Flag Raising, Frida Kahlo, Mural Imagery

Today was day two of my two day supersaver combo I had booked on Viator for $75 USD. Yesterday we had visited Plaza Tres Culturas, Guadalupe Shrine, and Teotihuacan Ancient Aztec Pyramids of Sun and Moon. Today we would be visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum, University campus, and Xochimilco canals.

Leaving my hotel in the morning by the Zocalo square there were lots of soldiers and drumming. Turns out at 8am they do the flag raising ceremony. This was a happy co-incidence as I had time before my 8.45 tour meeting point and the crowds were thin this early.

Bringing Flag

Marching

Flag Length

Soldiers

This also explains why there is so many army personnel hanging around this area. It was actually quite chilly again today and I had worn two layers having expected it to be warm and sunny at 25 degrees during the trip.

I managed to make a brief youtube video of the flag raising ceremony

youtube video - Zocalo flag raising - https://youtu.be/gO2mi_gnsY8

Meeting up with the group for 8.45am we then made our way to our first destination. It was a large bus again with English and Spanish speakers and the same guide Cesar from yesterday with a new guide Kevin.

First stop was the Frida Kahlo Museum. We had to wait for 10am for the museum to open and due to the large group and waiting other visitors it took a while to get in. Inside was colourful and interesting.

There were various living quarters as well as artwork. The home was visited by many guests and family members.

You had to pay 30P ($2) to be able to take pictures but it was worth it as there was a variety to see.

I was done in about 15 mins going round twice and we had an hour to explore. I went outside to wait in the sun and warm up. The lines were stretching around the block in both directions so I dont think you can get in without a tour or expect to be waiting over an hour. I bought some churros for 20P ($1.25) while waiting before they let us on the bus to wait and keep warm.

We then went to Coyacan town centre which was very traditional with a small town feel although being absorbed into Mexico City. The name is derived from land of the coyotes. They took us to a traditional coffee house and local stuffed churros, which I wish I had known as I'd already bought some earlier.

There was traditional dancing going on in the main square but instead they took us inside the church. It had interesting artwork and paintings of the arrival of Christianity.

Next we drove to the University campus where the 1968 Olympics were held in the stadium. We went to a interesting building decorated with a mural which is in fact the worlds largest mural on four sides.

It looks like a tape deck with a handle at top and two round wheels. However upon closer scrutiny there are layers of 'illuminati' imagery plastered all over.

At least a dozen times is the 'all seeing eye' inside a pyramid. It tells the story of the conquest of the Americas by the Europeans and bringing of Christianity or are they saying the illuminati were behind all of this and erasing native culture with their religion and economic structure?