"We're the Brightest & the Best!"

July 13, 2012

We walked the streets of downtown Mexico City. 

In the center of the city you can see a statue of the Mexican eagle holding a serpent. This is believed to be the location of where the Aztecs first settled. 

And passed by The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary of Mexico City, which  is breath taking! 

The square in front of the National Palace holds 300,000 people. 

Inside the National Palace we visited Diego Rivera’s murals. This particular mural took him one year to complete. The center arch of the wall contains the Mexican eagle holding a serpent that showed the end of the Aztecs' migration.

He worked in the National Palace for a total of five years completing all the murals. 

During our visit to the Aztec ruins at Templi Mayor museum, we chatted with several children that were creating paper masks and pictures of gods from the ruins. The museum has many free summer programs for children to learn and play. 

Our three-hour long farewell lunch was amazing! We were able to speak with several members of the COMEXUS board, as well as enjoy delicious food & drinks with a spectacular view of the cathedral.

 We all received a lovely compliment that, "We are the Brightest & the Best!" 

Our view from the table at lunch 

 The Mexico City Post Office Palace has astonishing architecture and does not look like your typical post office. When Porfirio Diaz was president of Mexico he entrusted the project of a new post office building to the Italian architect Adamo Boari and to the Mexican engineer Gonzalo Garita y Frontera.

There is a strong military presence in Mexico, especially in Mexico City. Today is was particularly evident because we were sightseeing at very important historical sites. It is not uncommon though to see several open top trucks pass down the street one after another filled with dozens of uniformed and fully armed soldiers. I am still unsure if this puts me at ease & makes me feel protected or makes me a bit nervous? 

 With the little bit of Spanish I know I was able to independently walk & find a nail salon and explain that I wanted a manicure and pedicure (thank God for hand gestures!) I was in need of a little pampering and R & R!

After a long day who wouldn’t want some comfort food? McDonalds & cheap red wine!

 

Tomorrow is Bon Voyage Mexico and Hola Colombia!