Dan Will Travel

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Begun in 1904 but not completed until 1934 due to political issues and of course that ongoing issue of the sinking soil of Mexico City. It is just a spectacular building featuring art Nouveau exterior styling with a true art deco interior. And, featuring many world class murals including the redo of Diego Rivera’s masterpiece, Man, Controller of the Universe. He originally did this in Rockefeller center in New York, but Nelson Rockefeller, seeing that Lenin was included in the mural had it totally removed. So, Riviera redid it here. The opulence of the building and its main actual use for performing arts creates a strong sense of tension with the muralists who emphasized the plight of the workers and the revolutionary causes they represented. You have to wonder what the wealthy patrons thought as they were sort of forced to see all of these murals?

The entry way ceiling of the Bellas Artes.

Look at these classic Art Deco doors for entry into the seating area. Just amazing work.

I took this to show the size and scale of the murals and the amazing setting they were put into. The went fully around this floor.

This is Diego Rivera’s masterpiece from 1934, “Man, Controller of the universe.” First done in Rockefeller Center. I normally do not like people in photos, but this is good here to show the size of his work.

This close up within the mural shows protesters asking for food and being beaten by the police. The street sign in the background? Wall Street. Pretty profound statement on the depression.

Close up part of the mural pushing workers to unite.

What a graphic statement on war, which in 1934 was looming in Europe. Also within the main Rivera work. What makes his murals so amazing is that there are so many different stories woven into each masterpiece.

What a classic door design, enveloped in shadows.

Posted: December 13, 2019 by admin

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Mexico City Overview

What an amazing world class city. As Americans, we currently are subjected to all of the right wing fear mongering about Mexican people. If you go to Mexico City, you will clearly see Mexico and Mexicans in a totally different light. This is a vibrant, European-like city with astounding museums, architecture, history, restaurants, grand avenues with great sculptures and their famous murals scattered all over with a world class metro system to move all of these people around. And there are lots of them. Maybe in some ways of measuring, the most of any city in the world. and all at 7,500′ elevation. And sinking, but that is another story.

El Caballito, the little horse. By Sebastian in 1992. Just one of many superior sculptures in the city.

The interior courtyard of the archaeological museum. It is considered to be one of the finest in the world and I surely agree. They created complete rooms for each key period and they were just outstandingly done. But, it was the breadth and quality of their historical cultures that made this possible in the first place.

I loved this shot, particularly since it was not me up there. The cathedral in the background we will cover later. I think they are setting up for some Christmas thing in the Zocalo.

You will see Poinsettia’s in many of my shots here in Mexico City. Afraid to risk my life out in the street, this is a lousy shot, but these median strips with them go on for MILES. One could suggest that there might be better uses of scarce funds, but it does look nice and festive. Maybe they are perennial and are here every year? I do not know.

At least 2 of the top restaurants in the world are here. Quintonil has some ranking of 24th best in the world. I somehow got in for lunch and then talked my way into the final dinner seating the next night. What follows are two food shots that I never do, but you can see why. And the cost for appetizer, main course, dessert, and plenty of drinks? Well under $100! If you are a foodie, this city should get on your list. For quality and price.

My Quintonil appetizer. Tamale beautifully decorated and sitting atop a bed of moist crab meat.

Snapper with a lime sauce accented with grasshopper flakes. Look at the mole on the right. as artistic as any dish I have seem. Also with grasshopper flavoring.

What is that loud sound you hear over the din of the city everywhere? The organ grinders! I loved that her grinder included 2 Christmas dolls.

Sculpture in the huge park, Bosque de Chapultepec

Posted: December 11, 2019 by admin

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Mitla

Mitla is much later and smaller than Monte Alban, flourishing around 1350. It is unusual in that the current town of Mitla basically was built over the ruins and they all sort of co-mingle today. The stone carving is astounding and the ability to just crawl into a tomb is really something. Well, as long as you do not mind crawling into a tomb….

After you finish that crawling around, then you can visit the current town which goes as far as I have ever seen to decorate for Christmas. They hang darn near anything and everything over the main street. Kites, baskets, bicycle rims, and those amazing umbrellas.