Day 4 in Mexico City

Cafebreria El Pendulo- nobody speaks English, and I respect this attitude.  I'm on foreign land, so I must conform with the reality.  This was a funny situation, because I didn't really anticipate that in a very touristic area, I'd have a hard time making myself understood in asking for a croissant. And none of the other languages I speak helped.  But as soon as I realized that I'd go hungry if I didn't find a way to ask for what I wanted, I got up and walked to the front of the cafe, pointed with the finger at the "pain au chocolat" and ta-da!!! I got what I wanted.  Easy! 

First stop: Museo Nacional de Antropologia 

My uber driver dropped me off at the wrong end of the building, as he followed the street address.  I asked a policeman how to get to the right entrance and he literally escorted me there.  He was very kind, and between my broken Spanish and his broken English, we made it work perfectly, and I looked very important when he delivered me to the entrance and shook my hand, too! 

The museum is a pearl, a vast collection of Mexican history that highlights the numerous civilizations on whose blood (literally! And I'm thinking work but also humans sacrificed in rituals!) the current Mexico was created.  

  

from Teotihuacán 

Mayan art and a replica in the museum garden 

My favorite vase (humans must have developed a sense of humor during these precultures) 

Mosaic and jewelry in different eras 

Lots of school children were visiting and guards constantly whistled at them to stop playing with the fountains' water, although to me they seemed exceptionally well behaved.  

At lunch I chatted for an hour with a very pleasant British couple, Cynthia and David!  It was incredibly touching to talk so closely with strangers about the world, languages, history, and travels.  Cynthia recommended a book written by an Irish writer who travelled though Romania 100 years ago, so I'll make sure I read it! 

Second stop: Castillo de Chapultepec - which means the grasshopper's hill.   The emperor Maximilian of Habsburg and his family lived there for a short time when yes, Mexico was an empire, too.  

Great view of Paseo de la Reforma from Charlotte of Habsburg's terrace.  In fact, Emperor Maximilian built the Paseo for her, calling it "Charlotte's Way" 

Third stop: Village Cafe to meet my friend Isabel and her sons! Best end of the day.   Great company and traditional Mexican food.  It's nothing like spending time with friends.  

FUN FACTS: 

1. Mexico City is at 2250 m (7300 feet) altitude, high plateau and in the evening clouds gathered and a storm thundered its way in.  Interesting how lightning seems closer to you when your at such high altitude... 
2. Ecobikes - great means of transportation, many young people hire the bikes from place to place. I'd lose limbs riding in this Mexico City traffic, but I admire all who eliminate a bit of pollution by riding bikes.  
   
3. Finally, at the museum boutique I got some Mexican chocolate.  It's was very expensive by all standards and it's a bit absurd to me.  The aztecs traded in chocolate beans!