Mexico City Redux

We traveled to Mexico City for 10 days to visit our son and his wife. We wanted to see some new places as well as visit some old faves. We had a great time. Can you believe the archeological dig depicted above is smack in the middle of the City? That is Mexico City, old and new living in perfect harmony and it is amazing!

We began our trip with walk in the Reforma, which they close to traffic on weekends. Check out the photo below of runners and cyclists trekking the area by the lovely fountain right in the middle of the city.

The walk was spectacular and we eventually wound up walking in beautiful Chapultepec Park with its many attractions: gardens, squares, monumental fountains and art galleries. The pic below is from that walk and gives you an idea of the area and its surroundings.

Mexico City is very busy. The photo below shows a typical Mexico City scene; a busy street with a unique storefront. Wild isn’t it?

The Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum is a museum and arts center in Mexico City. The Anahuacalli (from the Nahuatl word, whose meaning is "house surrounded by water"), is a temple of the arts designed by the great Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. This museum stands out for its extensive collection of pre-Columbian art as well as for its Ecological Space that protects endemic flora and fauna. Diego Rivera designed its architecture in order to safeguard his vast collection of pre-Hispanic pieces. It is a personal creation using pre-Hispanic elements, mainly from Toltec architecture and some of the Mayan: sloped walls, serpentine pilasters and rhomboid doors. The pyramidal crown accentuates the magnificent character of the building. Here it is!

The flat ceilings on the ground floor and the upper floors are decorated with original mosaics, by Diego Rivera, which are elements that are integrated into the architecture. Amazing, isn’t it?

Every year, in accordance with Diego Rivera’s will, a contemporary art exhibit is presented on the premises. This exhibit must work harmoniously with the museum's architecture, with the pre-Columbian art on display, with the nature that surrounds it, and with the foundational and evolving concept of Diego's Anahuacalli. It is shown in the studio that houses sketches for Diego Rivera's murals, preparatory drawings that reveal his working method, the development of compositions, and the relationship between figure, space, and narrative. The photo below shows the current exhibit along with the sketches. Whatcha think?

Mexico City’s gondola system, known as Cablebús, is an affordable, 7–9 peso ($0.40–$0.50 USD) aerial public transit network designed to connect mountainous, underserved neighborhoods to the city center, reducing hour-long commutes to minutes. It features three main lines (1, 2, and 3) with 10-passenger cabins, offering scenic, panoramic views of the city. We rode one of the lines from one end to another and were blown away by the government’s attempt to reduce the traffic congestion and protect the environment in Mexico City. Here is a pic from the Cablebus, taken on a hazy morning.

Here is another photo from the Cablebus depicting the traffic beneath the Cablebus.

We had the pleasure of visiting Casa Pedregal, built in 1948, which represents one of the most internationally transcendent works of contemporary architecture. Luis Barragán’s influence in global architecture is still in constant growth. This house has been restored faithfully to how it was when first built in the late 1940s. The photo below is an example of how Barragán merged the outer elements of the house with the interior of the house. Look at the wall!

Mexico City is unique. Throughout the city, vendors on streets sell fresh fruit and drinks made from the fresh fruit. This one, close to our son’s place, was used pretty much every day by us.

Finally, here’s some words of wisdom found on a street lamp post! ‘All begins to change when we accept that we deserve good things: good friends, good love, good treatment and a good life’.

Enjoy and please leave a comment after reading it so I know you received it and read it. All feedback is appreciated.