Thursday, January 30, 2025

MEXICO: Coyoacan Neighbourhood, Freda Kahlo and Diego Rivera


Coyoacán, a historic district in Mexico City, is known for its colorful buildings, colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and home to two of Mexico’s most iconic artists, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Its name comes from the Nahuatl word Coyohuacan, which means “place of coyotes.” 

The name likely refers to the presence of coyotes in the area during pre-Hispanic times.

Monday, January 27, 2025

MEXICO: Parks, Food Stands and Faces in Mexico City

Outdoor parks in Mexico City seem to be full of people enjoying the sunshine and great weather. 

Food stands also seem to be a great place to find people.

Both places work well for people watching and taking photos.

In no particular order, random photos of people in Mexico City.

MEXICO: The Aztec's Tenochtitlán Laid the Foundation for Mexico City

Underneath the streets of Mexico City’s Centro lies the ruins of Tenochtitlán, the ancient Aztec capital.

Aztec legend says the Mexica people were guided by their god Huitzilopochtli to settle where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake.

Their journey lasted many years looking for this vision.

Then, in 1325 AD on an island in Lake Texcoco they found an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake.

This spot became the foundation of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán, the heart of their powerful empire.

Tenochtitlán's major temple, the Templo Major, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

MEXICO: Teotihuacan Pyramids

Teotihuacan is located about 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City.

It is often referred to as the “City of the Gods”.

Teotihuacan contains massive pyramids with a complex urban layout and a rich cultural history.

It dates back to approximately 100 BC and peaked between 200 AD and 600AD

It was the most influential civilization of per-Columbian Mesoamerica in Mexico.

It is one of the most significant archaeological sites and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sunday, January 19, 2025

MEXICO: Cable Car Commutes to Mexico City's Suburbs

Mexico City's metropolitan area, known as the Valley of Mexico (Valle de México), is massive, covering an area of about 9,000 square kilometers (3,500 square miles). 

With a population of more than 21 million people, it’s one of the largest urban areas in the world.

With such a large population, a sprawling urban layout, and steep, hilly neighborhoods, getting around can be a real challenge.

That’s where the city's cable cars come in.

Monday, January 13, 2025

MEXICO: The Yellow City of Izamal with Maya Roots

Izamal is a small town in the Yucatán Peninsula, known as the "City of Hills."

Back in the day, between 750 and 1200 AD, it was a major religious and political center of the thriving Mayan civilization.

As a Maya city it was dedicated to the worship of Itzamná, the Mayan god of creation, and Kinich Kakmó, the sun god.

Nowadays, it is also called the "Yellow City" for its yellow-painted buildings. 

Sunday, January 12, 2025

MEXICO: The Ancient Maya City of Uxmal

Uxmal, in the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, was an ancient Maya city.

Founded around 600 AD, Uxmal thrived during a time when the Maya civilization was at its height. 

The city served as a hub of commerce, religion and governance.

The city likely had a population of around 20,000 people at its peak.

The city’s intricate carvings, grand structures, and spiritual symbolism show the Maya's deep connection to astronomy and nature.

Uxmal is one of the best-preserved Maya cities and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thursday, January 9, 2025

MEXICO: Merida's Former Affluence on Display on the Paseo de Montejo

Paseo de Montejo is a boulevard in Mérida, named after Francisco de Montejo, the Spanish conquistador who “founded” the city.

It is lined with large mansions from the late 19th and early 20th century.

The mansions are a legacy of the economic boom fueled by the henequén industry.

During the henequén boom, known locally as the era of “Green Gold,” Mérida became one of the wealthiest cities in Mexico. 

The henequén barons chose to display their wealth through their homes.

MEXICO: Yucatan Cooking Classes

The cuisine in Merida differs from traditional Mexican cuisine because it is influenced by the local Mayan culture, plus, Caribbean, Mexican, European and Middle Eastern cultures.

One of the staples of Mérida’s cuisine is corn, which was also a staple of the Mayan diet for centuries. 

Corn tortillas accompany nearly every meal.

We started our class by shopping in the local market for fresh local ingredients.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

MEXICO: People Watching in Merida's Parks

I am still trying to perfect my People Watching skills and figured Sunday in the parks would be a great way to do it.

Every Sunday the city’s central square has a tradition of entertainment and market stalls.

On the main stage traditional jarana dancers in embroidered huipiles perform to live music.

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

MEXICO: Merida's Lucas de Gálvez Market

Mercado Lucas de Gálvez was established in 1887 in Merida’s historic centre. 

It is the city's main market.

It is enormous and covers 45,000 sqm (over 484,000 sq ft) with more than 2,000 vendors.

It isn’t a tourist market but it’s a working market for the locals to shop for their daily items.

The maze of narrow walkways are lined with small stalls selling fresh produce, meat, seafood, spices, textiles, traditional clothing, handmade hammocks, pottery, and everyday household items.

Monday, January 6, 2025

MEXICO: The Art of Making Corn Tortillas in the Yucatan Peninsula

Corn is a sacred crop in Mayan tradition.  

According to the Mayan creation story, the gods first tried to make humans from mud and wood, but those attempts failed.  

Finally, the gods created the first humans from a paste of yellow and white corn. 

The Mayans had a god of corn called Hun Hunahpu.

They performed rituals to the god at various stages of corn growth.

The Mayans considered corn a key part of their identity and corn gave food and life to their communities.

Corn tortillas are a a huge part of Yucatán’s culinary and cultural heritage dating back to the traditions of the ancient Mayan.

MEXICO: Merida's Mayan and Colonial History

Mérida is the capital of the state of Yucatán in southeastern Mexican.

With a population of over 1.5million people it is the cultural and financial capital of the area.

It is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Americas with a unique combination of Mayan, Spanish and Caribbean cultures.

Originally the city was called T’ho and was the center of the Mayan's world in the Yucatan region. 

Monumento a la Patria is a tribute to the rich history and culture of Mexico.