The Overwhelming Effect of Times Past

One must wait one's turn to take a photo of the Sun Stone, I've avoided including a stranger but the average visitor does give a sense of scale, so here you will have to imagine yourself that the plinth is about nearly twice the height of most adults.  But it is the overwhelming scale, science and detail of  this sculpture that suggests the inexorable lose that all civilisations must come to, the brevity of all things,that is unavoidably effecting.

Homage to the Rain Gods -by Pedro Ramirez Vazquez's

The Museo Nacional de Antropologia of Mexico would be worth a visit for any of its several salons, or for just the building itself, it's central patio with the fantastically over-sized fountain seems the perfect homage to the Rain Gods.  It cools the plaza, provides a sense of la vida aqua, and a wonderful metaphor about cycles of life and culture, and a temptation to take a quick shower.

Sitting on Your Hand - Suite Seats in La Avenida Reforma

The possibilities for puns come in spades on the subject of this witty bench seat in Mexico City's  Avenida Reforma. This is one of series of witty benches on Reforma that make taking the weight off your feet a bit of an art happening.  Perhaps diamonds are your behind's best friend?

Hats Off to Mr Gamio

Though it seems surprising to me that the Aztec Temple Mayor  had not been noticed before ,credit for its rediscovery goes to  the proto-anthropologist- archeologist Mr Manuel Gamio.  He seems like a thoroughl likeable man, I imagine him tipping his felt Homburg to las senoras as he crossed the Zocalo every day, his careful recording of the findings made with ink pen dipped into the  lovely ink set on his desk, and  his own hidden treasures, sweet for his grandchildren  waiting in an apothecary jar. 

Life is Sweet

It seems every corner in Mexico Cityhas its vendor of sweets, soft drinks and varieties of small crisp potato or plaintain snacks.  There is a charming riot of colour, a Willy Wonkerish feeling of sweet invention. On the other hand, the bus that goes by with the public health announcement that one in every three children in Mexico will become diabetic is not so sweet at all.

Elegantly elatable caged air

 

The Gran Hotel Cuidad de Mexico was once a department store. With its finely wrought  Elevador, the second in the city, and its Tiffany stained glass ceiling,  it is quintessentially fancy Victoriana. The feeling of an overly large boudoir gains some traction with those red velvet sofas in the Lobby.  The floral filigree metal detail and pretty ceiling must have incited some serious spending as the 20th century set off for somewhere lofty.

 

Mexico City -Temple Mayor's Early Steampunk

The Museo de Templo Mayor, improbably, or not so improbably, sits right on the edge of  Mexico City's main plaza. Nothing like conquerers to expunge and willfully forget the indigenous culture. This piece from the Museo of the  Temple Mayor seems to have forseen such a possibilty and, speaks daggers about the new guys in town.  And it also is the bona fide first instance of steam punk ever .

Tea, Set and Match, Way Past the Paleo

The time for diets, sugar-free, dairy don't shows, gluten goners, caffeine can'ters,  is not Easter at my home.  A few days of prep, pastry and  fillings made for empanadas, the saffron aioli and just picked parsley put to work in chicken sandwich fillings, lemon curd set and whipped cream peaked into soft clouds ready for that double layer, meringue topped pound cake, the lemon hero of the day,  alfojores jammed together with coconut spread,  a silky ricotta cake pretending to be humble, points of watermelon standing to attention,  the smoked  trout pate basking in a terrine once owned by Elizabeth David, savoury potato foccacio plated, and coupe of chocolate eggs, a  hutch of chocolate bunnies and cups and cups and cups. Full cream tea ahead!