A traveller's reflection: 11 Mexico: Xochimilco and Coyoacan Tour...

"Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play..." - Immanuel Kant

(The El Jarabe Tapatio or the Mexican Hat Dance)

Day 11: 29/06/25 (Sunday)
Flight: Y4119 CUN 0425/MEX 0545 (Volaris Air)
Route: Cancun, Mexico - Mexico City, Mexico
Activity: Xochimilco and Coyoacan Tour
Hotel: MX Lagunilla Hotel, Mexico City

Good to go! All our bags are packed for the 0425 hrs Volaris flight Y4119 bound for Mexico City.

(Waiting for our Uber in the wee hour, feeling sleepy)

(The check-in counters were empty)

(We were the only passengers at the boarding gate)

By 1.30 am we took an Uber to Cancún International Airport. Volaris baggage check in at the counter was a smooth process. Our seats on the online check in boarding were changed because the flight plane was changed.

(The view of Mexico City)

We spent the 2h 20m on board napping. We landed safely in Mexico City Benito Juarez International Airport. Mexico City International Airport is officially known as Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez and is the primary international airport serving Greater Mexico City. It is the busiest airport in Mexico, also ranking as the 49th-busiest in the world, third-busiest in Latin America, and 15th-busiest in North America as of 2025, based on passenger traffic. The airport is served by more than 25 airlines, with flights to over 100 destinations across Mexico, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

(The arrival/departure hall was a bit chaotic)

(Our luggage were the last to arrive)

(A long walk to gate 7 for taxi pick-up)

A taxi sent us to Hotel MX Lagunilla Mexico City. Hotel MX Lagunilla features 90 rooms and lies merely 1.3 km from the public Square of the Three Cultures. Staying here you can use Wi-Fi throughout the property and parking on site. This hotel is located only 6 minutes on foot from Palacio Postal, a short distance from Garibaldi-Lagunilla tube station. Palacio de Bellas Artes is just a 6-minute walk from the 4-star hotel, and The House of Tiles is about a 5-minute drive away. The Angel of Independence is approximately 10 minutes' drive from the accommodation. Guests will find Garibaldi bus stop next to Hotel Mx Lagunilla, about a 5-minute walk away.

(Centrally located MX Lagunilla Hotel, Mexico City)

(Too early to check in, luggage kept in the store room)

Today we joined the Xochimilco and Coyoacan Tour. Walked quite a distance to the meeting point in front of Palacio de Bellas Artes. As we have not taken our breakfast, we went to El Cardenal Ristorante for breakfast before beginning the tour. We ordered burnt cheesecake, corn muffin, chocolate and cappuccino.

(The El Cardenal Restaurante)

(Corn muffins and cheesecakes for breakfast)

(Palacio de Mineria, dedicated to miners) )

(The Equestrian Statue of Charles IV of Spain)

The starting point for our tour today is the Palacio de Bellas Artes or Palace of Fine Arts. It is a prominent cultural center in Mexico City. It hosts performing arts events, literature events and plastic arts galleries and exhibitions (including important permanent Mexican murals). "Bellas Artes" for short, has been called the "art cathedral of Mexico", and is located on the western side of the historic center of Mexico City which is close to the Alameda Central park.

(The Palace of Fine Arts)

(The meeting point for the day-tour)

(Mr. Sal, our tour guide

(A bustling market scene in a public square)

(Paseo de la Reforma, a prominent and historic avenue in Mexico City)

(The Church of San Hipólito and San Cassiano)

(Monumento a Cuitlahuac)

Our first stop was at St Plateria Rafael, Mexico City where we visited a Silverware outlet. As visitors enter the outlet, the focus shifts to a small group of people surrounding a table, all silently and intently observing the work of Rafael Córdova, founder of the silverware shop that bears his name. I was presented a Mexican design carving for being an attentive listener.

(Plateria Rafael, a silver factory and jewelry store)

(A carving demonstration by Mr. Rafael)

( A gift from Mr. Rafael)

(Silver plated clown statues)

(An art piece of decorated butterfly mask)

(Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations figurines)

(Intricately decorated sugar skull)

(A wall decor of multiple horse heads)

Next visit was to the University of Mexico. The National Autonomous University of Mexico is a public research university in Mexico. It has several campuses in Mexico City, and many others in various locations across Mexico, as well as a presence in nine countries. It also has 34 research institutes, 26 museums, and 18 historic sites.

(The University of Mexico)

(The stadium is the venue for 1968 Olympic Games)

(Children practising roller skating)

(The Central Library of the University)

(A Public Research University)

We drove to Xochimilco in southern Mexico City. It is a gritty working-class neighborhood gives way to the famous canals of Xochimilco, the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs. Colorful gondola-like boats take visitors on cruises while food vendors, artisans and mariachi bands float past. The atmosphere is festive, especially on weekends, too over crowded for me.

Tourists can also visit the eerie, purportedly haunted Island of the Dolls. The story behind the Island of the Dolls is shrouded in tragedy, real or imagined. Legend has it that in 1950 the island's caretaker, Don Julian Santana Barrera, discovered the lifeless body of a drowned girl in the canals surrounding the island. The next day, he found a doll drifting down the canal. Believing it belonged to the girl, he hung the doll from a tree in her memory and as a talisman to ward off evil spirits. Now this small island is adorned with thousands of old, tattered dolls hanging from trees and scattered across the landscape.

(The vibrant coloured canoe in Xochimilco)

(A boat tour along the Canal of Xochimilco)

(Life musicians entertaining the visitors)

(Small islands along the canals)

(Mariachi bands along the canal)

After the canal cruise we were dropped off at the leafy Jardin Centenario park. It sits at the center of bohemian Coyoacán, known for its cobblestone streets and colonial architecture. The bright-blue Museo de Frida Kahlo, showcasing her life and work, is here, as are the well-preserved former home of Leon Trotsky, art galleries, and colorful artisan markets. Upscale sidewalk cafes sit side by side with laid-back ice cream parlors along the tree-lined streets. There were many restaurants and eateries around the park but none suit our taste.

(The centre of Bohemian Coyoacàn)

(Parish of Saint John the Baptist in Coyoacán)

(Colourful artisan market)

(The crowd at Jardin Centenario Park)

We took an Uber to Restaurant Tandoor San Angel to have an Indian Cuisine for lunch. Restaurante Tandoori is the first Indian and Pakistani cuisine restaurant in Mexico, since 1986. Visitors enjoy a pleasant atmosphere, in addition to the extensive variety of curries and dishes such as Chicken Tandoori, Mutton Vindaloo Basmati Rice, Lassi, Naan, etc. Elegant space surrounded by Far Eastern art specializing in Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

(Restaurantè Tandoori)

(Indian and Pakistani cuisines in Mexico City)

(Prawn biryani, fish curry and aloo gobi)

(A delicious lunch for four hungry travellers)

After the heavy lunch, we were back at the Jardin Centenario park. We watched the Mexican dance, often referred to as baile folklórico, encompasses a wide array of traditional dances that showcase the rich cultural heritage of Mexico. These dances vary by region and often feature elaborate costumes and symbolic movements. Some of the most well-known include Jarabe Tapatío (Mexican Hat Dance), La Bamba, and Dance of the Deer.

(Skeletons on the wall of a cafe)

(Mexican Hat Dance in the park)

(Youngsters clowning around)

(A beautiful Miss Potato)

(The Beatles figurines)

(Elotes and esquites, roasted corns topped with grated cheese)

(Mexican street foods)

It was raining heavily when we walked to the Freda Museo. We were still early so we went to Café Coyoacán, to have a cup of espresso while waiting for the rain to stop. It rained even heavier when we were there. Fortunately, it stopped raining when we got to the Palace of Fine Arts, our starting point.