Seniors Love La Cuidad de Mexico

Mexico is unlike any other country this senior citizen has visited, and I love Mexico City!  The friendly people, the cultural and historical sites, the weather, the prices, the countryside and just hanging out where the locals hang out add to my many fond memories.

As Mexico’s capital it is one of the liveliest and largest cities in the world, with a renowned arts-and-culture scene, an entire district that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site,  and some of the best cuisine in the world.

The city was originally built on an island of Lake Texcoco by the Aztecs in 1325. Spanish conquistadors founded Mexico City in 1521 atop the razed island-capital, that was the cultural and political center of the Aztec (Mexica) empire.  Subsequently it was redesigned and rebuilt in accordance with the Spanish urban standards.

Seniors Visit Biggest City

La Cuidad de Mexico is an awesome city and like any great metropolis, it presents a wide mosaic of scenes. One moment you’re enjoying tequila at a grand old cantina, the next you’re listening to world-class DJs on a rooftop terrace. Senior travelers, on your first trip to Mexico City, I’d suggest a Hop On-Hop Off Bus Tour to get you acquainted with the city.

It’s called the “Biggest City in the World.”  Others say Tokyo, Jakarta, Seoul, Delhi or Shanghai. Daily Mexicans are pouring in, however, just as many are pouring out. Mexico City is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Entrapped in a large valley, the automobile exhaust, industrial smoke and other ozone depleting causes leave many with breathing difficulties.

History abounds everywhere with at least a dozen major working archaeological sites within the city limits. Our guide said that her family dug up Aztec ruins doing some remodeling in their basement.

Seniors Visit Historic Center

This fascinating capital beguiles senior visitors with endless options. Many of the most visited tourist attractions in Mexico City are concentrated in the historic center, including the Plaza de la Constitucion or Zócalo that is an absolute “must see.”

Visit the National Palace located on the same square and and view several of Diego Rivera’s restored frescos.  Also on the Zócalo is the Metropolitan Cathedral. It is huge and due to earthquakes, is filled with scaffolding supporting the arches and the main roof.

Close by is the Templo Mayor, a large stone pyramid with the familiar wide staircases and temples seen throughout Mexico. The Palace of Fine Arts is beautiful and has sunk several feet into the ground having been built on soft soil.

One of the most important museums in Mexico, Museo Nacional de Antropologia, contains one of the world’s largest collections of archaeological and anthropological artifacts from pre-hispanic Mayan civilizations to the Spanish conquest. A visit to this museum was a highlight for me and my students.

Senior travelers will find Mexico City to be one of the most fascinating, fun and exciting cities you have ever visited. jeb