1800 miles allows us to visit the historic, beautiful Mexico City.
The city now known as Mexico City was founded by the Mexica, also called the Aztecs, in 1325. The old Mexica city is now referred to as Tenochtitlan. The Mexica were one of the last of the Nahuatl-speaking peoples who migrated to this part of the Valley of Mexico after the fall of the Toltec Empire. Their presence was resisted by the peoples who were already in the valley, but the Mexica were able to establish a city on a small island on the western side of Lake Texcoco. The Mexica themselves had a story about how their city was founded after being led to the island by their principal god, Huitzilopochtli. According to the story, the god indicated their new home with a sign, an eagle perched on a nopalcactus with a snake in its beak. Between 1325 and 1521, Tenochtitlan grew in size and strength, eventually dominating the other city-states around Lake Texcoco, and in the Valley of Mexico. When the Spaniards arrived, the Aztec Empire reached much of Mesoamerica, touching both the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.
It's a rare thing to be able to stand at
both the center of history and of present-day activity.
Such an experience awaits you in the Zocalo, the historic heart of Mexico City. The Zocalo is just one of many amazing spots in this vibrant and ever-changing city, though. Everywhere you go in Mexico City, you will find the old and new living in harmony side-by-side. Chapultepec Park, the largest park within a city in the world, is a fantastic example. The park is in places exactly as it was centuries ago, but elsewhere in the park you will find a host of entertainments for adults, kids and the entire family. From mime troupes to magic shows, there's something for everyone.
History shows up everywhere in the city, with much of the modern area laid out on top of one or more past incarnations. Right now, there are at least a dozen major working archaeological sites within the city limits!
And speaking of the past, you won't want to miss the floating gardens, which have been in existence for seven centuries, since the time of the Aztecs. Knowledgeable guides will brief you on everything from the history of the gardens to how to grow the plants you'll find there.
Of course it's not all history! Mexico City offers everything a modern, savvy traveler or family vacationer could ever want. The array of restaurants and culinary options is staggering, and the nightlife is some of the best in the world. From British-style pubs to mariachi clubs, from sports bars to romantic hideaways, your nights will onlyend when you want them to.
Floating Gardens of Xochimilco
In the southern neighborhood of Xochimilco are more than (50 miles) ofcanals known as the Floating Gardens dating back to Aztec times. They consist of two main parts. The first is the tourism-oriented area in the Historic Center of town, where colorful boats called trajineras take loads of tourists through a portion of the canals. Lively music, some of it provided by mariachi musicians for hire who board the gondolas, is a staple. Historic buildings, restaurants, souvenir stands, curio sellers, and boat vendors border this area. The other section, north of the center of town, is the ecology-oriented area, or Parque Natural Xochimilco. On Sunday, Xochimilco is jammed; on weekdays, it's nearly deserted.
Teotihuacan The City of the Gods, is an Aztec archeological site 40 km northeast of Mexico City. Náhuatl for "the place where men became gods", Teotihuacan is home to some of the largest ancient pyramids in the world. According to
legend, it was here where the gods gathered to plan the creation of man.
Construction of Teotihuacán commenced around 300 BC, with the Pyramid of the Sun built by 150 BC. 150–450 AD.
The climb to the top of the pyramids is a long one. You may want to take several breaks on the way up, unless you are exceptionally fit or young.
"Chapultepec" means "Grasshopper Hill" in Nahuatl, the language of the "Aztecs". The hill and
surrounding district has much significance in Mexican history. The Bosque de Chapultepec (Náhuatl, "hill of the grasshoppers") is Mexico City's principal park and, with an area 2.5sq.mi. The park covers 1,800 acres of land, centuries old forest, several small lakes, and landscaped areas with outdoor cafes. Chapultepec Zoo is located here, as well as an amusement park, and the official residence of the President of Mexico, Los Pinos.
Chapultepec Castle sits on top of the hill. Once the home of the Spanish Viceroys, a military college scene of historic battle during the Mexican-American War, and the palace of Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota. It is now a museum. You can walk up the winding hill road, or take the tram that departs every
twenty minutes. There are two parts to the museum: the historical building itself, and the Museum of National History. Don't miss the Roman-style gardens and observatory on the roof of the building. The castle also boasts a fine view of Mexico City and its surroundings.
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