Good day to you! It is time for yet another review of one of my travels to Mexico City. In this post I will cover Chapultepec, Castillo de Chapultepec, and Zócalo. All of these areas are relatively close to each other and fit into a similar vein as far as type of attraction. Chapultepec is a very large park in Mexico City, to give people a visual I compare it to Central Park in NYC. However, Chapultepec is much, much bigger. In the past it was not well maintained, but in recent years CDMX has spent a lot of time and money pouring resources into attractions around Mexico to clean, remodel, and make Mexico City a thriving tourist attraction. All of their hard work has paid off as Chapultepec is a beautiful park that felt very clean, well maintained, and safe. We were only there during the day, but I believe it is locked at night. We walked past several lakes, through a few museums (all free), and saw many street vendors as well as other historical sites dotted within the park. Within the park is Castillo de Chapultepec, there was a bit of a wait to get to the ticket counter, but not as long as I was imagining by the length of the line. They had an efficient system inside that moved people quickly. Once past the ticket counter you walk up a long steep hill (a very important feature to the areas history) to get to the castle. The castle and grounds are very well maintained and a beautiful sight to see! Inside are pieces from the history of the castle, art (modern and historic), and a detailed history of the area and the castle. Signs are again in both Spanish and English, which was much appreciated on our part. I found it fascinating to read about history from another culture's perspective. In the US our history almost always paints us as the heroes, but in cases where the US was in conflict with Mexico we were described as the adversary, which of course makes sense, but was also interesting to see my own country from another perspective. We spent several hours in the castle and on it's grounds. The views from the balconies are stunning! To see the surrounding park and Mexico City in the distance, it makes it apparent the importance of this geological feature to the history of the area, as well as providing lovely views you would otherwise miss. We went to Zócalo at least 3 or 4 times as there are many attractions near it as well as shopping, restaurants, and large events held there. Fun fact, the square has been in use since the time of the Aztecs! The largest Mexican flag in the country is in Zócalo. I got to see the largest and second largest Mexican flags in the same year (the second largest is in Ensenada, see blog post below for that trip review)! There are currency exchange shops all around the Zócalo square. There is also lots of shopping, street vendors, malls, and restaurants surrounding the square. Temple Mayor, The National Museum (both of which I will cover in my next blog post), and the beautiful Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, are all on the perimeter of Zócalo square. The cathedral was the largest I have ever been inside, and the most beautiful I have yet seen in person (I haven't been to Europe yet, so I'll let you know how I feel when I get there). Inside there are several separate areas dedicated to prayer, an organ the size of most people's homes, and much more. When you approach the very front of the cathedral there is a beautiful carving of a biblical scene, as you approach Police are there to ensure you remove any and all head-wear (in respect) and to protect it. Taking a walk through this cathedral is a beautiful sight even if you are not Christian or Catholic. Just outside the church grounds were ceremonies and blessings from the Aztec religion. It was fascinating to see such religious contrasts only feet apart. But the cathedral was built from pieces of the Aztec temple site next door. Overall, I would recommend visiting Chapultepec, Castillo de Chapultepec, Zócalo, and its surrounding attractions. These attractions are very well kept, are stunning pieces of history that are interesting as well as give you a feel for how times have changed and how they have not. These are places that pictures alone cannot do them justice (though I would argue that to be the case for everywhere I visited in Mexico), to truly have a feel for the spacial layout of these areas and to be able to touch and see the details of their history is something you need to experience in person. Have you been to Chapultepec, Castillo de Chapultepec, or Zócalo? What was your favorite part? Much Love, Jess
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Hello Again! I know, it isn't Tuesdsy. I'm preparing to move again and it's summer - my busiest time of year for going on adventures - so I'm a few days behind. But, still getting at least one blog post in this week! So, Teotihuacan is actually what inspired me to pick Mexico City as a vacation spot in the first place. When I was getting my bachelors degree at Colorado State University I had to take an entry and advanced level archaeology course. In my ANTH 141 course my professor (Dr. Fisher) studied/worked in Mexico and had been to this area many times. He recommended it to his entire class (over 100 students) as a great and safe out-of-country place to visit. We learned about Temple Mayor and Teotihuacan in class. Ever since then (2016) I kept this area in my mind. Our AirBnB host was very helpful in helping us get to Teotihuacan. He told us which bus transit center we needed to go to and where in the transit center to go. We went to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte, and the the desk for the bus to Teotihuacan is *the last* desk on the left side (if you are facing the entrance of the transit center). I'm serious, go all the way to far left wall and that's where it is. The tickets were about $100 Mexican dollars round-trip (so about $5 USD). The bus rise is about an hour or so long and they drop you off right in front of the entrance and pick you up at the same spot. Buying tickets for Teotihuacan feels really informal. As you walk up there is a booth for vehicles that are parking to pay at, that is also where you pay. There were a couple people standing nearby this booth who also had the ability to pay at (we paid in cash) and receive tickets from. You then take that ticket all the way across the grassy parking lot to the metal fencing entrance and show your ticket to the guard. Our host also gave us another piece of advice that I'll pass along, go in the morning. It is far less busy and you can actually enjoy the pyramids and the sights. By 11am it is pretty much completely full (even on a week day) and the pyramids are so crowded with people you would not be able to take pictures or enjoy the moment/sights at all. There is the Temple of the Sun (the big one you see walking up) and the Temple of the Moon (to the left) and the Avenue of the Dead which has many more smaller, less restored pyramids along it. However, walking up the pyramids and along the Avenue is an incredible experience. To know that this was a mecca for people as a city and for their religion, that is was always this bustling and busy (just for a slightly different reason) is amazing. Most all of the signs are in both Spanish and English. It is incredibly hot and there is no shade, so be sure to lather on the sunscreen and wear a hat! They don't have sunscreen there (at least I don't remember seeing any) but they do have hats, even ones that are made in Mexico. So it can dual as a souvenir. At the opposite end of the Avenue of the Dead there is a white, completely unmarked building that is completely open to the public. It has restrooms on the bottom level and on the upper level is a restaurant. We ate lunch there, it was pretty pricey - and by pricey I mean equivalent to US restaurant pricing, about $15-$20 USD a plate - but also tasty. In the courtyard of the Temple of the Moon there is a separate gated area that has more "underground" things to see. They have paintings on the walls that have been saved, and smaller rooms you can see. It is free to go in, and I would suggest going in and having a look around. Beside this there are a few more booths for souvenirs, some also sell bottled water (a requirement as it is *not* safe to drink the water or even ice in Mexico). This is where we filled up before hiking to the other end of the Avenue. And hiking isn't a term too far off for what it takes to get from one end to the other, there are lots of stairs, hills, and random exploring you can do along the Avenue. On our way out we stopped at a few of the stalls to grab some souvenirs, then caught our bus back to Mexico City. Overall, I would completely recommend going to Teotihuacan! It is an incredible historic site and is beautiful to be able to see and touch it. It's very affordable, can be done in a day, and is great for individuals, couples, or families. Standing in the courtyard of the Temple of the Moon is an amazing feeling, something everyone should experience. If you have any more advice or exciting experiences from Teotihuacan, leave them below! I'd love to hear about it! Much Love, Jess Hello again! I recently adopted a dog and I thought I'd share some of the tips and ideas I was told before I adopted my little pup. I know how nervous I was trying to pick the right dog and if I could pass along what others told me and my personal experience to help more dogs find the right home then the world would be a better place! In the past I had only purchased dogs from local breeders as it was all I had known. A few years ago my brother adopted a little mutt puppy. When my last dog passed away at nearly 14 years old it only took a few months before I was ready for another dog. Living in Colorado I was lucky to live with lots of people who have dogs, so I've been able to be surrounded by dogs all the time. But I knew I wanted a little best friend to go everywhere with me. I wrote a little about this in a recent Instagram post, but I wanted to spend some time expanding on the points made there. My suggestions for finding the perfect dog is knowing exactly what you want. Know the general characteristics of different breeds and what pros and cons may be prevalent in a breed or mixed breed of dog. For example a working dog breed will have lots of energy and will need to be exercised daily and will require a lot more effort. Small breeds are also often energetic and yappy. Make a realistic list of what you are looking for, what you will tolerate and what are deal-breakers for you. Even if you come across a dog that has a deal-breaker don't waver, what is a deal-breaker for you may be perfect for someone else! And in the end the dog will be happier with that person. I applied to several dog adoption agencies simply to have a wide range of options available at all times. I found a dog in about 2.5 weeks, but I anticipated it being harder or taking longer. The applications do take some time, but it saves time when you are there in the moment trying to adopt a pup. They make you fill out the application even at the in-person events, so save yourself the time and the drama of doing it in-person by doing it beforehand. Many places require you to fill out an application before you can even meet their dogs. At adoption events it is noisy, busy, and chaotic. Trying to fill out paperwork when you are holding a brand new dog on a leash, surrounded by many other dogs, people, kids, etc. is difficult and can be stressful for you and the dog. There will be adoption papers to fill out that will take enough time, don't add to it by also needing to fill out their application. The best advice I received from my fantastic Instagram followers! Their advice was to let the dog choose you. Walk past the dogs within your criteria and see which ones seem to click with you, only visit those ones. Interact with them, see how they interact with you. Do they come to you even if you don't coax or encourage them? Are they displaying traits that you are looking for? If possible, take them as far from distractions and stress as possible. One-on-one interaction is an important way to see how they are with just you. You may meet the right dog right off the bat, or you may need to see a bunch before you find "the one". But you'll know when you've found the right dog. It's also normal to feel stressed, nervous, or second-guess yourself. If it goes away in 24-48 hours then you'll know you made the right choice! My little Holmes is the perfect fit for me! I cannot imagine why anyone gave him up in the first place, and I'm so sorry he had to go through being in foster care. But I could not be happier that he found me. He is exactly what I was looking for, friendly, playful, equal parts snuggly and energetic, small (5 pounds when I adopted him, 8 pounds now), likes to be carried, good on car rides, and plays with my families' dogs'. Know what you are looking for, don't waver, persevere, and know you *will* find the perfect dog! Let me know if this helped you! Or tell me your adoption stories or advice in the comments below! Much Love, Jess So, discipline is not something I am good at when it comes to blogging. Many areas of my life? Hellz yeah, but blogging seems to be an area I fail in. After a break-up, life and identity crisis and just life being life, I made a thousand excuses to not blog. So, instead of empty promises I'll simply say I'll do my best to do better in the future. On to part II of my Mexico City trip review! Xochimilco was a lot of fun! It certainly felt like a little piece of history...that had been turned into a major tourist activity. Not going to lie, it was very crowded, a bit like bumper boats, but a fun experience! We took an Uber to get from our AirBnB to the attraction. It was like a 30ish minute Uber ride. They dropped us off at one of the many local business that do the boat tours. Melanie was able to find out the price (which wasn't the one we saw online...so maybe we went to the wrong place?) and we were off. I used my credit card to pay, which I think ended up being about $50 USD a person. We had the entire boat to ourselves which was really nice. I'm so used to the US where they pack anyone and everyone into a space. Once they take you out you get to ride past homes and wildlife and then the thousands of other boats. There was a huge boat jam that we tried to navigate through, but after about 15 minutes of getting absolutely nowhere, our "Captain" decided to take a different route. They took us to a small 'reptile zoo' - I use the term very loosely as they were definitely not a real zoo nor were they up to code in any way) We didn't realize this until after we had paid and walked inside. The animals were well kept in good conditions, it simply just wasn't a certified zoo in any manner. They let us hold a baby crocodile and pet some snakes, then it was back to the boat. They also had us stop at a place that I believe some famous Mexican movie had been filmed, and they had pieces from the film onsite. Depending on how long you rent the boat for, depends on how far out they take you. I feel like most people only go for 1-2 hours so that's why it was so busy. A longer ride might be less crowded. Two cool things you can do is buy a ton of food beforehand and bring it on the boat and have a party/picnic, or buy souvenirs/food while on the water. Lots of people were celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, etc. with food and drinks from their coolers. This could be such a fun way to spend the afternoon for a special occasion. Out on the water, eating and drinking with friends on a historic route. If you're a little more brave you can buy food from little boats floating about, they also have souvenir boats scattered about. It's very busy but upbeat and fun. The city itself is dirty and impoverished, I felt really bad and wished I could have done something to make it better. But we ate lunch at a little family run Chinese restaurant in the city as city dogs roamed the streets past the shop. The dogs knew to look for traffic and waited to cross only when it was safe. Oh, and bathrooms, they aren't free! Make sure you carry some small change on you if you might need to use a "public" bathroom while away from your house/hotel/AirBnB/etc. Overall, I would suggest Xochimilco as a fun way to celebrate a special occasion. I wouldn't suggest going for shopping or meals. Honestly, if I went back I'd bring food, snacks, drinks and just spend a half day out on the boats, taking it all in. |
AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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