I've been gone from Ciudad de Mexico for just over two weeks and am only now catching up on the blog. Lots of distractions in Guanajuato. A few posts ago I wrote of a Surreal Day in Ciudad de Mexico in which I woke to the sounds of chanting crowds and streets full of police and police vehicles. A protest demonstration led by the Union of University Professors and Workers from the University of Mexico had gathered in my neighborhood and set off for the Centro from there. Later in that day I discovered the scope of the demonstration when I cycled off on errands. Tens of thousands of people had converged on Paseo de Reforma accompanied by what seemed like tens of thousands of police. The authorities seem quite accommodating in allowing demonstrations and they occur often. Maybe something was learned from the global condemnation of the the violent response to the protests that occurred before the 1968 Olympics in which protesters were shot. In terms of their effectiveness for fostering change, I don't think the demonstrations make any difference. "Go ahead, protest, fill your boots." And life goes on. (These are just my musings and may, in fact, be total bullshit.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88CjDBCjSAs A couple of photos of Ciudad de Mexico on a rare clear day.
The Cathedral, National Palace and Zocolo
The opulent, elegant and historic Gran Hotel de Mexico. The building that houses the hotel was originally built under the order of Hernan Cortes in 1522. Crowned by a Tiffany glass skylight it is one of the few art Nouveau buildings still standing.
The libraray
A random sculpture
Onward to Guanajuato.
An example of the drab buildings of Guanajuato
On a hike in the hills surrounding Guanajuato, I was lucky to see a maguey cactus in bloom. The Maguey is a species of agave, or century plant or American aloe and has a wide variety of uses including tequila, mezcal, pulque, fibre and aloe products. The name century plant derives from the alleged 100yr life span of the plant which is in reality 10-30yrs. After putting out a series of yellow flowers, the plant dies but sends out suckers that become new plants.
The Cathedral, National Palace and Zocolo 
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