Cultural Immersion: Mexico City (Mexico)

▪ The country (United Mexican States/ Mexico)

Mexico flag - Read more

Mexico is a country between the U.S. and Central America that's known for its Pacific and Gulf of Mexico beaches and its diverse landscape of mountains, deserts and jungles. Ancient ruins such as Teotihuacan (Aztec) and Chichen Itza (Mayan) are scattered throughout the country, as are Spanish colonial-era towns.

Mexico map - Read more

Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and it's considered a charming and very versatile city. Magnificent buildings and museums, old churches and green parks that seem to spread peace border with lively and too noisy streets. 

▪ Tourist spots

▪ Castillo de Chapultepec
Castillo de Chapultepec was built between 1780 and 1790 on the site of an Aztec fort. The castle provides beautiful panoramic views of the city.  Initially, the building was occupied by Military Academy, and then it served as an official royal residence. In 1939, by order of President Cardenas, the castle became the location of the National History Museum (Museo Nacional de Historia). (Read more)

▪ Palace of Fine Arts. 
The construction of the Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) was started in 1904, made as a combination of the neoclassical style and Art Nouveau and the interior is made in the art deco style. Fans of art will be definitely not disappointed by murals made by Rivera, Siqueiros, Orozco, Tamayo and Montenegro. The glass curtain by Tiffany also deserves a special attention. The curtain is made of almost a million parts. Modern Mexican landscape painter Dr. Atl used them as a canvas and drew volcanoes of Mexico on the curtain. (Read more)

 ▪ Templo Mayor 
The Templo Mayor (Spanish for "Great Temple") was one of the main temples of the Aztecs in their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. Its architectural style belongs to the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica. The temple was called the huei teocalli in the Nahuatl language and dedicated simultaneously to two gods, Huitzilopochtli, god of war, and Tlaloc, god of rain and agriculture, each of which had a shrine at the top of the pyramid with separate staircases. The spire in the center of the image to the right was devoted to Quetzalcoatl in his form as the wind god, Ehecatl. (Read More)

▪ Zócalo
The heart of Mexico City is Zócalo (The Birthplace of the Constiution), the place is where the the contry’s first constitution was proclaimed in 1813. It’s also one of the largest squares and was laid out almost immediately after the conquest of the former Aztec city of Tenochtitlan on which it stands. (Read more)

▪ The National Museum of Anthropology
The National Museum of Anthropology lies in Chapultepec  Park and is hard to miss due to the incradible contemporary architecture. Built in 1964, the museum displays old Indian art treasures, the  most notably in the Central Patio, parto f which is is roofed by gigantic Stone shelter supported by na 11-meter-tall column with waterfalls symbolizing the eternal cycle of life. (Read more)

▪ Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
One of the oldest and largest churches in the western hemisphere, built atop part of the old Aztec temple precinct, construction of this massive basalt and grey sandstone structure began in 1525 and extended over 250 years. (Read more)

▪ Cuisine

Posole

The local cuisine can be called one of the major national attractions. It is truly original and unique. Corn and corn flour occupy the honorable place in the national cuisine. These ingredients are added in literally every dish.

Corn tortillas "tacos," which are baked with various fillings, are the most beloved dish among local people. Among the meat dishes the most popular one is, without a doubt, “posoles "- deep fried meat in corn flour. 

Tacos

The most famous drinks are Horchata (made with rice, almonds, cinnamon, and sugar), Licuados (various fruits mixed with either orange juice or milk and zizzed in a blender), and Aguas Frescas (made with fruit and water in a blender). Healthier, tastier, and cheaper than refrescos (soft drinks), the drinks come in every flavor, color, and size imaginable.

Horchata

Aguas Frescas

▪ Habits

Local residents are talented and friendly people. These are great musicians, dancers and acrobats. They are happy to show their skills to visitors, so while walking around the city you can see funny street musicians and become a witness of an enchanting performance. 

Street Performer

Many locals people may seem even overly helpful and friendly. Women here can hear numerous compliments and praising. Such attitude is normal here and should not cause any embarrassment. In their turn, local people also expect courteous and polite attitude. You cannot afford any negligence even with strangers - it can severely hurt local people or cause uproar. Despite their love to different kinds of celebrations, local people have rather reserved attitude to alcohol. Appearing drunk in a public place is considered a sign of bad manners and disrespect to others.

▪ Famous personalities

                 

                            Anahí Giovanna Puente Portilla                                Roberto Gómez Bolaños (Chespirito)

                                Singer, Songwriter, Actress                                 Screenwriter, Actor, Comedian, Film Director,                                                                                                                    Television Director, Songwrither, Playwright, Author

       

▪ Music

▪ Son

Its formal structure is based on the alternation of instrumental sections and the singing of short poetic units called coplas. The mode is usually major, with harmonic vocabulary mostly limited to progressions drawing from I, IV, II7, V and V5. Triple meter (6/8, 3/4, or a combination of both) predominates, with many exceptions in duple meter.^[1]

Son is performed most often by giant ensembles in which string instruments predominate, with notable region-specific exceptions like marimba ensembles and wind ensembles.

▪ Ranchera

Ranchera is a genre of the traditional Mexican music originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco.

Ranchera today is also played by norteño (Conjunto) or banda. Drawing on rural traditional folk music, ranchera developed as a symbol of a new national consciousness in reaction to the aristocratic tastes of the period. Traditional rancheras are about love, patriotism or nature. Rhythms can be in 3/4, 2/4 or 4/4, reflecting the tempo of, respectively, the waltz, the polka, and the bolero. 

▪ Corrido
Corrido music is a popular narrative song of poetry form, a ballad. Various themes are featured in Mexican corridos, and corrido lyrics are often old legends (stories) and ballads about a famed criminal or hero in the rural frontier areas of Mexico.

A common example is "la Cucaracha" which is derived from an Arabic sailors' song from the Moors prior the Reconquista. The corrido has a rhythm similar to that of the European waltz; corridos, like rancheras, have introductory instrumental music and adornos interrupting the stanzas of the lyrics. However, unlike rancheras, the rhythm of a corrido remains fairly consistent, rancheras can be played at a variety of rhythms. Corridos often tell stories, while rancheras are for dancing.

▪ Cost of living

Living in Mexico City can be an amazingly cost-effective experience, especially if you're earning the US dollar or similar. Most things are astoundingly cheap. The subway is 3 pesos per ride (24 cents), produce (especially from the market) is bountiful and inexpensive, and you can rent a room for as little as 2000 pesos a month ($158). 

Of course, you can spend serious money in Mexico City if you drive, shop at Antara and other top malls, rent a fancy Polanco condo, and eat at restaurants in La Condesa. However, if you take public transportation, cook with market food or eat at street stands, really scour the rental listings, drink at cantinas, and buy your clothes/house supplies at discount grocers or markets you can live like a king on your home currency (or comfortably on the peso). (Read more)

source: numbeo.com

▪ Climate

Because of its location on a high plateau and its high elevation Mexico City enjoys mild, pleasant weather nearly all year. Winters are very mild. The temperature in winter averages between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius (high 68 to 74° Fahrenheit) and in summer the average temperature is around 28 degrees Celsius (83° Fahrenheit). 

October through May is the city's dry season, which means this period has very little rain. From June through September is considered the "rainy season". During the summer months it rains on average once a day, though the rain rarely lasts longer than a few hours. 

What's the best time to travel to Mexico City in Mexico? Here are some facts: 

• -On average, the warmest month(s) are April and May.
• -Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in June, July, August and September.
• -Mexico City has dry periods in January, February, March, April, November and December.
• -On average, the warmest month is May.
• -On average, the coolest month is January.
• -July is the wettest month.
• -February is the driest month.
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• Source: https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,mexico-city,Mexico

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