10th Sept. 2016
According to my guide book the huge Mexican flag in the main square is raised daily at 8am and taken down at 6pm. Having woken early, we decided to head out at 7:30am to see it happen. However on arriving in good time, there was the flag already blowing in the breeze. Oh well back through the empty streets for the hearty breakfast waiting for us in our hotel. Even Starbucks was not yet open and all there was were a few food stalls surrounded by locals. What strikes me is how clean everywhere is. The pavements and gutters are regularly swept and shop owners wash the pavement every morning.
We did achieve the four sights I had set ourselves yesterday around Zocala from the Lonely Planet city walk, but that was only in the start of it. Today was the next section, starting with the very ornate Palacio de Bella Artes which we did not go in but probably should have. We were soon happily clicking away, as we do, trying to capture the scene. However we soon needed to head to the Metro station as we wanted to visit the bus terminal to buy our bus tickets for Monday. Having mastered many metros in our travels, this was very straightforward and really cheap at 5 pesos a trip. My niece would have been happy that in the rush hour there are women and children only carriages. We even managed to change lines without getting lost.
The bus station was huge, bigger than some airports we have a been to, with many booths from a dozen or more companies selling tickets. And this was only one of four main terminals in Mexico City. Having done our homework on what bus company and what time bus we wanted, again it was easy and soon we were heading back into town, mission accomplished.
The planned walk then took us around Almeda Central, a park well used by locals with the usual fountain and statues as well as a row of “Boris” bikes which just had to be photographed. In one corner was a stage for live music and many food and bric a brac stalls. This could easily have been a lunch stop but I was heading for the local market which was recommended as a good foodie place. It also specialises in gourmet foods.
We wended our way through the back streets which were well off the usual tourist trail, past bike repair shops and other workshops we found the market. In our travels we have found that local markets are fascinating places and so we meandered around and saw many unusual items for sale. The fish and meat stalls are always an education and we watched a lamb being skinned and left hanging whole. A whole book could be written about how to joint a chicken and there were many stalls full of men doing just that and skilfully removing the skin from the feet. There were numerous different fish which we could not name in English, let alone Spanish.
The fruit stalls are something else again and must take ages to line up all the fruit so neatly. We also found the local flower market with many bouquets and floral arrangements on display. With so few customers we wondered what would become of them all as they could not survive long in the heat.
Having wetted our appetite we again ate Mexican and tried the local tacos. These were served with sauces and chillies on the side, meaning I could avoid them being too hot and spicy. All the locals we have encountered have been friendly and helpful and our waiter here was no exception – aparently, my tacos were one of the chef’s specials. There were so many restaurants to choose from but we were not disappointed with our choice.
The streets were getting exceedingly crowded as it was Saturday and it was also hot so we retired to the hotel for a rest. When we reappeared early evening it was even busier and we fought our way to the Torre Latinoamerica building. We had heard that there was a bar near the top and given the length of the queue for the observation deck we asked directions to the bar. We were whisked off into a different lift and after ascending about 30 floors were ushered out and put to the front of the queue for the next lift up. Result! The bar was quite quiet and so we had cocktails for not much more than the entrance fee for the observation deck and much less crowded. The views were stunning, we had heard Mexico City was a big sprawling metropolis but we’re not prepared for the huge expanse which surrounded us.
However, supper called so we had to venture back outside to the ever growing throng and we found an Argentinian restaurant tucked down a side street which was not busy. The Mexicans were out for the walk and not to eat. As we sat in the window waiting for our food a tow truck appeared and soon had lifted a car onto dummy wheels and headed off just as quickly, car in tow. Before we had a chance to consider the poor owner and how it was just like in the movies, another tow truck arrived for the next car and a great argument ensued as the car owner appeared. No amount of arguing stopped the process and before long that car too was towed. I tried to sneakily take a picture but was almost knocked over by a passer-by running across the road so I scarpered back into the restaurant clutching the camera with one blurred shot. I was too coward to go back out!
Another exciting day getting swept up in the hustle and bustle of Mexico City. Are all Saturdays this busy or were we just (un)lucky? Maybe it is just the build up for Independence Day. But then again it is all part of experiencing other cultures and how they spend their day to day lives.