Honeymoon… Day 2? 3? Mexico City and Taxco
Ξ October 14th, 2005 | → 3 Comments | ∇ Costa Rica, Food, Humor, Travel, Whatever |
OK… So I screwed up. I am not sure why I thought we could properly visit a city of maybe 24 million people in four hours… but I did.
Mexico City is special. I have always wanted to visit, but was scared away by the numerous traveler’s warnings.
As there are about 12 million federales, policemen, and other uniformed people who are distributed approximately every 25 feet, crime would seem to be a low possibility.
I cannot even begin to tell you how beautiful is this city! Gorgeous parks, wide, tree-lined boulevards, statues and fountains and architecture I have only seen in places like Versailles. Our driver Mario picked us up at about 9:30 AM for the city tour. Ha. We simply had no time to see anything in depth as we were scheduled to make the 2.5 hour drive to Taxco, the center for all things silver in Mexico and another location I have had on my travel list for years.
We traveled through the famous Zona Rosa and hit a few other high points. Photo ops were everywhere, but as we were so tight on time, many shots were taken through the car window. I’ll post photos either here or in the gallery when I have had time to process them.
The scale if this city is staggering. At almost all times, you simply feel dwarfed by your surroundings. Churches and public building especially are almost intimidating in their size, stature and grandeur.
After far to little time, we were off to Taxco. After so many trips to Mexico (always to beaches) I though I knew the country. How dumb! Similar to someone saying they know the USA after visiting Ft Lauderdale.
The countryside was incredible with vast plains, rolling hills, and deep valleys for the entire 2-3 hour trip.
Taxco was and maybe still is known as the center of design and craftsmanship for articles made of silver. The city itself is build into a mountainside and streets are barely wide enough to walk in let alone handle the constant flow of two-way traffic.
By the time we got there, it was time for lunch and Mario directed us to a restaurant he knew of. We tried to find it… couldn’t… and found ourselves in a nearly vertical street listening to a guy tell us HIS restaurant was “real good”.. Getting there involved entering this building and heading up some stairs… HA. We went up stairs all right… a lot of stairs… maybe five flights of stairs… very narrow and very vertical, and then we found ourselves on a rooftop restaurant with incredible views of the city, churches, and the surrounding mountains. The food was so-so, but the experience more than made up for the food.
After lunch, we were off to buy silver. There are maybe 200 silver shoppes in Taxco, and those are the only the ones we could see. There were most certainly others located in narrow alleys and side streets that we simply could not follow.
Speaking a bit of Spanish was sure helpful. We bought maybe 20-25 items… gifts for friends and family back in Costa Rica.
Taxco and Mexico City are special and ML and I are already making plans to return.
on November 21st, 2005 at 8:17 am
I’m going to be in Mexico City next week and am planning a side-trip to Taxco. Should I stay the night or just come to hang out and see the sights for the day?
on June 2nd, 2006 at 5:27 am
I want photos with the stories … and names on the photos… I have a lot of catching up to do.
on June 2nd, 2006 at 10:15 pm
So click the photos link 🙂