Mexico City. The world’s fourth biggest city, with probably one of the worst reputations. I went there not by choice but out of necessity because that was the only way you could have gotten me there. I was living in Mexico, about five hours away from Mexico City in a place called San Luis Potosi when my passport ran out. That meant only one thing. A trip to the British Embassy in Mexico City.
I was terrified.

This is what I found.

About two hours later we were still driving through concrete cube houses and really not looking forward to our stay when we turned the corner into the main plaza and were overwhelmed by it’s beauty. Mexico City had suddenly turned into a dazzling place. It’s architecture was stunning and dated from the 17th century.
Our hotel was in the Zocolo. It’s an area just next to Plaza de Constitucion, right in the centre of the city. The Zocolo is where you’ll find the open air markets, it’s crazy but as long as you look after your valuables it’s quite safe. They don’t really sell souvenirs there, it’s more for the locals but it’s worth seeing. The people there communicate by whistling and even though it woke me up every morning it was wonderful.

In the main square is also the Palace. You have to go inside. It’s full of the murals of Diego Rivera. Absolutely stunning and depicting Mexican history.
Close to the main Plaza you can also find some ruins of the old temples and buildings that had stood there before Hernan Cortes razed the lot to the ground.
If you saw the movie or if you are interested in art, in fact even if you didn’t and you’re not, you should go and see la casa de Frida Kahlo. Frida Kahlo’s house. If you have see the movie you’ll recognise the blue house that she lived in. it also has quite a few of her and Diego Rivera’s paintings there.

Also don’t miss the Castillo de Chapultapec. It’s a castle up on a hill looking over the most beautiful part of the city and the vast gardens surrounding it. It’s a bit of a climb but if your able bodied you should climb it instead of getting the little train because really its only a short path. Surrounding the castle you’ll probably see military cadets jogging in groups. If there are any kids in the area they’ll all chant SI SE PUEDE’ as they pass. It means ‘YES YOU CAN’. To be honest I need that kind of encouragement when I’m working out too.

The pyramids of Teotihuacan I’ll review in the other category. But another thing left over from the Aztecs is Xochimilco. When Mexcio City was the Aztec Tenochtitlan it was really just a small island in the middle of the lake. There was no space to grow crops and so they built wooden rafts covered them in soil and grew their food on top of the water. In Xochimilco they still do this. You can hire a man to take you out in a beautiful flower decorated gondola (trajineras) who will punt you up the river to show you one of the legacies of the Aztecs. They no longer grow produce here but just grow flowers, which makes it especially beautiful for tourists. For a reasonable price you can pay Mariachi bands on passing gondolas to serenade you, buy food from small restaurant gondolas or buy souvenirs. After days of walking around the city it is beautiful to sit back in tranquillity, enjoy a beer and examine the old way of horticulture.

Okay okay, I’m almost done. The final thing is the virgin de Guadalupe. It’s Mexico’s favourite person and most important relic. The image of the virgin on the robes of a native Mexican from 1531, that are not only still intact but still vibrant. Amazing to see even if you’re not catholic.