Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
This is: Canada & Mexico 2011
Farewell to the city
Once again, it was an early start with breakfast in the Executive Lounge. Although this was the day on which we would take our leave of the big, bad city, we had the whole morning available and some unfinished business to attend to in the Centro Historico. We began by catching a cab to the Torre Latinoamericana, which of course we had seen from the street the previous day. Dating from 1956, this landmark skyscraper was Mexico's tallest building until 1984. It has won international recognition as the world's first major skyscraper to be successfully built in a highly active earthquake zone.
The tower was very quiet at that time of a weekday morning and we were able to ride the elevator to the observation decks without delay. The views were impressive despite the presence of smog (already!) and nagging thoughts about the possibility of an earthquake.
Returning once more to terra not-so-firma, we walked the short distance to the Palacio Postal, also known as the Palacio de Correos de Mexico - a beautiful building both outside and in. Its relatively short life has been eventful. Built in the early 20th Century, it was heavily modified in the 1950s in a way that lessened its structural integrity. It then suffered heavy damage in the 1985 earthquake before being restored to its original condition in the 1990s.
After a quick look, we only had to cross the
street to reach our next objective, the strikingly beautiful
Palacio de Bellas Artes. Dating from 1934, this Art Nouveau and
Art Deco masterpiece is Mexico's most important cultural centre and
is sometimes dubbed 'Cathedral of the Arts'. It has regular
performances in music, dance, theatre and opera and also hosts major
exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography.
The outside is white Italian marble with ornate
domes and sculptures; inside is an Art Deco extravaganza with red
marble columns, black marble floors, and four storeys
of balconies, grillwork and classic light fixtures.
We then took a quick stroll the city's oldest park, Alameda Central. Apart from the unexpected features of a Parisian-style Metro entrance and a Beethoven monument (nicely tying in with where this trip started for me!), the park had a somewhat down-at-heel feel and didn't seem like a place where we would want to spend any length of time.
It was an easy matter to catch a cab at the nearby Hilton and return to the Sheraton Maria Isabel. We had lunch in our well-loved Lobby Bar before taking our leave and enduring a boiling-hot cab ride to the airport's mega-chaotic Terminal 2. It's probably a case of the least said the better, as this was a fairly disastrous airport experience. Huge queues just to check in were attributed to the introduction of a new computer system, which seemed to be causing the staff all manner of difficulties. Additionally, the building was too warm, there was no lounge access available, the boarding gates were shambolic and the bus transfer to the aircraft verged on the farcical. All in all, it was an unfortunate manner in which to end a hugely enjoyable stay in Mexico City.
(Link to flight log in side panel)
The contrast at Campeche Airport could hardly have been greater. The little terminal seemed very new and was basically deserted. It was interesting to watch a sniffer dog at work on the baggage carousel, doing its job while negotiating the obstacle course that was constantly advancing towards it. In no time at all, we were in a cab and bound for the Hacienda Puerta Campeche, already aware that the return to sea level had been accompanied by a rise in temperature of several degrees. A warm welcome awaited us at this gorgeous property, including a refreshing drink in the library and an introductory tour of the complex. As we settled into our room, some complimentary wine and cheese arrived and, a little later, we maintained the established tradition of first-night room service.