Mexico City February 11 to 21, 2022
After losing my wallet and day pack (computer, Kindle, umbrella) in Salvador Brazil, I had to end my trip and come home. My Covid PCR was positive so I had to quarantine for 10 days in Mexico before returning home. I decided to spend it in Mexico City. I had last been here in 1981 when I came down to climb and had always wanted to return.
ON Viajero CMDX Centro Hostel is a great hostel, one of the best I have stayed at. Two-story with rooms surrounding a large central covered courtyard. Easy to meet people. Good restaurant. Close to the zocalo. I spent all 10 days here.
I had at least 5 walkabout days seeing all the sites in MC.
Day 1
National Museum Culturas. Exhibitions from China, Japan, Mexico, Ethiopia, and Iran (carpets). Free
National Palace. 4-story, no entry.
Zocalo. A massive empty square surrounded by palaces and the cathedral.
Metropolitan Cathedral. 1749-68 In the corner of the Zocalo, it has a wildly ornate facade. Inside it is a square with four massive columns.
Capela Immaculata. A small isolated church in the centre of a traffic island.
Publica Mercado de San Juan. A great place for authentic cheap food.
Day 2
Museum of Caricatures. A small, one-man show. All Spanish, free.
Palace of the Inquisition. 1732-36. 3-story red basalt building. Closed.
Templo de Santo Domingo. Single nave with 6 side altars. High stained glass.
Instituto de Economics. All in Spanish so not at all interesting. Had an exhibit on covid. 85 MP
Ferro International de Libro del Palacio de Minera.
Museum National de Arte Munial.
Palacio de Postal. Grand building with wrought iron railings and stairs, great skylights and marble columns.
Palacio de Bella Artes. Grand building with large open court. Popular arts and many DR murals. National Museum de Architectura. Juan O’Gorman on the top floor.
Soymayer Museum Sculpture Garden. A real surprise – only Rodin’s and Dali’s.
Mercado Sonora. Huge with 7 adjoined buildings.
Museo del Estan Quell. Only in Spanish – the guy was a actor?? Juan Garcia Ponce/Carlos Monsevais
La Condensa
Monument to Ninos. Massive white limestone, 6 cylinder columns topped with black eagles and a central mother statue.
Chap Castle National Museum de la Historia. Navy museum and historical museum in the castle at the top of the mountain. Highlights were lapis lazuli doors, vases and giant plates.
Contemporary Art Museum. Also in the park, not so interesting. One nice photo by Annie Liebowitz Mexico 1986.
Museum of Anthropology. A mammoth very good museum with all the best pieces from around the country. Courtyard had an interesting ceiling.
Mexico City Zoo.
Soumayer Museum. Wonderful building, with 2 floors with the second-best ivory in the world.
Day 3
Anchuscalle M. Diego Rivera’s archaeology museum in 4 story rough stone building. All ceilings have elaborate stone art. Pieces from all over the country.
Island of the Dolls.
Take the train to Xochimulo at the end after the metro. Walk 1.5 km to the Embarques boat launch. Take a boat for 3. One hour to see the island or a replica.
Museo Dolores Olmedo
La Cantina de Jolescience 1870. 7 tables mains 200-300. Across the street from a gorgeous park with hedges and benches.
Day 4
Ball Museum
Luis Barrigan 126 tiny square glass windows on main wall of house. No sign on outside. House Seen only by appointment 6/hour on the hour M-F 11-4 and SS 11-1 452 MP
Casa Guillermo Tour de Teresa. Elaborate house with stucco ceilings, walls, decorative elements, furniture, vases, china cabinets, library.
Hotel Geneve. elaborate wood entrance lobby, library with high ceilings, art, stained glass, bar.
These are all in the central business district full of modern skyscrapers.
Angel of Independence. Great statue occupying entire roundabout – massive column on base with gold angel on top.
Museo Casa Carranga 1920-44
222 Reforma. A new 3-story modern mall. 2 towers on either end.
Day 5
Metro all the way to end at University Station.
Universum. Science museum most suited for kids. Oceanarium extra. Big bit on the brain. 90MP
Contemporary Art M. Large excellent bit on Women’s rights. 40 MP
Hosteria de Santo Domingo
Museo Casa Estrela D Rivara and Frieda Kahol. Some on DR’s archaeology collection plus his studio and a separate blue house. Bedrooms and bathrooms.
Jamaica Market. A huge market with big areas of everything especially produce, meat, clothing.
Casa Benita Gadona. Orange small tower grey 2-story flat roof house.
Leon Trotsky House. Expelled by Stalin in 1925, he lived in MC from 1937 till his assassination in 1940. Interesting reinforced doors. Many photos.
Freida Kahlo House. 250 MP Photos, some DR art, not her best. Needs a reservation that was booked out. I didn’t see it.
Paroquial San Juan Bautista
Torre Mithcals. very high all glass with no balconies. apartments.
Monument to the Revolution. Huge 4-cornered stone arch. The elevator to the top was not working.
Museo Franz Mayer. Elaborate material much very nice.
Tequila Museum. All the elements of production and a huge bottle collection. 60 MP
Garibaldi square. Backs the museum. Traditional home of mariachi bands.
I ended up with an early 06:45 flight to Cancun to catch my return flight home on WestJet via Calgary. Sandy picked me up at 01:30am on Feb 22, 2022, a very welcome homecoming.
