WeAreTraveling.com, Aug., Part 3

In Part 3, we continue our tour of magnificent Mexico City. We stroll around and see some of the beautiful architecture, the Zocalo and some of the important buildings around the square.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

You can't see him very well, but we saw our first organ grinder across the street, by the entrance to the church. We did not dare go closer to him, he was very aggressively trying to get tips. We just sat on the steps across the street, eating an ice cream treat, and enjoyed listening and watching him.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

There are some really impressive buildings in Mexico, both the very old and the newer ones were really something to see. Also, notice the cobblestone street and the light standards, very charming.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

This is our first view of the huge cathedral, Catedral Metropolitana. This cathedral is undergoing extensive renovations, as it was built on top of a pyramid and is now sinking. You will notice throughout the pictures, scaffolding, men at work and yellow caution tape all around the site.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

This is the massive Zocalo, it has a huge central area, all paved, with a road going right around the outside of it, surrounded by beautiful and impressive buildings. The buildings include the Catedral Metropolitana and the Palacio Nacional...

There was lots going on and incredible people watching opportunities.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Pictures just cannot show how much this church is sinking. It would be way down in one corner and way up in another, everything was off kilter inside and outside.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

In spite of the problems with it sinking, it was a very beautiful church inside and out, and almost as impressive as the one in Puebla, but not quite :)

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

A huge plumb bob was set up in the church to show, and monitor, just how much the church was tilting. It was really neat to look at, but sad to think that this beautiful structure was cracking and sinking all over the place.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

This was a first!! We actually got to go on a tour of the bell towers. We were two people of a group of six that went up with the tour guide, it was wonderful.

This is the entrance to the bell tower. Look at that door, how old do you think it is?

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

We wound our way up cement steps until we got to the bell tower. It was incredible to be up here and we felt very fortunate to be able to experience this.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

These are the stairs that lead to the very top of the tower. Look at the wear and indents on these steps, they are sooo old!

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

We were pleased and very surprised to learn that we would be allowed to walk all over the roof of the cathedral, to see it, the reno's, the view, and to get to the other bell tower. Very Cool!

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

View of the Zocalo from up on the roof of the Cathedral. Please take note of the huge staples, to the right of the picture, they help to hold the blocks together. These staples were about six inches long.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

In the Zocalo, workers are busy setting up for a special event on the weekend.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

The green VW Bugs are all taxi cabs! There are thousands of them in the city!

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

This was our friendly and knowledgeable guide. He did his best to translate some of the tour into English, and we picked up some of the key words in Spanish.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Heading back down from the second bell tower.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

There were some indigenous people doing ritual dances in the Zocalo, it was interesting to see them in their native dress. If you look closely you will see five of them in this picture, four men and one woman.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Right in the center of the Zocalo was a huge Mexican Flag.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Click on the movie link above to see a short movie clip. It starts at the church and continues with a 360 degree view of the Zocalo. After matching the movie clip in the new window that opens, just close that window to return here...

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Notice the policemen against the wall and that they are in riot gear. It was a little disconcerting and just made us aware again how we must be very careful in Mexico City.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Look at all of the people!!

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

This was unreal... there were tourists, locals and vendors everywhere... We are not sure if it was the number of people or the riot police, but after walking through them for a block or so, we had to make a quick escape. We could not relax and take it all in. We became paranoid and claustrophobic.

Please note: On another day in Mexico City we decided to try this area again, and we had a great time. It was just too overwhelming and unexpected the first time. The second time, we looked at each other, held hands and said "Ok, are you ready?" We grinned at each other and headed in. We were just fine and actually really enjoyed ourselves.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Remember that we said we did not carry anything into Mexico City? Well, this was one of the lunches we decided to try. These consisted of a very large, hard shell taco, cut up cactus, then grated cheese, then hot sauce. They were pretty good, Cindy was not too thrilled with the cactus part so she ate around the outer edges, while Barry tackled the center.

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

These statues and fountain were really beautifully done. Lots of detail and very realistic.

Well, that does it for Part 3 of our Travel Log. See you in Part 4 where we will continue our tour of Mexico City!

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