Mexico City 2018

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Laurie Reynolds Mexico City 2018
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- Jan 26, 2018, 8:56pm
- ⛅ 9 °C
- Altitude: 1,552 m
- Mexico Morelos Las Flores 18.925608, -99.23757218°55’32” N 99°14’15” W
Day 9
To Cuernavaca
January 26, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Well, we were wrong. Cuernavaca is not some beautiful little town in a valley of eternal spring. It is a chaotic, congested, haphazard amalgam of people and way too many cars, bikes, and buses of all sizes. Totally not what we were expecting. Bad planning. I would not recommend coming here unless you are interested in just seeing what life here looks like. It gives new meaning to what urban planners mean when they talk about the perils of a lack of planning.

Cuernavaca does have a few things to visit, but unfortunately our weekend trip planner neglected to research the extent of earthquake damage. Most of the main sights in town are closed to visitors (like the palace where Hernán Cortes lived after he conquered Mexico City and a cathedral that looks interesting from the outside) but one museum was open. It was the house of Robert Brady, a rich American painter who lived in Cuernavaca and jammed a million items into his very nice house. One Frida self-portrait and a few other notable paintings crammed in between figurines, paintings, plates, wall hangings, and random other collectibles of all types.

At least it looks like the ruins at Xochicalco are open, so we will head there tomorrow. Sunday's plan looks like a mariachi mass (I am serious) and some waterfall that may be dry because there has been no rain. I would not say this has been the best choice of places to go, but the beer is good.Read more
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Laurie Reynolds Mexico City 2018
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- Jan 27, 2018, 7:13pm
- ☁️ 13 °C
- Altitude: 1,555 m
- Mexico Morelos Las Flores 18.925552, -99.2376418°55’32” N 99°14’16” W
Day 10
Xochicalco saves the day!
January 27, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
The weekend getaway to Cuernavaca took a definite uptick today. At 10 am, Enrique showed up in his car to whisk us away to the ruins at Xochicalco, dating from about 700 AD. They had some earthquake damage, and some parts of the vast city were closed, but all in all it was pretty well open for business. Great museum, really well designed, but of course it's walking around that is the most fun. Lots of ruins to climb, and one particularly beautiful pyramid that had four walls of carvings of the Plumed Serpant and other deities. Really something.

After that, Enrique took us to a 17th century hacienda, now fancy restaurant and hotel complex, for a good lunch of local specialties. We are not used to traveling around this way, kind of fancy for us, but it was a nice treat and felt very luxurious.Read more
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Laurie Reynolds Mexico City 2018
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- Jan 28, 2018, 5:37pm
- ⛅ 10 °C
- Altitude: 1,552 m
- Mexico Morelos Las Flores 18.925462, -99.2375718°55’32” N 99°14’15” W
Day 11
Last day in Mexico
January 28, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Today was one of those low key but very enjoyable days. No rushing around, no major sites, but a really nice way to end the visit. First off -- no more horrible coffee, so we headed to Starbucks to start the day. I would have preferred a good local shop but none presented itself. Then to the Arte Popular museum, and then off to the market, where we were shocked to find that we saw not one other foreign tourist.

Our one visit was to the Borda Gardens, with a nice little museum of contemporary artist exhibits off to the side. The one I liked the best was the Mexican "still life" that added an unusual element to the normal array of things to eat that you find in a still life. As we were sitting in the garden, a man about our age came up and started talking. Turns out he is a poet, and as we were having a nice chat and as he began reading his poems, a young aspiring poet heard one of the poems and came up to join the group. A half hour later, with many poems having been read by both, we went back to the main square for a great lunch up on a balcony overlooking the Square and all its activities. Really one of the best meals I have had on this trip.

After lunch, we enjoyed watching the crowd as the local police put on a comedy routine for kids and adults alike. There is surely no political correctness here, but everyone seemed to be enjoying it. I assume this is good PR for the police, whose reputation in Mexico is pretty bad.

On the way home, I was sorely tempted by the mango on a stick sprinkled with chili pepper, but my guts have been fine so far, so why tempt fate?

Now back to chill out and exercise before our last foray into Cuernavaca.Read more
Traveler I think Rick Steves has some competition.
1/28/18Reply
Traveler Fantastic photos Laurie - looks like a really interesting trip.
1/29/18Reply
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To Cuernavaca

Xochicalco saves the day!

Last day in Mexico