Once Upon a Time in Mexico....: Zocalo

On Saturday we had off so we walked down to the Zocalo, which is the city center in the historic part of Mexico City. It is a location with plenty of culture and beautiful architecture. There are also TONS of people and places to shop. As you walk the crowded streets, there are street performers are everywhere you look. I saw the Mask, Cruela Devil, the Predator, guys pretending to be statues (there guys are impressive) and a bunch more that I have no idea who they were. We bounced around a bit before heading to the main center which has a Cathedral and some sort of political building. Behind the main center there is some Aztecan ancient ruins and a museum called Templo Mayor. It seemed interesting, so we bought some tickets and went in. It never ceases to amaze me what these ancient civilizations created and how advanced for their time they were. I took plenty of pictures (see below). I wish I could explain them all but I have no idea. It would take you a full day to read all the plaques inside and outside the ruins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z%C3%B3calo


Art Museum on the way (haven't gone in yet)

Me outside the Cathedral.

Statue guy.... they don't move....

VIVA MEXICO!!! (that is one large flag, the picture doesn't do it justice)

Right outside the Cathedral there are a bunch of vendors selling everything from glasses to belts to Aztecan jewelry. They also have people dressed in traditional Aztecan clothing performing songs. You can pay them to get rid of all your evil spirits and bad karma. A man in a large head dress hands you some sort of plant (we think it was basil) and then proceeds to blow the smoke of some incenses on you. These guys have lines of people waiting for their spirit to be cleansed. Chico had it done and I have a video but for some reason I have not been able to load any videos.