Finally...some sightseeing in Mexico City

OK, no pictures to post because I have been so busy "doing" that I have no time. I spent 2 and a half hours at Templo Mayor yesterday...woweee.... And yes, my feet are killing me. Since Fridas I have visited-

July 3
Museo Nacional de Antropologia - where I met a couple from Alabama. See, I was not the only hillbilly in Mexico City! Wonderful Mayan and Aztec artifacts. Great lunch at the museum restaurant.

Castillo de Chapultepec - This was the incredible palace where the Mexican emporers lived until the 1940s. Beautiful stained glass, gardens, and it sits on a hill (which I walked up by the way, only to find there was a tram once I got up there) overlooking the city. Such extravagance! eesh!

Bosque de Chapultepec - Chapultepec means "grasshopper" by the way. My current couchsurfing host thinks that is the funniest thing - "groundhopper, that is funny." Probably a beautiful park that is full of small booths with food and stuff. You cannot see the park for all the selling.

The botanic gardens - Absolutely gorgeous! Even in the pouring rain (every day but yesterday, in the afternoons)

Museo de Arte Moderno - I spent 2 and one half hours in here too. Wow, too much to talk about. It was wonderful. Mexican modern art. They were really ahead of the crowd in certain respects. I got to see Frida s " Two Fridas"

All the above are the in Chapultepec area. Yesterday, I went to the Centro Historico. But first, let me talk a little about Mexico Citys subway. It is fabulous! 2 pesos per ride. It is color coded and much easier to figure out than NYC or DC. So yesterday July 4 (Happy Birthday, Jacob) I saw -

Templo Mayor - Unfortunately, I will not be able to visit Teotihuacan, too little time. This was wonderful and I am glad that I at least got to visit this one. It is an Aztec temple that was the most important in the area. Mexico City has been built on top of most of the temple grounds, but there is an archeological dig around the main temple. The ruins are just breathtaking and the museum is incredible too. I swear, I took 200 pictures.

Catedral Metropolitana - You know me, not much on religion, but this cathedral was really soemthing to experience. It took 200 years to build. You want to talk about extravagence? Probably why I am not so keen on religion, but I digress from the travelogue. Their form of catholicism is really interesting because of all the mysticism and icons. This cathedral shares the square with the Templo Mayor (interesting juxtoposition of religions). Outside of this in the square, there were many Indian groups dancing and burning copal. I got to see a shaman heal a man...really incredible.

Palacio de Belles Artes - for Rivera s murals. I did not "con permissio" to take pictures because you have to buy that and I did not know that, but I snuck some anyway. This is Mexico City s main performing arts center. The surrounding grounds are another huge park with many vendors.

Museo Mural Diego Rivera - and that is what it contained, his mural that was saved and placed there after an earthquake. There was also an exhibit of a Mexican female tapestry artist that taught at the university (cannot remember her name now). Beautiful. In the park outside this museum, there were about ten pairs of old men playing chess and about 3 times that watching them. It was so quiet. Very cool!

Museo de Arte Popular - wonderful museum of Mexico s popular arts! Day of the dead figures, textiles, religious art, folkart. Really wonderful.

So today, I am going to visit 2 mercados in the Centro de Historico. I hope to finish souvenir shopping there. Then tomorrow I fly to Chetumal, then I HOPE I can find a bus to Belize City. Supposedly you can go to the bus terminal and just buy a ticket. Yikes! This may be the most harrowing part of the trip, especially since I do not speak Spanish so well. However, I already have one night booked in Belize City at a hotel, so they expect me. And the lady at the hotel in Hopkins, Belize (where I hope to end up) has given me some very good information. Wish me luck! At least Belize is English speaking.... More when I get somewhere and settled.