TURIBUS

I mention it in my book, and I've recommended it to family and friends who have visited DF, but until yesterday I had never ridden on the turibus, that double-decker red thing you see carting hordes of tourists all over town. Who needs that? I thought to myself.
Much to my surprise, I loved it. Seeing DF from a vantage point about 10 feet above ground level offered views of the city I'd never seen before. We went after 4PM when the sun was lower--I would guess a mid-day ride on top could be pretty hot.
For 100 pesos (50 for children) you can get on and off all day at 24 stops all over the Centro, Reforma and Chapultepec areas. There is a new line that covers the southern part of the city, too.

For more information, visit their website www.turibus.com.mx

COLOR

I remember flying back from a trip to Japan—a country where grey comes in more shades than you can imagine—and looking down on Mexico City in the sunlight as the plane descended. Thank God for hot pink, I thought to myself, catching sight of a concrete building painted rosa mexicana, as the color is known here. Vogue editor Diana Vreeland’s famous remark ‘hot pink is the navy blue of India’ could equally apply to Mexico. We love our colors strong here. A Mexican friend of mine moved to the Big Apple a few years ago to make it in the art world. She returned for a visit last year dressed all in black, ala ‘Manhattan artist’--chic, trendy rags by some Japanese designer that would have turned heads at the Guggenheim. Here, she walked into a store and was asked, “Who died, señora?”

USEFUL WEBSITES

WEBSITES ABOUT MEXICO THAT I’VE FOUND USEFUL

http://www.insidemex.com/ Inside Mexico is an English language monthly with news, tips, features for anyone living in Mexico.

http://www.mexicotodayblog.com/ offers daily summaries of the news in Mexico.

http://zocalodemexicanfolkart.blogspot.com/ Rick and Deb Hall investigate traditional culture, food and crafts—with great photos!

http://madammayo.blogspot.com/ C.M. Mayo is a Mexico-based author, editor and translator who writes wisely on literary matters, and more.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/cultura/ This culture page from the daily paper El Universal has a useful Guía de Ocio.

http://www.solutionsabroad.com/ has practical information about living in Mexico.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com/ is the ‘culinary travelogue’ of Christina Potter.

http://www.mexicocityfood.net is a website about the restaurant scene in Mexico City by my partner Nick
http://www.arte-mexico.com.mx publishes monthly info on the art scene inDF.

http://www.cinemex.com/ has movie listings at all Cinemex theaters in the city.

http://www.davidlida.com is a journalist who observes the city with a keen eye

http://mexicosoulandessence.com/ food specialist Ruth Alegria offers culinary tours and information

www.slowfoodcondesaroma.com is an organization promoting local food products and events

www.salt-earth.com has information about Mexican artesanias

http://planeta.com/

http://mexfiles.wordpress.com/