Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019
After our long trip through Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbeksitan) in Sept-Oct 2019, we decided to spend 2019-2020 New Year’s eve timeframe to explore Mexico City. We stayed initially at the Intercontinental Hotel in the Polanco area; which was a nice, upscale, area.
Mexico City is the capital and largest city of Mexico, as well as the most populous city in North America. It is located in the Valley of Mexico (Valle de México), a large valley in the high plateaus in the center of Mexico, at an altitude of 7,350 ft. The population of Greater Mexico City is approx. 22 million, which makes it the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the world, the second-largest urban agglomeration in the Western Hemisphere (behind São Paulo, Brazil), and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world.
Mexico’s capital is both the oldest capital city in the Americas and one of two founded by indigenous people. The city was originally built on a group of islands in Lake Texcoco by the Mexica (Azteca) in 1325 as Tenochtitlan. It was almost completely destroyed in the 1521 Siege of Tenochtitlan and subsequently redesigned and rebuilt in accordance with the Spanish urban standards. In 1524, the municipality of Mexico City was established. Mexico City was the political, administrative, and financial center of a major part of the Spanish colonial empire. After independence from Spain was achieved, the Mexico City federal district was created in 1824. On 29 January 2016, it ceased to be the Federal District (D.F.) and is now officially known as Ciudad de México (or CDMX)
Some images of parts of Mexico City we visited are below
![The Polanco area; very gentrified and clean, with parks, theatres etc Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, The Polanco area; very gentrified and clean, with parks, theatres etc](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/58wkfb3hqjvn4on/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Nice clean outdoor café’s everywhere Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Nice clean outdoor café’s everywhere](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/0ps05skauzfna4p/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Polanco area Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Polanco area](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/6c34wic84zui7ej/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![City center street food stands Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, City center street food stands](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/fcl3s2oib8vduxa/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![The Soumaya Museum in the city center; interesting building design. It had one floor on Khalil Gibran, the Lebanese poet/writer, whose museum we had visited during our trip to Lebanon Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, The Soumaya Museum in the city center; interesting building design. It had one floor on Khalil Gibran, the Lebanese poet/writer, whose museum we had visited during our trip to Lebanon](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/kperxm2ewdaswoy/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Image to get an idea of the size of the Soumaya Museum building Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Image to get an idea of the size of the Soumaya Museum building](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/a9tzgzwujg3e6tm/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![One happy camper enjoying the sun on the steps to the Soumaya Museum Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, One happy camper enjoying the sun on the steps to the Soumaya Museum](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/m6q784tdhdmxkj2/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Street food taco’s where we were helped by a family to decide on what to order Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Street food taco’s where we were helped by a family to decide on what to order](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ulryd4rrsba6wcd/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Tacos were served on plates covered in a thin clear plastic bag; the salsa's were quite spicy Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Tacos were served on plates covered in a thin clear plastic bag; the salsa's were quite spicy](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/vs2qft20viltqgt/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
After a couple of days, we decided to move closer to the happening area, so we moved to the Marriott hotel on the Paseo de la Reforma which is a very wide boulevard running from the city center to the outskirts. And right outside our hotel, on the large roundabout, there was a big stage being built and the main streets cordoned off; we assumed for New Year’s celebration.
![Getting ready for 2020 Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Getting ready for 2020](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/432fveewusgl9af/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
From here, we were able to take the local bus or subway or taxi’s/Uber to get around easily. Some places we visited are below
![Busy pedestrian street leading to the Plaza de la Constitución (or Zocalo) Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Busy pedestrian street leading to the Plaza de la Constitución (or Zocalo)](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/w85hov19lq6us14/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![We met up with some Dallas friends at a nearby café; obligatory photo in front of the famous Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María a los cielos) Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, We met up with some Dallas friends at a nearby café; obligatory photo in front of the famous Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María a los cielos)](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ghaia4oh67gxcda/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![The Metropolitan Cathedral inside is very large and very ornately decorated Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, The Metropolitan Cathedral inside is very large and very ornately decorated](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/bplonroen815g9g/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Impressive church organ Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Impressive church organ](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/i3f6mtme7tmsbcz/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Intricate carvings on the Metropolitan Cathedral entrance Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Intricate carvings on the Metropolitan Cathedral entrance](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/4mcbsl44l0a5ssy/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Street entertainment by the indigenous tribes selling shamanic ailment cures in the Zocalo Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Street entertainment by the indigenous tribes selling shamanic ailment cures in the Zocalo](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/eznywmw1x7c64xj/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Ancient Mayan temple (The ceremonial center of Aztec Tenochtitlán, known as the Teocalli) excavated right in the Zocalo square outside the Metropolitan Cathedral Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Ancient Mayan temple (The ceremonial center of Aztec Tenochtitlán, known as the Teocalli) excavated right in the Zocalo square outside the Metropolitan Cathedral](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/7zywo5qq5ssvp6f/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Waited in line for Taco’s at this popular place in the city center not far from the Cathedral Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Waited in line for Taco’s at this popular place in the city center not far from the Cathedral](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/4cwpw4teugwoxs6/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![The tacos were worth waiting for; seating was at communal tables, with condiments in the center containers Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, The tacos were worth waiting for; seating was at communal tables, with condiments in the center containers](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/no0xmndke9b8hqz/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Nativity scenes like these were popular Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Nativity scenes like these were popular](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/aco8sclg8mwz5me/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Loaded cake shop nearby Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Loaded cake shop nearby](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zsphoav498wdwm4/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Impressive Palacio De Bellas Artes in the Centro Historico; nice artwork on display inside Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Impressive Palacio De Bellas Artes in the Centro Historico; nice artwork on display inside](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/0drt12ebbu2lkbq/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Parks were clean, large, and well frequented Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Parks were clean, large, and well frequented](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/28w318tgwyiiy8z/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
Celebrating the end of 2020
Good times outside our hotel
![Happy New Year :) Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Happy New Year :)](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/mr3nubnqxi7xfts/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
The next day, we decided to go to Xochomilco (pronounced so-cho-mil-ko), which is the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs, just outside Mexico City. To get there, we should have only had to take the subway and train, but since there was some maintenance issue, we ended up having to take the subway, bus and train to get there. Some scenes on the way and at Xochomilco.
![Interesting artwork at the subway station near our hotel Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Interesting artwork at the subway station near our hotel](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/1fp9q2tkzrj3pzz/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Xochomilco at last Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Xochomilco at last](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/423yl5enzyvkgpk/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
Once at Xochomilco, we found a gondola to take us around, and boarded with other passengers. Some gondolas had sitting on the edges and others had tables and chairs on them. Some scenes below
![Friendly locals on neighboring boats Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Friendly locals on neighboring boats](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/4q5c5ks94288207/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Vendor boats plied the waterways selling everything from cerveza to all kinds of foods, fruits, flowers, trinkets etc Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Vendor boats plied the waterways selling everything from cerveza to all kinds of foods, fruits, flowers, trinkets etc](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/l5tdaczr7e24wo7/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Families enjoying Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Families enjoying](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/aga6covjeonu92o/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Traffic jams Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Traffic jams](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ymibinkfu8vt5rl/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
Live music was a must
After this festive day on the water, we went back to Centro Historico area the next day to the Torre Latino tower to get a bird’s eye type of view of Mexico City. This tower is 43 stories high, and the top 2 floors (1 is enclosed, the other is open) provide panoramic views of Mexico City
![We were lucky to have bright clear sunny days Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, We were lucky to have bright clear sunny days](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/5pykthnmh75xu63/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![It’s not all concrete Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, It’s not all concrete](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/b36jfawl46uvpuw/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
Then, we met up with our friends Martha & Ricardo who we had met during our trip to Aruba, and their kids at the Anthropology Museum, which was very interesting learning about the history of Mexico
![An intro to the Mayan civilization & culture; which was very advanced centuries before European history. Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, An intro to the Mayan civilization & culture; which was very advanced centuries before European history.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/vfwdzvl1056pmtq/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![With our friends at the Museum (left to right) Martha, Catarina, Sofia, Andy and Ricardo Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, With our friends at the Museum (left to right) Martha, Catarina, Sofia, Andy and Ricardo](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/4jtgnemgtnep5j4/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
After the Museum, we went for a short visit to the zoo opposite, and then Martha & Ricardo took us out for a very nice meal and ice cream with the family, a most enjoyable time. Thanks to Martha & Ricardo.
We finished off our trip with a visit to the Mercado de San Juan…
![Lots of greens Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Lots of greens](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/2gv1e9pj4nopjlr/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Scorpions? Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Scorpions?](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/5djojr64e5vtl10/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Fried something Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Fried something](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/z7z3f1s0eawwxdt/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![More fried insects Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, More fried insects](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/1rbkez5q6gbta5p/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Fruits Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Fruits](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/e8tiuo4t9s6tuyu/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Any idea what this dark green vegetable is towards the bottom of the image? Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Any idea what this dark green vegetable is towards the bottom of the image?](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/lhodpi7qfc32uz7/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![These salsa’s looked inviting & dangerous at the same time Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, These salsa’s looked inviting & dangerous at the same time](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/l63lrpm0tlt7a34/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Habaneros anyone? I love the colors.. Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 2019, Habaneros anyone? I love the colors..](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/dbjosilscmxsfa3/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
And so ended our trip to beautiful Mexico City. We felt very safe in Mexico City, and never felt unsafe or threatened. All the people we came across were friendly and helpful at helping us or directing us to where we wanted to go. Everywhere we went was always clean and sanitary; bathrooms everywhere were clean & functional. Taxis and Ubers were cheap and easy to get around, as was the public transportation of busses, trams, subways and trains. All in all, a great time and we need to remember that their civilization started way before the Spaniards ever set foot in the Americas.
This entry was posted in Mexico, Mexico City 2019, North America
Lovely documentary. Very professional. Thanks Mr Ali
Most welcome Mr Nick; thanks for the feedback.
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Thanks for sharing. In fact my daughter just left for Mexico City this morning.
I forwarded your email to her. It will be very useful to her.
Regards to Dilshad.
Hi Sultan, thanks for the feedback.
Hopefully it will be useful for her during her vacation there.
It is a beautiful place; we really enjoyed it.
Beautiful Ali. You have done a wonderful job on your blog. Wow you are so talented. Keep up with the good job. I hope I will get to visit Mexico City. I loved the pictures you have taken.
Thanks Yasmin, for the kind words; I really appreciate that
As usual a wonderful blog to read. Looks like you went all out on this one-Intercontinental and Marriott!!!!
Cannot get away from Ismailis even there lol.
LOL; thanks Mahamud.
RE: hotels; unfortunately, we are getting older (mid 60’s now) and so we look for more comfort than we used to 🙁
So we do miss out on some local interaction at B&B’s.
I look forward to reading your blogs and pictures.
Nashir Rajan
Thanks Nashir for the feedback. So glad that you are enjoying my blogs
Thanks again for letting me know
Asante Ali, Loved it..
Love to Dilshad.
Love, Light & Cheers
Thanks Muslim 🙂
Beautiful piece once again! Truly enjoyed reading it. Its amazing how you meet families during your travels and maintain that friendship. Martha and Recardo seem like a very sweet couple with Beautiful kids. Fresh fruits and vegetables looked so yummy, habaneros were amazing definitely colorful 😋. Thank you for sharing your beautiful experiences with us.
HI Rozmin, thanks so much for the feedback; so glad you enjoyed traveling with us 🙂
Looks lovely
Hi Mumtaz; yes it is indeed a very nice place; definitely worth visiting
Thank you both very much
I enjoyed reading & watching very much
Nice!
Wow! I loved this travel diary, Ali. Mexico is such a lovely country and to me, it seems almost like a home closer to the US than home in India. Your blog was so interesting and inviting, I can’t wait to visit Mexico City!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and excitement with us. As in all your blog posts, the photos are fabulous.
Thanks Vineeta; so glad you are enjoying my blogs. Thanks for the feedback
Thank you for including me! Your information and pictures are outstanding. Much appreciated!
Thank you Ken; so glad you are enjoying traveling with us 🙂
Appreciate the nice feedback
Excellent pics
Thanks Nailla