The Prettiest Walk

After spending just over 3 months total in D.F., I'm becoming very familiar with select parts of the city. My hands-down favorite place to walk is definitely along Paseo de la Reforma (one of the major streets here), and in certain areas of the Zocalo (city center). My walk starts from the Metro Auditorio:


Big grey building: The Auditorio Nacional (National Auditorium)

I walk towards the area with lots of museums--my favorite being the Museo de Antropologia (Anthropology Museum). On my right, I pass a beautiful park, Parque de Chapultepec, which is a very very large park and another nice place to walk. Inside the Chapultepec Park's gates, you can find a lake, a castle, a zoo, botanical gardens, more museums, monuments, fountains, walking paths, and loads of street vendors.

After walking straight along Reforma for awhile, the Angel de la Independencia comes into view. This is a very large, very beautiful monument located in a roundabout intersection of several important streets.


The Independence Monument--I hear you can go up to the top, which is on my list of things to do!

Continuing to walk for another few blocks, the top of the Revolution Monument can be seen off to the left, and though it is not directly on Reforma, it is well-worth the detour.


You can also take the elevator to the top of the Revolution Monument, which I have done, and the view is spectacular! The entrance fee is cheap, too.

 Returning to Reforma, I continue walking towards the Zocalo, passing several tall buildings, restaurants, shops, statues, and greenery along the way. When I come to the intersection with the El Caballito statue (The Pony statue), I veer right on the intersecting road.



"El Caballito" is the bright yellow sculpture

 After walking awhile longer, the top of the Palacio de Bellas Artes becomes visible. Continuing straight down that road takes you right to it.

Bellas Artes. I love this place.

I used to think that Bellas Artes/the Zocalo would be nice places to sit in the shade and read a book. I've learned better. While they are quite beautiful and comfortable places to sit and read, I have repeatedly had this problem where young men, complete strangers, seem to believe that when someone is reading it's a good time to strike up a conversation and get super-friendly-chatty (to the point of uber-creepiness). So, sitting alone and reading has become a no-go for me in this area. Walking and stopping briefly to take a picture or two is okay, though people still try to stop me and chat. Usually at that point, I just ignore the person completely, or pretend that I don't speak a word of Spanish or English. It sounds awfully rude, I know, but here in Mexico City it's necessary--traditional Iowan politeness ends up wasting loads of time.

My walk continues onto the street Francisco I Madero, a street only for pedestrians that is hell to try to walk through on weekends. (The Sunday afternoon crowd is the worst.) This street is always bustling with people walking to the many trendy stores and restaurants on either side. It's also a good place to see street performers any day of the week, especially on Saturdays. My favorite restauant is actually on a street intersecting with this one, just 2 blocks off.

Francisco I Madero, the least busy I have ever seen it. Monday at noon is the time to go???

Walking to the end of this street, you will finally come to the Zocalo--the city center, a really big square. On one side, there is the beautiful Catedral Metropolitana. Another side is occuppied by the Palacio Nacional, and the other 2 sides of the square are long lines of stores--mainly gold and overpriced jewelry stores. Nestled between and kind of behind the Cathedral and National Palace is the Templo Mayor--an old Aztec pyramid/temple that was discovered quite by accident in the 1980's. I think admission to the pyramid + museum is only 57 pesos (about $5USD), and well worth the cost.

Catedral Metropolitana

Part of Templo Mayor, with the Cathedral in the background

The National Palace--a very long building, with many murals by Diego Rivera on the inside.

Total, that walk takes a little over an hour, without stopping. It could definitely be made into a day trip, or longer, touring the inside of the buildings and taking pictures!