Susana y Maria van a México.: Exploring the Centro Historico with Hugo

Hola from Mexico City,

We arrived safely at about 12:45 local time and, very efficiently, we picked up our luggage and made it through customs. Finding a "certified" taxi was a cinch too, so we made it to our hotel shortly after two without being kidnapped.

Sue in our room

Some of you may have noticed that we are staying at two different hotels while in Mexico City. This was not our original plan but we are thrilled that it worked out that way. With only half a day to explore the city today, it is most convenient that we are situated right in the centre of the city - the Centro Historico. Our hotel, (which we got for a bargain price on Hotels.com) is stunning. The room is massive, and we are situated on the fourth floor, where we can get a good view of the ceiling of the foyer. It is made of Tiffany glass, and was originally installed in the late 19th century.

Tiffany Ceiling

Because we wanted to see the Diego Rivera murals in the Palacio National, we headed there first. We asked for an English speaking guide and that's how we found Hugo, a charming Mexican gentleman - 75 years young - who became our companion for the next two and half hours. Not only did he give us a tour of the Palacio National, he also took us to three small museums, the Templo Mayor and the Catedral Metropolitana. Along the way, he shared his extensive knowledge of Mexican history and culture. As we made our way towards the church, Hugo encouraged us to have our spirits cleansed by an aboriginal shaman. That was quite the experience! I captured some of Sue's encounter on film.

Freda Kahlo image in a Diego Rivera mural.

Hugo and his chichiquitas

After we left him, we made our way to the Palacio de Belles Artes, and then back to the hotel along a pedestrian mall that was teeming with people; lots of the 35 million Mexico City residents were out this evening.

We decided to follow Hugo's recommendation and dined at "El Popular", where we bravely ordered two authentic Mexican dishes that were quite tasty: Sue had Costilla Azteca, while I had Enfrijoladas con chirozo.