Jan29,2009

We left home at 3:30 for our 6:00 flight and were through security by 4:10... this has to be my all time early to the airport!!! The flight was smooth and we arrived here on time. It is very easy to get a taxi from the approved station, and we had printed directions to our B&B. We are at the Red Tree House in Condesa, #6 Culican, it is the cutest place. The neighborhood is residential, mostly apt bldgs, with parking garages on street level. Our B&B doesn't even have a sign, just a tree out front with red holiday lights. It is a converted house and done in exquisite taste, all modern with a Mexican touch. Our room is across the back courtyard and upstairs. With a little sitting room, bedroom and bath.

The owners are Craig, from Beech SD and retired from teaching theatre lighting in Oregon, and Jorge a United Airlines flight attendant origionaly from Oaxaca. Every evening they have wine in the living room for all the guests to meet each other, as well as the occasional friend who may stop by. The first evening we went to dinner at Rojo Bistro and had "little cow", the waiter was doing the translation for us. It was very good.

Friday Jan 30th.

Today we went with Deanna and Jim a couple from Port Ludlow and took the city circuit tour bus. It was a little difficult to find the stop in our neighborhood, but it is a great way to get an overview of the city. Downtown is very nice, large wide avenues with trees, lots of banks, hotels etc. all very clean. The traffic was a snarl due to several protests going on, the women wanting more welfare money and farmers wanting better crop prices. Apparently there are a few designated days when any group can sign up and stage their protest. There were police and federales everywhere, the American Embassy looked like a fortress. We observed it all from the top deck of a tour bus.

We got off at the National Anthropoligy Museum, it was very interesting with artifacts from all of the ancient Mexican civilizations. My favorite was the Aztec calendar in stone a circle about 12 feet across and hanging on the wall. At least it didn't all go to the British Museum. After the museum we took the subway home, clean and efficient, but very crowded, at rush hour.

We went for tacos in the eve at Califa close to here, and had the best tacos ever, with 4 different and tasty bowls of salsa, none too hot.

When we got back there was another gathering in the B&B, with several new people coming in for the weekend. A couple of ladies from DC and a cute young couple from Brazilia Brazil, and a couple of guys from BC.

Sat 31

Today we took the subway to Zocola, and went through the Cathedral. It is huge and ornate with lots of gold guilded altars and side altars. There was a large group of people with infants in baptism finery. They do group baptisms on Sat & Sun.

Our next stop was Palacia Natioanl to see the Diego Rivera murals. They depict the history of the people of Mexico up through the 30s when I think they were done. Very beautiful. Then we went to the Templo Mayor which is a excavation of the original pyramids under Mexico City, with a large outdoor area and a museum.

Lunch was at a taco shop, very good and then walked to the Fine art museum for a quick tour and a walk through Alameda garden to the subway home. There were huge crowds of people lots of families & kids out and about.

I am using the laptop here at the B&B to write.