Category: Mexico 2025

Polanco to Historic Center – Mexico City Day 6

Today we checked out of our hotel in Polanco and moved to a hotel in the historic Center. Our room wasn’t ready when we arrived so we went out for a walk.

We went into the cathedral and watched part of a mass.
We walked around the ruins of the Templo Mayor. It was first built around 1325 and then destroyed by the Spanish to build the cathedral.

Then we had lunch at our hotel. Snacks (sandwiches, beer, wine, etc.) are included in the price of our room.

Lunch

We were able to get into our room by 2:00. We have a fantastic view of the Zócalo with the cathedral on the north side and the Palácio Nacional on the east side. Behind the Palácio Nacional we can see the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuarl volcanoes. When Duke lived in Mexico City in 1981-2 he says he never saw the volcanoes because the smog was so bad.

The view of the Zocalo from our room.
The cathedral and zocalo from our room as the sun was going down
Volcanoes in the distance

We ate dinner at a rooftop restaurant not far from our hotel.

The cathedral at night

Paseo de La Reforma – Mexico City Day 5

On Sundays, Reforma, the wide avenue that crosses central Mexico City, is closed to car traffic. So, Sunday morning we walked along a traffic free Reforma enjoying the people, the sites and the weather.

We stopped briefly at the Tamayo museum of contemporary art.

Inside the Tamayo
Walking along Reforma
Fountain of Diana the Hunter

We passed the Sheraton where we stayed on our first trip to Mexico City together back in 2011. Back then, the American embassy was next door to the Sheraton. Recently the embassy has been moved several miles away.

That’s the Sheraton on the left. The short building to the right is the former embassy.

When we were here on a Sunday morning back in 2011 the Mexico City Marathon was going on.

A picture from near the same spot in 2011. The former embassy is in the background.

After about three miles we stopped, had coffee, and caught an Uber back to the hotel..

Coffee and tres leches cake

For dinner we went to another restaurant Duke booked before the trip, Taboo.

We shared the salad.
We also shared the catch of the day
Inside Taboo

Castle of Chapultepec and Ballet Folklórico – Mexico City Day 4

Saturday was a big walking day for us. According to my watch we walked more than ten miles!

We started out by walking through Chapultepec park to Chapultepec Castle. Along the way we saw an area of the park that is reserved for people over 60. They had a senior center with lots of activities (everything from yoga to pickle ball, to English classes to dominos) and nice wide walking paths. Of course we got to go in!

Area of the park reserved for people over 60
In the senior garden

Castillo de Chapultepec and Historical Museum overlook Chapultepec Park. The castle was built for Spanish royalty and has been used as a military college and a presidential residence.

Walking up the hill to the castle
On the terrace
Chapultepec Castle
Interior garden

After we were done with our visit to the castle we walked back to the area of our hotel for lunch. But first, we stopped at the Audiorama. It is built around a small cave at the base of the Castle hill. It was a peaceful garden with books to read and music playing.

Resting in the Audiorama

Also on the way to lunch we walked through the botanical garden.

Botanical garden
At Karisma where we ate dinner Friday night. It was so good that we came back for lunch.
Duke’s lunch tacos

After napping at the hotel we walked back to Chapultepec Castle to see the Ballet Folklórico. They had set up chairs around a stage on the terrace. It was a beautiful night and it was a great show.

We had great seats in the second row.
Ballet Folklórico

Museo de Arte Moderno and National Auditorium – Mexico City day 3

This morning we started out by walking to the Museum of Modern Art.

Modern Art Museum
Inside the museum
Diego Rivera – Velorio o Dia de muertes
The table and its contents are all wood

Next we walked to the Audiorama in Parque d’Espagne. Along the way we went by the Monumento a los Niños Heroes. It honors the young men in the castle of Chapultepec who were killed when the American Army invaded Mexico City.

Monumento a Los Niños Héroes

When we got to the Audiorama it was closed so we took an Uber back to near our hotel and had lunch at a taqueria, El Turix, that only serves Yucatán style pulled pork. At 2:00 there was still a line. Apparently it has been in that location forever. The tacos were good.

El Turix
Eating our tacos

Tonight we went to see the movie Whiplash with a live band at the National Auditorium.

The National Auditorium
The auditorium holds almost 10,000 people
The music was fantastic.

After the concert we went to dinner at a nearby restaurant,

Dinner at Karisma

Mexico City day 2 – the Anthropology Museum

Today we walked to the Anthropology museum and spent several hours exploring the ground floor exhibits about all the different cultures that inhabited Mexico up until the arrival of the Spanish. The museum is a bit overwhelming. There is so much to see, and so many cultures that I know nothing about. But it is a wonderful place to visit, one of the top museums in the world and I truly enjoyed it.

Xochipilli – Lord of the flowers from the Chaldea culture
The sun stone
Teothuacan’s Feathered Serpent pyramid
Mixta Codex Columbine
Description of the Codices

When he was planning this trip Duke made reservations at some top rated restaurants. Tonight we went to RosaNegra. It was fabulous. The service was attentive. The food was exceptional. And the vibe felt very Mexican. It was fun, energetic and happy!

Duke,s octopus
My sea bass fish of the day
Celebration at a nearby table