Cancun or bust

I choose bust. Ok. So I stayed right outside of Cancun. The above was just too much for me. I know you would have stayed actually in Cancun. Where would you have stayed and what would you have done?

I stayed at the Hacienda Puerta Campeche. A hacienda is an old Mexican ranch. Many of the old haciendas are no longer working ranches but hotels and this one was great.

My room and bed was huge.

They had hammocks over the pools. Yes I said pools.

This second one was my favorite. Very relaxing.

They had a service that drove me in to take the Coba Maya Experience. I ziplined...(ok, not me. but how do you take a picture of yourself doing this?)

Anyway, we ziplined over to a cave to see a cenote.

These sink holes are all over and they are really pretty. Many haven't even been explored. Hard telling what treasures may lie there. The Mayans used to toss treasures to the underworld at sink holes like these.

Then I took a bus and toured Chichen Itza. One of the many Mayan ruins in the Yucatan peninsula.

What similarities do you see with the Mayan piramides and the Aztec piramides? (Español II)

Any differences? (Español II)

Polanco y Chapultepec

Polanco shopping was the verdict. It was a beautiful shopping district. But I have to admit shopping got boring.

And I saw this...

from one of the shopping centers. It is Parque Chapultepec. So I walked over to investigate.
There was a CASTLE! I had no idea that there were castles in Mexico. It is called Castillo de Chapultepec. So I had to find out more. Here is the scoop.

Chapultepec Castle (Castillo de Chapultepec in Spanish) is located on top of Chapultepec Hill. The name Chapultepec stems from the Náhuatl word chapoltepēc which means "at the grasshopper's hill". It is located in the middle of Chapultepec Park in Mexico City at a height of 2,325 meters (7,628 ft) above sea level. The building has served several purposes during its history, including that of Military Academy, Imperial residence, Presidential home, observatory, and finally museum. It serves today as the Museo Nacional de Historia. In the 1860's, it was greatly transformed and refurbished to be used as an imperial residence by the reigning Mexican Emperor Maximilian I, and his consort Empress Carlota, during the Second Mexican Empire.

There is also Lago Chapultepec. You can take a ride out on some little boats. See them in the bottom corner. It was fun but tiring peddling those little boogers.

Next, I visited the zoológico. They had elefantes! Mi favorito.

The jardines (gardens) were very impressive as well. I layed down and took a siesta there after taking some fotos.

Mis fotos.

Next stop??? Some where tropical. Acapulco or the very touristy Cancún?

La independencia de México

Alright so I flew into La Ciudad de México last night so that I could be here for their independence day celebration. So my first order of business was to find a hotel. I am staying at the Hotel Condesa, check out the amenities!

This is the view of my room from the outside. I got the Terrace suite.

And here is the view through mis ventanas.

¡Fabuloso!
I had some wonderful tamales and, of course, a margarita because you can't come to México and not have a margarita.

Next, I took a taxi to the Zócalo in downtown to check out the festivities.

There were traditional dancers...

of all varieties...

They really lit the place up for the evening activities...

Ok. Before I can show you anything else, I need to talk a little bit about Independence in Mexico. On 16 de septiembre de 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a catholic priest, gave El Grito de Dolores that started the Mexican fight for independence from Spain. They finally defeated Spain in 1821. So on el 16 de septiembre every year they have a big celebration. An especially big one here in the capital (which of course is why I came).

This is Mexico's presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. He comes out and gives his version of El Grito de Dolores (which was just a battle cry) and then he rings a big bell at the palace and they sing Mexico's national anthem.

And then the fuegos artificiales!!!

Each city in Mexico has fuegos artificiales and everyone has a big fiesta. It was great!

How do you celebrate the U.S.A.'s Independence Day?

Also, I am not a really great decision maker, so I need your help. You see I am in Mexico for a few days yet and where should I go next??

El Templo Mayor

or
Polanco?

Give me some good reasons why because I really am bad at decision making.