Mexico 2019 - This and that

My friends, Michael and Cathy from Washington state came and visited Mexico City for a few days and I was happy to be their tour guide.  I met Michael some years ago in Guanajuato and we've kept in touch and see each other at least once a year.  For some reason, I didn't take any photos of them together but here's one of me and Michael.  

Despite my decision not to go back to Guanajuato after becoming disenchanted last year, I did return for a few days this year and had quite a good time.  It was good to see old friends and do some hiking in the hills.

One day I set off to downtown with a couple of specific places in mind.  One was an especially lavishly adorned church interior which turned out to be closed on that day.   But on the way I bumbled into this place:

Centro Cultural de España

The Spanish Cultural Centre promotes Spanish culture in Mexico and fosters integration with Mexican culture. Housed in another one of those beautiful colonial buildings, there are galleries and studios, a restaurant

In the basement there's even an Aztec archeological find in situ.

and a rooftop with great views.  
 

Right next door to the Spanish Cultural Center was El Colegio Nacional, a Mexican honorary academy with a strictly limited membership created by presidential decree in 1943 in order to bring together the country's foremost artists and scientists.  Yes, another gorgeous colonial building.

With art

And beautiful gardens

The ever-present Frida
 

Mexico 2019 - Radishes, flowers, etc

One day I happened upon a photography exhibit in the main Zocalo of Noche de Los Rábanos, Night of the Radishes, an event that has been going on in Oaxaca for over a hundred years.  Every year over a hundred competitors carve radishes to create different scenes, predominately the nativity.  Radishes are specially grown for this and some weigh several kilos.  On December 23, the radishes are displayed, judged and admired by huge crowds of people.  

The day before Valentines Day I visited the Mercado Jamaica, the principal flower market in the city.  Like everything in Mexico City, it is on a grand scale and outlandish. 

 

Mexico 2019 - Another Sunday in Centro and Ciclovia

Yes, another Sunday, another Ciclovia.  This Sunday I rode downtown and spent some time wandering around seeing what there was to see, photographing what there was to photograph.

Dancing to his own drummer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=JLPYGBoD3uE 

 Sculpture by Leonora Carrington, an English artist, surrealist painter, and novelist, very popular in Mexico. She lived most of her adult life in Mexico City, and was one of the last surviving participants in the Surrealist movement of the 1930s.  Carrington was also a founding member of the Women's Liberation Movement in Mexico during the 1970s.

 Ex Convent Regina

 Sights around Regina St

 One man's sculpture, another man's bed

Cycling back home