Monday was a real tempete de ciel bleu (a storm of blue skies), so we took to the Historic Center again to enjoy the beautiful day and visit some places we had missed the first time around. It was, perhaps, not the smartest day to go since museums are closed Mondays, and we had at least three in mind to visit; despite our initial day plans being dashed, there was plenty to keep us occupied.

Casa de los Azulejos

Casa de los Azulejos, now a department store/restaurant, Sanborns

Underground/open-air book sale

Equestrian statue of Charles IV in front of el Museo Nacional de Arte (closed Mondays)

Palacio de Correos de Mexico, the Post Palace

Exchange gift from France under Jacques Chirac

Bellas Artes, where brilliant idea was hatched.

As we were sitting on the steps of the Bellas Artes museum (having just been informed that it too was closed Monday but nonetheless enjoying our pastries we had purchased that morning), Julien had the brilliant idea that the tall, aesthetically unpleasing Latino Americana building in front of us might have visits to the top to provide views of Mexico City. A squint of the eyes on my part confirmed the presence of a sign stating mirador, or lookout, and we headed straight to the ticket office, paid our 160 pesos, and zipped up to the top floor.

Ever since David told us that on a clear day you can see the two volcanoes that flank the south of the city, we have been on the lookout for the snow-capped volcanoes, and from the top of the Latino Americana we were just barely able to catch a glimpse of Popocatépetl, a volcano whose cap vaguely looks like the shape of a woman lying on her side. It’s that poof of white that looks like  a cloud to the left of the photo.

One more time around the tower, around the city, this time with the GoPro photos.

We were able to see what appeared to be mountains all around the city which really made sense when, later that evening, we learned that Mexico City is in a valley, surrounded by high plateaus. Despite being in a valley, we’re at an altitude of about 2,000m.

Two more museum rejections still made for a beautiful walk, but also called for a drink

Perhaps it was the heat, perhaps it was the few sips of beer on a pretty empty stomach, but here Julien was philosophizing about the hundreds of people that had no doubt enjoyed a cool refreshment from the obviously well-used XX bottle.