Today we took the metro to Xochimilco, which has an extended series of canals. We have taken the metro several times and find it a very convenient, cheap way to get around. It only costs $0.72 for all of us, no matter how far we need to go.
The metro is similar Paris’s metro or London’s Tube, however there are lots of people selling things on the metro, which I don’t remember in these other cities. Men and women walk up and down the limited space, hawking CDs for 10 pesos (less than $1.00), candy, nail clippers…
Once at Xochimilco. we boarded a tranjero (boat) and wandered around for about an hour enjoying the scenery and activity, with many other people, mostly Mexican but also some tourists, on boats as well. It was picturesque, but every few minutes a boat passed us offering mariachis (for pay), flowers, candy, or food, and it got a little old saying, “No, gracias.”
Of course, we did buy a snack (quesadillas), which were made fresh on the above boat. Yum!
Our next stop was the Museo Dolores Olmeda Pinero, who was a patron of Diego Rivera and left her extensive art collection and beautiful home to the people of Mexico. In addition to many paintings and sketches by Rivera, she had pre-Hispanic artifacts and well as several paintings by Frida Kahlo, Rivera’s wife and a celebrated artist in her own right. I had been particularly looking forward to seeing her painting The Broken Column, which according to my guide book is housed at this museum. Sadly, it wasn’t there and I was quite disappointed. However seeing Olmeda's large home, complete with wandering peacocks and hairless dogs, as well as the Riveras, made it a worthwile stop.
Unfortunately, Davis has apparently acquired turista. She’s been nursing a bad tummy ache the last couple of days but seems to be on the upswing.
The metro is similar Paris’s metro or London’s Tube, however there are lots of people selling things on the metro, which I don’t remember in these other cities. Men and women walk up and down the limited space, hawking CDs for 10 pesos (less than $1.00), candy, nail clippers…
Once at Xochimilco. we boarded a tranjero (boat) and wandered around for about an hour enjoying the scenery and activity, with many other people, mostly Mexican but also some tourists, on boats as well. It was picturesque, but every few minutes a boat passed us offering mariachis (for pay), flowers, candy, or food, and it got a little old saying, “No, gracias.”
Of course, we did buy a snack (quesadillas), which were made fresh on the above boat. Yum!
Our next stop was the Museo Dolores Olmeda Pinero, who was a patron of Diego Rivera and left her extensive art collection and beautiful home to the people of Mexico. In addition to many paintings and sketches by Rivera, she had pre-Hispanic artifacts and well as several paintings by Frida Kahlo, Rivera’s wife and a celebrated artist in her own right. I had been particularly looking forward to seeing her painting The Broken Column, which according to my guide book is housed at this museum. Sadly, it wasn’t there and I was quite disappointed. However seeing Olmeda's large home, complete with wandering peacocks and hairless dogs, as well as the Riveras, made it a worthwile stop.
Unfortunately, Davis has apparently acquired turista. She’s been nursing a bad tummy ache the last couple of days but seems to be on the upswing. 
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The one bit of spanish that Andrew came back with, and used consistently for weeks after we arrived home from Mexico, was "no, gracias". I love the ingenuity of the Mexican people to sieze an opportunity to make a living. I can tell you that when we rode the canal boats in Venice Beach, CA, no one thought to sell us lemonade, and we would have paid a pretty penny!
ReplyDeleteHope Davis is feeling better soon!
I think I may have seem some of this on Samatha Brown. It looks wonderful. How is Davis? That is a great pic of Isa and Raphael.
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