Jodi_nelan's travel blogs:
|
|
  | |  |
A City Surprise
Entry 3 of 16 | show all | print this entry |
|
Notes for other backpackers:
Where to stay: I stayed at Hostal Amigo because there was a free airport pickup. There´s a bar, and you´re likely to get free tequila. Lots of backpackers who are either passing through or just like to party in big cities.
Where to eat: I had street tacoes.
Other stuff: Nothing really to say here.
____________________________________________________________ _________
Finally, it has begun.
I arrived in Mexico City on Wednesday and was happily surprised by the vibrant and diverse city. This place has everything. Fancy shops and shiny hotels, a laundry list of museums and historic sites, endless street markets, delicious street tacos, and-- most importantly-- kind and patient locals.
The area where I stayed, El Centro Historico, is a 34-block UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking around some of the more upscale parts, I kept getting the feeling that I was in Rome or Paris-- except a little dirtier and in a different language. The ultra-stylish city folk walking down streets lined with high colonial buildings...Mexico City wasn´t what I thought it would be.
While there, I stayed at Hostal Amigo for about $11.50 USD a night. It´s a great place to stay if you´ve remembered to bring earplugs. Like most Latin American buildings, it´s a big echo chamber with stucco walls and tiled floors. Add some gringos and a bar in the lobby, and it gets loud real quick.
Near my hostel is one of the city´s main focal points: it´s main square, or Zocalo. Mexico City´s Zocalo was a big enormous block containing nothing but a huge flagpole. On one side is the Palacio Nacional which houses some of Diego Rivera´s murals as well as soldiers who march out every day at 6pm to lower the flag.
Watching the soldiers lower the flag meant pulling myself away from a very funny and creative anti-smoking skit. A guy dressed as a devil was offering people cigarettes, and then another guy in a hospital gown and wearing a gas mask would take one and light up. Just as he was beginning to enjoy the smokes (he had three), a big skeleton in a dress would grab him from behind. At one point, a teenager who wasn´t paying attention took one of the cigarettes from the devil guy, prompting his mom to run up and slap his hand. For a split second right before she got to him, you could almost read his mind, Hell yeah, free smokes!
Mexico City has a great metro system that´s easy, clean, and safer than taxis. My absolute favorite part is that it´s segregated by sex during rush hour on weekdays, a solution to rampant butt-pinching and enforced by armed (female) metro police. Riding in the female car was just lovely. It was calm and quiet, with the aroma of perfume and of the cosmetics that were being carefully applied. A much nicer experience than later that day when it was mixed, smelling of b.o., and carrying someone who picked my pocket. I was pretty impressed by the pocket-picker, whoever it was. He (or she) only got about $6 USD, but it was in a zipped front pocket-- and I didn´t notice a thing.
As far as sites, I went to the Museo Nacional de Antropologia on Thursday. It was incredible and had extensive exhibits on the fascinating indigenous cultures who inhabited Mexico before the Spanish arrived. If you ever make it, I recommend focusing on the Pre-Classical room, the Mexicas room, and the Mayan room-- in that order. The other big site I saw was Frida Kahlo´s Blue House where she lived with Diego Rivera for some years. Displayed are many of her personal things as well as her art, and though the museum is small, it is very powerful.
On Thursday night I joined a new friend and checked out a few local bars. The best one was a little hole in the wall hosting an anniversary party and popular with folks getting off work. The place was packed with a band, a shoe-shine guy, and workers still in their uniforms, drinking rum and smoking big cigars. While there, an older man at the bar next to me gave me a pack of gum as a present. When I asked why he gave it to me, he said ¨When you see a pretty woman, you give her a present. Con respeto.¨ We went on to talk about Mexico City, and he went on to swayfully sing with the band.
After that bar, I headed back to my hostel to find one of the crazier employees giving out shots of tequila. He would stand on top of the bar and pour tequila directly into the mouths of all the hostelers who gathered around with their heads turned up and their mouths open, like hungry little birds. I enjoyed two such feedings.
My last night in Mexico City was chill. I repacked my bag, made a phone call, and cooked dinner. This time around I have vowed to take better care of my nutrition. The food in Mexico seems much better than what I´ve had further south. There are actual flavors and spiciness, but it´s still nutritionally flat. Hopefully, if I take vitamins and cook some veggies for myself regularly, I´ll enjoy the local food more when I do eat it.
Ok, if anyone´s still reading, here´s your question. Is it ok to take pictures inside holy places, like cathedrals? I´ve met some travelers who insist that it´s 100% rude and inappropriate. Personally, I decide based on the context. I would never take a picture of someone worshiping, as that would be intrusive, and I usually abstain if I feel it would be disruptive. What do you think?
Latest Comments (2)
|
Pictures (reply)
Jun 3, 2007 17:42 EST by knelan
Don't most holy places have the international no picture sign (camera with a big red X) or at least some kind eldery folk wondering around sh-ing and blocking the good shots when necessary? I think it's nice to leave the local prayers out of the photos, because it would suck to have to get all gussied up everytime you want to say thanks in case you make it into someone's scrapbook. It's equally ... show all
|
|
|
Taking Pictures (reply)
Jun 3, 2007 14:13 EST by gingwilliams
Hey Jodi,
Wish I could have joined you in Mexico City. Sounds like you had a blast. Guess I will just have travel through your writings, which by the way are wonderful to read.
As for taking pictures inside the cathedrals, I think it is ok if you have not been told otherwise when you enter it. I would like to have pictures of the inside architecture. Afterall, lots of photographe... show all
|
 Post a new comment |
|
If you like this entry, search for other entries by jodi_nelan, from Mexico or try a new search. |
| |
Back to Entry - Back to Home
|
9 votes 
