Mexico City

Welcome to Mexico City - the city of very large flags.

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We arrived this evening (29th)...after 11 hour flight. Just glad to be on terra firma. Trip from hell in a taxi from the airport to the hotel  - went via the Red Light district, so first impression is of a rather seedy city - but happy to say that there is a lot more to it than that.

We are staying on the main square (Zocalo), right opposite the Presidential Palace, and adjacent to the main Cathedral. The square is the third largest in the world, after Tiannamen (Beijing)) and Red Square (Moscow). In the centre of the square is a very LARGE flag.

It is now hosting a large Christmas market, and a full size ice rink, which would put the London one to shame. Mind you, every morning it looks like a small lake!

Thursday...

We decided to stretch our legs. More than anticipated, walked the feet of ourselves.

The Cathedral seen from the Templo Mayor.

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Maybe not the best city to walk in as it is heavily polluted - 9 million people live here, and seems like every one has a car, as the city is always gridlocked.

The good thing is that the city has so much to see, so many statues, parks, and the architecture mixes very old (the Templo Mayor) with the ultra modern Stock Exchange, which is cutting edge architecture.

Tested the underground system - not as crowded as London, and trains seem to arrive every minute.

Pleasant climate right now in Mexico City, and it was a sunny day, but the heavens opened in the evening so we dashed for cover in a market.