Churros ! a sweet treat not to be missed!

I just came back from eating Churros so I had to write about the wonderful fried delights!

Churros are abit like donuts, made from thick batter and deep fried in hot oil until they are crisp and golden. Popular all over Latin America, Mexican churros are usually slightly thicker and come dusted with sugar and cinnamon and served with traditional mexican hot chocolate - delicious !

Churros can be found all over the city but there are two places that you may want to check out if

you want to try authentic mexican churros - "El Convento" and "El Moro".

CHURROS EL CONVENTO - the famous cafe south of the city that has been open since 1977 that reportedly make and sell over 2,500 churros on a daily basis. The churros at "El convento" are known for being crunchier than in other places in the city. Choose from three types of hot chocolate to go with your churros (sweet, mexican or semi sweet) or if you feel like eating alittle more, El Convento also sells Tortas (mexican sandwiches) and hamburgers, sodas and milkshakes. A new "branch" of El Convento has recently opened across the street located at Av. de la paz 53, local 3. Expect to pay $35 mexican pesos for a cup of chocolate and four churros and aprox. $35 mexican pesos for a large sandwich.

You can find the original branch of Churros El Convento at Plaza del Carmen 4, San Ángel. Open Monday to Friday from 8am until 1am and Saturdays and Sundays 9am until midnight.

Tel : 5616 0978

EL MORO - Another legendary Mexico city "Churreria" located in the centre of the city close to the

main square and Bellas Artes on Eje Central. El Moro is open 24hrs a day but only serves Chocolate and Churros in the early hours of the morning. El Moro is larger than El Convento and alot more expensive.

El Moro is located at :

• Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas 42, Ciudad de México, México
• Tel : 55 12 08 96
• 
  
• El Convento vs El Moro - if you want the real churro experience I would say that El Convento is the better of the two places. El Convento is smaller and has a nicer atmosphere, the service is quick and the Churros are very fresh. Also, El Convento is almost half the price of downtowns "El Moro".

Do´s and Don´ts in Mexico City

Do : Shop at the Ciudadela !

http://www.laciudadela.com.mx/

La Ciudadela is a large market located on Balderas and fairly close to the Bellas artes area. It is one of the last remaining markets in the city where you can buy real mexican "artesania" straight from the Artisan.

The market sells everything and anything is a real treat for anyone wanting to shop for all this Mexican whilst in the city. Although the market is not the cheapest, it is not overpriced and you will find maybe things there that are hard to come by in the City.

Reasons to shop at the Ciudadela :Not only is the Ciudadela completely wonderful but it is also under threat as local officials are wanting to turn the markets land into a development of office buildings due to its prime location. Check out our video about the market to know more and learn about the markets wonderful history.

Don´t miss out on the Oaxacan tin decorations to be found at the market - they are our favourite!

Do : Ride the Metro !

Mexico citys Metro is one of the best Metro systems in the world we think ! The metro is spacious, cheap, quick and very efficient ! Dont worry if you miss a train as there will always be another one within a few minutes and there are stops all over the city making it a very easy way to cut out the traffic and get to various points around the city. We suggest that you get a map of the metro and plan your journey beforehand but at MX$2.oo a ride its a steal - so we say give it a go !

Reason to use the metro : Its cheap and fast and using public transport in the city instead of taking a taxi will not only help in a small way towards reducing pollution but also if more visitors start using pubic transportation it will help the public image of the city transportation!

Do : Take a walk on Reforma at night

Reforma at night is one of the best places to walk and take in the city. Generally around the angel and up to Chapultepec park you will find exhibitions on Reforma to look at which always makes the walk a little more interesting. You will find people sitting and talking on the many benches, people walking there dogs and many people going home from a long day at work. Reforma is generally quite safe and has many people and police in the evening and into the night so safety should not be a problem before midnight

Do : Take the Turibus at night

The safest way to see the city at night is with the Turibus night tour which really is unmissable. You see the city as it calms down for the evening and as its people come out to play. Take a look at the turibus website for timings.

Do : Visit the National Anthropology Museum ( Museo Nacional de Antropología )

The beautiful musuem located infront of Chapultepec park just off the end of Reformas main stretch is not one to be passed by. The musuem can easily fill up a whole day for Musuem enthusiasts and is a favourite with lovers of modern architecture too!

Do: Make time to watch the Voladores de Papantla (Dance of Papantla's flyers)

Who perform outside the anthropology musuem daily. This really is going to be a show that wows visitors from outside of the country and is a great peice of Mexican national hertitage.

For more information about the Voladores de Papantla check out : tp://voladoresdepapantla.com/index_eng.htm

Do : Take a trip to see the Pyramids at Teotihuacán

Take the chance to see the Pyramids whilst you are in Mexico. The pyramids are a must see if you are visiting and are located just 40kms outside of the city. Any tourist information spot will give you info on tours going to the site and you can also take a local coach from the North Bus terminal close to Lindavista.

Tip : Get there early to beat the heat and the flock of tourists for better photo opportunites!!

Do : Go eat Ice-Cream in Coyoacán

One of Mexico citys prettiest neighbourhoods is also home to lots and lots and lots of Ice cream parlours !

Take a walk into Coyoacán where located around the square you will find the stores selling some delicious ice-cream. We recommend trying a scoop of Tequila and Mango ! Yummy !

Coyoacán is also the home of many great art centres and also the Frida Kahlo museum - we know that you will love this quiet and tranquil neighbourhood !!

*Tip : Beat the crowds and go on a weekday - if you like the buzz of the market go to Coyoacán on weekends were an arts market is held saturday and sunday until late at night - but we warned, the crowds are HEAVY !!

Do : Go to the Cinema in Mexico city !

Maybe going to the cinema is the last thing that you would want to do went visiting somewhere new but we think that the city has some of the worlds best cinemas - clean, comfortable, cheap and if you really want luxury, the city has V.I.P cinemas complete with leather recliners and waiter service ( and its so worth the extra ten dollars) So if its raining or you have a spare few hours - we recommend that you try out one of our fabulous cinemas!!

Do : Wear your sunscreen

Mexico citys pollution adds heavily to the UV problem and the sun on some days can be very strong so if you are planning to be out and about in the city - slap on the sunscreen otherwise you might find yourself getting burnt.

Do : Be good !

This may seem a little bit silly but STICK TO THE RULES. A very large number of visitors each year are arrested in Mexico for Law Breaking. If you come to Mexico, our laws apply to you to!

Don´t : Take Taxis all the time !!

If you want to waste hours in the back seat of a taxi go ahead but try to use taxis as little as possible in the city. You will save money and see far more with public transport and walking!

Don´t : Eat on the street

Although eating on the street is not overly unsafe - visitors might get an upset stomach from street food and medicine is not always the cheapest in the city.

Don´t : Hire a car !

We get lots of emails asking about car hire in the city and we recommend that its never a good idea for visitors.

The traffic is heavy, the city is sprawling and has many intricate one way systems to follow. Hiring a car is a sure-fire way to get lost in the city so dont think about it unless its a must or you are planning on travelling outside of DF.

Don´t : Go out with large amounts of money or valuable items

This may seem like an obvious one but unless you are going to the National palace which requires Passport I.D for entrance, you shouldnt be carrying your passport or any personal items with you when touring around. Take a photocopy !

If you are going out shopping, take your money with you divided into smaller notes so that no oe sees you taking out large amounts from your wallet!

Don´t : Be tempted to go to the downtown black market areas

Markets like Tepito are famous for cheap and black market goods - you can really find anything around the area of La Lagunilla but we dont recommend that you go alone without a local who knows the area. Yes, the area is not very safe - but the main safety concern is that the market is so large that if you dont know your way you can very easily get lost.

Don´t : Change money in Mexico city airport

The exchange rates generally are a little better compared to what you will find around reforma or at your hotel but it is far SAFER to change money downtown. Criminals have been known to target tourists changing money at the airport terminals.

Hosteria La Bota - Mexican "Kitsch" at its finest

Most definatley one of our favorite places to sit and have a beer, Michelada style, in the City...

"Hostería: La Bota,” a restaurant-bar with traditional Mexican and

Spanish menu as well as: Tapas & Pizza. The atmosphere is laid back and friendly and it will be a feast for the eyes and pure pleasure for any lovers of all things "Kitsch"

Hosteria La Bota is located on Calle Regina between Bolivar and 5 de Febrero - Centro Historico

Edificio de Correos

Edificio de Correos - The post office building ..
When most people visit the city they cant imagine why i tell them to go to the post office building , yet they are always blown away by the architecture and the stamp murals.
All you need is about 20 minutes to see what the building has but it really is not to be missed.


Address: Calle Tacuba 1 y Eje Central LAizaro CAirdenas Mexico City 06060
Tel: +52 5 5102999

Plaza de las Tres Culturas

Plaza de las Tres Culturas - (the Square of the three cultures )
This is perhaps the one of the most important sites in Mexico City and showcases Mexicos unique cultural heritage. With modern, colonial and aztec building coming together in one place.
In pre-Columbian times it was the centre of the city of Tlatelolco, whose people sided with the Spanards against the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan (mexico city). In colonial times, there was an important church here. Then in 1968, the area was the focus of a horrifying government massacre in the run-up to the Mexico City Olympics. Hundreds are thought to have died, many of them local residents caught up in the crossfire. There is now a monument to the dead in the square, with a beautiful poem by Rosario Castellanos. Anyone interested in the history of the city should check out the square.


Address : Eje Central esquina Eje Uno Norte Mexico City Mexico

San Jacinto Plaza

San Jacinto Plaza
This plaza is in the San Angel part of the city and Diego Rivera's house is also nearby. The pretty and colourful park is not very large but is a good bet for anyone that would like to see something "traditional" in the city.The plaza is a good place to relax and listen to one of the many musicians that play in the area.
On weekends artwork is sold in the plaza and there are a number of good restaurants dotted around too.

We recommend that you check it out !

Address : Between Miramon Cda. Santisima, Dr. Galvez, Mexico City 01910

Free ! Free tours and things to do in the City

A day in the park...Chapultepec Park is home to a castle, zoo and a large lake - and its Free !

Address : Bosque de Chapultepec (Closest metro stations are Chapultepec and Auditorio)

Free Tour...Of the Archaeological Zone & Templo Mayor Museum are on Saturday mornings at 9 AM . The tour lasts generally for around three hours.

Address : Flagpole at the Zócalo - Saturdays at 9am - (Closest Metro Station is Zócalo)

Take a walk...Historic Centre Walking Tour is an Organised walking tour of Zócalo and Historic centre on sundays at 10am.

Address : Tourist information at the Historic Centre

Market Shopping - one of the best things to do on weekends is visit the Coyoacan market that is held in and around the square - You can take the metro to Coyoacan station and from there walk the ten minutes or so to where the Market is held.
*Note that it is always very busy on weekends !

Bellas Artes - The theatre has two guided tours every day which are free to the public. The theatre is explained and is a great oppurtunity to take a photo of the beautiful Tiffany curtain.

Address : Bellas Artes

San Fernando Cemetery - Maybe a cemetery doesnt sound like too much fun, buts its more of a Cemetary - Museum
It is free to go in and inside you can see plenty of graves and tombs from well known characters from Mexican history, from the revolution and presidents too. The two most interesting are the ones of Benito Juarez and Vicente Guerrero.This cemetery also has a small room where they show the characters and a little history of the revolution and the first constitution.

Address : Guerrero, 39
06010 México

Palacio Nacional - The national palace is the government building located in the Zócalo which is free to the public to enter and offers great views over the square and also holds artwork by Diego Rivera.
*Note that entrance is free but a form of I.D must be shown by mexican nationals and Passport must be shown by foriegn visitors - PHOTOCOPIES NOT EXCEPTED

Address : Avenida Pino Suarez, Corregidora esquina Guatemala - Zócalo

ITS ALL FREE !!

Horse Racing in Mexico City

Hipódromo de las Américas is a thoroughbred and quarter-horse race track in Mexico City, that had its inaugural meeting on March 6, 1943.
It is located approximately four and one-half miles from the downtown district, on Lomas de Sotelo and is operated by Grupo CIE.
Races are frequent and facilities include the original club-house and grandstand, restaurants and seating for 20,000.
It is the home of the Mexican Derby, and many prominent jockeys have ridden there over the years.

The Race track is a good way to spend the afternoon especially if you come to mexico during "rainy" season as the races are run come rain or shine !

Hipódromo de las Américas
Av. Conscripto
Tel : 5557-4100



http://www.hipodromo.com.mx/

Update Coyoacan Market

The weekend markets at Coyoacan were suspended following a dispute over taxes paid by local residents in the area.

THE MARKETS ARE NOW BACK ON AT COYOACAN ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS

Upcoming event in Mexico City - Dralion - Cirque Du Soleil

Dralion - Cirque Du Soleil

When: Dec 13, 2009 (Sunday)
Where : Gran Carpa Santa Fe - Mexico City

Trying some new food in Mexico

When most people think about mexican food, they think "burritos" but real mexican food (not tex-mex) is diverse and almost every state has there own style of cooking. Don´t leave Mexico City without trying the following:

• Tacos al pastor

Perobably the best tacos you will eat are Tacos al pastor (shepard style). The started in Mexico city and are thought to have been a take on the kebab served by many lebanese in Mexico. The pork is marinated in spices and chilis and the tacos are served usually with onions, cilantro (coriander) pineapple, guacamole and lime on a small tortilla.

• Pozole

Pozole is a famous mexican stew or soup made from hominy and pork with various garnishes, very ppular in the state of Guerrero.

• Quesadillas

Everyone in Mexico eats Quesadillas wether for breakfast or a light evening snack. Tortillas are filled with chihuahua or oaxaca cheese, folded and cooked until melted and usually served with a spicey green salsa. A favourite especially with kids. My favourites come from a stand behind the sanborns on paseo de las palmas in Lomas de Chapultepec where many people go for a quick lunchtime snack.

• Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles are a poplur dish to eat at breakfast or at brunch. The crunchy tortilla squares are topped with spicey green salsa, refried breans,cheese, sour cream and often chicken.

• Huevos Rancheros

Mexican scrambled eggs including chili, pepper and tomato.

• Arrachera

You can find Arrachera houses and takeouts all over serving this marinated beef.

• Micheladas

This is a "prepared beer", popular in Mexico since the 1940s and comes in a few ways but most commonly is a mix of beer, tomato juice, chili, worchester sauce, lime and salt.

• Huaraches

Originating in Mexico city in the 1930s, Huarches take there name from the sandal shaped masa. Huaraches are a fried corn base with various topping which you can find all over the city.

• Tamales

A "tamal" is a mix of corn dough with a filling either sweet or savoury which is steamed in a corn husk. In Mexico city the "torta de tamal" is popular, which is a tamale of your choice in a fresh white bread bun and is filling enough as a small meal on the go or for breakfast. Many latin american countries have something typical to the tamale but it is estimated that over 1000 versions with various fillings are to be found in Mexico.
Mexican Tamales that you find in the USA are usually not very good and its hard to find places that make Tamales in Europe so don´t forget to try one whilst you are here.

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de María) is the largest and oldest cathedral in the Americas and a must see for visitors to Mexico City.

It is situated atop the former Aztec sacred precinct near the Templo Mayor on the northern side of the Plaza de la Constitución (Zocalo) in downtown Mexico City and can be reached by Metro and Taxi very easily.

The cathedral was built in sections from 1573 to 1813 around the original church that was constructed soon after the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlán, eventually replacing it entirely. Spanish architect Claudio de Arciniega planned the construction, drawing inspiration from the many gothic styled cathedrals in Spain.

The cathedral has four facades which contain portals flanked with columns and statues and also a bell tower containing a total of 25 bells. The tabernacle, adjacent to the cathedral, contains the baptistry and serves to register the parishioners. There are two large, ornate alters, a sacristy, and a choir in the cathedral.

Fourteen of the cathedral's sixteen chapels are open to the public. Each chapel is dedicated to a different saint or saints, and each was sponsored by a religious guild. The cathedral is also home to two of the largest 18th century organs in the Americas.

Over the centuries, the cathedral has suffered damage. A fire in 1962 destroyed a significant part of the cathedral's interior. The restoration work that followed uncovered a number of important documents and artwork that had previously been hidden. Although a solid foundation was built for the cathedral, the soft clay soil it is built on has been a threat to its structural integrity. Dropping water tables and accelerated sinking caused the structure to be added to the World Monuments Fund list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. Reconstruction work beginning in the 1990s stabilized the cathedral and it was removed from the endangered list in 2000.

This area of town is generally very busy but with many points of interest you could spend most of the day here in this area. Metro access is by the zocalo or bellas artes a short walk away.

*Kids always seem to love the ruins that are covered by perspex on the floor outside too

Musuems - The National Museum of Anthropology

The Museo Nacional de Antropología (MNA, or National Museum of Anthropology) is a national museum of Mexico. Located within Chapultepec Park in Mexico City,along the paseo de la reforma. The museum contains significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts from the pre-Columbian heritage of Mexico, such as the Piedra del Sol (Aztec calendar stone) and the 16th-century Aztec statue of Xochipilli. Designed in 1963 by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, Jorge Campuzano and Rafael Mijares, it has an impressive architecture with exhibition halls surrounding a patio with a huge pond and a vast square concrete umbrella supported by a single slender pillar (known as "el paraguas", Spanish for "the umbrella") around which splashes an artificial cascade. The halls are ringed by gardens, many of which contain outdoor exhibits. The museum has 23 rooms for exhibits and covers an area of 79,700 square meters.

Opened in 1964 by President Adolfo López Mateos, the museum has a number of significant exhibits, such as the Stone of the Sun (depicted on the right), giant stone heads of the Olmec civilization that were found in the jungles of TabascoVeracruz, treasures recovered from the Maya civilization, the Sacred CenoteChichen Itza, a replica of the sarcophagal lid from Pacal's tomb at Palenqueethnological displays of contemporary rural Mexican life. It also has a model of the location and layout of the former Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, the site of which is now occupied by the central area of modern-day Mexico City itself.

The museum also hosts visiting exhibits, generally focusing on other of the world's great cultures. Past exhibits have focused on Persia, Greece, China, Egypt & Spain.

At the entrance is an imposing statue of Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. They say that on the day it was brought to its current location, an unforgettable, torrential rain fell on Mexico City... Located infront of the msueum in a clearing, the daily performances of the "papantla flyers" also is an unmisable experience for any visitor to Mexico city.

Shopping : Coyoacán Market

"Coyoacán es cultura" (Coyoacán is culture).. the slogan of the pretty area of Coyoacán.

Located a short walk from Coyoacán metro station in the central square you can find on weekends a local market which is safe for tourists to walk around at ease.

Like most markets in the city, you will find everything that you are looking for here from key chains to bracelets, earrings, ceramics and also painting and textiles.

The nice thing about Coyoacan market is that there are many stands that sell souvenirs for tourists but at a very good price, nothing like the prices you get at expensive tourist traps in the central parts of town.
On weekends when the market is open, you will usually find groups performing traditional Mexican dance or music and many people sitting on the outside of the square in the many cafes and bars.

The area is popular with young mexicans and families that come to the area on weekends to walk through the markets or sample Coyoacáns famous ice cream at one of the many shops located across from the main square.
Dont forget to take your camera with you as there will be many photo opportunites at the market although you may see stalls asking you politely not to photograph the products (mainly stands selling sloganed tshirts and such).

Points of interest regarding Coyoacán :

Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera were residents here and thier "casa azul" (blue house) still remains and now is known as the Fridha Kahlo musuem.Leon Trotsky was also a resident and his grave is found in Coyoacán.

Interestingly one of Coyoacáns most famous current residents is "Changoleón" (MonkeyLion) - A homeless man who is said to live in Jardin Hidalgo. Ever since this strange man became a TV celebrity, teenagers go to Coyoacan hoping to find him and get their photo taken with him. ( I have seen him on two occasions) !

Christmas Season in Mexico City

The Zocalo, Mexico City

An outdoor ice rink in the centre of the city? Thats right!

Mexico City has pulled off the unthinkable creating the world's biggest ice skating rink in one of the world's most populated cities. Costing $1.5 million, and using advanced ice-freezing technology, the Mexico City ice rink is almost as big as a U.S. football field and all but covers the Zocalo, the city's main square, the Zocalo, The 2nd largest square in the world.

Opened in December 2007,so far it has attracted more than 300,000 skaters who have turned the rink into a national obsession.

More than 1,500 pairs of skates have been brought in and 600 instructors are on hand to help the beginners with their first tentative steps whilst the ice rink is open from November to January.

Entry and skate hire is free and this is a great experience for anyone travelling to the city at the end of the year. The rink can be best accessed from the Zocalo metro station, but Bellas Artes Station could be a better option as there will be less movement and is just a short walk from the Zocalo.

Alternative Travel

• Journeys Beyond the Surface is an alternative-travel agency offering customized day trips to help you get to know any aspect of Mexico City that interests you. They accompany you so you have a safe yet challenging day. Their specialty is to take you to places that tourists generally do not get to see, to enable you to get a glimpse of what it is like to live in this city.

• Yollohtli means "The Heart of the Path" in nahuatl. Yollohtli brings you closer to the nature, mystical history and magic of deep Mexico. "Off the beaten track" tourism to get to know little-known prehispanic archaeological sites all over Mexico, for adventurers of all ages.

Things to do in the City

Here is a long list of things to do in the city - see the other posts for more information on each:

National Palace (Palacio Nacional)

Palacio de Bellas Artes - Theatre

Museo de Arte Popular - The museum of Popular art, a great musuem housing many mexican works

San Jacinto Plaza - San Jacinto Park

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico - Mexican Ballet

National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropologia)

Plaza de las Tres Culturas - the plaza of the three cultures

Edificio de Correos - The post office building

Museo Leon Trotsky - the house was built just before the mexican revolution and is a great piece of history

Castillo de Chapultepec - Chapultepec Castle

Zócalo - Mexico Cities large plaza, the second largest after Red Square in Russia

Museo del Templo Mayor - Templo Mayor Museum

Monumento a los Ninos Heroes - Famous and Important momument

Central University City Campus (UNAM) - One of the countries best Universities and a great peice of Architecture

Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana) - One of the cities best sites

Museo Casa Luis Barragan - The musuem and preserved home of famous mexican architect Luis Barragan

Torre Latino - go up to the top floor of the Torre Latino for great views of the city and the worlds highest aquarium located on the 38th floor

Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo) - The blue houe where the famed Mexican artist was born and died

Paseo de la Reforma - one of Mexico cities principle streets which hosts various exhibits throughout the year

Museo de Cera de la Ciudad de Mexico - Located in an old mansion, this museum chronicles the history of Mexico's capital city from the time before European contact to present day

Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe - This famous Basilica, located on the site where an Indian claimed to have seen the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1531, contains an image of her that is the most famous religious icon in all of Mexico

Catedral Metropolitana - one of the largest cathedrals in Latin America

Papalote - the childrens museum with lots of things to do and see and complete with an IMAX cinema

Coyoacan - Once a small town outside the capital, it is now well within the city limits but preserves its small-town atmosphere and colonial architecture. A quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city

Museo Dolores Olmedo Patino - the musuem hosts 27 works of Frida Kahlo

Xochimilco - the canals located to the south of the city which can give visitors a view of what the city looked like in pre-hispanic times

La Opera - This old bar still has the bullet holes left by Pancho Villa on one of his visits

LDS Temple in Mexico City

The LDS Temple in Mexico City is pretty impressive. There is a visitors centre and the building and gardens are very beautiful indeed.

With its exterior, a modern take on Aztec and Maya architecture. It is the largest temple outside the United States.

The temple has recently been refurbished and was dedicated in November of 2008.

Location:

Avenida 510 no. 90, Colonia San Juan de Aragón, México City, Distrito Federal, México.

Phone Number: (52) 55-5003-3734/3736.