Mexico City - we've come full circle. (incomplete)

Torre Latinoamericana.
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The journey back to Mexico City two days ago was rather scenic, passing through landscapes which would not look out of place in a John Wayne western. Vast plains of desert stretch to distant craggy mountains, and at one point we were surrounded on all sides by a vast expanse of cacti - the tall slim ones, which for the most part only had one or two leaves!

Shortly afterwards the landscape changed again and we were in sight of vast volcanoes.

The end of the adventure, for now!

Palacio de Bellas Artes, seen from the top of the Torre Latinoamericana.
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Throughout the journey we were regularly amused by a lady and her daughter who were sitting in front of us, as they took turns to push a giant toy white rabbit (which was trying to escape) back into the overhead luggage area.

When we got much closer to the city, we rounded a corner and there below us lay Mexico City, in a bowl surrounded by mountains - it was dusk and the lights of the city stretched to the distant mountains. It really is a vast city.

At the bus station terminal, as we queued to buy our ticket for the "secure" taxi (it really is advisable to use the official secure taxi service, and most of the locals who arrived on our bus did so also, so it's not just for tourists) a lady who had been on our bus (the one with the giant white rabbit) warned us to be very careful of pick-pockets when out on the street. We appreciated her concern for us and it is true to say that the locals are genuinely concerned for your safety.

Monument to the Ninos Heroes.
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It was our last day in Mexico, and the last day of our 6 week trip to Central America, so we celebrated by taking a trip up the Torre Latinoamericana.When it was built in 1956, and even until relatively recently, this was the tallest building in Latin America. It even withstood a major earthquake here in 1985.

The speedy lift takes you to the 37th floor, where there is a souvenir shop and a cafe from where you can enjoy the 360 degree view of the city far below. Another lift then takes you a few floors higher, to the observation deck. This deck is open to the elements but it does afford excellent views of the city's main landmarks, and you can really appreciate the thick layer of smog that hangs over hte city. The serious traffic problems that befall the city are evident from this vantage point as traffic queues as far as the eye can see on some of the main arterial roads.

Modern architecture seen through the smog.
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Mexico City is trying to address this problem by prohibiting older cars (I think it was cars manufactured prior to 1996, but don't quote me) to drive in the city one day a week - so depending on the final digit of the registration number of your car there will be one day a week when you cannot drive and there are signs around the city which state "Hoy no circula" and then the number. It's difficult to imagine how much worse it would be if this policy was not in place, however there is still a massive amount of pollution being created by lorries and buses. You only have to be sitting on the open top deck of the tourist bus, in heavy traffic, to get the full effect of these poisonous fumes.

Dog snoozing in the midday sun, Chapultepec Park.
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We used the Underground system to get around the city today - it's quick, efficient and clean, and in spite of the 9 million people who live here it is no more crowded than the London underground. The Underground system of trains and tracks is modelled on the Paris Underground and even some of the Metro signs above ground use the Art Deco style for the station name. But the real benefit of using the metro is its price - only 2 pesos per journey, and that can be any length of journey as long as you do not exit the Underground system. Two pesos - that's 10 UK pence, or 20 US cents...incredible!

Masks on sale at a stall in Chapultepec Park.
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A visit to Chapultepec Park is a pleasant a relaxing experience and the park is vast. There are stalls selling snacks and drinks, others doing face painting for children, and many selling those scary but colourful wrestlers masks and clothing.

We got off at Chapultepec Underground station and visited the Monument to the Heroic Children (Monumento a los Ninos Heroes). This monument commemorates the Army cadets who on 13th September 1847 attempted to defend the castle against more than 8,000 American invaders; at that time the castle was used as a military academy. Legend has it that the final 6 cadets, rather than surrender, wrapped themselves in Mexican flags and threw themselves off the cliff.

Back in the Zocalo, the Christmas decoration were still shining brightly and the large ice-skating rink was packed with would-be Torvill & Dean's.