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The ancient ruins of Teotihuacan, located only fifty miles from The City, are a popular destination for travelers.
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By Ivonne Castillo
México City, other wise known as La Ciudad, is one of the world’s largest cities, with more than 19.8 million inhabitants, many of them found on the streets day and night. Vendors yell out to the public, letting them know that they have the best appliances in town. Children tug people’s shirts and beg for money or offer to shine shoes. Mothers with babies on their backs or in their arms cross the streets without any concern of being run over by a hasty cargo truck or auto. Cars, commonly Chevies and Volkswagens, race from one block to the next at great speeds, bumper to bumper, with no regard for the traffic lights. The green-and-white, bug-shaped VW taxis pick up people on every street corner. Everyone seems to be going to the same event, and they are all late for it.
With the bustle in the big city, many people want to stay indoors. Not even home can insulate them from the loud noises. Early in the morning, gas trucks drive by and sound their loud-roaring horns. It is a horrendous sound that can be heard blocks away and sounds like the world is under attack. People yell out what they sell, “Vendo zapatos para dama y caballero, todo barato!” (All shoes for men and women are very cheap). And of course, there is the morning commuter who is always late to work. His car won’t start, so the suffering engine takes another try at turning on in the cold weather. The rumbling engine and the acceleration of the gas make the car sound as if it is going to collapse.
Despite the busy-ness of México City, there is much to be enjoyed. There are many wonderful historic sights within a 50-mile radius — from the great pyramids in Teotihuacan to the now-awakened, snowcapped Popocatépetl volcano. It is also popular to explore the central square in the downtown area, most commonly known as the Zocalo. Some of these places are flowing with people, while others are where people go to relax and not worry about traffic or what they might crash into.
Let us take Xochimilco, for instance. It is a few miles from the city, but well worth the drive. The main attraction there is the lake and the gondola-like boats that are decorated with colorful flowers on the sides. Each boat has a woman’s name painted across the top arch - ours was La Lupita. There is a scenic route, which takes about three hours. This ride goes to the mini islands, where travelers can get off and wander around, buy souvenirs or listen to the story behind the island. A particular island that caught my attention was one that had dolls and doll parts everywhere. It was La Isla de las Muñecas Perdidas (Island of the Lost Dolls). A man who lived there collected dolls he found in the lake. He put dolls just about anywhere he could find room, even putting a wire from one tree to the next to hang more dolls. I was in awe. As I stepped out of the boat and onto the island, I felt a cold breeze blow. There were about six barking dogs guarding the entrance, but they were harmless. To the left, there was a multitude of different plants, each in its own pot. Farther in the island was the old man’s shanty with three walls covered with dolls. Hanging on the outside was a framed newspaper article with a picture of him, taken from the local paper. The guide had told us that the old man had died a few months earlier and now his sons looked after the island.
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Street vendors are common in The City. Anything from ice cream to tacos can be purchased.
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In addition to the scenic option, there is another route with a more convivial atmosphere, with gondolas passing each other more closely. There are vendors on their own small boats selling elotes, champurado, and tacos. Musicians stand on the edge of the lake, waiting to get picked up by a boat filled with people who are ready to hear some authentic tunes. The mariachis sing songs from Vicente Fernandez, a famous Mexican singer, with music that expresses how a man might feel after a woman has left his side. There is also the banda that plays corridos, telling stories about men who get involved with the mafia and end up getting shot or being chased by the federales. Some of the people make this trip for a family gathering while others, such as students, get together to celebrate a birthday or an event.
On the other side of the city is the ancient city of Teotihuacan, and the great pyramids. About 2,000 years ago, Teotihuacan was the sixth largest city in the world, with as many as 200,000 people. There are two major pyramids — the Pyramid of the Sun, which is more than 660 feet along the base and more than 198 feet high, and the Pyramid of the Moon, which is 115.5 feet high. There is a lot of history behind this city and the surrounding ones, as well. Walking up the pyramids is quite the journey. The steps to the top are rough, tall and straight up. After the first flight of stairs, most people need a break to catch their breath and see how high they’ve gone. The next flight is the same — rough, tall and straight up. Every time I stopped to catch my breath my knees would shake more and more, but every time I looked up I wanted to keep going and view the scenery from the top of the pyramid. The sight is breathtaking once you reach the top. The people look like ants, the cars like little Hot Wheels, the neighboring cities look like houses from a Monopoly board game, and there is a great sensation from the realization of climbing a pyramid that was built 2,000 years ago.
The food in México is wonderful. There are the common taco carts that can be found on just about every street corner all hours of the day and night.
The mouth-watering tortas fill the stomach with a choice of meat, fresh tomatoes and lettuce, nicely cut onions, ripe avocados and spicy jalapenos, maybe even some homemade sour cream. My favorite food there was the huarache (sandal). It looks like a tortilla that was stretched out to the sides to look like a chalupa. In the middle, smashed beans are added and on the top, a big, tender and juicy piece of steak is placed.
No matter where you travel in México City, there is plenty of history to be learned and appreciated. It is a matter of asking or doing some research on the location. There is so much that can be gained from traveling and experiencing new places, and much that can be left behind.
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