SUMMER 2019, PART 3: MEXICO CITY

Many of you know Mexico City, a place with 21 million, 621 thousand, 908 habitants, making it the 5th biggest city of the world after Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, and Sao Paolo. The city was built in 1521 on top of another far more ancient city, Tenochtitlán, which was the capital of the Aztec (Mexica) Empire, built in 1325.

Because of colonization, the city has three races among its habitants: Indigenous people, Mestizos, and criollos.

Indigenous people are the native people of the country; they are also the poorest and most discriminated.

The middle class in Mexico City is composed of Mestizos, which are a mixed of Indigenous and European--enter me. I am a mestizo man, born from a Mexican mother (who is Purepecha (from the Michoacán State) and a European father. (To my surprise, not a Spanish man but an English man--and no, I won't talk about that.)

The last group of people in Mexico City are the Criollos-- European/Spanish born in Mexico (not mixed) which are white, wealthy, and the ones with the most privilege.

Mexico City was known as "El Distrito Federal" (Federal District) until January 2016 where the District became a City and a state. Today Mexico City is known as CDMX (Ciudad de México). This change is important because those living in the federal district had different laws, regulations, and benefits which didn't really benefited the habitants since congress gave more benefits to geographical areas classified as towns, cities, and states. There is more factors involved in the change and how they work for the habitants but I really don't know them all nor do I have the time or desire to explain them. Just know before 2016 Mexico as a country had 31 states and 1 federal district. Today it has 32 states the newest state is known as Mexico.

One of my favorite things about CDMX is "El Metro." The subway system is one of the most colorful, most modern, fastest, and most complex but also very efficient public transportation system in the world. It is incredibly easy to use. It is always packed with people, especially at rush hour but no matter its intricacy and its many stairs to climb up and down, making you tired very easily. the metro is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to travel in the city. I LOVE EL METRO.

For $5 pesos, less than 15 cents, you can ride the metro and literately cross the entire city one way. Not only that but the entire subway system is so large and the stations (especially transfer stations) are so huge that many have permanent exhibitions, some house museums, and other station actually have mini shopping centers, while others have small stores and restaurants, especially those that become transfer stations. 

Mexico City covers an area of around 571 square miles with an elevation of about 7,349 ft. Yes, it is the largest city in the entire American continent.

A couple of images from my neighborhood and last but not least: El metro!

Well, this vacations were awesome! Let's see what trip comes next! Thanks for reading, stay tune!

ALONG THE WAY I ENCOUNTERED...

ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHTED AND THEY ARE MY PROPERTY. THEY ARE NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN

This tree is famous because it is covered with chewed gum.

Street vendors are everywhere and sell everything. Here, you have clay kitchenware.

I went to see a play but before that I had dinner at "Los Cochinitos," the name refers to the type of meat they served: pig. But I also think it refers to people who just eat like pigs... like me. 

The play: "Nueva York versus El Tepozito," a Mexican play about a mother and daughter who meet after years of being separated. Daughter lives in NYC; Mother lives in her little Mexican Town. Discuss! It was incredible! Showing at the Centro Elenico.  

Interesting enough, at the same theatre, "A View from a Bridge" was playing on the weekends.

El Palacio Nacional (Our version of the Senate and the Congress) It's an immense building decorated with murals by Diego Rivera. Unlike the buildings for the Congress and the Senate this one is open to the general public.  

Maguey, one of Mexico's pride and joy

Downtown Mexico City

Churros and hot chocolate, one of the best indulgences in Mexico City. And no, you have not tasted churros like these... unless you have been here. Period.

This is part of a modern art exposition done by university students

Jelly fish with cameras... interesting stuff. 

And finally, incredible graffiti decorating the walls downtown. 

LA CASA AZUL

ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHTED AND THEY ARE MY PROPERTY. THEY ARE NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN

As expected, visiting LA CASA AZUL (The Frida Kahlo Museum) was a very good experience. I was able to take more than a hundred pictures, as well as talked to some very knowledgeable people. The best part is that I was able to see many of Frida's paintings as well as learned new things about her that I had not read in any of the books. 

One of my many favorite things in La Casa Azul was the kitchen.

And here is the other, Frida's bed.

 The patio, colorful and very inviting. 

The famous "Judas" or La Muerte.

And what an incredible garden.

This is the famous pyramid, Diego had in the garden. It got so big that a new place (very expensive project) was started, it is now known as Anahucalli (The Diego Rivera Museum). I'll be there tomorrow.

This is one of the Tehuana dresses Frida used to wear. I saw a similar dress at the market. Cost $350.

Frida's prosthetic leg.

Frida's wheelchair.

Frida's painting materials.  

Finally, some of the many corsets Frida wore after the accident and throughout here life.

Here is an image of one of the markets. Colorful. 

Frutas, candy, pinatas, and food, food, and more food. 

And this is what I ate. Quesadillas, gorditas, and tlacoyos... all made as I ordered them. 

Of course, I have to have one of this.

And one of this.

And I couldn't pass out my favorite: "Nieve de Cajeta" (Caramel Ice Cream)

A popular celebration going on.

Graffitti artists using their talent to tell the tales of our people.

Finally, I leave you with "The Tree of Life." This particular sculpture is about 20 feet tall.