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Home 25
Post date / 2019 / ડિસેમ્બર
- Zocalo
Higher vantage point of skating rink on Plaza de la Constitucion, from @Turibuscdmx upper deck. Federal District building decked out for Christmas one week away. We started Circuito Centro Historico from Reforma 222 to Auditorio, and then changed to the Circuito Chapultepec Polanco. Sitting upstairs with temperature dropped after sunset, city traffic at a crawl, we abandoned the loop at the Museo Del Nino, and hoped an Uber ride would be more direct. (Zocalo, Plaza de la Constitucion, Mexico City) 20191218 - Tortilleria Cuauhtemoc
Masa dough feeding into a press at small stall of #TortilleriaCuauhtemoc in back of our local #MercadoCuauhtemoc for fresh flatbread packaged to go, with salsas and guacamole on the side. From our apartment, we walk a few blocks for fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as sampling the centre aisle of open kitchens. The neighbourhood otherwise has convenience stores, but we haven't encountered any major chains, since we arrived. (Tortilleria Cuauhtemoc, Mercado Cuauhtemoc, Calle Rio Lerma, Mexico City) 20191219 - Riverside neighbourhood
Back home in Toronto, DY down with delayed Montezuma's revenge. Three of four sons also had symptoms around days 9 and 10 of our 11-day vacation. Pity for RDI recovering in Mexico City, flying back overnight. Minor jet lag for me, biked to Chinatown to stock up on groceries, temperature drop tomorrow with possible snow. (Riverside neighbourhood, Toronto, Ontario) 20191230 - Pulqueria Las Dualista
Saw agave succulents earlier in National Palace, so finished the guided tour with a taste of the beverage. Venue was packed, we eventually got a ledge with pulque in natural flavour, then with passionfruit and with guava. Sons declared it as Mexican kombucha, but not worth finishing. We were advised that natural tastes best within a day of harvesting from the source, thereafter the low-alcohol drink is better with a sweetener. (Pulquería Las Duelistas, Colonia Centro, Mexico City) 20191221 - Parque Mexico
Slow stroll on Christmas Day at 21°C through Roma Norte, unseasonably cold streak over past week broken. Park established in 1920s in a modern style, with organically winding paths. Teatro al Aire Libre Lindbergh in disrepair was budgeted for repair in 2013, now seems popular with the roller skaters. (Parque Mexico, Cuauhtemoc, Mexico City) 20191225 - Palace of the Jaguars, Teotihuacan
Family tour with a native Teotihuacan guide, starting with the living areas for the priests. Learned that the Teotihuacan constructed the site 200-900AD, at which point the city collapse due to bad harvest and disease, survivors moving on to more fertile lands such as Yucatan. The Aztecs arrived after 1300AD, and didn't add much to the pre-existing structures. Impressed by the engineering on square columns, stucco painted with natural pigments, and aqueducts for fresh water and sewage. (Palace of the Jaguars, Teotihuacan, Mexico) 20191223 - Museo Universitario Arte Contemporaneo
The Labyrinth for Birds @muac_unam, @edgar_calel (1986) El laberinto de pajaros, an installation of 18 painted cardboard boxes. As a fan of contemporary art, enjoyed the multiple exhibitions and galleries of this museum more than historic art collections in the city. University campus was closed for holidays, our taxi driver circled around to 3 gates, and then found the destination of the Outdoor Sculpture Space with a lock on the gate. (Museo Universitario Arte Contemporaneo, UNAM, Coyoacán, Mexico City) 20191227 - Museo Soumaya
Rodin bronze (1886) The Three Shades (Les Trois Ombres) centered under skylight on the 6th level, is unusual because such (i) heavy castings are usually on a lower floor, and (ii) The Gates of Hell (La Porte de l'Enfer) (1885) is at the ground level. Our family recognized the pieces, as they're on the campus of Stanford University (placed in much closer proximity). This privately-owned museum has a strong European permanent collection, we saw them in between temporary exhibits at the Museo Jumex next door. (Museo Soumaya, Polanco, Mexico City) 20191220 - Museo Nacional de Antropología
Stone of the Sun (Piedra del Sol) from Aztec early 1500s, buried mid-1500s under the direction of the Archbishop of Mexico to forget ancient sacrifices. Uncovered in 1790, transferred to the Metropolitan Cathedral, then in 1851 to the Archeological Museum. Monolith has face emerging from earth hole, surrounded by four sons, with serpent on the outside edge. (Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City) 20191219 - Museo Dolores Olmedo
Peacocks spreading their plumage, turning front and back, in the orange garden of the 16th century hacienda. Came to see the largest collection of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo paintings in Mexico, recognized many shown in the 2002 biopic. Dolores Olmedo, a businesswoman patron to Rivera and Kahlo, donated her home and funds for continuing upkeep of a museum featuring the works of her friends. (Museo Dolores Olmedo, Xochimilco, Mexico City) 20191226 - Museo del Chocolate
Raking patterns in the cocoa garden box, frequently levelled by a watchful staff. Museum tracing indigenous use of chocolate both as food and in ceremonials, through the popularization in Europe by the Industrial Revolution and into the 20th century. Guided tours in Spanish only, we were satisfied reading signs in English. Street outside filled with squatters, mansions were damaged in the 1985 earthquake and abandoned. (Museo del Chocolate, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City) 20191227 - Microsoft Reactor Toronto
Following notesbooks at Python for Data Science course @MSFTReactor @MaRSDD led by #DavidJeppesen @ProwessConsult. Python indexes strings starting from 0, but then the last character is indexed as -1. Full room said to be larger than last session. Many university students attending, learners don't rest during school term breaks. (Microsoft Reactor Toronto, MaRS Discovery District, Toronto, Ontario) 20191216 - Mercado Roma
Enjoyed bonus of live musicians at food hall first opened in 2014. Variety of food sampled included ceviche, beef with nopale, vegan tacos, paella and churros. Dining quality is considerably higher than street food we've had over the past 36 hours. Venue seems popular with tourists and local residents alike. (Mercado Roma, Calle Querétaro, Roma Norte, Mexico City) 20191219 - Maple Leaf Lounge, Pearson T1
Still enjoying benefits as a Million Mile @aircanada flyer. Family beginning first true non-conference vacation since our sons were children. Escaping winter by flying south for 11 days. (Maple Leaf Lounge, Pearson Airport, Toronto, Ontario) 20191217 - Lambert Lounge
Book launch #SystemsThinking Ontario @allennaleonard coauthor #VanillaBeer on #StaffordBeer: The Father of Management #Cybernetics. Illustrated life history by artist daughter, glossary by his life partner. Causal question-and-answer session on research contemporaries, development of ideas and world travels. (Systems Thinking Ontario, Lambert Lounge, OCADU, McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20191209