David's exhibit and historial downtown. Good bye Mexico City - Sunday Jan.29

The day started with a - now - funny México City experience. I was suppose to meet David and Gloria for brunch, at the "Plaza de la Constitucion." Thirty minutes of an UBER ride later, I found out I was in the wrong place because there are here multiple "Plaza de la Constitucions" in Mexico City!!!! I had no option but to get back in a taxi for another 50 minutes, and head to the right one! It was the longest and most expensive brunch ride ever, but I got to see more of the city. Moral of the story: always check the borough/municipality before going anywhere here. Mexico City has 16 municipalities and they all have similar street names.

TLALPAN 

That's where I really started my day. This is a super cute area of Mexico City, all the way in the south. It feels like we are in a small town. 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Tlalpan is a borough (demarcación territorial) in Mexico City. It is the largest borough, with over eighty percent under conservation as forest and other ecologically sensitive area. The rest, almost all of it on the northern edge, has been urban since the mid-20th century. When it was created in 1928, it was named after the most important settlement of the area, Tlalpan, which is referred to as “Tlalpan center” (Tlalpan centro) to distinguish it from the borough.

This center, despite being in the urbanized zone, still retains much of its provincial atmosphere with colonial era mansions and cobblestone streets. Much of the borough's importance stems from its forested conservation areas, as it functions to provide oxygen to the Valley of Mexico and serves for aquifer recharge. Seventy percent of Mexico City's water comes from wells in this borough.

We had brunch at La Casa de Juan, a beautiful restaurant and cultural centre, right at the main square. 

I learned this was the place of the first phone call in Mexico. 

I came here to see David's exhibition. He does this amazing portraits of today's photographs printed on canvas, modified digitally, then painted over, to resemble a baroque painting. The result are both real and fun. He turns his friends into 1700s characters. 

Impressive work!

David's Muse!

A little walk in the neighbourhood after brunch.

HISTORICAL DOWNTOWN MEXICO

We drove back to downtown Mexico - where I accidentally ended up in the morning. 

This is the Palace of Fine Arts.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) is a prominent cultural center in Mexico City. It has hosted notable events in music, dance, theatre, opera and literature in Mexico and has held important exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography. Consequently, the Palacio de Bellas Artes has been called the "Cathedral of Art in Mexico". The building is located on the western side of the historic center of Mexico City next to the Alameda Central park.

The first National Theater of Mexico was built in the late 19th century, but it was soon decided to tear this down in favor of a more opulent building in time for Centennial of the Mexican War of Independence in 1910. The initial design and construction was undertaken by Italian architect Adamo Boari in 1904, but complications arising from the soft subsoil and the political problem both before and during the Mexican Revolution, hindered then stopped construction completely by 1913. Construction began again in 1932 under Mexican architect Federico Mariscal [es] and was completed in 1934. It was then inaugurated on November 29, 1934 and was the first art museum in Mexico dedicated to exhibiting artistic objects for contemplation.

The exterior of the building is primarily Art Nouveau and Neoclassical and the interior is primarily Art Deco. The building is best known for its murals by Diego Rivera, Siqueiros and others, as well as the many exhibitions and theatrical performances it hosts, including the Ballet Folklórico de México.

The House of Tiles.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The Casa de los Azulejos or Palace of the Counts of the Orizaba Valley , as it is also known, is a palace located in the historic center of Mexico City , more precisely between the current pedestrian streets of Madero and Calle Cinco de May . The building was built during the viceroyalty period , and it is commonly known by this name (rather than by the noble title of those who inhabited it) due to its cover of talavera tiles from Pueblathat cover the exterior façade of the building and make this work one of the most beautiful jewels of civil architecture of the New Spanish Baroque .

The Metropolitan Cathedral is an enormous presence right at the Plaza de la Constitucion.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven (Spanish: Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Bienaventurada Virgen María a los cielos) is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. It is situated on top of the former Aztec sacred precinct near the Templo Mayor on the northern side of the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo) in the historic center of Mexico City. The cathedral was built in sections from 1573 to 1813 around the original church that was constructed soon after the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan, eventually replacing it entirely. Spanish architect Claudio de Arciniega planned the construction, drawing inspiration from Gothic cathedrals in Spain.

Part of the cathedral is tilted due to damages over time. 
One side of the building looks like it's sinking.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Over the centuries, the cathedral has suffered damage. A fire in 1967 destroyed a significant part of the cathedral's interior. The restoration work that followed uncovered a number of important documents and artwork that had previously been hidden. Although a solid foundation was built for the cathedral, the soft clay soil it is built on has been a threat to its structural integrity. Dropping water tables and accelerated sinking caused the structure to be added to the World Monuments Fund list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. Restoration working beginning in the 1990s stabilized the cathedral and it was removed from the endangered list in 2000.

The Mexican president's palace.

The huge Mexican flag on the middle of the square is raised early morning and lowered at around this time, every single day.  

I love the skulls everywhere.

Just around the corner, hundreds of people gathered in small indigenous cerimonies of dancing and practicing cleansing rituals. 

There were smudging rituals happening simultaneously every ten steps. 

People lined up to participate. 

The air was filled with a strong and powerful aroma.

Museum of Photography.

The Main Temple is right there too, in the thickness of the downtown madness.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The Templo Mayor (Spanish: Main Temple) was the main temple of the Mexica people in their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. Its architectural style belongs to the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica. The temple was called Huēyi Teōcalli [we:ˈi teoːˈkali] in the Nahuatl language. It was dedicated simultaneously to Huitzilopochtli, god of war, and Tlaloc, god of rain and agriculture, each of which had a shrine at the top of the pyramid with separate staircases. The central spire was devoted to Quetzalcoatl in his form as the wind god, Ehecatl. The Great Temple devoted to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, measuring approximately 100 by 80 m (328 by 262 ft) at its base, dominated the Sacred Precinct. Construction of the first temple began sometime after 1325, and it was rebuilt six times. The temple was destroyed by the Spanish in 1521, and the Mexico City cathedral was built in its place.

The Zócalo, or main plaza of Mexico City today, was developed to the southwest of Templo Mayor, which is located in the block between Seminario and Justo Sierra streets. The site is part of the Historic Center of Mexico City, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. It received 801,942 visitors in 2017.

The aerial view of the temple's ruins from one of the many rooftop restaurant patios in the area.

What a wonderful way to seal this amazing trip!

Great view, with even greater friends.

Tuna tacos and a plantain dish with traditional Mexican Mole.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Mole, from Nahuatl mōlli, meaning "sauce", is a traditional sauce and marinade originally used in Mexican cuisine. In contemporary Mexico the term is used for a number of sauces, some quite dissimilar, including mole amarillo or amarillito (yellow mole), mole chichilo, mole colorado or coloradito (reddish mole), mole manchamantel or manchamanteles (tablecloth stainer), mole negro (black mole), mole rojo (red mole), mole verde (green mole), mole poblano, mole almendrado (mole with almond), mole michoacano, mole prieto, mole ranchero, mole tamaulipeco, mole xiqueno, mole pipián (mole with squash seed), mole rosa (pink mole), mole blanco (white mole), chimole, guacamole (mole with avocado) and huaxmole (mole with huaje).

Generally, a mole sauce contains fruits, nuts, chili peppers, and spices like black pepper, cinnamon, or cumin.

I could not leave without a Marguerita, of course. Cheers!

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The margarita is a cocktail made up of tequila , triple sec, and lime or lemon juice . It is often served with salt on the rim of the glass. The drink is served by shaking the ice (con hielo), mixed with ice (frozen margarita), or without ice (straight up). Although it has become acceptable to serve a margarita in a wide variety of glass containers, ranging from cocktail and wine glasses to large schooners as well, the drink is traditionally served in the eponymous margarita glass, a stepped-diameter variant of a cocktail glass or glass of champagne, somewhat resembling an inverted hat.

Just happy.

Mexico City, my dear.
You have been wonderful to me! Thank you!
I learned so much about you and I will always remember your beautiful streets, your friendly people, your warmth and your hospitality. 

I hope to see you again soon. 

South tour, Diego and grasshopper for dinner - Saturday - Jan. 28

I went for a day adventure by myself today and took the regular bus.
Public transportation here have a designated area for women. 

The destination was the Fuente de La Cibeles, where you can catch one of four routs of the double decker tourist buses. For 200 pesos, or CAN$14, I took the South route.

Fiente de Las Cibeles.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The Cibeles fountain in Mexico City is an exact replica of the Cibeles fountain that is located in the Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid , Spain . It is located at the crossroads of Oaxaca, Durango, Medellín and El Oro streets, two blocks from the Insurgentes roundabout , in the Cuauhtémoc mayor 's office of Mexico City . 

It was placed as a symbol of brotherhood between the Spanish and Mexican communities in 1980 and was remodeled in 2011 as part of a maintenance and remodeling program of the capital's government. 

Florencia Avenue.

Monumento de La Independencia.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The Independence Monument or Column of Independence is an honorary column that is located in Mexico City , in the roundabout located at the confluence of Paseo de la Avenida Reforma and Río Tíber and Florencia streets.

It was inaugurated in 1910 by the then president of Mexico, Porfirio Díaz , to commemorate the Centenary of the beginning of the independence war of that country . In later years it became a mausoleum for the greatest heroes of that war. It is one of the most emblematic monuments of the city and currently used as a cultural icon of Mexico City and a place of celebrations and national demonstrations. 

Constructed as an honorary column topped with a statue of the Winged Victory holding a laurel wreath and a three-link broken chain , it rises on a stepped pedestal completed by different statues and allegorical inscriptions to the independence of Mexico .

Although this is a 25 million people city, the traffic flows slow, but with order.   
The big avenues have exclusive lanes for buses...

... and bicycles. I would feel safe biking here, in these areas.  

The Insurgentes is the biggest avenue in Latin America: almost 30 km long.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Avenida de los Insurgentes (English: Avenue of the Insurgents), sometimes known simply as Insurgentes, is the longest avenue in Mexico City, with a length of 28.8 km (17.9 mi) on a north-south axis across the city. Insurgentes has its origins in what was during the early 20th century known as the Via del Centenario which ran from city centre to the southern suburbs.

The World Trade Centre Mexico City.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The World Trade Center Mexico City, commonly known by its former name, Hotel de México, is a building complex located in the wealthy neighborhood of Colonia Nápoles in central Mexico City. Its most famous and recognizable feature is the 50-story, 207 metres (679 ft) high Torre WTC, the biggest building in the local area. It is the third tallest building in Mexico City when including antenna, and at its roof height, it stands 191 metres (627 ft).

The complex includes a convention center, cultural center, parking facilities, a multi-screen cinema, a revolving 45th-floor luxury restaurant, and a shopping center with Sears (originally opened as a JCPenney, the first location outside of the USA) as an anchor tenant. It will also include a 22-floor hotel, which is currently under construction.

Located on Avenida de los Insurgentes, the complex is served by the Polyforum station of the Metrobús Bus rapid transit system, located a few meters away. The station is named after the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros, a part of the WTC complex.

The Blue Stadium.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes (English: “Sports City Stadium”; formerly Estadio Azul) is a 33,000-seat stadium located in Ciudad de los Deportes, Mexico City. This sports facility is used for association football matches and for American football as well. The Tazón México has been played at the stadium. It was the home of Mexican football club Cruz Azul until 2018, hence the previous nickname of Estadio Azul, and the Mexico national football team, especially in the early 1990s. In summer 2016, it was announced by Mexico City authorities that plans to demolish the stadium would begin at the end of the 2017-2018 Liga MX season. However, in July 2018, the demolition project was put on hold.

It is presently the home of Atlante F.C. The stadium was dubbed again with the nickname Estadio Azulgrana which it previously held during the 1980s and 1990s due to the fact that it was the home of Atlante F.C., whose club colors are blue and garnet.

The Plaza de Toros.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The Plaza de Toros Monumental in Mexico City , officially Plaza México , is the largest bullring in the world. ¹ It was inaugurated on February 5, 1946. 

It is located in the Ciudad de los Deportes neighborhood , next to the Estadio Azul . It has a capacity for 42,000 people (seated), but has reached more than 50,000 , being dedicated almost exclusively to popular concerts and bullfighting events. It has a ring of 43 m in diameter, and an alley of two. It is privately owned.

The bullfight season takes place in the bullring, with at least twelve bullfights on Sundays between November and January, and the bullfight season or small season, with a regulatory duration of twelve bullfights on Fridays and Sundays between September and January. 

On June 10, 2022, the definitive suspension for bullfighting events was notified for the duration of a trial promoted by the Justicia Justa association for animal abuse in shows.

The parks are really incredible in Mexico City. 

There are many big ones, but unfortunately I would need more time to explore then. Next trip. 

Here is a nice list: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-parks-in-mexico-city

I get off the bus close to Frida Khalo's Museum in Coyoacan neighbourhood and took an UBER to the Diego's museum. 

But before, I had lunch at this small and cozy family restaurant called Cochinita Country - Yuteca's authentic food.

Cochinita pibil

Platillo típico de la cocina de la península de Yucatán preparado con carne de cerdo condimentado con una mezcla de achiote y especias. 

Typical dish of the cuisine of the Yucatan peninsula prepared with Pork seasoned with a mixture of achiote and spices.

What Is Achiote? 

Achiote is a spice and coloring agent extracted from the seeds of the evergreen Bixa orellana shrub. After macerating in water, the pulp surrounding the seeds is made into cakes for further processing into dyes. The seeds are dried and used whole or ground as a culinary spice. Commercially, achiote is used to add yellow color to chorizo, butter and margarine, cheese, and smoked fish.

This was totally a surprise for me. Visiting the Anahuacalli Museum was not on my list, but since the ticket from the Frida Khalo's museum also gives you access to this one, I decided to include it in my route. And what a great decision!!!! 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum is a museum and arts center in Mexico City, located in the San Pablo de Tepetlapa neighborhood of Coyoacán, 10 minutes by car from the Frida Kahlo Museum, as well as from the tourist neighborhood of this district.

The Anahuacalli (from the Nahuatl word, whose meaning is "house surrounded by water"), is a temple of the arts designed by the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. This museum stands out for its extensive collection of pre-Columbian art, as well as for its Ecological Space that protects endemic flora and fauna. Rivera designed its architecture in order to safeguard his vast collection of pre-Hispanic pieces, while exhibiting the most beautiful works of this set in the museum's main building. Accordingly, a selection of 2,000 artworks, especially well executed and preserved, has been on display since the opening of the Anahuacalli to the public on September 18, 1964.

THE UNDERWORLD

The main floor is the underworld. There is no light coming in and everything is dark and cold. 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The extravagant architecture of the building is inspired by Mesoamerican structures, with a unique style of its kind that mixes Mayan and Toltec influences mainly, although Rivera himself defined it as an amalgamation of Aztec, Mayan and "Traditional Rivera" styles. The Anahuacalli Museum building is erected with carved volcanic stone, extracted from the same place where it stands. According to the words of the Tabasco museographer and poet Carlos Pellicer, who designed the museum's permanent exhibition at the express indication of Rivera himself, the Anahuacalli responds to the following description:

"It is a personal creation using pre-Hispanic elements, mainly from Toltec architecture and some of the Mayan: sloped walls, serpentine pilasters and rhomboid doors. The pyramidal crown accentuates the magnificent character of the building."

Every room has a mosaic on the ceiling. 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The flat ceilings on the ground floor and the upper floors are decorated with original mosaics by the great painter, which are elements that are integrated into the architecture.

The ground floor is occupied by Aztec and the Teotihuacan artworks. A beautiful group of stone sculptures, clay figurines -models of temples- and pottery utensils." Diego Rivera planned the Anahuacalli as a great stage for the development of diverse artistic expressions such as theater, dance, painting and music. These disciplines are immersed in an atmosphere whose architecture represents the search for the Mexican essence through its rich pre-Columbian past. At the same time, the Anahuacalli is integrated into the artistic, intellectual and educational events of contemporary times.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Every year, in compliance with the will that Rivera expressed for the Anahuacalli, contemporary art exhibitions are presented on the premises. These proposals are carefully chosen, as they must alternate harmoniously with the museum's architecture, with the pre-Columbian art on display, with the nature that surrounds it, and with the foundational and evolving concept of Diego's Anahuacalli.

The Anahuacalli is a testimony to Rivera's generosity; he created a prodigious architectural work to display his collection of pre-Hispanic art with the people of Mexico and the world. Thanks to this museum, today, thousands of national and foreign visitors can delve into the creative universe that the muralist left housed in this unique place. Everyone who visits the site can enjoy its natural and architectural spaces, as well as the rich collection of Mesoamerican art bequeathed to Mexico, by Master Rivera.

The windows are tinted with the mineral Alabaster, which doesn't allowed the full light to come in. 

This gives a sinister feeling, from the underworld. 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Alabaster , a word that comes from the Latin alabastrum, is a variety of calcium sulfate, aljez or gypsum stone (hydrated calcium sulfate) that occurs in a compact form, contrary to selenite , which is a fibrous variety. Its name comes from the ancient Greek αλάβαστρος ("alabastros"), which designated a vessel without handles, since alabaster was used to make perfume vessels without handles.

Alabaster, like aljez, or gypsum stone, is scratched with a fingernail ( Mohs hardness 1.5 to 2). Its crystalline system is monoclinic. This fine-grained variety of aljez is extracted from Spanish, English or Tuscany quarries . Alabaster is used as a decorative stone. Its softness allows it to be carved with very elaborate shapes. Soluble in water, cannot be used outdoors.

LIVING WORLD

Upstairs is the Living World, with much more light, and where Diego Riviera designed his studio. 

He died before completion and never got a chance to use this place as a work place. 

His studio was built with very high ceilings due to the scale of his art.
Here you can see his sketches that turned into huge murals around cities, in many countries. 

These sketches were not made here, but his family permitted them to be on display where the artist envisioned to create his pieces. 

He also designed big windows close to the celling, so people could visit the studio and observe him working from the Celestial World, above. In a way, he  saw himself as a piece of art too, to be appreciate by his admirers. 

One of his large scale murals sketches.

We can see a bit of colour now on the ceilings mosaics.

Light  - still timid - coming in.

CELESTIAL WORLD

When you go up one more floor...

... you get into the Celestial World.

There is light, you feel free and peaceful.

There is a nice view of the city from here. It's quiet too.

These windows are not opened, but Diego wanted them to be a view of his working space in the lower level, in the Living World. 

UNAM

I met up with David late afternoon and he took me to visit the UNAM, this gigantic and important University, in Mexico City.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The National Autonomous University of Mexico (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM) is a public research university in Mexico. It is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in Latin America, where it's also the biggest in terms of enrollment. A portion of UNAM's main campus in Mexico City, known as Ciudad Universitaria (University City), is a UNESCO World Heritage site that was designed by some of Mexico's best-known architects of the 20th century and hosted the 1968 Summer Olympic Games. Murals in the main campus were painted by some of the most recognized artists in Mexican history, such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. With acceptance rates usually below 10%, UNAM is also known for its competitive admission process. All Mexican Nobel laureates are either alumni or faculty of UNAM.

The Olympic Stadium.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: The Estadio Olímpico Universitario (initially called Estadio de Ciudad Universitaria , and occasionally referred to as Estadio México 68 ) is a 1952 multi-purpose sports venue belonging to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), located in Mexico City by architects Augusto Pérez Palacios , Jorge Bravo and Raúl Salinas Moro. It is the second largest stadium in the country, after the Azteca Stadium , located in the same city; It has a capacity for 72,000 spectators. It was the main venue for the 1968 Olympic Games, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the athletics competitions .

It is the only one of the Olympic stadiums located in an area declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity ( Ciudad Universitaria de la UNAM ). It was called by Frank Lloyd Wright the "most important building in modern America" . 

A convocation was happening.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: UNAM was founded, in its modern form, on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a secular alternative to its predecessor, the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico (the first Western-style university in North America, founded in 1551). UNAM obtained administrative autonomy from the government in 1929. This has given the university the freedom to define its own curriculum and manage its own budget without government interference. This has had a profound effect on academic life at the university, which some claim boosts academic freedom and independence. UNAM was also the birthplace of the student movement of 1968.

According to my friend, 400 thousands students attend this university, which is ranked one of the best in the world. And it's almost free tuition.

Mosaic building.

This building is still a part of the University, but we took a bus to get here from the main area. The University is like a city. 

Still part of the UNAM, this is the Sala Nezahualcóyotl. Gloria was so sweet and got us tickets to watch the UNAM Symphony Orchestra performing Stravisnky's Rite of Spring.

TETETLAN 

We went for dinner at this exquisite restaurant/library/art centre called Tetetlan. It was building inside a cave, in a posh neighbourhood named Pedregal de San Angel.  Right at the entrance, this art piece suggested that I am in for an incredible art and gourmet experience. 

I was wowed the whole time!

FROM https://www.thenopo.com/blogs/magazine/the-top-four-spots-for-outdoor-dining-in-mexico-city

Tetetlán

http://www.tetetlan.com/ | @tetetlan

Avenida De Las Fuentes 180-B, Jardines del Pedregal, Mexico City

Named after the Nahuatl word tetetlan, meaning “place among many stones”, this enchanting complex is a restaurant, library, shop, gallery, and multi-purpose space steeped in the architectural and design history of Mexico. 

When famous Mexican architect Luis Barragan first set foot in Pedregal in 1943, he was so taken but the unique environmental features that he built here some of his most famous landmarks, such as Casa Pedregal, where the world of Tetelán has been taking shape for years. 

Today, Tetetlán retains Barragan’s keen eye for incorporating natural materials into the building and decoration of the space. Rustic stone walls are complemented by open concrete or wooden steps connecting the separate levels of the restaurant, while an industrial chich steel structure of pillars and beams support the full-size skylight, giving the overall impression of a unique open space that is extended further by the see-through flooring, revealing the stone foundations of the building. 

Climbing plants and books adorn the walls and give the space a touch of coziness, and if you sit in one of their comfy Poang-style chairs and read a book while sipping an excellent cup of coffee, you will be excused for wanting to take your shoes off and put your feet up.

This photo doesn't show it too well, but the floor is made of glass and you can see the rocks of the cave underneath.

They have a huge selection of Mezcal, one of Mexico's traditional drink. 

There were about 280 bottles to choose from. 

I tried a couple of Mezcals,  enjoyed them, but it's too strong for me.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Mezcal, sometimes spelled mescal, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave. The word mezcal comes from Nahuatl mexcalli [meʃˈkalːi], which means "oven-cooked agave", from metl and ixcalli  Traditionally the word "mezcal" has been used generally in Mexico for all agave spirits and it continues to be used for many agave spirits whether these spirits have been legally certified as "mezcal" or not, and it is also considered a drink of artisan origin.

Agaves or magueys are endemic to the Americas and found globally as ornamental plants. More than 70% of mezcal is made in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, but is now produced and commercialized throughout Mexico for the national and international market. A saying attributed to Oaxaca regarding the drink is: "Para todo mal, mezcal, y para todo bien, también; y si no hay remedio litro y medio" ("For all bad, mezcal, and for all good, as well; and if there is no remedy, liter and a half"). Native fermented drinks from maguey plant, such as pulque, existed before the arrival of the Spanish.

Now, the fun part!
This is Chapulines, or grasshoppers. It's crunch and delicious.

We also had Chitacana in a taco, which is ant larvae. 

I don't have a picture of it, but it has an incredible flavour!

The salsas were to die for! 

I can't explain the tastes, but they were like nothing I have tried before.

We left the restaurant at 1am.
Thank you Gloria and David for such a magical and unforgettable evening!