Zoologico de Chapultepec

The Chapultepec zoo is free! Which we haven't heard of before. To our surprise, it turned out to be beautiful and the settings were quite fun and well planned. We were worried to actually find the animals in small, dirty cages but we ended up spending the whole day in it.


The butterfly sanctuary had zen music, a waterfall and the whole nine yards. YESH!


Kevin wants to be in National Geographic...


PURRRRRR...


Canadian wolves! (They had raccoons too... oh the irony).


Toucans. Enough said.


J'adore les giraffes!!!! (Did you know that a giraffe gives birth standing? Imagine how high the newborns fall from)


A big favorite. Looks familiar, though...


Baby spider monkey!!! Drool, drool and more drool. This tiny thingy was so cute to watch.


Kevin making his first mexican friend (Although the monkey was from Japan...)

Atotonilco

The last day in San Miguel we decided to follow a dirt path thruogh an arch that read "Agua bedita" (Holly water). We were about to give up 10 minutes after with nothing but dust. And then... THEN!!!! We spoted some people, and then a religious market, and finally the most incredible, old, magical church of all times: Atotonilco!!!


The surprise at the end of the road


Shopping for "ex votos"


The Chapel of The Holy Rosary, also known as the "Sistine Chapel of the Americas", with some damage caused by earthquakes.


The Chapel was considered one of the most endangered sacred places on Earth, but it has been undergoing some renovation works. Thousands of pilgrims visit this tiny place many times a year.


Judas with the Devil on his back.


All the paintings in this church were done by a mexican indian (with no training in Arts!!!!!) called Miguel Antonio Martinez de Pocasangre. They cover most of the walls and ceilings and are truly fantastic.

San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel is 4 1/2 hours from Mexico City. It's a colonial city full of handicraft shops. We stayed in a surreal complex called "Casa de aves", that has little houses in the most beautiful style, a farm, a pool and a restaurant by a lake. We booked it on Internet and got scared after driving for 15 minutes on a gravel road. But as soon as we got there, we did not want to leave!


Kevin at "Casa de aves"


Our living room


Do peacocks eat ketchup?

AT THE CITY

Church of Saint Michael the Archangel. So beautiful it seemed fake... during the night of november 2nd, all the churches play their bells all night long, guiding the Dead to the city.


Crosses anyone?


Mariachis!!! The whole town was partying at the principal plaza, with music, live comedy shows and of course... food! lots of food!


At the principal plaza eating "elotes" (corn) with mayonaise, cheese and chilli pepper.


Day of the dead market


A few "diablitos" drinking "mezcal" (A sort of tequila drink)


Even the cars are decorated for the Day of the Dead.

Colonia Roma

This neighborhood is very charming. It's full of small galleries and it felt very bohemian.




This is a horrendous copy of Michelangelo's David (And they admit it). It's hilarious.


A mexican ambulance (For real).


Spider Man is mexican!!!!!!!!!!!


Kevin posing in front of the gallery dedicated to "The blue devil", a favorite luchador.


A mexican squirrel!!! Whe you thought you've seen enough...

El Dia de los muertos

The "Day of the dead" in Mexico is celebrated november 1st and 2nd. All throught the country altars are made for the dead that are supposed to return in those dates. People stay awake all night and dance and drink in the cemetries. It's my favorite holiday!


Adults and children dress up and go around asking for "calaveritas". In Mexico instead of candy people share money.


This "ring girl" was part of a giant octogon where skeletons were fighting "lucha libre" style.


Altar dedicated to Frida Kahlo.


Mexican pumpkins!


A mini city filled with children-skeletons. Decease children are particularly remembered these dates.

Los voladores

All throughout Mexico this impressive ritual is performed. It consists of five men dressed in a traditional Totonaco costume, one of them plays a flute and the rest spin upside down around a VERY high pole with NO safety net (It is breathtaking).


The Voladores are getting ready by spinning the pole so that the ropes can twist around it.


The Musician climbs up. He stays in the ceter of the pole, playing sacred tunes to the 4 winds.




The descent starts. We held our breath!






They look very focused and calm, as if they were meditating. Me? I would be throwing up...


They land gracefully (for everybody's relief), we are talking of a pole that is at least 5 stories high. I don't understand how on earth can they walk straight after that.