|
The thought of 22 million people
in any one place is staggering. Consequently, for most people,
understanding the heart and soul of Mexico City can be an
equally overwhelming proposition. But to help gain some
perspective let me tell you a couple of things about the largest
city the planet has ever known.
First, Mexico City is a federal district (Distrito
Federal), much like our own Washington, D.C. It is almost 700
years old and is the highest city on the North American
continent at 7,349 feet. It has been a flourishing cosmopolitan
center for nine centuries since its founding as the ancient
capital of the Aztec Empire. It is the oldest continuously
inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere is over 700 square
miles in area. Today it is a vibrant cultural and business
center well immersed in the high-tech 21st century, yet still
retains its brilliant historic and architectural heritage.
Yes, it is a megalopolis, but from a tourism
standpoint, Mexico City is much less intimidating than you may
think. In fact, most sightseeing areas, as well as cultural and
historical points of interest, are small, self-contained
districts of the city. Think of Mexico City as the "Manhattan"
of Latin American with the same world-class attractions and
possibilities. The geographical points of interests can be found
in three main areas, the Historic Center, the Paseo de La
Reforma/Chapultepec Park and Southern Mexico City.
The Historic Center is made up of a 30-block area
housing the Zocalo (the second largest Town Square in the
world), several fine museums and important historic sites. The
influence of the Aztecs and the Spanish can be felt and seen
amongst the buildings and their architecture. The center's
Metropolitan Cathedral, started in 1572 and not completed for
another 250 years, is the largest church in Latin America and is
home to colonial art treasures. The entire sector is filled with
history, sightseeing, shopping and fine dining.
The Paseo de La Reforma/Chapultepec Park spans over
several miles along the city's grand east-west, French inspired
avenue of the same name. The Reforma District has the look and
feel of a European city. The Austrian Archduke Maxmillian, who
was emperor of Mexico from 1864 to 1867, modeled the tree-lined
Paseo de La Reforma Avenue after the famous Champs Elysees in
Paris. And, like its European predecessor, this avenue is also
home to incredible shopping and some of the finest hotels in the
world. Chapultepec Park (which dwarfs New York's Central Park)
is also a vast cultural and recreational attraction.
Southern Mexico City is home to the National
University, the ruins of Cuicuilco, the picturesque suburbs of
San Angel and Coyoacan, and the fascinating floating gardens of
Xochimilco (so-chee-MEEL-ko). In Aztec times, prime farmland was
difficult to find so the Indians developed a system of floating
reed mats loaded with soil and used as gardens. Flat bottom
boats take visitors through what remains of a once enormous
rural canal system. Fruits and vegetables are still grown here
and provide some of the city's finest produce and a very special
attraction for tourists.
Mexico City is a real treasure if you take the time
to get to know it, feel it and understand it. I personally
believe the bad press the city has received is overstated. If
you approach a trip here as you would a trip to any other big
city, you will be pleasantly surprised and indeed captivated by
its attributes. The tourists who enjoy sophistication, art,
culture and history should certainly put this masterpiece of a
city at the top of the list. |
