For the 2 years I spent living and working in Mexico, I spent most of my time in Mexico City. Mexico City is a very big city, with a population of 111,211,789 (July 2009 est.), according to The World Fact Book. And although there are many great places to see while there, there are too many to write in this blog. So, here are a few that really caught my eye and should be on your list if your planning on visiting.
1. Coyoacan- Coyoacan is a very artsy, hippy, colonial-era suburb noted for its beautiful town center. It has cobble stone streets, old mansions, and several of the cities most interesting museums. This was also the home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Coyoacan has a hippy feel with a very popular market every weekend in the town center(Centro de Coyoacan). At night, during the Christmas season there is an incredible slide show of beautiful Holiday themed art that is projected on the outside wall of the church in the town center.
2. Colonia Condessa-This area of Mexico City is a more upscale area and is very well known for some of the city's hippest cafe's, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. The neighborhood is also well known for its parks and restored Art Deco buildings. From upscale restaurants, off-beat shops, art galleries, fashion shows, and nightclubs, you can pretty much find it all here.
3. Polanco- Similar in some ways to Condessa, Polanco is also a very upscale area of Mexico City. Here in Polanco you have a street named Mazaryk. This street is like the Rodeo Dr. of Beverly Hills, so be prepared to spend some pesos because Mazaryk is home to some of the best designers in the world. Other than shopping, there is also the Hard Rock Cafe, the W Hotel, and the Mexico City Museum located nearby. Most everything is within walking distance, the people are very friendly, and the area is very safe.
I spent much time in all three of these neighborhoods in Mexico and I always felt safe and never had any problems. And I definitely stand out with my blond hair and blue eyes. However, when traveling in a foreign country one should always be aware of his/her environment and take the necessary precautions. In a later post I will talk about the safety and overall do's and dont's while traveling in Mexico.
Some other places I would like to mention in passing, only because I did not spend too much time there. They are, San Angel and the Centro Historico. San Angel is very nice and has a great market on the weekends and the Centro Historico has an incredible museum where I saw a wonderful Diego Rivera exhibit, and not to mention the architecture. Oh! I almost forgot.
Mexico City was built on the ruins of the Ancient City Tenochtitlan, which was built on water and was the seat of the Aztec Empire. If you go to the Centro you can view a portion of the ruins and a large-scale model of how the empire looked in the 15th Century. I thought this was VERY cool and was happy I got to see it.
So, that's about it, feel free to send in any questions or comments, until then...Happy Travels!
Craig De Borba is an avid lover of Mexico and writer on "TravelMexicoWithMe.com: A Travel Blog" at which he discusses all things travel, including; tips, travel deals, recipes, and Much more. Visit him today at: TravelMexicoWithMe.com
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