Time to hit the streets of Mexico City and explore!
We started our morning with what has become our routine: scrambled eggs, fresh tortillas from our neighborhood Tortilleria, and local hot sauces. Delicious.
We walked around our neighborhood a bit, checking out some streets we have not yet visited, on our way to the San Cosme metro stop. We purchased our metro pass (15 pesos), and loaded it with 50 pesos for subway fares. The fare is only 5 pesos per person (about US 25 cents), so our 50 pesos will last a while. The metro was packed, but we were only going a few stops to the the Zocalo. The metro is one of the quickest and easiest ways to maneuver around Mexico City. It is a massive system, and there is a huge police presence at the stations. We always feel safe traveling on the metro, although we are super careful of our belongings, as we know that pickpocketing is an issue here, like many other places.
Emerging from the dark subway tunnels, we were enveloped in warm sunlight, and the amazing views of the Zocalo. There were still a lot of holiday decorations throughout the square, and the amusement park rides were still standing in the center.
Our first stop was the famous Gran Hotel Ciudad de México. It's modest street-side entrance was almost hidden - we walked by without noticing it. Once we found it, we walked up the stairs to the grand lobby area, considered by many to be the world's most beautiful glass ceiling hotel. The lobby has historic elevators on each side, complete with metal framework and stained glass. But the glass ceiling is the star of the show. Absolutely amazing.
We walked back to the Zocalo, and visited the cathedral. There is a lot of construction in the front of the cathedral, but the side entry was open. We enjoyed walking around the church, seeing all of the activity, with loads of tourists and locals alike. To be honest, we barely heard any English spoken, so we assume most of the people were locals, enjoying the holiday.
We strolled along the pedestrian road that leads away from the Zocalo. It was packed with people. We were a bit hungry, so we turned onto one of the side streets to find a snack. We decided to visit a famous taco spot, Los Cocuyos Taqueria. Along the way, I found a small shop that was selling paletas, so we had to stop. We each had one - coconut and pistachio.
A few blocks away, we found our taqueria. Los Cocuyos was one of Anthony Bourdain's favorite taco spots in CDMX. And after tasting, we found out why. Very, very good.
We knew that Chinatown was only a couple blocks away, so we walked over to this 3-block long spot. The crowds were huge. Tons of people walking, eating, laughing, and enjoying the beautiful day. We had to stop for another snack: a steamed bun filled with Nutella.
Just a few blocks away is the stunning Palacio Belles des Artes. This is one of the most recognizable buildings in CDMX, and is adjacent to a pretty park with fountains and monuments.
Across the street from the palace is the historic main post office. It is incredibly ornate, with dramatic staircases and old-fashioned booths that still serve as a modern post office. Near the post office is the famous tile house, which was very reminiscent of the homes we saw in Portugal.
We had already walked a ton, so we decided to head back to our apartment. On the walk back, we saw the towering Monument to the Mexican Revolution in the Plaza de la Republica. The tall monument has a glass elevator leading to the top. We had to experience it!
The monument was supposed to be the central tower of what was going to be a massive parliament building. However, after the Mexican Revolution, plans for the building were abandoned, despite the tower having already been started. After sitting unfinished for decades, it was eventually made into a monument to the revolution.
The glass elevator whisks you up to a platform, where you can walk along the exterior of the dome. The 360 degree viewing platform wraps completely around the dome, allowing you an impressive view in every direction. An interior set of steep stairs leads you all the way to the top, boasting amazing views. This is a great way to see the expanse of Mexico City, and even see the mountains surrounding the city.
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