Mexico City is the 8th highest capital city in the world standing at 2,240 metres, but having previously visited the top 3 (La Paz, Quito and Thimphu) we're not expecting any altitude problems. It's surrounded by mountains and volcanoes that reach elevations of over 5,000 metres, some of which you can just about see from our hotel room.
We both had a reasonable night's sleep and headed down for breakfast in the restaurant area only to be turned away and sent to a side room. It was quite strange; all the tables were large and set for 10 people so we joined a half empty table and, as French seemed the only language we could hear, said bonjour to our fellow diners and tried to chat as best we could; apparently they were a group of 40. Whilst we eat the meagre food on offer (hope it improves) I was aware of someone pointing to us and quizzing a waiter - it seems we'd been sent to the wrong area and so we made our apologies and all had a good laugh as we said in French that we were joining their group which would now be 42.
After breakfast we headed out to find the Mexican equivalent of Boots but although there were a few shops around, none sold everything and so we needed directions for a pharmacy as I was worried about running out of pain killers. Police presence seems very strong here and when I asked a large group standing around where the nearest chemist was, typically, it was right in front of us! The pharmacist spoke excellent English and quickly sourced paracetamol, ibuprofen and indigestion tablets for us which he was keen to sell us huge quantities, citing 3 for 2 offers etc but we explained we only needed enough to tide us over until the cases arrived. Then the cannabis conversation started - we could buy cannabis in all forms it seems and he was astounded we didn't want any
Last night I found a Woolworth department store online which is only 2km from the hotel. Whether they are part of the original Woollies I don't know, but we've found these stores in both Australia and South Africa and they sold all sorts so I'm hopeful of being able to get some underwear and clothes but we'll check with our tour guide that it's an OK area to walk.
At 10:00 we met our guide Francisco and the rest of the group in reception and they all seem nice enough; 2 other couples and 5 singles - 3 men and two women including the one we met last night. We're in quite a small minibus but luckily Ian and I sat at the front and he could stretch his dodgy leg a bit as it was an hour or so drive to the first stop Xochimilco Floating Gardens, 23kms away. I must confess to struggling with the pronunciation of some Mexican place names, especially ones containing an 'x' as when I first learnt Castilian many moons ago we were told the letters 'k', 'w' and 'x' didn't exist and any words containing them were rare and adopted from other languages. Apparently it is pronounced sochimilko and the floating gardens (chinampas) were created in pre-Columbian times by local agriculturalists who constructed branch and reed rafts on the lake, covered them with mud from the
bottom of the lake and cultivated fruits, vegetables, and flowers,
which they shipped to Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) via canal. In
time the rafts took root and became islands and although these were largely abandoned after the Spanish conquest, the area was declared a biological reserve by the Mexican
government in 1984 and became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1987. Today it is still an important market gardening and flower producing
centre for the city, despite being surrounded by urban sprawl, and is a popular weekend outing for thousands
of Mexicans and tourists, who visit the area in colourful flat-bottomed
boats – of which there are around 3,000.
We had to climb across 3 other boats to reach ours and then all sat on little wooden chairs as we were propelled by a punt.
First real outing with my new R7 so a few dodgy images no doubt as I haven't got to grips with it yet, nor the subtle but important differences in operation to the R6.
Health & Safety appears to be virtually nonexistent here (especially if the pavements are anything to go by). This guy was really high up in the tree and thrashing around with his machete.
Navigating the canals is rather like boat dodgems; there are so many empty ones moored up you just bash into them and push them out of your way.
Small boats float up and down with their occupants either selling to locals (mostly foodstuffs).
Or tourist tat (at the time we didn't really know what these headdresses were all about).
Some are so loaded and have to move quickly out of the way, I'm not sure how they stay upright at times.
I think this chap might be lacking a little enthusiasm (dead ringer for Michael Daniel who we used to work with).
Then there are the Mariachi bands which seem to vary in size from about 3 to 10, plus a singer sometimes and for a few pesos will pull up alongside and play.
Or, if you're really unlucky, actually board your boat.
Some of the pretty market gardens we passed. Of course Poinsettias are native to Mexico and very popular worldwide around Christmas time.
Also Pelargoniums and Chrysanthemums growing in large numbers.
These ladies were having a great day out, they'd taken food and drink with them and were really partying.
There are even floating xylophone players (I instantly thought of the late Patrick Moore). Actually it's not a xylophone but a marimba whose timbre is warmer, deeper and more resonant.
One trade that I did find quite surprising was the jewellery sellers who moved from boat to boat carrying their wares and surprisingly people were buying from them.
Maybe this one thought having his granny with him would give him an extra degree of respectability.
And when the sale is done (or not) they simply pick up their wares and saunter off.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a national holiday in Mexico and there are huge celebrations each 1-2 November and skulls are still everywhere. I was also rather tickled by the "hygienic toilet" poster on the left.
This stall advertised A Living Experience
More like a living hell for the poor python.
There is a brand of cement here called Blue Cross which makes me giggle as of course in the UK it's Blue Circle (our family has always taken an interest in such things as my dear Dad worked for their main rivals Tunnel Cement)
A pleasant enough way to spend an hour or so getting to know our fellow travellers, one of whom was quite keen for the group to pay for a Mariachi band but no one else seemed willing (we wouldn't have minded as the cost between 11 was minimal but didn't want to appear too pushy).
