Overview
The capital of Mexico is all the buzz these days with is trendy restaurants, night-life and new hotels and apartments. What used to be a city kept in disarray and dangerous at night as popped on the scene as a place where executives and families are coming back to work, play and live.
Mexico Tourism: Mexico's Office of Tourism was developed to assist travelers in planning all aspects of their trip to Mexico. This Web site will also help address any safety concerns and precautions that might be necessary for your travels to Mexico City and other Mexico destinations.
Web: www.mexicocity.gob.mx
Hotels
Condesa, D.F.: Samantha chose the quiet, tree-lined neighborhood of Condesa as her home base while in Mexico City. This hotel is a stylish, hip, contemporary space, and is the perfect place to stay, whether your trip involves business or pleasure. It offers 40 guest rooms in a variety of styles, ranging from $170 to $400 per night. Some rooms even have interior balconies overlooking the hotel's central atrium. The surrounding neighborhood is packed with clubs, cafes and unique shops of all kinds.
Web: www.condesadf.com
Holiday Inn Ciudad de Mexico Zocalo: The Holiday Inn is set right in the center of it all - the zocalo, Mexico City's main square. You have everything you need right there. The zocalo features an open-air street market and restaurants and is within walking distance to the presidential palace.
Web: www.hotelescortes.com
Food/Restaurants/Bars
Cafeteria el Cuadrilatero: Sam met up with professional wrestler Corleone at a local lunch spot called Cafeteria Cuadrilatero. This sandwich shop has a history of serving both wrestlers and fans alike. Their most famous sandwich is called "The Gladiator" - if you eat it within 15 minutes, it's free. However, getting through it is a challenge for anyone, except maybe Samantha. The sandwich consists of 14 eggs, bacon, sausage, steak, ham, chicken and three sliced hot dogs all piled on top of a loaf of bread the size of Delaware. Samantha challenged Corleone to see which of them could get through their Gladiator first. Guess who came out the lightweight ...
Mezcalito: You could say that the distilled Mexican spirit mezcal is a close cousin to tequila, but don't try looking for the worm here. At this mezcaleria, a bar completely devoted to the drink of mezcal, Sam learned that the worm is already disintegrated into the drink. Cheers!
Zocalo Square: Sam found herself adrift in a sea of shouting vendors in the open-air market just outside the presidential palace. From food to clothing to tourist goods, this place literally has everything. Sam, of course, was in the market for a delicious snack; she enjoyed a "tlayuda," a treat of black beans, corn, cilantro and chili spread across a piece of flatbread.
Dulceria de Celaya: Samantha discovered this charming candy store, just a few blocks from the zocalo.
Casa Escalante: While experiencing the floating gardens of Xochimilco, dock your boat at Casa Escalante for a home-cooked meal. Casa Escalante has been in business for over 50 years, and Margarita Escalante is the third generation running the kitchen. To try some of Margarita's typical Mexican food, just ask any of the boats to take you to "Los Escalantes." Margarita will be waiting!
Sights/Landmarks/To Do
Xochimilco: A half-hour drive from the center of Mexico City, this active waterway is based on a series of 700-year-old Aztec canals. During the week, Xochimilco serves as a local transport route, but on the weekend it is a laid-back floating tailgate party. Sam found herself on one of the many flat-bottomed boats filled with tourists and locals on a Sunday afternoon. Other boats filled with mariachis, marimbas and even food vendors float by as well, making the waterway a fun place for a picnic, complete with dancing.
Web: www.xochimilco.df.gob.mx
Torre Latino: Until recently, this important Mexico City landmark held the title of "tallest building in the city." Sam ventured to the top-floor viewing platform to take in the stunning panoramic views and see just how big the city is. It was the starting-off for her adventures in the D.F., as the locals call Mexico City.
Web: www.torrelatino.com
Lucha Libre: In Mexico, the second-most popular sport after soccer is wrestling! This colorful sport combines the thrill of a violent clash between good and evil with the kind of eye candy the ladies adore. Each match lasts a full half-hour, providing plenty of opportunities for the competitors to show off their stuff. Samantha got a front-row seat with friends to see all the action. She also learned the secret behind why some wrestlers wear masks.
Web: www.cmll.com
Segway Tours: Samantha discovered an alternative way to explore the neighborhood of Condesa - not by foot, but by Segway. Samantha joined her friend Fanny, a resident of Condesa. What's a Segway? It's a self-balancing, electric-powered transportation devise. Using a Segway enabled them to see more of the neighborhood by winding through the traffic instead of sitting in it.
Isla de las Muñecas (Island of the Dolls): The Island of the Dolls is quite the sight to see. A man named Don Julian was haunted by the sounds of a local girl who had drowned near the island. He filled the island with dolls to protect it from the evil spirits. Don Julian has since died, but his nephew still runs the island. Even after Don Julian's passing, dolls are still placed there for protection.
Limpieza - Spiritual Cleaning: Undergoing a ritual cleansing is not uncommon in Mexico. Sam underwent a "limpieza" to heal her hurting feet and cough, in the Sonora market. She paid only $8, though some folks have forked out as much as $3,000. The simple ceremony involves herbs, eggs and smoke, concluding with the throwing of birdseed behind you.
Condesa: For a great change of pace without leaving the city, explore this popular neighborhood. Sam came here to experience the tree-lined streets and beautiful Parque España - one of the few parks within Mexico City. The area features cafes and clubs, as well as trendy shops, including KONG (collectibles and fun merchandise) and Discoteca (Mexican music that isn't mariachi).
Palacio Nacional: Mexico City is a hub for the arts, with 160 museums, 100 art galleries, 30 concert halls and the fourth-highest number of theaters in the world. Probably the most famous piece of art there, though, is Diego Rivera's mural in the Palacio Nacional. This massive mural depicts five centuries of Mexican history, culminating in the 1930s. Rivera's work has become both a heritage lesson and a source of national pride for Mexicans. The mural is free to see with ID.
The Zocalo: As the third-largest square in the world (after Tiananmen and Red squares), the zocalo is a confluence of crafts, cultures and even centuries. In her visit, Sam saw not only the presidential palace and the metropolitan cathedral, but Aztec ruins nestled between buildings. But the buildings aren't the only stars around here. Another large attraction is the people themselves - from the chorus of street vendors in the open-air market, to the indigenous groups dressed in traditional costume celebrating their heritage. This diverse mix of people, along with the incredible amount of different cuisines available, makes the zocalo an incredibly vibrant place.
Viva Grupo Zapata: Sam's travels around Mexico City got much easier with the help of this company. A great alternative to taxis or public transport, their services can be hired by the hour, the day or longer. For those travelers who like to let someone else do all the work, and not just the driving, they'll even organize and plan a tour down to the smallest details.
Equinox Tours and Transportation S.A de C.V.: Another great method of getting around Mexico City is Equinox Tours. They specialize in getting you where you want to go. Not only did they take Sam to and fro, to see all the sights, they also kept her safe from the dangers of pirate taxis and questionable people in the streets. In addition, Equinox offers complete tour-planning services.
Web: www.equinoxtours.net
Shopping
Kong: At this unique shop and gallery, you can find T-shirts, toys, records, posters, comic books, jewelry and anything else you can think of. While Segwaying past, Sam was drawn in by the shop's free-spirited ambiance.
Web: www.kong.com.mx
Discoteca: Sam and Fanny make a stop on their Segways to a local music shop. Its unique welcoming feel allows you to relax and listen to some local music groups. You can even find out about local shows that are going on. If you're lucky, maybe Diego, the in-store DJ, will spin a few tracks on his turntables!
Web: www.discotecaonline.net
Sonora Market: For a traveler looking to get away from the touristy merchandise - or for a good deal on a voodoo doll - the indoor portion of the Sonora Market is the place to be. Despite a strong adherence to Catholicism, most Mexicans are very superstitious. In the market's inside displays, one can find just about anything related to magic or voodoo. As Sam discovered, they can also undergo a ritual cleansing. Monica Martinez served as Sam's guide to Mexico City and the Sonora market, introducing her to its sights, sounds and tastes.
RSS Feeds