We have not seen the stalkers, Andrew Buzzi and Henry Maniace, since San Diego in 2024. Recently Dick informed us he would like to be referred to as Henry which is his given name at birth; Henry Richard, therefore no more Dick. We have been together in so many cities around the world that we will not even try to list them all. We have been together in the continents of Asia, North America, Africa and Europe. We have seen them move from Boston to Berlin and Spain and then back to the US where they now live in Palm Springs California. We have visited them in all of their residences multiple times and even lived in the same building with them in Boston for over 30 years. Needless to say we were very happy to welcome them to our home in Polanco, Mexico City.
They arrived on Sunday March 1 from Palm Springs via Phoenix.On day 1 we took an Uber to the northern cablecar, line 1, so that they could see a new part of the city from above. Andrew did quite well even though he is deathly afraid of heights. He is nauseous here.This photo is deceiving because we are really not that high. This vantage point definitely reveals the poverty below.We took the metro to the city center. Andrew is feeling much better with his feet on solid ground. This is a small church, Iglesia de San Hipolito in the Hidalgo area. We had lunch in a small restaurant on the edge of Almeda Central Park..After lunch we walked through Almeda Central Park to Palacio de Bellas Artes. We were not able to see the magnificent murals inside as it was closed on Monday.Across the street from Palacio de Bellas Artes is a still open Art Deco Sears building. It is run by Grupo Carso which is totally owned by Carlos Slim Helú, one of the richest men in the world. The tall building is Torre Latinoamericano which was the tallest building in Latin America when it was built. It has survived many earthquakes. We went to the top for a drink in 2018.Our next stop was the Palacio de Correos de Mexico, Post Office. This part of the post office was not open for viewing with Henry (aka Dick) and Andrew. This picture and the following information is from our blog of 2018. The design of the Post Office is an eclectic mix of styles, with Moorish, Spanish and Venetian Renaissance, Neoclassical and Art Deco details, all supported by a steel frame that has allowed the building to survive earthquakes and sinking that has claimed many other buildings. This was one of the sets of a bank in the Bond movie License to Kill.Next stop was Sanborns which has this original snaking soda fountain counter. It is housed in a historic blue tiled building in Centro.The rest of Sanborns is huge with two floors of multiple dining rooms and other retail stores. This is the stairs to the second floor with a mural and beautiful ceiling.The mural and ceiling.
After touring Sanborn’s we walked down the bustling busy, pedestrian only street, Avenue Francisco I. Madero as we headed to the Zocalo which is the Historic center of Mexico City and encompasses Constitution Plaza.Workers disassemble the staging that was up for a recent free Shakira concert.Catedral Metropolitano is built on land of mystical origin. It is the spiritual center of the Aztec capital. The style is described as Gothic, Plateresque, Baroque, Neoclassical. Groundbreaking was 1573 and completion was 1813.We browsed our local book store cafe, Cafebreiria El Péndulo and had breakfast there. Much like the Trident Booksellers and Cafe in Boston which is a combination bookstore and cafe.This is our apartment on the ninth floor of the building.We took them to the Soumaya Museum. The building is named after Lebanese-Mexican Soumaya Domit Gemayel who is the late wife of Carlos Slim Helú.This private museum is free and has over 66,000 works from 30 centuries of art. This is the private collection of Carlos Slim Helú and is quite overwhelming which means that we didn’t spend much time there.It also has an extensive collection of Rodin bronze sculptures.Henry loves Cuernavaca and booked us for one night at the Relais & Chateau Las Maňanitas Hotel. We took an Uber from Mexico City to Cuernavacas.The garden and grounds are a beautiful respite from the traffic and noise of the city.We so enjoyed these macaw parrots who roamed the grounds freely.Posing for a picture.And this guy showed up peeking around a bush.Strutting his stuff.And then he posed for a picture.And more wildlife.
A video of the turtles also roaming the grounds.Pre dinner drinks.The meals were delicious and served on lovely blue and white pottery designed for the Inn. Sandy and Henry considered buying some from the gift shop but it was quite heavy and very expensive.Sandy’s BD dessert.Henry and Andrew enjoyed the pool.Do you spy the flamingo?The peacock climbed this tree but we did not get a photo of it.We took an afternoon walk and visited the town church.Very small but quite a lot of afternoon activity.Now that is a great mural.The city had many wonderful murals.Pet store?Back in Mexico City we took them to Coyoacan to visit the house museum of Leon Trotsky.Trotsky was killed here. He and his wife are buried in the garden along with his last surviving relative, a grandson who died in 2023.Coyoacan Jim loves the many vintage Volkswagen Beetles.Casa Azul, family home of Frida Khalo. The three amigos; hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil. A recreation of a photo from years ago in Barcelona..2014 Barcelona.
We had lunch at San Angel Inn. This is a video of Sandy’s filet mignon being prepared table side.Andrew enjoys flea markets and shopping for vintage clothing. We found this one Sunday morning in Buenavista.There is a distinct disadvantage when you do not speak Spanish and you want to know how much an item is.🤷♀️Vasconcelos Library has a collection of over 600,000 volumes. It is designed to hold up to 2 million books.St Augustin parish church in Polanco is very elegant.Today it is adorned with Lillies for a wedding.A view of the church from our living room window.On their last night we went to the Ritz to dine at the Cipriani restaurant which was quite disappointing. Not recommended by us.And back to Palm Springs for these two. Thank you for coming to Mexico to wish Sandy a Happy 80th Birthday.
As always it is so nice to have friends come to visit and share our adventures in foreign cities. Given the track record of Henry (aka Dick)and Andrew we are sure that this will not be their last visit.
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