Mexico City infuses the ancient with the contemporary as if the two are the yin yang of Mexican culture.
Mexico City’s Palace of Bella Artes is home to the renowned Ballet Folklorio and hosts many other cultural events.
Spend three days in Mexico City with a trio of Americans who have never been there and you’ll blow some minds. Americans don’t expect the spectacular architecture, the clean streets and sidewalks, the abundance of museums and cultural centers, the fabulous gourmet dining, and the friendly people anxious to show you the heart of this Grande dame of cities.
Everyone in our group effused over the magnificent statuary, upscale decor and sparkling marble at theMarquis Reforma Hotel & Spa where we had spacious accommodations and superb food service. Even those who had been to Mexico City before found their eyes widening in respect for the broad, tree-lined streets and glistening public monuments.
A professional tour guide to the many historic and cultural sites is recommended for those wanting a comprehensive exploration of Mexico City. Destination Management Services Mexico (DMS Mexico) can provide everything a tourist or tour program needs from greeting at the airport to shuttling in between locations, to assigning knowledgeable guides. Our DMS Mexico guide, Jose Alfredo Martinez, extolled the virtues of his city like a husband whose love for his wife grows stronger as the years go by.
Martinez ushered us to several popular sites that should not be missed during a trip to Mexico City: the Zocalo, the second largest city square in the world and location of the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Aztec archeological site of Templo Mayor; Chapultepec Park and Castle, the National Museum of Anthropology which holds ancient Aztec artifacts, including the Aztec calendar, and the sumptuous theater known as the Bella Artes Palace.
For a fully realized trip to Mexico City, add such destinations as the Catholic pilgrimage site of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the charming Plaza Garibaldi for mariachi music and festivals; the Blue House, home of renowned artists Diego Riviera and Frida Kalho, and any of the plentiful shopping districts where you can buy anything from a dozen varieties of dried chili peppers, to native handicrafts, to designer clothes and upscale accessories.
WHERE TO STAY IN MEXICO CITY: Hotels from brilliant to boutique
