 MEXICO : from Indian to Modern Capital
For out of America visitors, Mexico city is mainly the entrance door to the country. The final aerial approach to the airport in the very centre of the city with the mounts Popocatepetl and Iztaccíhuatl as background, is absolutely amazing. With more than 20 million inhabitants on an area of more than 600 square miles ( 25 miles diameter), the capital of Mexico country is known as being the second largest city in the world and the most polluted (but the Mayor says that the UNO 1992 declaration is not more true as a green project, the "Mexécolo", is on the way of implementation to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions before 2012). So much the better!
Mexico is an exceptionally rich city due to its long history.
Its origin goes back to the year 1325 when a nomad tribe of Aztec warriors, the Mexacas , came to settle on an island on a lake where an eagle was devouring a serpent while perched on a cactus according to the instructions of their deity. The settlement became Tenochtitlan - a city with over 100,000 populations living among splendid temples and pyramids built with the spoils gained from the many battles fought with neighbouring tribes.
By the time Christopher Columbus discovered the New World , the Aztecs dominance started its decline. Their neighbours became their enemies and facilitated Cortez' march into Tenochtitlan and his conquest over the Aztecs in 1521, setting up a three-century colonial rule in Mexico: the viceroyalty of New Spain became the first and largest provider of resources for the Spanish Empire , and the most populated of all Spanish colonies.
After independence in 1810, Mexico has been occupied by the French who established Maximilian of Habsburg from Austria as first Emperor till Benito Juarez, a Zapotec Indian, restored the republic in 1867. In 1910, an electoral fraud conducted to the Mexican Revolution with Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, ending in 1917 with a new constitution opening the years of the modern economic development called "Milagro Mexicano" (Mexican miracle).
Today's Mexico City is full of hustle and bustle with an overwhelming traffic. The underground Metro covers over 200 miles of routes within the city.
Restaurants, museums, art galleries, fashion shops, tree lined boulevards, boutiques, taco stands, and the haute and demy modes are present in Mexico City.
And some golf courses at more than 7000 feet (2000 m)
 What to see ?______ Where to stay ? _____ Where to play ? |
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On the Paseo de la Reforma, the glorietta of Independance is Mexican symbol
 Nacked Indians claim for the respect of their rights..
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The model of Tenochtitlan, cradle of Mexico, stands before the remnants of the Templo Mayor in the historical centre of the Great Mexico and its 25 million people under the protection of the Popocatepetl and Itzaccihuatl volcanos.
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 What to see ?
The first attraction and the most impressive in Mexico city is out of bonds at 40 kms.: Teotihuacán " the place where men become gods ". It has been a colossal city of 30 km² where lived about 150.000 to 250.000 inhabitants at its zenith between 150 and 450 AC . It is said that the culture and architecture has been influenced by Olmec people considered as the "mother civilization in Mesoamerica . It is the existing most important pre-Colombian monument with two facing pyramids dedicated to Sun and Moon linked by a large road called the Avenue of the Death. There stays also the Temple of the Feathered Serpent the god Quetzalcoatl, the eagle eating a serpent .
Culturally, in Mexico city, testimonials and remnants of the works of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Siqueiros, Tamayo and other notable painters can be seen all along the large avenues and places but, the Mexican capital has something to offer the most jaded visitor: the Museum of Anthropology . Built in the early 60's, it rivals museums around the world. Visitors can spend hours, even days, viewing the extensive collection of pre-Columbian artefacts collected from sites around Mexico . It is one of the world's greatest museums which have to be seen in a tourist life for its historical human interest.
This enormous museum is located on a corner of the also enormous Chapultepec Park where to find the Castillo de Chapultepec, former palace of Emperor Maximiliano , the Museum of Modern Art and the zoo.
Other major attraction, the Zocalo is the historic centre of Mexico city dominated by the Spanish clock towers of the Metropolitan Cathedral and surrounded by the National Palace , now seat of the Government, and the Templo Mayor, remain of the Aztecs discovered accidentally by digging in 1978!
Not far away from Zocalo, on the Alameda Central, ancient market place, the Palacio de Bellas Artes displays masterpieces of paintings and sculptures by prominent Mexican artists (Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo.). See the theatre's stained glass curtain lit before performances of the Ballet Folklorica every Wednesday and Sunday.
In front of it, it is worth to climb to the last floor of the highest tower building in Mexico city : la Torre Latinoamerican, to enjoy a panoramic view of the second largest city in the world. In the back ground, the white snowed tops of the Popocatepetl (the smoking mountain) 5465m high and the Itzaccihuatl (the slipping lady) 5230m.
It is also a good opportunity to discover the two faces of the city: the Spanish style cathedral and palaces versus the modern and daring architecture of the growing number of skyscrapers, many of them along the famous Paseo de la Reforma, the Mexican Champs Elysées, with its gloriettas at each junction.
The Zona Rossa, located at the south of La Reforma, is the major dining, shopping and nightlife district. There stays also the symbol of Mexico , a gilded statue of Winged Victory, the Independence Monument .
San Angel is a charming separate village in the city with ancient mansions and colonial houses. A sort of Greenwich Village where artists like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera have their Studio Museum .
For those who like to see how the former Mexacas were living, take a ride on a Trajinera (coloured boat) Xochimilco between the floating gardens on the Xochimilco canals.
And in the evening, have a walk or go dining around la Plaza Garibaldi where Mariachis come to perform your favourite or their best hits for una propina , a special tip.
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The Cathedral
Torre Latinamericana
Anthropological museum
Palaccio de Bellas Artes
Modern Mexico
Friada Kahlo'studio
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Where to stay ?
As any other great international capital, Mexico offers the widest range of accommodation. But, we have had a "coup de Coeur" for an Art Nouveau style hotel the Grand Hotel de la Ciudad near the Zocalo. One problem comes precisely from the promiscuity with the Zocalo: at any happening on the famous square Police closes all the incoming streets, even for taxis which can't drop the hotel's customers before their door!
This turn-of-the-century hotel shows off a spectacular lobby with old style wrought-iron elevators and a stained-glass Tiffany dome, chandeliers, a birdcage (you can't miss them with the noise they make) and its Napoleon III style circular red velour chairs.
All in all, it's quite an entrance. This was one of the most luxurious hotels when it was built at the beginning of last century, and it is highly recommended for special celebrations such as Independence day or New Year's Eve because of its excellent location. The hotel has two high quality restaurants . The Terrace breakfast restaurant overlooks the Zócalo. The Restaurant Plaza Mayor restaurant-bar, with some windows facing the Zócalo, has the reputation of one of Mexico City's best but it's not always open as the magnificent chairs are absent from the hall so that you don't where to sir if you have visitors coming to meet you at the hotel.
All the rooms have been refurnished in a modern style. 60 rooms, bars, room service, concierge, parking (fee). Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
16 de Septiembre 82, at 5 de febrero, Mexico City , 06000 - Phone: 55/1083-7700 -
Where to play ?
Even if they are nine 18-holes golf courses in the Mexico state, it is difficult for visitors to get a tee time. Mainly those courses are private or very busy. And over all, the city traffic is so busy that it can take to much time to go and return to the golf course.
Club de Golf Bella vista (18 holes)
Av. Valle No. 52 - Calacoaya, Edo . De Mex. , 54050
Phone (52) 5360-3501 - Members 700
Chapultepec Golf Club (18 holes)
Comment A challenging course in the Lomas Hipodromo area of Mexico City . Nice club house with excellent food and drink.
Av. Conscripto No. 425 Col. Lomas Hipodromo - Naucalpan, Mexico. 53900
Phone (52) 5589-1408 - Members 360
Club Campestre de la Ciudad de Mexico (18 holes)
Afternoon only for non members.
(at Hotel Hacienda Cocoyoc, tel. 735/356-1132,.
Club de Golf Bosques del Lago ( Holes 18)
Lago de Guadalupe - Apartado Postal No. 66 Cuautitlan, Edo . De Mex.
Phone (52) 5395-1515 - Members 60
Golf de Los Encinos (18 holes)
Carretera Mexico-Toluca, Km. 45.5 México D.F. , 06020
+52 5 5229134
Club de Golf La Hacienda ( 18 holes)
Ex-Hacienda San Mateo Tecolapan. This club is located in the area with most golf clubs. However, this club is ahead of the others with its superb facilities, a magnificent service and relaxed atmosphere
Apart Postal No. 2-161- Atizapan de Zaragoza, Edo . De Mex.
Phone (52) 5379-0033 - Members 600
Club de Golf Mexico (Holes 18)
S ome hotels have an arrangement with the club.
Av. Glorieta Sur No. 64 - Col. San Buenaventura Tlalpan - Mexico , D.F., 14620
Phone (52) 5573-2000 - Members 400
Club de Golf Vallescondido
Av. Club de Golf S/N- Col. Lopez Mateos Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mex. 52500
Phone (52) 5822-1002 - Members 360
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Gran Hotel façade
 Hall and ancient elevator
Terrace
 The Tiffany dome
 and room.
 Golf de Mexico
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