Well that last post didn´t do Mexico City any justice at all. It was a hectic city, but great despite/because of that. I stayed in a hostel right off of the Zócalo (the main square, which is the largest plaza in Central & South America), and when I showed up Sunday night I was greeted by hundreds of families running around, ice skating, and throwing light-up toys into the air. There were also giant pencil-shaped balloons that would bounce and soar into the air when people threw them at the ground. It was quite the spectacle and a great way to start my trip.
Like I said, Monday I walked. Everywhere. I was exhausted by the end of the day, but I saw some beautiful places and got a feel for the different neighborhoods.
Tuesday I got up early and went to Teotihuacán, about an hour outside of the city. The bus ride was made more fun by the presence of guys with various musical instruments and bad singing voices. No sarcasm there, it was great. Teotihuacán was incredible. Huge and mindboggling. I spent the better part of the day wandering through the site, and I ate lunch on top of the 3rd largest pyramid in the world. Now if that isn´t a good day I don´t know what is!
Wednesday I spent the morning exploring the Palacio Nacional, which had some Diego Rivera murals and all of the excessive chandeliers, etc. that you would expect from the National Palace. After soaking up some sunshine during lunch I headed off for Coyoacan, one of the more remote neighborhoods of Mexico City (25 minutes by metro from the city center) and the home of the Frida Kahlo museum. It was a great change of pace from the craziness of the city center -- small plazas, cobblestone streets, mellow. Just what the day called for. And then, to continue the wonderful day, I ate dinner in a restaurant on the 6th floor of a building bordering the Zócalo. Not only was the view incredible -- little kids ice skating and the sun setting behind the cathedral -- but someone had brought his girlfriend there to propose to her and had brought along their families, a mime, and a singer as well. I quickly decided that music (and a journal) is the solo diner´s best friend. I can´t even begin to describe what a wonderful evening it was and how happy I was to be there in Mexico City eating dinner and watching the sun set and the world go by. Incredible.
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