Yesterday morning, Dan and I finally got a chance to head into Mexico City. Surprisingly, traffic was not bad at all, although Dan was the one driving and may not necessarily agree. It took about 25 minutes to get into the city.
One thing that Danny was extremely taken by was what I hope you can make out in the first image shown: As a kid, he remembers the area shown being nothing but fields and hills. Now the areas outside the city are heavily populated with houses going right up the side of the surrounding hills, as shown. There were miles of half-finished buildings and shanty-looking structures lining each side of the road. These areas become built-up before there is even the infrastructure to support the new dwellings. The homes were so thick, I couldn't imagine empty fields, but that is all Danny could picture. I know the feeling, that is my reaction to the way Rocky Point has changed and developed so much, although when I think of being there throughout my life I still imagine it the way it was 10 years ago.
This is Danny and his Padrino (God Father), Jose Luis. We had been trying to call the number Charlie had for Jose Luis and his wife Lipa for days and it was busy constantly. They live in the city, so our first order of business yesterday was to simple drop by their house. Fortunately Jose Luis was home with his daughter, Letticia and her son, Jorge. Danny's Madrina (God Mother), Lipa was away in Vera Cruz, but will be back this weekend and so we will return to their home on Monday with Charlie for a proper visit.
The buildings in Mexico City are gorgeous and reminiscent of the big European cities. Many of the apartment and business buildings are tremendously old and some have not even been repaired from damage from the earthquake that devastated the city in 1985. Even still, the style of the building facades are classically beautiful with obvious influence from many different regions.
At right is El Palacio de Bellas Artes, a lovely structure seated within a large square with tons of people sitting and visiting, school groups coming out of the building, and pigeons ready to crap on my head. This is the city's premier Opera House, built with imported Italian marble, which is so heavy, the building has been sinking slowly since it was built. Though it looks antiquated, it was completed in the 1930's.
This is El Catedral Metropolitan located en el Zocalo (city center), perched on a giant square next to El Palacio Nacional. Upon conquering the city and destroying the Aztec Temples that once occupied this land, Hernando Cortez ordered a church built on this site.
In the sixteenth century, that church was demolished and so began the construction of this ornate Cathedral that was incomplete into the early 19th century. This site can also be noticed to be sinking down into the ancient lake bed that the city itself was founded upon so many centuries ago.
This is a view of the Cathedral interior, which was covered in scaffolding for many years as it's beauty was being preserved. They don't always have funds available to complete these kinds of repairs, but after walking throughout the inside of this Cathedral, I am so glad they took the time and found the money to restore the interior. It is gorgeous and enchanting on the inside.
This is Danny and his Padrino (God Father), Jose Luis. We had been trying to call the number Charlie had for Jose Luis and his wife Lipa for days and it was busy constantly. They live in the city, so our first order of business yesterday was to simple drop by their house. Fortunately Jose Luis was home with his daughter, Letticia and her son, Jorge. Danny's Madrina (God Mother), Lipa was away in Vera Cruz, but will be back this weekend and so we will return to their home on Monday with Charlie for a proper visit.
The buildings in Mexico City are gorgeous and reminiscent of the big European cities. Many of the apartment and business buildings are tremendously old and some have not even been repaired from damage from the earthquake that devastated the city in 1985. Even still, the style of the building facades are classically beautiful with obvious influence from many different regions.
At right is El Palacio de Bellas Artes, a lovely structure seated within a large square with tons of people sitting and visiting, school groups coming out of the building, and pigeons ready to crap on my head. This is the city's premier Opera House, built with imported Italian marble, which is so heavy, the building has been sinking slowly since it was built. Though it looks antiquated, it was completed in the 1930's.
This is El Catedral Metropolitan located en el Zocalo (city center), perched on a giant square next to El Palacio Nacional. Upon conquering the city and destroying the Aztec Temples that once occupied this land, Hernando Cortez ordered a church built on this site. 
In the sixteenth century, that church was demolished and so began the construction of this ornate Cathedral that was incomplete into the early 19th century. This site can also be noticed to be sinking down into the ancient lake bed that the city itself was founded upon so many centuries ago.
This is a view of the Cathedral interior, which was covered in scaffolding for many years as it's beauty was being preserved. They don't always have funds available to complete these kinds of repairs, but after walking throughout the inside of this Cathedral, I am so glad they took the time and found the money to restore the interior. It is gorgeous and enchanting on the inside.
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