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Mexico in 42 Days - Part 2
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Mexico City: Outside the Zocalo
 
 
After we had explored the Zocalo and its surrounding streets, it was time to venture a little deeper into the Centro Historico.
 
Even without a guide book, a look at the map of Mexico City makes it fairly obvious that the Palacio de Bellas Artes located west of the Zocalo would make for an interesting destination. If a look at the map doesn't do it, then just a glance down avenidas 5 de Mayo or Francisco I. Madero will be enough to get your feet moving in that direction.
 
If security is a concern, the Centro Historico is a great place to get your feet wet in Mexico City because of its apparent air of order and calm. And if a sense of security is conveyed by the number of police on the street then the center of Mexico City must be the safest place on earth because there may be as many as six police officers at an intersection .
 
The look of the Centro Historico is very much that of old Spain and the streets I have seen in Madrid, Barcelona or Seville. As a matter of fact, the entire Centro Historico is there because of what the Spaniards built many years ago.
 
When one thinks of colonial architectural impact in the New World, there is only one conclusion. Spain left much more of its architectural grandeur than its competitors, the English, the French and the Portuguese.
 
This architectural glory can be seen throughout Mexico and Latin America. It boggles the mind how this all came about, all in the search for silver to feed the Spanish Empire which was at its zenith at the time.
 
On our walk west we discovered two pedestrian streets - Filomeno Matta and Cjon de la Condesa Marconi. This brought to mind the beautiful pedestrian streets in Buenos Aires and in comparison, Mexico City came up lacking.
 
Along the way we stumbled upon the Pasteleria Ideal which has a mind boggling selection of pastries and wedding cakes.
 
All the while we were walking west towards the famous 44 storey high Torre Latinoamericana inaugurated in 1956 . I heard a long time ago that it was the first skyscraper in Latin America. Upon closer examination, it looks every bit its age and I had to comment to Barbara, "I wonder what the technology is for taking down a skyscraper when its "good until date" has expired?"
 
There is no thought of "taking it down" when it comes to the nearby Palacio de Bellas Artes. It is simply spectacular in its splendor with its giant white marble dome looming over nearby Alameda Park. The palace houses an opera hall as well as murals by Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros and Lozano.
 
Alameda Park was a delight to stroll because on a Sunday afternoon it was full of people out to enjoy the beautiful warm afternoon. The main activity here is "people watching".
 
Upon crossing the main avenida of Mexcio City, La Reforma, our last destination was Plaza de la Republica where the famous Monumento de la Revolucion is located. It is a monument to the Mexican Revolution as well as a mausoleum containing the remains of such heroes as Pancho Villa. Beneath the monument is the Museo Nacional de la Revolucion . The Mexican Revolution took place at the beginning of the 20th century.
 
Our evening walk back to the Zocalo along calle Francisco I. Madero was particularly delightful since by this time it had been turned into a pedestrian street full of people out for an evening stroll.
 
What a great way to spend a day in Mexico City.
 
Coming soon:
 
Mexico City: Polanca and much more