Mexico City's Views

Discover the mystery of the authentic Doll Island in Xochimilco, Mexico

2016-12-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

In the south part of Mexico City, there is an area called Xochimilco, where you could find a small pier with handcrafted boats called "trajineras". There, you could enjoy a boat ride to party with friends, eat some Mexican food and hear mariachi music. Also, there is a mysterious island called "La Isla de las Muñecas" (Doll Island).

In the next video, Cory (from Exploring with Cody YouTube Channel) takes us to the authentic Doll Island – you'll soon learn that there is a fake one intended to mislead tourists. Join Cory in this amazing journey full of suspense.

Great video-tour around Mexico City by youtuber Cody

2016-12-19T17:16:00.000-06:00

Check out this great and brief video exploring Mexico City. It has some great aerial views, and some scenes from the city's subway, The Catedral in downtown, and even some street cuisine.

By "Exploring With Cody" YouTube Channel

Mexico City: Live it to believe it [VIDEO]

2014-04-27T22:09:00.001-05:00

Get in love with Mexico City with this mesmerizing video.

"Mexico City, Live it to believe it. The more I remember this place, the more i want to get back."

Via visitmexico.com

3D Google Maps now available for Mexico City

2014-04-09T10:44:00.000-05:00

With 3D imagery now available for Mexico City in Google Maps and Google Earth, you can take a flight over the huge metropolitan area of the city. With this incredible 45º view you could now explore Mexico City just as if you were flying around the city in a helicopter. See how your hotel looks even before arriving here, or start planning your tours around the city from home.

Just go to Google Maps, locate Mexico City and then clic on the Google Earth square in the screen's lower left corner. Then, just change the view angle and take a virtual trip. Watch the next video for more details. Enjoy!

Via +Google México

Free WiFi in some public places in Mexico City

2014-04-05T23:30:00.002-06:00

Mexico City now has free WiFi for residents and visitors within large influx points. This program aims to increase access to the web for everyone. Now, Zocalo, Alameda Central, Parque México and Parque España have available a free public wireless network so everybody could surf the web for up to two continuous hours (this type of wireless access points could handle about 2,500 users at the same time).

In a second phase, this program will be extended to Plaza Garibaldi, Bosque de Tlalpan, Viveros Coyoacan, Bosque de Chapultepec, and Bosque de Aragon. A future expansion is also expected in areas like Iztapalapa and Gustavo A. Madero.

To access the public network, the local government prepared a brief guide for the users (see below).

1) Find a #CDMX WiFi Zone; 2) Turn on WiFi on your device; 3) Connect to "Infinitum Movil" network; 4) Open your favorite browser, you'll se the GDF site, then you are ready to surf the web.

Via GDF

Video: 24 hours in Mexico City - Shanghai Expo

2011-12-22T22:55:00.000-06:00

Mexico City premiered this short video – featuring images from the city during a 24-hour period – at the Mexican pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010. The video was produced by the Mexico City Tourism Promotion Fund and co-directed by Luis Mandoki and Mariana Rodriguez. Other credits: Photography and editing by Alberto Anaya, Estaban Arrangoiz and Yaome Escamilla. Music by Alejandro Castaños.

Even though this video was shown one year ago, remains relevant and current. Mexico City is full of life, during day and night, and this video pictures it perfectly. Lose the fear and visit Mexico, you will not regret it.

Pictures of Mexico City's landscape during a clear day.

2011-10-25T10:16:00.000-05:00

Sometimes smog makes Mexico City's landscape kind of murky, but last week we had some nice clear days. I took the opportunity of taking some nice pictures since I work at a 27 floor building in the NW of the city, near Reforma Avenue.

The view from the 22th floor.

In a clear day, we could see the mountains that surrounds the valley.

The building left to the flag, is the "Auditorio Nacional" or National Auditorium, a place for big concerts and cultural gatherings.

All those buildings are in an area called Polanco, and the tallest ones are hotels over Reforma Avenue.

All those trees are part of "Bosque de Chapultepec" or Chapultepec's Forest.

The Chocolate Experience Trade Show 2010, Mexico City.

2010-02-01T17:39:00.003-06:00

Experience chocolate with all your senses, join chocolate chefs from Canada, USA, Mexico, UK, France and Italy in a journey about the history of chocolate, and learn to cook different dishes (sweet and salty). Here is a list of the chefs that will be there:

José Ramón Castillo
Paulina Abascal
Edgar Nuñez “Sud 777″
Sonia y Jared “Jaso”
Juan Pablo Cortes “Xcanda”
Maricú Ortíz
Sebastian Michon “2 Estrellas Michelin”
Ernst Knam “Representante de Italia en Chocolate Masters 2009″
Louis Barnett “Chokolit UK”
Chef Corbin “Iron Chef”
Patrick Wiese “Chef Oprah Winfrey”
Jean Marie Auboine “Hotel Bellagio, Las Vegas”

There will also be chocolate selling, a chocolate spa, some conferences, tastings and even a fashion show by "L0ve is back", named one of the best fashion designers by GQ Magazine Mexico.

Where: World Trade Center, Mexico City

When: February 11, 12, 13 and 14 , 2010

Cost: $150 pesos ( about $11.50 USD) per person (sold at WTC and TicketMaster)

Capacity: 10,000 people (per day)

If your are visiting Mexico City within these days you can't miss this great event, it will be a nice way to spend Valentine's Day at Mexico's Capital.

The Chocolate Experience website here

God's Control Panel seems to work in Mexico City pretty well.

2010-01-17T04:14:00.003-06:00

When I saw this cartoon at Gizmodo, I immediately thought it is quite applicable to Mexico City, mostly to January 2010. We survived the swine flu, and the hard economic atmosphere, but now cold weather and strong winds are trying to kill us all. I know this is nothing compared with other cities where hurricanes and snow is common, but for us hasn't been any common or enjoyable at all. Hope things get better, actually I am sure they will be...

Mexico gets to today's Trending Topics list at Twitter.

2009-07-24T01:47:00.003-05:00

Mexico is now a Trending Topic at Twitter. Why? Because of soccer:

Mexico beat Costa Rica, to meet U.S. in final
Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:14am EDT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Mexico beat Costa Rica on penalties in a tense semi-final on Thursday to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final where they will play the United States, 2-0 victors over Honduras.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Costa Rica had plenty of chances to get the lead against Mexico, Armando Alonso hit the post in the 12th minute, but Mexico should have been ahead at the break when Giovani Dos Santos headed wide from in front of goal.

Mexico were awarded a penalty in the 58th minute when Costa Rica defender Freddy Fernandez was ruled to have handled the ball but Miguel Sabah's soft penalty was easily saved by Keilor Navas.

The Mexicans looked to have grabbed a fortunate victory when they went ahead in the 88th minute, Guillermo Franco scrambling the ball home, but the celebrations from the large Mexican crowd at Soldier Field proved premature.

In the second minute of injury time Ledezma raced on to a flick on from Alvaro Saborio, ran past the hesitating Mexican defense and rocketed home a fine shot.

Again Costa Rica had the better opportunities in extra-time but with no breakthrough the game was decided by spot kicks -- Ledezma being the only man failing to score.

The forward's well struck penalty was superbly saved by Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa and Carlos Vela kept his cool to give the Mexicans a chance at revenge for their loss to the United States in the final two years ago.

Sunday's final will be held at Giants Stadium in New York. (Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Greg Stutchbury and Peter Rutherford)

Via Reuters

Mezcal: history and cocktail recipes.

2009-05-28T21:44:00.007-05:00

First some History:

The word "mezcal" comes from the Nahuatl word "mexcalli" which means cooked maguey (pronounced ma-gay, no pun intended). Maguey or Agave is the plant (pictured above) from which tequila and mezcal are distilled. Both spirits are produced in Mexico, but Tequila is native of the town called Tequila, in the estate of Jalisco while mezcal is native of the estate of Oaxaca. While the worm at the bottom of a Mezcal bottle is not esential it helps to diferentiate it from Tequila, which will never have a worm at the bottom. Mezcal also comes in different flavors, depending on the fruit or substance used during the destilation process, some of the flavors or types of mezcal are: "de gusano" (with worm), "tobalá", "pechuga", "blanco" (white, plain), "minero" ("the miner" traditional flavor, without worm), "cedrón" (cedar flavor), "de alacrán" (with scorpion flavor), "crema de café" (coffe cream) and many other fruital flavors (read more).

Now some cocktails (yeah!):

"Mayahuel"

This cocktail uses coffee liqueur, the original recipe calls for Kahlua, but you can use any coffee liqueur like Tia Maria. It also calls for a coffee bean garnish on top.

1 oz mezcal
0.75 oz pineapple juice
1 spoon of coffee liqueur
1/4 oz orgeat (almond syrup)

Shake and strain into a tumbler with crushed ice. For garnish you could use a pineapple spear, zest of lime and a cherry. Be ready for the strong flavor of mezcal, but don't worry, after two of these you would not notice it anymore (ha ha).

"Smoky Beet"

In a chilled martini glass mix:

1 oz mezcal
Top with fresh beet juice mix
Stir in the glass with ice.
Add a sprinkle of lime.

Garnish with a few of the fresh young beet leaves, or with celery. I know that a lot of people can't stand beet, but if you can, give it a try, it is fresh and looks healthy (as seen in A Mountain of Crushed Ice blog).

Apple Mezcaltini

2 oz. Mezcal
1½ oz. Bols sour apple liqueur
½ oz. Lemon juice
Apple slice for garnish

Pour ingredients into mixing glass or shaker, add ice and shake to chill. Strain into a Martini Glass and garnish with an apple slice. You could use apple Schnapps instead of apple liqueur. In other words, the Apple Mezcaltini is prepared like any Apple Martini but with mezcal instead of vodka.

My personal favorite is the last one, it tastes great! I hope you enjoyed these cocktail recipes.

Follow the spread of swine flu in US and Mexico with Google Maps

2009-04-25T13:55:00.002-05:00

The spread of the swine flu is all over the news, but here is a usefull tool to follow the spread. Just click the link below to open Google Maps:

Swine Flu spread in Google Maps

I just hope that everything gets controlled soon, I live in Mexico City and things don't look good.

Breathtaking photos of Mexico City taken from the sky (helicopter).

2009-02-07T00:14:00.006-06:00

Last week I was organizing some stuff in my laptop and found a bookmark of the personal site of Oscar Ruiz, a mexican helicopter pilot. During his flights he takes pictures of the beautiful city I live in, Mexico City. I want to share some of this incredible pictures with everyone, here they are:

Above, a nice sight of Mexico City at night

Above the snowed tip of "Ajusco Hill"

Above Chapultepec's Castle, built in the 1800's by Maximiliano

Above an example of mexican modern architecture at Interlomas (I live near this area).

Above Teotihuacan Pyramids, more than 2000 years old.

Above Insurgentes Av. with the WTC in the back

Above "La Plaza México", the biggest bullfighting ring (45,000 cap.)

Above the "Palacio of Bellas Artes" (Opera House and Museum)

Above a Shopping Mall with modern architecture (Palacio de Hierro at Polanco)

What I like about this pictures is that they somewhat represent the diversity of places, colors and cultures within Mexico City, it is like traveling through time, from the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan to the modern structures of the city. Being a local I sometimes take all these things for granted, but I hope that tourists could appreciate and admire this beautiful country.

For more pictures please visit Oscar's homepage

Anthony Bourdain visits Mexico City and Puebla. Watch some videos of the TV Show "No Reservations" (season 5, episode 1).

2009-01-17T01:04:00.007-06:00

Anthony Bourdain starts the 5th season of his TV show called "No Reservations" (on Travel Channel) with a trip to Mexico:

Tony heads to Mexico with Carlos,who took over Tony's old job as head chef at Les Halles. Carlos is one of many Mexicans who have crossed the border to achieve the American dream. Carlos gives Tony a tour of his hometown of Puebla and nearby Mexico City.

In these videos you would see Tony Bourdain get really drunk, first at a Mexico City's "Cantina" (traditional Bar) and then at a "Pulquería" (low class bar) with a beverage called "Pulque", which is prepared with plants fermented with dog droppings (believe me, it is true, they take poo and put it in a handkerchief, add water, plants and let it ferment). He also drinks a spirit called "aguardiente" (literally meaning "burning water") which is like a mexican version of moonshine. He also eats some tacos at the street and tries home made food at a "fonda" (traditional restaurant for the working class) and at Carlos' home in Puebla. Finally he visits the "plaza de toros" in Puebla, where he watches a bull fighting event. Oh, I almost forgot, he also wrestled with a "luchador" (mexican wrestler) at a local arena.

Here are the videos (5) from Youtube:

I have to say that Tony is very brave, I had tried "pulque" and I couldn't finish a full glass, sometimes "pulque" is so thick that you need scissors or a knife to cut the thread. Hope you like the vids and find them interesting, just please never try this at home, never.

Visit The Chocolate Experience 2009 Expo at Mexico City.

2009-01-08T20:42:00.008-06:00

First time in Mexico City, the Chocolate Experience Expo 2009, an event full of creativity, color, taste and of course, chocolates. If your planning to visit Mexico City or you are already here, don't miss this great expo from January 23 to 25, 2009, at World Trade Center Mexico. The tickets are being sold by TicketMaster's website (Mexico), with a cost of $150 pesos (or about $11 USD). During the event you would enjoy:

The History of Chocolate
Cooking with chocolate (with special guests: Chef Paulina Abascal and Chef Ramón Castillo)
Chocolate exhibition, selling and sampling
Chocolate Memorabilia exhibition
Relaxation area (Spa)
Chocolate-sculpture contest

I'm sure this expo will give you a sweet memory of Mexico City, don't miss it, bring your family (children under 10 will enter free, 2 child limit).

More info at: TicketMaster Mexico

Mexico City's subway stations map. ("Metro" map in high resolution, downloadable PDF).

2008-12-20T04:00:00.008-06:00

Mexico City's subway or "Metro" is one of the biggest subways in the world, and maybe one of the best ways to move within the city. It is inexpensive, fast and easy to master, even though, a good map of the stations comes very handy. In order to travel efficiently you would need to know few things: the station were you are, the destination station, the line you need to travel and the direction you are traveling. Even though every line has its number and every station has its name, they have colors and drawings that you could easily identify (this system was developed for people who can't read). Click the link below the image (preview) to download a PDF with a high-resolution map of all the subway stations.

If you have any question or doubts please feel free to leave a comment (or your question) below the post.

Download the high-resolution subway station map in PDF format.

Music recommendation: a mexican guitar duet with an original music style that I call "Flamenco-Rock".

2008-12-17T02:08:00.006-06:00

Last saturday I was stuck in traffic and while changing stations on the radio I stumbled with a mesmerizing guitar tune. It was an acoustic session by "Rodrigo y Gabriela", a couple of mexican guitar players with a great story. Rodrigo Pineda Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero are not only a guitar duet, but also a married couple. Both started playing the guitar professionally many years ago, but they found no one who believed in their music (in Mexico), so they decided to travel around the world, playing the classic (or spanish) guitar. They traveled all the way to Europe and toured principally in Spain and Ireland. Actually, it was in Ireland where they found a record label to sign with and a launch-pad for their career. After 8 years of traveling and playing around the world, they returned to Mexico in 2008 and gave a concert at Mexico City's venue "El Lunario".

"Rodrigo y Gabriela" play acoustic music, principally with classic guitars, but their style is not classic at all. They have a unique style that I call "Flamenco-Rock" because their main inspiration is Rock N' Roll, but their guitar playing sounds like Flamenco (a spanish music style). They demonstrate their rock inspiration by playing an acoustic version of "Staiway to heaven" and "Orion" (from Metallica). Their original compositions are sensual and very passionate, actually it is virtually impossible to hear their music and not feel the necessity to move (dance or drum something). Their ability to play the guitar is incredible, here are some videos to prove it:

Tamacun - Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live

Stairway to Heaven - Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live

You could buy "Rodrigo y Gabriela" album at amazon.com or download some tracks or full album and videos from iTunes. Personally I love this type of dynamic acoustic music because I could concentrate in other things while listening to it. I find it a perfect soundtrack for driving long distances or for jogging.

Do you like this type of music style? If so please leave a comment, thanks.

Flying over the beautiful Lake of Tequesquitengo, Mexico. Great location for an unforgetable experience.

2008-11-06T20:27:00.009-06:00

Imagine the thrill and the beauty of flying over a beautiful lake in complete silence (in the actual flight the motor is turned off while you fly over the lake, so you can enjoy the moment). Now a days there are many ways of flying, but one that is accessible to everyone is ultralights (a delta wing, seats and a motor). One of the best places in Mexico for ultralight gliding is called "Aerodynamic de México", located at the state of Morelos, Mexico. They are the best not only because of the location or the equipment, but for the pilots: Marcú from France and Hans from Holland are great people, very friendly and profesional (with a lot of years of experience).

Here is some info from the Aerodynamic's webpage:

Welcome aboard! We invite you to extend your horizons by flying through our web page.
The excellent climate in our valley permits us to fly on a daily basis. The passenger flights are relatively inexpensive and offer lots of fun for everyone. FOR ALL AGES!
If you'd like to try to fly yourself, we offer an extended flight that goes to over 2000 Ft. in which you get to steer yourself while we are gliding with the engine turned off. Of course you'll be accompanied by an instructor. All our flights are insured and we fly only in new certified aircraft, fully licensed in Mexico. Our pilots are licensed, insured and certified by the Mexican FAA, the DGAC.

We are situated about 90 minutes south of Mexico City, and 20 miles south of Cuernavaca, in a Valley that permanently offers nice weather. On clear days we see three big volcanoes: The popocatepetl, The Ixtlacihuatl and The Neavado from Toluca. Right nex to our airport is a big lake where you'll see people engaging in many different water sports.

There is an abundance of hotels and lodgings, ranging from luxury and exclusive to economical. Our recommendation is the Hotel Hacienda Vista Hermosa, an adventure in itself.

Here, I'm receiving some instructions and information from Marcú about the flight we are about to take.

In this photo from the Aerodynamics site you could see the hangar and the landing field, at the back you could see the Lake of Tequesquitengo.

Here we are inside the hangar were you could see some more ultralight crafts and small airplanes.

I totally recommend this experience, it is a great way of feeling free within great surroundings and great people. There are very accessible prices, flight prices start at $50 dollars approx.

Contact Info:

Webpage: www.ultraligeros-mexico.com (in English, Spanish and French)

Adress:
Calle de la Torre s/n
San José Vista Hermosa
Morelos, México.
C.P. 62680

Telephone: 01 734 345 5487
01 734 345 5476 (Fax)

Mobile: 01 777 374 0860

Position: N 18° 38. 80
W 99° 16. 04
Elevation 974 m.

Email:
marcoumx@hotmail.com
hansmx@hotmail.com

Nothing says Elegance more than a Pearl Necklace.

2008-10-04T12:24:00.011-05:00

Quality pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl became a metaphor for something very rare, very fine, elegant, admirable and very valuable.

Tomorrow is my mother's birthday and I was looking for something special as a gift. I needed something that will look expensive but at a reasonable price. And immediately I thought about pearls, but there was a little problem, most of cultured pearls are very expensive, at least in Mexico City. I recalled seeing some inexpensive freshwater pearls in Ixtapa, a beautiful beach in Jalisco, Mexico but I am 8 hours away (by car) or many dollars away by plane. Other problem about those Ixtapa's pearls is that they are natural freshwater pearls and they have irregular forms and I remember my mom telling me that she likes round cultured pearls more. So I decided to search the web for fine, inexpensive, cultured pearls and after a while I found a great site with international shipping.
I found a great site that sells pearls (obviously not only pearls, but hand made pearl necklaces, pearl earrings and gorgeous black pearl necklaces) called Pearl Necklace Center. The great thing about this site is that everything looks very expensive and well made but prices are very reasonable. They have a special section of "under $100" gifts with great prices, like a black pearl necklace for $90 dollars. They also have great deals in Akoya pearl necklaces (which are one of the best type of cultured Japanese pearls), for example, there is one cultured pearl necklace for $119 dollars. I was looking for a pearl necklace, but at this site you could also find pearl earrings, pearl bracelets and pearl rings.

I selected this two-stranded Akoya Pearl Necklace, the great thing is that its quality makes it look very expensive (at least $500) but its retail price at this web site is only $199 dollars. I'm sure my mom will love her birthday present (or at least I hope so), she will wonder where did I bought her gift and never even imagine that I bought it at the web.

Product page here

Special report of a New Yorker who visited Mexico City for the 2008 Aids Conference.

2008-09-05T19:54:00.006-05:00

Photo of Reforma Avenue taken from the Angel Statue, Mexico City

In a previous post I gave some advice for foreign visitors coming to the 2008 Aids Conference in Mexico City and one of those visitors, Shawn M. from New York, wrote an incredible report about his experience at Mexico City:

"Before my trip to Mexico City for the 2008 International AIDS Conference, I must admit I had some negative expectations of my visit. As an uninformed American who has never visited, I only heard of the negative aspects of Mexico---kidnappings, drug cartels, extreme poverty, corrupt police, and so on. This was compounded due to the fact I would be traveling to the conference alone (and staying in a "budget" hotel, the Hotel Fontan).

My flight was delayed out of Dallas to Monterrey, which forced the airline to board myself and 4-5 other passengers in a hotel for the evening and catch a morning flight to Mexico City. Even worse, the airline lost my poster tube containing the poster I was to display at the conference, which I had checked as a 2nd luggage piece. These things happen, I guess! So it took me 2 hours and lots of inquiries at different offices to finally find my poster tube at the airport in Mexico City. My pre-paid shuttle service from the airport waited for me during this time, with no complaints or problems. I was very grateful for that, to say the least. When I tried to check into my hotel, the concierge could not find my reservation for almost 30 minutes, until a manager came along and resolved the problem. The floor I was on was under construction, which I had somewhat expected, having read reviews of Fontan to that effect. My room was very basic---again, this did not surprise me since I only paid $46/night. Besides, I was there for work and didn't need anything fancy anyway. The staff at Fontan were great, and offered very friendly service. The breakfast buffet was good too----offering a wide variety of foods each morning. The only negative though was me getting locked INSIDE my hotel room by a jammed door that would not open! It took the night manager and a maintenance worker over an hour to get the door open, but I took it all in stride. After all, that's why they're renovating, right?!

Now, enough of these "negative" experiences and onto the city itself. I expected to see a lot more impoverished Mexicans in the streets than I actually encountered. My first impression was, "Wow, this city is a lot more cosmopolitan than I expected!" This is coming from someone who lives in New York, so I consider myself an urban dweller and fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of urban living. I did see some questionable neighborhoods on my way from the airport to my hotel, but my neighborhood (Avenue de la Reforma, near Hidalgo Metro Station) felt safe to walk around and explore.

I met some other conference delegates at my hotel, who I went out with and explored the neighborhood. We ate at a decent restaurant (the name escapes me), and even had some street food as well, which was absolutely delicious and dirt cheap. I had 5 tacos for 15 pesos, which is about $1.50 US. There's a similar eatery in the Spanish Harlem (El Barrio) neighborhood of New York that sold mini tacos for $2 apiece, so the price difference was great. I absolutely love authentic Mexican food, and was happy to eat at different places throughout the trip. I even had enchiladas with a mole sauce from a 7-11 near my hotel and even THAT was good! I was also pleased that cigarettes were only 25 pesos ($2.50/pack) and Coronas were 7.50 (about 75 cents US) each. As someone who went to Mexico City on a budget, I was pleased that I didn't have to spend much for things like food, taxis, riding the subway, and yes, even cigarettes and beer.

Traffic to and from the conference was terrible. It took a minimum of 1 hour to get to Centro Banamex from Hotel Fontan. It was actually a wiser choice to catch the 2 train from Hildago to Panteones Station and then take a conference shuttle rather than take a taxi the whole way. That's what I did most of the time. When I wasn't at the conference, I usually spent time at my Hotel or at a local internet cafe across the street, where I went online to check my email and browse the web for a much cheaper rate than the internet prices that Fontan was offering. Hotel Fontan offered 24 hours of access for $11/day, which I thought was a complete ripoff. The internet cafe was only 20 pesos for one hour, and since I only needed about an hour every other day to go online, that was a much better deal. It was strange though---almost like being in a mechanic's garage (no doors, completely visible to the street) and checking my email on very old computers. But the internet speeds were great, and some PCs even had Firefox installed on them (a sure sign that someone knows what they're doing).

I am gay, so I HAD to check out Zona Rosa, even if I was by myself. I didn't stray from Reforma too far, but was able to find a great corner bar called Papi's Fun Bar near the Angel statue, about one or two blocks off of Reforma. Since I don't speak Spanish (or very little of it anyway), I walked up to anyone who was speaking English and introduced myself. There were a great mix of locals, conference delegates, and even a few expats at this bar. The music was great, the crowds were friendly and open, and the drinks were cheap. I was surprised by how openly gay the bars in Zona Rosa were, given that Mexico City is a Catholic country. But then again, I read before my visit that Mexico has taken great strides to be more gay friendly, and there was no evidence here to the contrary. I also noticed the locals in Zona Rosa and the surrounding area were very good dressers, again attesting to the cosmopolitan impression I had when first arriving. I also noticed a lot of women with very young children out on street corners selling candy and other personal effects, especially in Zona Rosa, so I suppose this is a prime area for panhandling and getting income from tourists.

I stayed out until 4am one night at Papi's Fun Bar, hanging out with delegates and two Mexican locals I met there. It was a great time. Walking home from Papi's took about 20 minutes, but it didn't seem threatening, even that late at night. I noted the city's traffic levels were much lower than during the day, yet still pretty busy. And there were dozens of moped drivers gearing up to deliver the day's newspapers, all zipping off into the night after stacking papers on their bikes, which I was happy to witness.

All in all, I left with a very different impression of Mexico City, and vowed to return on my own time for more touring and exploration. I never got the chance to visit Zocalo Square, which I regret. I never made it to the Pyramids, either, or the Archeological Museum. There's tons I would have liked to have seen, but I attended the conference every day and didn't get back to my hotel until around 7 or 8 each night.

If you're wondering about the conference as well, let me just say it was amazing. It was my first AIDS conference, and as a young researcher I was happy to have the opportunity to attend and present a project there. At first, it was a little overwhelming, finding my way to the Centro Banamex, checking in, and so on. The sheer size of it all was daunting. I've heard estimates of 22,000 attendees this year. Needless to say, there was tons to see and do!

I'm thankful to have visited Mexico City, and will definitely visit again. It's a beautiful city. I'm know it has its problems, but don't let that scare you from visiting! I think next time though, I'll splurge on a better hotel :) "

-Shawn M., New York, USA

I want to thank my firs guest writer, Shawn M. for his great feedback. I hope this report encourage more people to visit my home town, Mexico City.

Ecotourism: Rafting in Veracruz, Mexico.

2008-08-23T22:13:00.008-05:00

If you are looking for some adventure in Mexico I could recommend you Veracruz as a great destination for ecotourism. Definitely one of the most adventurous trips in my life, rafting in level 3-4 rapids was quite thrilling (you could see me screaming in the image above, I am the one in the middle with white helmet).

Some History:
The city of Veracruz is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The metropolitan area is Mexico's First largest City on the Gulf coast (after Veracruz Tampico and Ciudad del Carmen) and an important port on Mexico's east coast. It is located 105 km (65 mi.) along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most populous city, with a population of 444,438 in the city and 512,310 in the municipality, according to the 2005 census. It is often referred to as "Puerto de Veracruz" to distinguish it from the state. The people of Veracruz are known as Jarochos. It is also referred as the Four Times Heroic City after resisting various invasions, two from France (the Pastry War and the French intervention in Mexico) and two from the USA, (the Siege of Veracruz and the 1914 US occupation).

Some Culture:

The city is known for its rich traditions of music, including marimba bands, danzón and comparsa. A special kind of music called son jarocho, a mix of Mexican folk music and Cuban son, was developed in southern Veracruz state, in and around Veracruz, Veracruz. La Bamba is the most famous example of son jarocho. An equally rich dance tradition parallels Veracruz's unique musical styles.
In downtown Veracruz, a large marble-tiled zócalo, called the Plaza de Armas or Plaza Lerdo, is the heart of the city's lively nightlife. It is lined with arcades that house bars and cafes. On a nearly nightly basis large groups of people sit outside in the plaza enjoying food, drinks and cigars, while they watch musicians and dancers that perform in the square. Veracruz's 18th century cathedral and 17th century Palacio Municipal are also located on the plaza.
The yearly Carnaval festival in Veracruz, a nine-day party in February or March, is the most spectacular festival of its kind, and it's also the oldest organized Carnaval in Mexico. The city also celebrates a yearly Afrocaribeño festival in July. These festivities illustrate the fact that the city is in many ways more connected to Caribbean culture than that of inland Mexico.
The "Malecón" harborfront walk along the docks draws many tourists, more from within Mexico than foreigners. The city has several beaches as well, like Villa del Mar and Mocambo.

Ecotourism:

Ecotourism in Veracruz is very popular, there are a lot of adventure travel agencies with a lot of different activities. I would like to share what I experienced during my trip to Veracruz. Six friends and I went to Veracruz by car from Mexico City and stayed at a local hotel (more like apartments, suites). We booked the eco-adventure package from Mexico City, and signed up for a one day visit with three activities: rafting, zip-lining and cliff-hanging.

The adventure began at a little town called Jalcomulco (we actually drove there but there is specialized transportation that will take you from Veracruz to Jalcomulco as part of your tour), where we arrived in the morning and got to "La Villa" Hotel, local headquarters of Ecco Sports (the adventure travel agency we booked). The guides gave us a crash course about the safety equipment and about security guidelines (what to do in case of an accident, wich I had) and explained us what was the plan for the day.

Rafting:
A van took us some miles up the valley and left us at the river bank where the rafts were, we put on the vests, helmets and took the paddles. We were separated in to two rafts, two friends and I in one and 4 more friends in the other one, also with one guide in each raft (see picture above). One of the guides told us that it was raining season (April-May) and that the river was very wild, with level 3-4 rapids. It was an unforgettable experience, at the beginning things were very calmed but I was feeling the adrenaline build up until we got to the first set of rapids, the guide was directing our paddling and everything went well except for a wild rapid where I fell into the water, thank god I was using a helmet and vest because I felt a lot of rocks hitting my body and head. I survived but after a while my knee was hurting like hell, and hurt for days. Ten or fifteen minutes later we got to very calm water, with a lot of caves, where we stopped and got out of the raft and into the water, we swam for a while and tried diving from the rocks above. After the break we continued our journey downstream and paddled through more rapids, in the way we saw some tramps (made with wood sticks) that locals use to fish shrimp. After a while we got to another riverbank where we got out of the water and carried the raft to the shore (and there was the moment when I felt the pain in my knee caused by the weight of my body out of the water). We left the raft and safety equipment there and walked back to the hotel (about quart of a mile from the river bank). The original plan was trail biking to the zip-lining site ,but we wanted to get there fast so there will be enough time left for cliff-hanging, so we drove there by car.

Zip-lining:

A zip-line (also known as tyrolean crossing) consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline. They are designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to traverse from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable, usually made of stainless steel, by holding on or attaching to the freely moving pulley. Ecco-Sports have two different zip-line sites, one is the "Tirolesa de Río" with four stations, two crossing the river (see picture above); and the "Tirolesa de los mangos" with 6 stations crossing a little forest of mango trees. Getting to the first station (we chose the Mango trees route) was a little tricky for me because of my hurt knee but once I was hanging on the cable everything got easier. It is a thrilling experience, with great views and a powerful feeling of freedom.

Cliff-Hanging (or rappel):

Nearby the zip-line site there is a cliff where my friends got equipped and ready for the descent (I couldn't join them because of my injured knee). The descent by rope is at a natural rock wall with a height of 45 meters (about 150 feet). Even though this activity seems very dangerous it is in fact very safe, guides are very experimented and keep you safe with a safety rope in case you fall. My friends told me that it was a very exiting experience with a a great view of the forest.

There are a lot of activities at Ecco Sports like the three already mentioned and others like hiking, trail biking, and the "Temazcal" (see picture above). The Temazcal has its origin in Mexico's ancient history, and its name derived from the Nahuatl word "temazcalli" which means "the bath house". It could be constructed with adobe, volcanic rocks or even with tree branches and animal fur. It represents the four elements (earth, water, wind and fire) and has a rounded form that also represents infinity or mother earth's womb. Hot rocks are placed in a hole at the middle of the temazcal and water with herbs is added, creating pleasant and relaxing vapors (like a sauna) inside. People gather around the center of the temzacal and participate in the relaxing experience. There are temazcales (plural of temazcal) where a spiritual ritual takes place and tries to establish an intimate contact with Earth and Nature. If you are interested in ancient rituals and culture, joining a Temazcal is very advisable.

Besides ecotourism there are a lot of places to visit in Veracruz. Local beaches are not as beautiful as beaches in Acapulco or Cancun principally because they are very rocky. For tourists I will recommend the beach called "Mocambo" where all the big hotels are, it is a very exclusive and beautiful beach. Other interesting sites are "La Plaza de Armas" (where you could find the 18th century Cathedral), "el Malecón" (harbor front walking path) and the most famous coffeehouse in Veracruz, the "Café de la Parroquia" where you could taste the traditional "lechero" which consists of expresso coffee mixed (at your table) with steamed milk.

If you have any doubts or need information please leave a comment below (also if you have visited Veracruz please tell us how it went).

Palacio de Bellas Artes: Mexico City's Opera House

2008-08-13T19:40:00.005-05:00

click the image to enlarge

History:

Palacio de Bellas Artes ("Palace of Fine Arts") is the premier opera house of Mexico City. The building is famous for both its extravagant Beaux Arts exterior in imported Italian Carrara's white marble and its murals by Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco.

During the late 19th century and the first years of the 20th century, during Porfirio Díaz's 30-year rule of Mexico, there was a marked tendency to imitate European art, styles and customs. Following this tendency, a new Teatro Nacional (National Theater) was planned and the construction of the new building began on October 1, 1904. The plans were created by the Italian architect Adamo Boari, using state-of-the-art technology as was common in European theaters.
Construction was originally scheduled to be finished by 1908; however, it was delayed by problems with Mexico City's soil, which is muddy and led to the gradual subsidence of the building. The construction site was chosen by President Porfirio Díaz because it was located downtown, on an elegant park, and face-to-face with the then tallest buildings in the city (Torre Latinoamericana) , but the choice was not so appropriate since the weight of the building is so massive that it has been sinking a few centimeters every year since the completion of its construction.
Things got a little more complicated with the beginning of the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Boari left Mexico in 1916 and construction was virtually stopped until 1932, when works were resumed under Mexican architect Federico Mariscal. Completion took place in 1934 but the square with gardens and pegasus statues, devised by Boari, was not completed until 1994.

Interesting info:

Diego Rivera's "Man at the Crossroads" mural was originally painted for the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Rivera had finished two thirds of the mural when the Rockefellers objected to an image of Lenin in the mural. When Rivera refused to remove Lenin, his commission was canceled and the mural was destroyed. Rivera, in response, repainted the mural in a smaller scale at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in 1934 and renamed it "Man, Controller of the Universe".

Nowadays the theater is used for classical music, opera and "Baile Folklórico" (folk dance, see video below). A distinctive feature of the theater is its stained glass dome representing a volcano and the valley of Mexico. It is the home of Mexico's National Symphony Orchestra, the Bellas Artes Orchestra, the Bellas Artes Chamber Orchestra, the National Dance Company, and the Bellas Artes Opera.

The Palacio de Bellas Artes has been used as a site for art expositions from Mexican artists such as Frida Kahlo. The Palacio de Bellas Artes also hosted the premiere of the film "Frida".

The Palacio de Bellas Artes has two museums: the Palacio de Bellas Artes Museum and the Arquitechture Museum. Alongside the Palace is the subway station called "Palacio de Bellas Artes". As mentioned above, the Torre Latinoamericana (Latinamerican Tower) is located across the street and has an amazing view of the city and the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

For more info visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes official web page.
Also visit the Bellas Artes youtube channel for more videos.

Here is a Mexican Folk dance video:

Naica: a crystal cave hidden for years in Mexico

2008-08-06T23:13:00.004-05:00

This recently (in 2000) discovered crystal cave is located in the state of Chihuahua, northern Mexico. The three caves are located at 290 meters below the surface, and are part of a phreatic system of thermal waters, which allowed the growth of the crystals. The Naica official site is well documented and in English language, so I will like to share the link and let you explore this amazing place.

Some text from the site:

"Hidden 300 meters below the earth, Naica’s Cave of Crystals has waited until now to show its magnificent beauty. A big geode of red walls filled with selenite crystals or “moon stone”, is so named because of its color, brilliance, and transparency. Tranquil and silent this womb-like cavity originated the gradual growth of crystals, lulled by the ripples of water in the heat and darkness during more than one million years.

Captivating us with its brilliance, size, and history, we discover a place with an ice-like appearance, in contrast to its deadly heat, in a strange and inhospitable environment. Its beauty moves us and allows us to recover our capacity to contemplate and admire nature.

Naica is a voyage to the interior of the earth but also to the interior of ourselves. It invites us to comprehend its true significance and also leads us to a relevant debate about our relationship with nature and our planet."

Visit Naica web page to learn more about it's history and watch it's mind blowing photo gallery.

Source and Images: Naica Project

Aids 2008 Conference in Mexico City: some advice for tourists.

2008-07-29T22:46:00.008-05:00

About the Conference (text from the official site):

"AIDS 2008 will provide many opportunities for the presentation of important new scientific research and for productive, structured dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to AIDS. Conference organizers are developing a wide variety of session types that meet the needs of various participants and support collective efforts to expand delivery of HIV prevention and treatment to communities worldwide. Central to many of these sessions will be the transfer of knowledge and sharing of best practices.

In addition to the conference sessions there are a number of activities, including satellite meetings, exhibitions, the Global Village and the Cultural Programme, that are integral to delegates’ experience at the conference.

The International AIDS Society is pleased to announce that the AIDS 2008 programme is accredited for 28 credits by the European Union of Medical Specialists-European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (UEMS-EACCME). The UEMS-EACCME, through an agreement with the American Medical Association (AMA), guarantees a transfer of CME credits for participants working and practicing in the United States.

As in accordance with their statutes, the UEMS-EACCME guarantees that all accredited CME activities at AIDS 2008 are of a high educational standard and that that they are free of all commercial or individual forms of bias. Delegates should claim credits only for sessions actually attended. A CME booth will be set up at the conference venue where certificates of CME credit can be obtained by medical professionals seeking them."

The news are that this year the AIDS 2008 Conference will be in Mexico City (3-8 of August 2008). As a Mexican I will like to share some safety advice and destinations with the tourists coming to Mexico City during the conference. Maybe the best approach for doing this is through an example; one of my blog's visitor emailed me asking for advice so I made a map with some places to visit and gave him some safety advice. Below is the map, click to enlarge:

For general security guidelines please visit one of my previous post. The example map is for tourists staying at the Fontana Hotel or any other hotel nearby (in the Av. Paseo de la Reforma vicinity). I painted some red dotted lines in the map, going beyond those limits will be a little dangerous, but if you stay at wide streets at daylight you will be ok. One of the most important advice is not to use regular taxis but "de sitio" taxis which are more expensive but safe. Arriving at the airport use only authorized transportation (buy tickets at international gate's exit) and ask hotel personal about these special taxis called "de sitio".

In the map, marked with numbers are:

The Conference Venue, Centro Banamex, located at 311 of Conscripto Avenue.
"La Condesa" district, there you will find many small restaurants and bars, gardens and some "Soho" like shops. At Mazatlan and Michoacan (and Nuevo Leon) streets you will find a bunch of bars and places to eat and a lot of night life. This district at daylight and until 10 pm is fairly safe.
"Polanco" district is full of expensive shops (designer clothing and accesories), nice gardens, a lot of restaurants (expensive an inexpensive ones), and Masaryk Avenue is great for walking and visiting more exclusive and sofisticated places. Masaryk Avenue is quite safe at daylight and fairly safe at night.
"Antara Polanco" Mall. Inside this Shopping Center you would find fine restaurants and a food court, a lot of different shops (Sony Shop, Armani, Sharper Image, Swarovsky, Body Shop, Zara, Berger jewlery, and more), a Cinema (movie theatres) and a electronic casino called "Playcity". Inside the mall you will be absolutely safe, stores close at 9 pm, but restaurants will be open till midnight.
World Trade Center, Mexico, where you would find a Cinema, some small shops, some restaurants and few bars. This a very transited area and inside the WTC you would be very safe, an at nearby streets it is fairly safe.
"Chapultepec" district. In this green area you would find the "Chapultepec Zoo", the Antropology Museum, a photographic exposition along Reforma Avenue (big images at the street with text insets about Mexico's History and Culture), the Chapultepec Castle, Botanical Garden, the Chapultepec Lake (and the "El Lago" restaurant). Nearby is the Hard Rock Cafe Mexico but I would recommend to visit this district at daylight and take good care of your camera and other belongings, visiting this area at night is not advisable.

Some general (and safety) advice:

At Reforma Avenue "Tourism Police" could be found, and could be identified by a white badge across their chest. They are supposed to speak English but I would not count on that one, however you could ask for help or information.
Avoid buying things at the street (these are illegal parlors) try to find a little stores like Seven Eleven, or the Mexican version called "OXXO" or "Super-K" if you need to buy some water, soft drinks, fast food or anything else.
Never count money at the street
Avoid "flashy" equipment or watches, keep your camera or video equipment in a bag and not hanging around your neck.
If you need to use the subway please research your route in advance, in order to have a safe trip avoid direct eye contact with people ( I know, sounds awful, but it works keeping you out of any trouble) or being noisy.
Never drink tap water, always drink bottled water.
Try to look confident and never look lost, you could ask for directions but don't tell people you are lost.
In general young wealthy (well dressed) people speak English and will be glad to help you, but if someone offers you to give you a lift wherever you are going maybe the best thing to do is to decline the offer politely; getting in to unknown people's car is always dangerous.
wash your hands frequently and before eating anything, try to carry a hand sanitizer.

Costs:

Authorized airport transportation to your hotel will cost between $20 to $30 dollars.
The one way trip in "sitio" taxi from your hotel to the Centro Banamex will cost between $4 and $ 6 dollars (regular taxis will cost between $3 to $5 dollars but are not as safe).
A complete meal will fluctuate between $6 to $20 dollars (or more, depending the type of restaurant, eat at the street at your own risk).
A 20 oz. Coca-Cola will cost about 70 cents.
A quart of bottled water about 50-80 cents.
A beer will cost between $2 and $ 4 dollars, other drinks are from $4 to $9 dollars
Marlboro or Camel cigarretttes (for smokers) will cost about $ 2.50 dollars.
A subway ticket is 20 cents of a dollar

During the time of the Conference we will be expecting a lot of tourism so I hope that police will be reinforced to protect everyone. Don't be scared or anxious about coming to Mexico City, it is a great place, full of culture and good people, I hope you enjoy your trip to my dear Country.

Don't forget to visit the Aids 2008 International Conference web page it is full of information about the conference and about Mexico.

For any doubt, or any feedback please leave a comment or send me an email.

Tequila Exrpess: a train travel through time.

2008-07-22T03:35:00.003-05:00

The spirit named Tequila is world known but not many people know the region were it is produced: Jalisco, Mexico. The name of the spirit actually came from the little town called Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico. The best way of knowing this region is by the tour called "Tequila Express". In this tour you will travel by train to the "Hacienda San José del Refugio" were Tequila is produced in the traditional way (since 1820). The train has 4 cars with a capacity of 68 tourists, all equiped with: AC, restrooms, music, security, medic service, English speaking guides and Live "Mariachi" music.

Itinerary:

10:00 am - Check in
10:15 am - A welcome with Mariachi
10:30 am - Train boarding (at Guadalajara, Jalisco)
12:45 pm - Arrival to Amatitán Station
1:00 pm - Tour to Hacienda San José del Refugio in small groups, to the brewery (tequila tasting), to the museum of tequila brewing, presentation of a video explaining the tequila production process and a tour to the "Casa Grande" (big house).
2:20 pm - Traditional food tasting buffet
3:30 pm - Artistic variety: Mariachi, folkloric ballet, traditional singers, "charrería" tricks (like rodeo rope tricks) and open dance floor for everyone.
5:30 pm - Trip to the Amatitán Station
6:20 pm - Train boarding to Guadalajara, Jalisco.
8:00 pm - Arrival at Guadaljara Station

Mariachi musicians

Traditional Tequila brewery

Folklore ballet

Hacienda San José del Refugio

Recommendations:

Wear comfortable cloths and shoes, have breakfast in advance, bring your camera and be at the Guadalajara Station (Washington Avenue and Independencia street) by 10:00 am with your tickets ready. Pets and weapons are not allowed in the train.

For more information visit: www.tequilaexpress.com.mx
(Phone number: 01800 5939720)

Tickets could be purchased at any Ticketmaster dealer in Mexico. If you are visiting Mexico City you could ask for information about a complete tour at this addresses:

Trenes y otros servicios S. de RL de CV
Praga 27, Col Juárez
México, D.F.
C.P. 06600,
Phone: (52 55) 52072258
Fax: (5255) 52077154

Cóndor Verde Travel
México Incoming Operador
Insurgente Sur 1833-4 with Juventino Rosas No 118
Colonia Guadalupe Inn. México, D.F.
Phone: 5255- 5663-3512, 5661 0925

Information in Guadalajara, Jalisco at:

Cámara Nacional de Comercio de Guadalajara, Delegación Centro Histórico
Morelos #395 altos with Colón street
Centro Histórico de Guadalajara
Phone: 0133-3614-3145 y 397

Costs (prices): about $90 dollars for each adult and about $ 50 dollars per child ( 6 to 11 years old), child under 5 years old without cost.

Hotels recommended at Guadalajara Jalisco:

Hotel Aranzazu Catedral serán atendidos por la Señorita Marisol Ribera
www.aranzazu.com.mx
mribera@aranzazu.com.mx
01800-9000900

Hotel Misión Carlton
Gerente de ventas, Señor Sergio Alarcón
www.hotelesmision.com
s_alarcón_j@hotmail.com
01800-9676400

Enjoy your trip.