38th floor, but just in a "normal" room, as the hotel was sold out and there were no upgrades available.

VIDEO: Room Tour

VIDEO: The hotel breakfast was quite the spread

   

Not only did they have an omelette station, but also had a quesadilla station!

Daytime view from our room.  We were right across the street from Chapultepec Park, which is one the largest nature areas in Mexico, and is double the size of Central Park in New York.  All the trees there help  clean the air and are considered the "lungs" of Mexico City.   There's a zoo, several museums, a castle, different gardens, lakes, paddle boats, picnic areas, miles and miles of walking and biking paths, amusement park, and more.  15 million people visit the park each year.

We started the day by visiting the highly rated Anthropology museum.  It's the largest and most visited museum in Mexico and it's impressive and huge.  There are lots of original pieces of history (over 10,000)  from the many Aztec and even pre-Aztec and Maya cities in Mexico.  You could spend all day here.  We were with a small group tour and visited the most often viewed areas in 3 hours.  The tour was very  helpful as most of the signs in the museum are in Spanish, so we got a lot more out of the visit.

In the courtyard is this umbrella fountain - symbolizing the Aztec God of Rain - Tlaloc and and source of life and civilization

This is the original 60 ton statue of Chalchiuhtlicue, the Aztec Goddess of water.  This statue is from the ruin site of Teotihuacan, which is about an hour from Mexico City

This is what the center of Mexico City looked like back in the day.  The area where this is now, is called Zocolo, and is the bustling center of town with a basilica, ruins and lots of history and lots of people!  This area is where the human sacrifices were done as well as other religious rituals.  Most of these ruins are still underground, but a large portion of one of the pyramids has been excavated

Way way back in the day, this part of Mexico was a huge basin filled with a large lake - part salt water, part fresh water from the mountain rainfall.  When the Aztecs came, they built levees to separate the salt water from the fresh water and begin to build in the middle of the lake.   Over the thousands of years, the lake is now gone, and Mexico city sits right in the middle (and on top of) the lakebed surrounded by volcanos

This is an original Aztec Sun Stone.  12 feet across and weighing 25 tons.  It was created around 1502 and shows the cosmos, five sun eras and Tonatiua, the Sun God.  This was used as a ceremonial sacrificial alter, so it would have been placed horizontally.  It was found in Zocolo (where the city center now is) in 1790 buried and hidden

After the museum, our tour headed over  to the "Chupultepec Castle" which was about a 20 minute walk away

Chapultepec Castle is an 18th Century castle (really it's a palace), built on top of a hill which was a very sacred place for the Aztecs.   During the Spanish conquest of the Americas, a palace for the Kingdom of New Spain and a summer house for the "viceroy" (political ruler of the area)

Here's a pic of it:

The castle/palace had many different people who lived it, including the president of Mexico and other early leaders of Spain when they came to Mexico. 

The most famous was Maximillian of Mexico (who was the brother of the Emperor of Austria).  Maximillian  was married to Charlotte of Belgium, daughter of King Leopold 1 of Belgium, when she was 17.  She became Empress of Mexico and her and Maximillian lived here for several years. 

Spain wanted to keep an eye on Mexico, which they recently conquered, so they sent Maximillian and Charlotte to live there in this palace. 

This is their carriage they often would ride in

The view from the palace

VIDEO:

After spending around 6 hours in the park and museum and castle/palace, we walked back to the hotel for a nap.  We needed to get our energy back for that night's activity.

Lucha Libre!!!!  aka: Mexican Wrestling

Lucha Libre started in Mexico around the 20th century and has a few characteristics.  First, the mask - this hides the identity of the wrestler so they can take on an alter-ego and put everything into their character.  The use of masks even goes back further the Aztec time.  There are very little rules in Lucha Libre.  You can jump, fly, get out of the ring - for only 20 seconds - and the wrestlers are very agile and often perform ariel acrobatics.  

This is POPULAR in Mexico City.  The main area seats 22,000 and was built ONLY for Lucha Libre.  They have shows there 4 nights a week and sell out almost every one.  Some of the more popular wrestlers have had movies made about them, comic books, cartoons and it's always the "bad vs the good".

We went with a group of about 20 people which was very fun.  We started out with tacos and our tour guides explained the history of Lucha Libre, and taught us all the chants and yells the audience makes when they are upset with the ref, or their favorite wrestler is winning (or losing).  We were told many of the chants were ummmm....hmmm..considered swear words....but we had to memorize them so we could fit right in with the local crowd!  

We were then given our own masks to become and wear.  

We stopped at a local street taco taqueria, where they make the tacos right in front of you.  These were very yummy and so full of flavor and meat and toppings  

VIDEO:

We then walked about 15 minutes to the Arena and the closer we got, the more mech there was to buy

We made it!  It was SO busy!!!!

My neighbor, who is from Mexico, saw my photo and he said I was the Blue Demon!  The Blue Demon was very popular and a legend of lucha libre between 1961 and 1979.  The Blue Demon had his own movie, comic book and cartoon.  He was the "bad boy" often fighting against the "good guy" El Santo.  But seems that the Blue Demon often won!  The Blue Demon wrestled for 41 years and retired in 1989 without ever exposing his face in public.  When he died in 2000, he was buried in his mask.

This one is 'Warrior Force' and definitely  a force to reckon with!

This was the 'program' for the night, with the bottom being lesser known, to the top - the Main Event was Mistico vs Templario.  We arrived in the middle of the match, as our tour guides explained the entire program is long and the ones at the beginning are just the 'warm up' acts.  We were there about an hour or hour and half and that was perfect.  It was very fun!

VIDEOS:

Miles walked today:  9

The next day we headed to Zocolo - the downtown square for a 3 hour walking tour.

We walked past this huge gathering of police, like 100 of them.  Our guide told us not to worry, this was the start of their shift and they were all getting their assignments for the day.
It should be noted, there were police everywhere, our entire visit.  Like LOTS!  In the all the parks and all around this downtown area, there was literally one police (sometimes two) every 100 feet or so.  There were so many!  I can't image how much money it is to pay all of them, but we were glad they were there!  We never felt unsafe anywhere we went our entire visit

We started at the downtown ruins of Templo Mayor.  (Main Temple).  This was the part of town we saw on the map at the museum.  This was the very center of Mexico religious and economic life.  This was where offerings were performed and rituals to the Gods of rain and war and was a very sacred place.  The Templo Mayor stood about 140 feet high

Here's a photo of it again, with this site being the center and tallest Temple. The entire area had 78 structures all together

VIDEO:

This is the backside of the Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in Latin America.  The cathedral, like all buildings in the Zocolo (downtown central square) area, are sinking and have been for many years.  The wall of the cathedral is leaning out, as are many of the other historical buildings.  Remember when I said Mexico city was built on the lakebed? After the Aztecs drained it?  Well, it was a lakebed of clay, but under the lakebed was a huge aquifer.  Guess where Mexico city gets a lot of it's water - especially when it doesn't rain a lot?  Yep, the large aquifers under the lakebed.

Over the years, the aquifer has lost so much water, the clay dries up, collapses and sinks, and takes the city with it.  Currently, this part of Mexico City is sinking 20 inches A YEAR!  That's so much!  They have spent millions and years reinforcing the basilica, along with many other buildings in the area, but the sinking continues.  Engineers estimate in 10-20 years, the basilica may topple over due to the sinking.

This was once a palace where the government of Mexico is headquartered.  It's like our  'White House' in Washington DC.  All around the square are other government buildings as well.  Another reason there are so many police here - if there is going to be a protest against the government, this is where it happens.  The square is HUGE:

The front side of the Basilica

This church is massive!  It reminded us of Notre Dame inside

We continued our walking tour around the downtown area, it was very busy!

VIDEO:

Ok. Look closely at these two brooms.  There is a "normal" broom on the right, and then a homemade broom with sticks that looks like the broom the witch in Wizard of Oz rides.  There were almost as many workers sweeping up garbage, leaves and tidying up everywhere as there were police.  So many workers!  None had blowers - everyone had the 'witch broom' that they used to sweep everything.  Dirt, leaves, trash, everything.  Very few had a typical broom.  The witch broom must work because everyone had them.  
We never saw trash anywhere.  There was none.  The city was clean.  Now, we were in sort of a 'tourist bubble', but wow, it was one of the cleanest cities we've been to.

YUM

We also stopped at the main post office - Palacio de Correos (Palace of letters).  What? you say?  The main post office is one of the most ornate buildings in Mexico City.  It was built in 1907 and was the most modern construction of the time.  I didn't get many photos, so you'll have to go see it for yourself.

We intended to go back to the hotel after our walking tour, for a little rest, but our tour went over, which was fine.  It was a great tour!  But we had another tour starting soon, so we found a place to sit down and get some refreshment, as it was soon time for our biking food tour!  This would be a 4 hour biking tour with food and market and park stops along the way.  We were a little worried about riding on the downtown streets, but our tour guides were amazing!  One led the group, another rode ahead to literally block traffic so we all could get through lights and intersections, and another brought up the rear of the group.  

Our first stop was at a small garden cafe and we had 'chilaquiles' which were so good!  Freshly made tortilla chips, with some cheese, salsa and sour cream - they were amazing.  We all introduced ourselves to the group and got to know each other.  I think there were 14 of us total

We stopped at a local market which was huge, with so many fresh produce, vegetables, fish, toys, anything you would want

Even cactus leaves - which we would eat later on in the tour

Our next stop was the Lady Tacos de Canasta street taco stand.  They are a 3rd generation of women who sell these tacos.  They were featured on Taco Chronicles, a Netflix show and became very famous after that.  Yes, the tacos were delicious!

We stopped at a large park with a huge central square that was busy with kids riding bikes, playing frisbee, roller skating, flying kites, walking, sitting, reading, playing ball - everyone was having a great time

VIDEO:

There were even arts and crafts for everyone to do

Oh yeah, the entire city area has free WiFi - these signs are everywhere 

There was one section of the park where people were just street dancing.  This reminded us of Paris

VIDEO:

We stopped at a 'pop-up' market, which were very common, with 4-5 places to get food.  This one served the normal tacos - pork, beef, beans, but also had ram tacos.  The meat for these tacos were cooked underground, wrapped in leaves for a long time, so it was tender and flavorful.  And, there were different salsas on the table to add to the taco, one item being sautéed cactus leaves - which were pretty tasty!

We then rode through Chapultepec park and then back to our starting point where we enjoyed freshly made churros....and wow...they were so good!  Oops..we ate them too fast and I didn't get a photo.  You'll have to go try them yourself.

Total miles walked today:  7

Total miles bilked today: 7

The next day we headed out early to the ruins of the city of Teotihuacan, about a 45 minute drive away.  Teotihuacan was the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas and was a major influential metropolis.  It was built around 100 BC and at it's heyday, had almost 200,000 people living there.   The city was highly organized, laid out in a grid pattern, had complex apartments, water delivery systems, and highly intricate murals down the main roads.  

The people who lived here at that time are unknown and eventually disappeared.  The Aztecs then found the area abandoned centuries later and continued to live there until about 600 AD.  

The currently excavated buildings were part of the religious area of the city, where rituals and human sacrifices were performed, and where the high priests and other religious leaders performed their ceremonies.  Also excavated is the 1.5 mile "Avenue of the Dead" the main road leading through the center - this road is where the many colorful  murals were found.  The main points of interest are the three pyramid shaped buildings, the Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon and Temple of the Feathered Serpent.

Only 3% of  the 8-squre mile city of Teotihuacan is excavated after working on it for over 100 years.  Teotihuacan is significantly larger than Chichen Itza and has much larger structures as well.

You can only go up to the first section of the Pyramid of the Moon

The steps where STEEP and big

All of the pyramids here take on the same general shape of the mountains/volcanos off in the distance.  Look how the pyramid shape mirrors the shape of the mountain in the background

This part of the 1.5 mile Avenue of the Dead - this place is huge!

There is only 1 original mural left - all the others were removed to museums.  This one was so big and fragile, when they were trying to remove it, it was falling apart, so they left it

The largest pyramid here is the Pyramid of the Sun and it's HUGE!  It took hundreds of thousands of people over 20 years to build

Up until 2021, you could climb up

VIDEOS:

See how they Pyramid of the Moon takes on the general shape of the mountain in the back?

There was a geocache here next to the cactus

The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is the 3rd largest pyramid here.  The area surrounding this pyramid was the culture center of the area.  In the 1980s, remains of hundreds of sacrificial people were found below the pyramid. 

VIDEOS:

We loved visiting Teotihuacan!  You need to go here.

On the way back you can see all the hillsides covered with houses.  This is one of the most densely populated areas

You can see one of the many cable cars in Mexico City.  The city has 5 of these around, mostly in the mountain areas.  Because the traffic is so bad, these cable car lines have reduced the time the citizens take to get to and from work in half.  What would take 50 minutes in bus, takes 20 minutes by cable car.  One of the lines is the longest one in the world - almost 7 miles long.  Three other lines are currently under construction

VIDEOS:

Later that evening, we walked around the area where we were staying (Polanco) and had dinner and walked around the local park where everyone was having a great time

Miles walked today: 8

Our last day, Monday, we had nothing really planned, and were planning on using it as a relaxing day, as we had to head to the airport around 2pm.

I knew there was a cable car line nearby, that went over Chapultepec Park, and it was about a mile away, so we walked it.  We also knew all the museums in the city are closed on Monday's, so we thought walking through the park would be quiet and peaceful.

We entered the park, past a policeman, who said as I walked by, "Señor, al;j fa ;oueoiadlkn  fads;ljkfa; eioda lk;jfj "  (I only understood the 'senior' part.  I looked at him, and kept walking in to the park...and he said it a little louder,  "Señor ak weiyuh asdk.n adsk;fjloiayey akjdfsl"  I looked at him, with my googly serious eyes like 'i know not that which you are saying' and he said in his broken English, "where are you going".  I told him the name of the cable car station and he politely directed us OUT of the park and told us to go up the sidewalk.  Well, this was longer - like 1/2 mile longer and we didn't understand why, but didn't want any trouble, so off we went.

A little ways down, we saw another entrance into the park, and some bikers entered in.  Ah, we thought, here we go, we can cut through the park here.  We walked past the police man and he waived us to stop and said NO - and pointed us back out of the park.  But, then he said the park is closed.  
Ah, now we understood.  Not only are the museums in the park closed on Monday, but the park itself is closed too!  Except to bikers.

Ok.....

We finally made it to the cable car station, paid the 7 pesos (40 cents) and got on.  This line is the shortest of all the lines, but was just right for a little ride.

We got off at one of the last stations and walked around the forested part of the park

This cemetery was HUGE and sprawling

VIDEO:

Walking back to the hotel, we knew now that we couldn't cut through the park, so we thought we'd just go around, thinking it was closer than it really was.  Well, it was far.  Really far.  Like 3 miles far.  

We made it though pretty easily, and enjoyed walking through the city.     

After a short nap, we packed up and headed to the airport.  

Miles walked today: 10+

Quick but super fun trip.  We LOVED every part of it.  Mexico City did not disappoint at all.

Add this one to your list.

COST:

Flights:  $832 per person round trip cash price

            My price = $0 and 20,000 points per person = 4 cents per point value

Hotel:  $375 per night cash

            My price:  $0 and  45,000 points = 3.3 cents per point value