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City Guide - Mexico City - Excursions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Excursions For a Half Day Xochimilco: About 20km (12 miles) south of the Zócalo is a network of canals lined by gardens and agricultural plots known as the 'floating gardens' of Xochimilco (the name means 'Place where the Flowers Grow' in the Aztec language of Nahuatl). Within the network of canals, the Pre-Hispanic inhabitants constructed little islands known as chinampas on which fruits, vegetables and flowers could be grown. These formed one of the economic bases of the Aztec Empire. Some 180km (112 miles) of canals remain today, and the area has become a favourite place for Mexico City's inhabitants to come for a bit of fun and relaxation. Hundreds of colourful trajineras (small, flat-bottomed barges similar to gondolas), each bearing a girl's name, are punted along the canals with parties of revellers on board. As well as the passenger boats, there are waterborne bands of mariachis or marimbas ready to play requests (for a price), vendors selling tacos, soft drinks and flowers, photographers and souvenir sellers adding to the general cacophony. There are nine different embarcaderos (landings), all near the centre of Xochimilco, from where the boats are available for hire (M$130 per hour for a boat holding 12 people, M$100 for eight people and M$80 for four people). The tourist office in Xochimilco (tel: (5) 653 5209; e-mail: Mitdf002@netservice.com.mx) can provide more information. Transport is by buses marked Metro 'Tasqueña', or by taking the metro to Tasqueña and then the tren ligero (overground train) to Embarcadero. The Museo Dolores Olmedo Patino (Dolores Olmedo Patino Museum) is a renovated sixteenth-century hacienda, set in three hectares (eight acres) of beautiful grounds, complete with parading peacocks and Xoloitzcuintles, a rare breed of hairless dog indigenous to Mexico. The museum contains some of the best-known works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, as well as pre-Hispanic artefacts. The collection, which belongs to Señora Olmedo, a rich socialite and prolific patron of Rivera and who still lives in part of the mansion, went on public display in 1994. The museum, open Tuesday to Sunday 1000-1800 is located at Avenida México 5843, on the corner of Antiguo Camino a Xochimilco (tel: (5) 555 0891 or 1221; website: www.arts-history.mx/mdop.html) and costs M$20. Transport is the same as for reaching the canals, however La Noria is the closest train station. For a Whole Day Teotihuacán: Situated 50km (30 miles) north of Mexico City is the archaeological zone of Teotihuacán, this site is thought to date from around 300-600BC but the identity of those who built the 'place of the gods' still remains a mystery. Teotihuacán was not just a ceremonial centre - there is evidence it was a functioning city and one of the largest of the pre-industrial world. Tens of thousands of people were employed in crafts and as many as 100,000 in trade and fixed markets. Teotihuacán was also one of the more politically dominant cities, owing to its strategic location in the Valley of Mexico, which provided easy access to trade routes and communication. In the seventh century AD, a fire and subsequent looting caused a great exodus of its inhabitants and Teotihuacán was left abandoned. It was left to the Aztecs to name the most important features. There are three main site areas: the Ciudadela (Citadel), Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun), Pirámide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon) - all connected by the Calzada de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead). It takes between five and eight hours to see the site properly, and it is open daily 0800-1700. The entry fee is M$30 (free on Sunday), plus M$50 for the 45-minute son et lumière shows at 1900 (in Spanish) and 2015 (in English). Buses marked 'Los Pirámides' depart from Gate 8 of the Terminal del Norte (Metro Autobuses del Norte) and take about an hour; the cost is US$2 each way. The bus-tour operators listed in the Tours of the City section also offer organised excursions to the site, some including a stop at the Villa de Guadalupe en route. |
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