I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to explore one of the most underrated travel destinations, Mexico City, for two months. During my journey here, I’ve enriched my knowledge through the city’s vibrant culture, delicious food, and rich history.
History
It is indeed a beautiful sight to see Mexico embrace cultures from both pre-Hispanic and Hispanic times.
Mexico’s history begins with indigenous civilizations such as the Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec, and Aztec. They are known for their advancements in mathematics, engineering, architecture (they are credited with building many pyramid temples honoring Mayan deities), writing systems, and some rituals involving human sacrifices (yikes!).
In 1521, the conquistadors landed in Veracruz, Mexico, with a hunger for gold and other hidden treasures! Several battles and the slow surrender of Montezuma II marked the beginning of a 300-year colonial rule, leaving a lasting impact on the people of Mexico, the language, religion, art, architecture, and culture.
In this post, I’d like to outline parts of both cultures that are valuable to explore and experience.
If you are interested in learning more about both cultures and how only a couple of hundred conquistadors took down the entire Aztec empire (6 million people), I highly recommend reading this book.
Iconic Sites to Explore
Teotihuacan
Also known as the “Place of Gods,” it is impossible to miss the gigantic pyramid temples honoring the Mayan god of rain and water! They are known as the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon. I recommend this tour to explore this archaeological site along with its history. This tour comes with a hot air balloon ride and a traditional breakfast inside a cave.
Anthropology Museum
One cannot miss this site (especially if you are a history nerd like me) since it has many artifacts from pre-Hispanic cultures such as pottery, jewelry, and religious deities from the Aztec, Toltec, Maya, and other indigenous cultures.
If you are pressed for time, I recommend checking out the Aztec and Mayan civilization sections. Be sure not to miss the following:
Aztec Sunstone: Also known as the calendar stone, it features a central depiction of Tonatiuh, the sun god, surrounded by symbols representing the four previous eras, or "suns," and the 20-day signs of the Aztec calendar.
Headdress of Montezuma II: Adorned with giant peacock feathers, this colorful headdress is gigantic, a testament to the empire of Montezuma II. This is not to be confused with the original headdress, which resides in Austria.
Tomb of Pakal the Great: A recreation of this tomb lies in the section that depicts Mayan beliefs on the afterlife. It includes several scriptures and artwork indicating his journey into the underworld, which is where it is believed the dead live.
Chac Mool Sculpture: This is one of the oldest Mayan artifacts on display, depicting a laid-back man with a bowl on his abdomen. It is believed Chac Mool was the messenger between the gods and the people, who in his container, carries sacrifices placed by the people to the gods.
Botanical Garden
This lush botanical garden is surrounded by medicinal plants that were used in the Mayan days for healing. It also includes temple art which is a beautiful backdrop for a picture!
Castle of Chapultepec
This castle was a retreat for Aztec rulers and is also known as the “Hill of the Grasshoppers.” It later served as the residence of Austrian Emperor Maximilian I, who was installed to govern Mexico and its affairs. The European artwork and interior design in several rooms are hard to miss. Several portrayals of the Spanish conquistadors baptizing the local people adorn its walls.
A bust of Hernan Cortes is on display, but I was mildly disappointed by the lack of recognition or discussion about Malinche, a critical female figure in the fall of the Aztecs.
Fun fact: Scenes in Romeo and Juliet featuring Leonardo DiCaprio were shot here!
Foods to Try
Pulque: Pulque is a traditional Mexican drink made from the sap of the Agave cactus plant. It is also called the drink of the gods, consumed during the Aztec and pre-Hispanic times! It is said to have a lot of probiotics and very little alcohol.
Mole: This is a rich and flavorful sauce with around 40 ingredients (or more).The dominant flavor of cocoa is the first to enter the mouth, but once you look past the cocoa, you will taste hints of cinnamon, chilies, and much more.
Tacos, Chilaquiles, and Enchiladas: This goes without saying, but I would recommend trying traditional dishes known to Hispanic culture such as tacos, chilaquiles, and enchiladas.
Mezcal: Margaritas are all right, but Mezcal is more of my drink. I’d recommend a Mezcal tour, but personally, I only tried one drink and stayed away from tours in the interest of limiting my alcohol intake.
Tamales: Not much to say here, tamales are awesome! Try it?
Insects: I admit, I ate one. Or two. Or more. They were delicious, but I wonder if it was the insect itself or the spices lathered onto them.
Pre-Hispanic Ceremonies I Recommend
On days where I needed a break from my explorations, I retreated into caves or meditations, guided by chanting shamans who reminded me of the meaning of life, advising me on how to approach my next steps. I recommend the two ceremonies below:
Temazcal Healing Ceremony: Not to be confused with Mezcal, this pre-Hispanic ritual involves meditating in a sweat lodge, which looks like an igloo. Volcanic stones are set to fire while the shamans sing in front of its blaze. Medicinal herbs are thrown into the steam, and it is encouraged to breathe deeply, thinking of your rebirth! The sweat lodge is synonymous with a mother’s womb, honoring her, your birth, and positive affirmations are cited to encourage your rebirth. This was indeed one of my favorite experiences in Mexico City!
Cocoa Ceremony: I’d recommend taking an evening off to meditate, drink some pure cocoa, and participate in this ritual with some healing sounds to reconnect with feelings of love for yourself and others around you! Traditionally, people would sit in a circle, drink pure cocoa water, and have intimate and intentional conversations about life.
The above are offered via Airbnb Experiences.
Other Sites
Parque de Mexico: Some laid-back mornings were enjoyable, simply because of a short run along the lush Parque de Mexico, a wholesome brunch by one of the cafes (I recommend Maque cafe), and some silent musings in front of the glorious fountain.
A Day in Coyoacan + Frida Kahlo Museum: I absolutely loved Coyoacan as a neighborhood because of its vibrant markets and colorful houses. But what made this more fun was exploring Frida Kahlo’s home, which is now repurposed into a museum. It is an intense experience as the artifacts walk you through the several hurdles and pain the artist went through. She was not one to shy away from it, though, and embraced it through her art. She spent much of her life contemplating her self-image, which is evident through her fashion choices, many of which will be seen on display at the museum.
Heaven’s Gate Hike: This hike was a bit challenging due to the altitude, but a lot of water and electrolytes made this bearable. I recommend hiking with this tour guide since his conversations are fun and he is very prepared with harnesses to make the climb to the top of the mountain safe and fun!
Tolontongo: Sure, the locals might call this the biggest tourist trap, and it is hard not to feel this way when you are surrounded by Instagram models posing by the artificial hot springs, taking picture after picture. Despite its reputation, it is worth the experience, simply for the pictures in front of the blue waters, the beautiful caves, and the fun zip-lining ride. What I enjoyed about this tour was how well-organized it is. The tour guides ensure that you have all the supplies (towels, cave lights, etc.). I particularly enjoyed exploring the caves and the warm temperature of the waters!
All in all, this is one of my favorite travel destinations where I’ve learnt so much culture, history and a lot about myself in this healing journey!
I wanna try pulque ! Probiotic? Sign me up ?