A traveller's reflection: 13 Mexico: Free and Easy in Mexico City

"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them..." - Khalil Gibran

(Plaza de la Constitución, the main square of Mexico City)

Day 13: 01/07/25 (Tuesday)

Activity: Free and Easy in Mexico City

Flight: VB1352 MEX 1705/MTY 1840 (Viva Air)

Route: Mexico City, Mexico - Monterrey, Mexico
Hotel: Hotel Myst Monterrey, Mexico

We had scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. This morning we're going to do our own tour before flying to Monterrey later this afternoon. We checked out and kept our luggage in the store.

(Having an early breakfast)

(No mashed potato today)

Mexico City is one of the oldest and most culturally rich cities in the Americas, with a fascinating blend of Aztec, colonial Spanish, and modern Mexican influences. The city sits at an altitude of approximately 2,240 meters above sea level. This high elevation means the air is thinner and less oxygen. After three days in Mexico City, I was having a mild shortness of breath and fatigue. Hopefully brisk walking around the city would do me good.

(Contemplating of riding the electric bus)

(Chapel of the Dead at Plaza de la Concepción)

(Convento de la Concepcion)

(Empty streets early in the morning)

(Museo Jose Luis Cuevas)

We started walking towards the Zócalo, the main plaza of the city. From there we will visit Templo Mayor, walk down Madero Street to Palacio de Bellas Artes, then stroll through Alameda Park if time permitting. The walking tour would provide us a blend of Aztec ruins, colonial churches, and early modern Mexico.

(House of Congress of Mexico City)

(A common sight at taquerias in Mexico City)

(Buying a sling bag at one bag outlet)

(A classic European architectural style buildings)

The Plaza de la Constitución is better known, across Mexico, as the Zócalo. It is the central plaza of the City and often referred to as the central plaza of the entire country. As such, it is the frequent site of many of the important events in the city and is often very crowded. Throughout the year, it hosts events, fairs, carnivals, concerts, parades, and more.

(Central Plaza of Mexico City)

(Traditional indigenous ritual)

(Mexican flag is flying high)

(A boy wearing Aztec costume)

(A street performer at the square)

Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Bienaventurada Virgen Maria a los cielos), is a prominent landmark in Mexico City. It is situated on the northern side of the Plaza de la Constitución in the historic center of Mexico City, built atop the former Aztec sacred precinct near the Templo Mayor. It holds significance as the spiritual center of the Aztec capital and is considered the first cathedral built in the Americas.

(Metropolitan Church, a prominant landmark)

(First cathedral built in the Americas)

Portal de Mercaderes Constitución Plaza is a historic arcaded building located on the west side of the Zócalo .The Portal de los Mercaderes, literally, the Merchants Portal, was begun 1527 by one Melchor Dávila. Fabric shops were already open, operated by one Gonzalo Ruiz, by 1532. Señor Ruiz no doubt witnessed this continuous struggle to keep the Zócalo from sinking into a continual morass of vendors buying selling, haggling, and vocally announcing their wares. The portals, the covered walkway along the square's western edge, were intended right from the beginning, to provide more space for vendors.

(Also known as The Merchants Portal)

(Beautiful neat garden around the plaza)

The Antiguo Palacio del Ayuntamiento is the main seat of the Mexico City government. It is home to a small museum and several galleries which are open to the public. The Cabildos Hall and the Francisco Gamoneda Documentation Center are also inside the building. The first City Council meeting was held here on May 10, 1532.

(The main seat of Mexico City government))

(Mexico City Council)

The National Palace takes up the entirety of the east side of the Zócalo. It is the seat of the Executive Branch of the Mexican Federal Government. It takes up some 40,000 square meters and has been a World Heritage Site since 1987.

(The National Palace)

The Nacional Monte de Piedad is of interest to international visitors mostly for its main headquarters building on the northwest corner of the Zócalo in Mexico City. Established in Mexico 1774 and 1777, it's founder was Pedro Romero de Terreros, the first Count of Regla being just one of his titles. His home is a famous landmark, and he owned much of the property surrounding the present day Metro El Rosario,

(Owned by Pedro Romero)

(Home of the first Count of Regla)

The main pedestrian street in Mexico City's historic center is Francisco I. Madero Avenue, also known as Madero Street. It is a vibrant, bustling street lined with shops, restaurants, and historical buildings and is a popular spot for both tourists and locals.

(Mexico City pedestrian street)

(A bolero, the shoe shiner)

(Ideal for walking and people watching)

(Walking paths are framed by landmarks)

(The street connects the Zócalo to Torre Latinoamericana)

(Too late to take the Hop-on Hop-off bus)

The Barrio Chino in Mexico City is a small sub-neighborhood within San Juan Moyotlan, itself a neighborhood of the Centro Histórico. A few streets are the center of annual celebrations of the Chinese New Year. But year round there is a flavor of China and its people and traditions. The people of China have a long history of immigration to Mexico Some came along with the famous Manila Galleon Trade which connected Acapulco with the Philippine Islands for some 250 years.

(Mexico City Chinatown)

(A long history of Chinese immigrants)

We took an Uber to the Centro Educativo de la Comunidad Musulmana, AC, also known as the Mezquita de Polanco, It is a mosque situated in the Anzures neighborhood of Mexico City. Established in 2001, it occupies a three-story building adapted for its religious functions, lacking traditional elements like a minaret and dome The mosque serves as a center for worship, education, and community activities, offering daily prayers, Friday sermons in Arabic and Spanish, and classes on Islamic principles and Arabic language. It also provides halal meat and chicken for the community. The mosque is open daily, with specific hours for prayers and activities.. However, it was closed when we were there.

(Mezquita de Polanco)

(The mosque for the Muslim community)

We had lunch at Taj Mahal Bangladesh Restaurant. It is an Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant specializing in halal food in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City. We had lamb biryani and naan with chicken masala.

(Taj Mahal - Indian and Bangladesh restaurant)

(Hungry tourists waiting patiently for their orders)

On the way back to the hotel we saw a protest parade along the road. Protest is a constant in Mexico City, the seat of the federal government and thus a focal point for angry, disgruntled and dissatisfied citizens from around the country. As the National Palace - the seat of executive power and now the president's residence as well - is located opposite the Zócalo, the central square is the most popular place for demonstrations, and many protest marches end there after commencing in other central parts of the capital.


('Gringo: Stop stealing our home' Protest)

Back at the Lagunilla Hotel, we collected our bags and took an Uber to the Benito Juarez International Airport for our flight to Monterrey. Benito Juarez International Airport, Mexico City, welcomes millions of international visitors every year through its two main airports: Benito Juarez International Airport and Felipe Ángeles (Santa Lucía) International Airport. Navigating through these bustling hubs can be overwhelming, especially for us, first-time travelers to Mexico City.

(Benito Juarez International Airport)

After checked in, we had to walk a distance to Gate 4 to board our flight Viva VB1352 to Monterrey. Aeroenlaces Nacionales, trading as Viva (formerly Viva Aerobus), is a major Mexican low-cost airline headquartered at Monterrey International Airport, in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Measured by passenger numbers, it is Mexico's third-largest airline and eleventh-largest airline in North America, offering more than 160 routes in more than 50 destinations serving Mexico, the United States, Central and South America.

(On board of Viva flight VB1352)

(Mexican low-cost airline)

We arrived safely at Monterrey International Airport, an international airport located in Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico serving Greater Monterrey. It operates flights to Mexico, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Europe. The airport wasn't quite busy when we landed.

(Monterrey International Airport)

(Looking for the exit)

(It was raining in Monterrey)

We were met by an Uber driver who sent us to Hotel Myst, located near Fundidora Park and Macroplaza. It is a 4-star hotel providing 35 rooms. Hotel Myst Monterrey is about a 20-minute walk from Banamex Auditorium Amphitheatre.