lori

We will be in Mexico City with our 3 teenagers for 6 days in June. Besides the pyramids, Chapultepec, museums of anthropology and history, can anyone recommend some other fun activities in or near the city? How about good men's shoe stores or department stores?<BR>Thanks!

the yman

Id recommend leaving mexico city for a few of the days and going to Cuernavaca. Its smaller and much more historic

Susan

We just got back from Mexico City last Friday night. What an interesting city! There are loads of museums and sites to see. One morning we went to Coyoacan to see the Frida Kahlo museum. Definitely worth seeing and that area is very pretty. In the afternoon, we went back to the zocalo (where we were staying) and went to the Ministry of Public Education. It's only a couple of blocks from the zocalo and is in a building which was once a convent. The walls of the 3 floors surrounding the courtyard are covered with Diego Rivera murals. There's also another museum nearby with a modern artist (Jose Luis Cuevas) - there is a statue of an 8 ton bronze woman in the courtyard. (One of the rooms has some very erotic and explicit etchings.) <BR><BR>Also around the zocalo is a men's hat store. My husband bought a panama hat there - not cheap, but very good quality. Can't remember any particular shoe stores - there seemed to be whole streets of them near the zocalo. <BR><BR>Unfortunately we weren't there on a Saturday, but I've heard that the Bazar Sabado in San Angel is good. We did go to La Ciudadela, another market, and it was pretty good. Some interesting items for sale. <BR><BR>The pyramids are pretty amazing. Make sure you wear a hat - there is no shade. <BR><BR>You will probably notice many armed guards in the city. We thought that there were more this time around than the other time we visited (a few years ago). <BR><BR>Enjoy your trip!

Jason

I agree --- I studied spanish in Cuernavaca for approximately a month --- it was absolutely a great experience; Taxco is a small town nearby known for their Silver mines; but Cuernavaca is a great (must) place to check out --- Las Mananitas is a great restaurant/hotel in Cuern. and if your teens are old enough --- there are great discos, bars around town with a moderate number of americans students lingering around due to the high number of language schools ---- Cuernavaca is fairly classy as many wealthy people from Mexico City have second houses there where they go on the weekend ---

Dud

Its worth taking a trip over to the cuernavaca area. From the southern Mexico City bus terminal, Tasquena, its only an hour or a little more. Once in Cuernava there is lots to see. Also you might want to take a taxi to Tepotzlan. Which is a little town outside of Cuernavaca. It is best for the Sunday market. Like another response said Taxco is really interesting, but it is nearly two hours from Cuernavaca, so you would probably be looking at an overnight stay before you returned to D.F.

Earl

Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world and a magnificent place to visit. With only 6 days you will not begin to see all of the fantastic things that this beautiful city has to offer. <BR>Forget about leaving town, except for a day trip to Teotihuacan and the pyramids. This will be a mystical experience, and an all day adventure. On the way stop off at the Basilica de Guadalupe, one of the most sacred places in Mexico. The Museum of Anthropology will also take most of a day (or more), if you are at all interested in antiquities.<BR>Wander the streets of Centro Historico, an area of 500 square blocks that surround the Zocalo. People watch and shop around the square. While there visit the Templo Mayor archaeological site and museum. <BR>Fantastic murals by Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros and Tamayo cover the walls of many of the government buildings. Visit the Palacio Nacional and the Catedral Metropolitana.<BR>Walk from the Zocolo to the Alameda Central tour the Palacio Bellas Artes, and don't forget to get tickets to see the Ballet Foklorico de Mexico, performed in this magnificent theater. <BR>A short distance away is Museo Mural Diego Rivera, I have spent hours staring at this magnificent work of art. <BR>Spend Sunday in Chapultepec Park and visit the historic sites located there. A trip to the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco is also an excellent way to spend half a day.<BR>During daylight hours, ride the Metro. The system will take you almost anywhere in the city for 1 1/2 pesos. It is a safe way to travel, be alert, as you would in any major city. <BR>Sorry about the long post. As you can probably tell I get really wound up about this city and it's attractions. Eme if I can be of any assistance.<BR>

Susan

Earl, your enthusiasm is wonderful! I know that when people knew that we were going to Mexico City (after a week at a beach), most people reacted with alarm (it's dangerous, polluted, etc.). You summed up much better than I did how I felt about our stay there. This was our second visit (first was only a couple of days), and we'll definitely go back.