Mexico City!
Chapter Three
Mexico City
Third time's a charm and this time around I got to show my husband Luis and 4 year old daughter Stella, the city I love so much! This is the last chapter of the series, don't forget to check Guadalajara and Tequila!
TRAVEL GUIDE: MEXICO CITY
Casa Azul (Again)
I had to take the fam to the Casa Azul Museum, Frida Kahlo’s childhood house and the house where she lived her last years, before she passed at the early age of 47. I render tribute to one of my favorite women in the entire world on a separate article you can read here ( link to Casa Azul Article). The family experience was amazing. I felt so moved when I went there the first time and missed them the entire time. Hence the reason i came back with them. The best part of the experience was the beautiful patio and the gardens the house has. It is a truly peaceful and magical place. We played cards, relax, took pics and played with the head in the hole images of Frida and Diego Rivera.
Museo Anahuacalli
One of the most amazing visions that Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo had during their life and career, was to inherit their art and work legacy to the people of Mexico was two museums. One is “La Casa Azul” and the later is “Museo Anahuacalli”. More interestingly so, they gave the people of Mexico and the world to see, a third home “ Casa Estudio Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo in the colonia San Ángel.
The Anahuacalli is considered Diego’s ultimate masterpiece as an artist and avid collector of pre-hispanic archeological findings in Mexican territory. The entire building exhibits his collection of pieces from many civilizations who inhabited Mexican territory from different regions Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Morelos, Zacatecas, Chiapas, Veracruz y Puebla.
The top floors of the museum were initially planned for Diego to live on. Today, these floors feature wall to wall sketches of its famous murals. Some were once commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller. Diego Rivera didn’t lived to see this museum completed as he passed in 1957 and the museum open its doors in 1964, 7 years after.
Architects: Frank Lloyd Wright, Juan O’gorman.
Developers: Diego Rivera, Ruth Rivera, Dolores Olmedo.
Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo
Ever since I learned at the Casa Azul that Frida & Diego had a house where they lived together for a few years and where some of her paintings took form at, I wanted to know it. The “Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo” was conceived by mexican architect Juan O’gorman who was commissioned by Diego Rivera to built him a studio to work and a space to live. The building designed in 1931 has functionalism as its main design trend. It was groundbreaking at the time, since functional design and architecture wasn’t a concept popular among artists and society in general.
Metaphorically speaking the small living space that will house Diego & Frida that was united to the main studio ( biggest building) by bridge ( very romantic if you ask me) became Frida’s studio in a way. Many of her pieces such as Lo que el agua me dió, El ojo avizor y El difunto Dimas & Las Dos Fridas were conceived here. Fun fact is that O’gorman paints the house building, the same shade of blue as the one used on Casa Azul, Frida’s childhood house.
Diego and Frida return to Mexico City in 1934 after living for 3 years in the US and start living at this San Angel House. During the next years and until 1939 Frida gained exposure and international recognition traveling to New York and Paris in spite of the impending WWII. Diego on the other end, lived in this house until his passing in 1957 at the age of 70. He conceived most of his easel work in his studio, his “judas & calavera” collection and pre hispanic archeological collection as well.
If you are Fan of all things Frida, you will not resist to be also interested and overwhelmed about the complicated character if Diego Rivera as well and all the artists surrounding them. It is inevitably a network of extremely talented people devoted to preserve and promote art in Mexico during those times.
Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo
FOOD
Pujol
In order to provide a proper review of Pujol, I must mention Chef Enrique Olvera to start. I got introduced to his work through the Netflix show, Chef’s Table season 2 Episode 4: you're welcome!
Besides being featured on Netflix and his acclaimed career. Chef Olvera story is notable! An average middle class kid from Mexico city that discovered his passion and abilities and put his art to show through celebrating the core of Mexican traditional cuisine. I loved the in depth approach to every single course offered on his Michelin star rated venue. Menu, which is famous for being an affordable option for at least what we are used to pay for Michelin rated venues in NYC.
What I ordered:
4
Lamb, mint mole, lime, baby potato
5
Mole madre, mole nuevo
6
Nicuatole
1
Street Snack- Pujol’s version of street snack is a beautiful bouquet of baby corn inside a carved pumpkin. It was delicious!!!!
2
Softshell crab, meyer lemon, herbs
3
Lamb, mint mole, lime, baby potato
We decided to invest in the wine pairing, which I have to say is the only part of the experience that resembles NY price tickets. I must say that for wine enthusiasts and individuals who can really hold their liquor it is absolutely worth it!
A sensorial experience all around we loved every course and glass to the last drop!
Mercado Roma
For history lovers
Monumento a la Revolución Mexicana
Originally conceived to become the Federal Legislative Palace. This monument located in Plaza de la República and it includes a museum that includes the history of the Mexican revolution and information about its construction with access to panoramic views. The monumen is also Francisco “Pancho Villa’s” Mausoleum.
Xochimilco
Shopping
La Ciudadela- For artisanal folkloric handcrafts lovers this is a must! Mexican artisans talent is truly one of kind!
Libreria Gandhi- This is one of the city’s most renown stores for offering a wide selections of mexican, latinamerican and spanish authors.
Have anyone been to México City before? Will love to know about your experience and recommendations.
*Fun Fact: Our trip took place in Early September 2017. While we were there an 8.1 earthquake shook the south of Mexico and rocked the city. A week later another 7.1 earthquake hit the city of Puebla which is in the out.
So that is it for the Mexico family trip series, let me know if you liked it and if I missed something, I certainly look forward to come back!