An Unexplored Metropolis: Mexico City’s Rich History and Undeniable Charm
Dear reader, perhaps today you find yourself in the same place as the song suggests: in familiar surroundings, with the same people, and without time or money to explore distant lands. You might even cringe at the mere mention of “summer” or “vacation.” However, take heart: Mexico City, the very ground beneath your feet, boasts a captivating past and present that still holds untold stories. Consider it your next travel destination.
From Ancient Capital to Modern Metropolis
Once known as the “Lady of Anáhuac,” when it was the capital of the mighty Aztec Empire, Mexico City was later buried under the 150,000 pairs of boots brought by Cortés, the Conqueror, from across the seas. Later, Viceroy Revillagigedo attempted to revitalize the city by paving streets around the Plaza Mayor, installing streetlights, and constructing grand avenues that served as promenades and promised grandeur.
A City Through Time
As time marched on, Alejandro de Humboldt, a curious and awestruck traveler, dubbed Mexico City “the City of Palaces” in the early 19th century. Carlos Fuentes later referred to it as “the most transparent region of the air,” and a United Nations report declared it the largest metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest urban agglomeration globally, after Tokyo.
Early Travelers and Their Impact
Many foreign visitors came to the New World, documenting the city’s history from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, effectively promoting Mexico City as a tourist destination. Mexicans like Luis González Obregón, born in Guanajuato in 1865 and passed away in 1938, compiled extensive documentation and painted an unparalleled picture of urban life just as Mexico declared independence. In his remarkable book, “México en 1810,” he writes:
- More than four hundred streets and alleys lined the city in 1810, each bearing names bestowed upon them by the 18th-century. Most were wide, spacious, and paved with cobblestones.
- The number of carts traversing the streets daily was substantial, causing noise pollution, damaging the cobblestones, and occasionally alarming law-abiding citizens.
- These carts, pulled by four mules and laden with stones, sacks of flour, crates of sugar, barrels of wine or pulque, and more than a share of timber, created quite the spectacle.
- Laborers carried heavy loads on their backs, shoulders, and hands, balancing long, thick beams and large clay pots of rich, hot mole.
- Imagine a street sweeper sweeping with the tips of his broom, a vendor smearing grease on a contemplative poet’s face, another vendor splashing sancochadas (fried tripe) on a gentleman’s fiery red coat, or a chimoltría (tamale vendor) smearing hot, boiling tamales on a lady’s elegant shawl.
After curfew, any resident or visitor traversing the streets risked being accosted by the vigilant “Good Guard,” who would sound his bell and shout for help or authority to prevent crimes, assaults, or encounters with the night watch.
A Century Later: A New Perspective
Adolfo Dollero, an Italian who arrived in Mexico a century later, during the Independence Centennial celebrations in 1910, offered a fresh perspective on the city in his book “México al día”:
- Mexico City is a kaleidoscope, with scenes changing dramatically or subtly at every moment.
- Following the Belén prison, a wide street lined with charming two-story houses in the American style stretches out. This is the Avenida de los Arcos de Belén.
- The impressive building of the Mexican Cigarrera Company, Bucareli Street, and the Juárez and Roma colonies follow, representing the most aristocratic and modern neighborhoods.
- Here, all constructions are elegant, with diverse architectural styles. Streets are wide, immaculately clean, and well-paved, with tree-lined strips called “truenos” running parallel to the sidewalks.
- An absolute calm prevails, occasionally disturbed by the passing of an automobile or elegant carriage.
- It seems like a quaint European town magically transported to this location by an unknown force.
Modern-Day Exploration
If you seek a more contemporary travel guide, fear not; many exist. Mexico City is vast, and the summer offers ample opportunities for relaxation without ever leaving your reading chair.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What is Mexico City’s history? A: Once the capital of the Aztec Empire, Mexico City has a rich history that includes being paved over by Spanish conquistadors and later revitalized by Viceroy Revillagigedo.
- Q: Who are some notable travelers who documented Mexico City? A: Alejandro de Humboldt, Carlos Fuentes, and Luis González Obregón all contributed to our understanding of the city’s history and charm.
- Q: How has Mexico City evolved over time? A: From a bustling city with cobblestone streets and carts to a modern metropolis with wide avenues and elegant architecture, Mexico City has transformed significantly while retaining its unique character.
