13 Mexico: Free and Easy in Mexico City

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

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.

The Plaza de la Constitución is better known,
across Mexico, as the Zócalo. It's 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 it's often very crowded. Throughout the year, it hosts events, fairs, carnivals, concerts, parades, and more.

Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Bienaventurada Virgen Maria a los cielos), a prominent landmark in Mexico City. It is situated on the northern side of the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo) 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.

Portal de Mercaderes Constitución Plaza is a historic arcaded building located on the west side of the Zócalo .The Portal de los Mercaders, 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.

The Antiguo Palacio del Ayuntamiento is the main seat of the Mexico City government. It's 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 National Palace takes up the entirety of the east side of the Zócalo. It's 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 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,

Pedestrian Walking Street Mexico City, Mexico MEXICO . 1JUL2025 .27 °C
The main pedestrian street in Mexico City's historic center is Francisco I. Madero Avenue, also known as Madero Street. It's a vibrant, bustling street lined with shops, restaurants, and historical buildings and is a popular spot for both tourists and locals.

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's 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 Polanca Mosque, Mexico City, Mexico MEXICO . 1JUL2025 . 21 °C
The Centro Educativo de la Comunidad Musulmana, AC, also known as the Mezquita de Polanco, 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 orinciples 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.

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

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.

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 first-time travelers to Mexico City.

After checked in, we had to walk a distance to Gate 4 board Viva VB1352, Benito Juarez International Airport, Mexico City We are flying Viva to Monterrey.. Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A.de C.V., 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.

We arrived safely at Monterrey International Airport.. General Mariano Escobedo International Airport, simply known as Monterrey International Airport, is 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.. It wasn't quite busy when we landed.

Hotel Myst, located near Fundidora Park and
Macroplaza.. It's a 4 star hotel. Providing 35 rooms, the 4-star Hotel Myst. Monterrey is about a 20-minute walk from Banamex Auditorium Amphitheatre..