Mexico: Mexico CityAug 29, 2004
|
|
| We arrived in Mexico City on a Sunday morning and despite previous anxieties about visa regulations and proof of onward travel we didn't have any problems at immigrations and were issued a 90 day tourist visa. Easy! One word of advice though ... rather walk or swim than fly with Iberia! Mexico City - no doubt a huge cosmopolitan city, crowded metro carriages, buzzling street markets, very modern business district, beautiful palmtree-lined back streets in the Zona Rosa shopping area...basically another capital in another country... aren't they all the same in one way or another? However, the amount of armed security guards outside shops, armed police and armed military was overwhelming - it's pretty much in your face and takes some time to get used to. Another small but significant difference though, if I had to compare MC to London... all the people we met and dealt with were extremely helpful and very friendly. But that didn't really come us a surprise! We checked in at a cheapish hotel near the Zocalo (central square), and had breakfast in Café Popular next door, where middle-aged ladies in their 50's American diner outfits (pink miniskirts and blouses with pink ribbons in their hair) serve their customers. What a sight! Back at our hotel we met Asaf, a nice guy from Israel, who had arrived on the same flight from Madrid and the three of us decided to visit the first attraction in the vicinity of MC, the pyramids of Teotihuacan, in the afternoon... thus combating our jetlag. There was a huge but peaceful political protest on the Zocalo that Sunday afternoon - more armed forces, thousands of people with huge banners calling for a better democracy, liberty, workers rights etc. It took us ages to make our way through the masses of protestors, street vendors, balloon sellers and tinsel - a pretty colourful affair that reminded us more of a carnival than a political protest. So, five hours after our arrival in MC we found ourselves leaving this city already. After a quick 50km bus ride we arrived in Teotihuacan, an amazing Aztec site. Two huge pyramids are the highlights of Teotihuacan. The Pyramid of the Sun is the world's third largest pyramid, in Aztec belief dedicated to the Sun God. The Pyramid of the Moon bears some astronomical symbolism with 12 platforms (or whatever is left of them) dedicated to the signs of the Zodiac. Both pyramids stand on either side of a long corridor, the Avenue of the Dead. Thousands of sacrifices took place on this site, hearts being ripped out of an estimated 20,000 captured prisoners, all for the sake of the Holy Divine. On day 2 we visited the Ministry of Education and the Supreme Court to see the beautiful, gigantic and very powerful murals of Diego Rivera, pretty much expressing important aspects of Mexico's post-colonial history: the struggle for independence and equality, the Mexican Revolution, the Marxist influence and the poverty of the working class. That day we also went to the statue of Independence, the Zona Rosa district and the Bella Artes gallery. The following day we solely dedicated to the Anthropological Museum. The museum is huge, divided by different regions and tribes and exhibits artifacts of the Olmec, Mayan and Aztec cultures. Very well done and informative - gave us a sound grounding on Mexico's history. After three days in MC we were ready to leave the capital and caught the night bus south to Oaxaca City. Traveling in Mexico is pretty easy. The first class buses are affordable and super comfortable. |
Advertisement 
|
