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Mexico City

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Happy New Year from Mexico City

I wanted to celebrate 2011 in a memorable way (with lots of sun and no jetlag). And I wanted to kick media-generated fear in its annoying face. So, Mexico City was just right. I’ll follow this little photo essay with a series of blog entries from the rest of this journey — featuring Nicaragua and El Salvador. Thanks for joining me on a Latin American side-trip.

Flying into Mexico City, you see a metropolis with a population two-thirds the size of Canada's, stretching what seems like forever in all directions.

The streets of Mexico City's old center are a constant carnival of color and people.

With Mexico's much-publicized drug war violence, the military police seem to be everywhere, keeping the peace. They are young and all smiles, and feel appreciated by everyone.

When Columbus "discovered" America, the biggest city on earth was Tenochtitlan (today's Mexico City). With about 200,000 people and lots of canals, it looked something like this.

Mexican kids get their presents on the day the Three Kings gave their gifts to the Baby Jesus, January 6th. So in the park, they pose not with Santa — but with the Three Kings.

Because of the beloved Virgin of Guadalupe — a miraculous icon showing Mary with indigenous (rather than European) features — the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe receives more pilgrims than even St. Peter's in Rome.

The pyramids at Teotihuacán are as awe-inspiring as those in Egypt. It's hard to imagine these being built way back around 200 AD.

Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology tells the story of its many impressive pre-Colombian civilizations.

My memories of Mexico are being wished Happy New Year by people like this. (Photo by Trish Feaster)

On the streets of Mexico City you can get anything — even a good, end of the year, smoke spanking for purification. (Photo by Trish Feaster)

Mexican diners mix up potent brews to add kick to your enchilada. (Photo by Trish Feaster)

In Mexico City on New Year's Eve over 20 million just stayed home. That left plenty of people out on the happy and peaceful streets. (Photo by Trish Feaster)

And at midnight the sky's lit up. Feliz Nuevo Ano! (Photo by Trish Feaster)
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Flying into Sandino International Airport for Christmas

It’s time to plan holiday travels. I was tempted to go to Italy and enjoy the good life with mittens and a scarf in Rome and Florence, or perhaps do a Barcelona-Madrid-Lisbon loop (as my daughter Jackie did recently ‘ a great itinerary).

But I decided to stay in our hemisphere and head south. My decision: Three days each in Managua, San Salvador, and Mexico City, with Christmas in Managua and New Year’s in Mexico City. I needed some heat…both in the weather, and in connecting with what’s going on with people’s struggles in Latin America.

I just talked with Paul Theroux for my radio show yesterday, and he stressed the importance of not just flying from capital city to capital city. He said that to really connect with a country, you need to cross borders on the ground and travel through the bush.

But I’m doing exactly the opposite ‘ flying to three great capitals. I’d love any suggestions on how I might enjoy and be inspired by my time there. Any ideas? Thanks…and happy Thanksgiving!