We left the bus in Teotihuacán and hopped a bus into a quiet little place called Ciudad de México. A little over twenty million people call Mexico City home and it is one of our favorite capital cities anywhere. Again, we’ve been excited to show the kids around.
The first day we got into town we just walked around our area a bit. We’re only a few blocks west of the Zócalo—one of the world’s largest city squares—and plenty of other very old, very cool buildings. The Zócalo is so big, in fact, that they are in the process of putting the finishing touches on a temporary baseball field on it, and plan to hold games and a home-run derby there this weekend for the 90th anniversary of the LMB, the professional League of Mexican Baseball.
The next day we took the kids to the children’s museum. Back in the States they love it—they are given all sorts of fun activities and told to just go nuts. We expected more of the same here, but instead it was a total bust.
When we arrived we found that there were hundreds of employees. Every “station” had three or four and they were overly eager to get hands on with the kids. They refused to just let kids play. And not just our kids, but all the kids there. Everything was some sort of lesson. Even the mock grocery store turned into a lesson on how to take a recipe and find all the ingredients, check-out, bag them, and finally return them to the correct place on the shelves. There was literally no freedom or fun to be had. It was helicopter parenting (by non-parents) at its worst. We spent an hour there and left—thankful that at least it had been two-for-one Wednesday.
Today we wandered the streets more, and eventually ended up in the Zócalo. There we visited a church. But not just any church, this one is glorious, and is deserving of a glorious name—so, Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. It’s a bit of a mouthful. Turned out to be our kids’ favorite church ever. Why? Because they let us go walk around on the roof and play with the bells, of course—and for just 20 pesos each, I might add.
Ali and I marveled at the fact that we were allowed to more or less run wild on the roof of this four-hundred-or-so-year-old church with no security at all. Sure there was the guide that led us up there, but once on the roof he didn’t care a bit that we drifted to the back and disappeared from sight. The kids thought this was amazing. They would have gladly spent an entire day up there.
“I can’t believe they fired you, man. For what? Just because of the bear? That’s discrimination!”
19 Comments on “Mexico City”
Why were there riot police at the Palacio?
No idea. They’re all over the place. I might have heard something about a teacher’s strike.
I noticed the Torta pic. Did you take the gladiator challenge?
Not yet. We were just walking by in the morning. But I might just give it a try before we leave.
My sister’s daughter lives in Mexico City, teaching English in a preparatoria. Though she was born and grew up in urban southern California, as an adult she prefers living/working in Mexico City. She speaks Chilango. She doesnt have any plans to move back to the U.S.
I don’t blame her one bit.
You got it, it is my favorite capitol too! I was there towards Christmas, and they put an ice skating rink in the Zócalo. Did you checkout the ironworks in the Palacio Postal? Have you seen the Frida Kahlo museum? There is a barbacoa underneath the Bridge just after getting off at the Av. Coyoacán, I remember it to be really good. But then again, everything was so good. You are making me hungry and ready to go again!
We just got here, but yeah, we walked through the Palacio Postal. Will get out to Frida’s soon as well. And yeah, there is so much good food here.
We actually opened an office there two years ago, but I still haven’t made it down there to visit.
You have got to move that up on the priorities list, my friend.
Perhaps it shows my maturity level…but my favorite picture is the bear suit. You need to get that one trending on twitter facebook…and up your traffic to your site my friend. The caption is awesome too.
And of course the kids are adorable.
~Shawna
Right? I thought it was great. Nobody else is saying much. So yeah, maybe it’s just a lack of maturity.
Wow. Looks amazing, Guadalajara on steroids. So weird to see the Bums in an urban setting!! 🙂
Remember, before we left to go sailing we were living downtown Chicago. We still love ourselves a good city now and then.
Captivating photographs! One of these days I’m going to see your family, run up and hug them, because I know them so well. Then I will be arrested for assault because you don’t have any idea who I am. Love your blog!
Thanks. Be gentle.
Love the pics as always. Hope whoever gets to play on that ballfield watches out while chasing a fly out in center field!
I’m laughing at the graffiti in the last photo. I don’t know what it means, I’m assuming that it’s an acronym for a gang of short people. The way the letters are fuzzy at the top tells me they were not very tall!
Baus is German for building. Somebody was exhibiting the German they learned in class…