Art Exhibit at the Palacio de Bellas Artes: Pinta la Revolución

 

Watercolor sketch for a ballet costume by Diego Rivera (1931)

You only have until May 7 to see the top notch exhibit of art inspired and influenced by the Mexican Revolution, currently on view at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
This must-see show includes works by some big names in Mexican art history like Rivera, Kahlo, Tamayo, Orozco and Siquieros (whose early watercolor scenes of brothels are like nothing you've seen of his before), and many other lesser-known artists that you will be glad to know. I highly recommend this show.

Click link below for more information:

 http://www.inba.gob.mx/actividad/1691/pinta-la-revolucion-arte-moderno-mexicano-1910-1950

                                    Manuel Rodriguez Lozano, El Holocausto (1944)

 

                                          Juan O'Gorman La Ciudad de México (1949, detail)

                                             Maria Izquierdo Altar de Dolores (1949)

Travelling close to home: Hotel Isabel in Mexico City

More than twenty years ago, at the very beginning of my exploration of Mexico City's Centro Histórico, I stayed at the venerable Hotel Isabel. At that time, it seemed remote from the 'action' closer to the Zócalo. The revival of the Centro had not begun, so the walk down deserted streets at night to get back to the hotel was intimidating. The hotel, which opened in 1920, is housed in a former colonial mansion. It's funky charm and low prices attracted a bohemian following--the writer John Ross lived there from 1985 until his death in 2011. 

I've recently begun to update my Mexico City guidebook and decided to stay in the Centro for a few days to work on that section of the book. I was ready for a re-visit to the Isabel. An Uber transported me the 4.8 kilometers from my home in La Condesa to the Centro Histórico, and I spent two wonderful days as a tourist there (more about that in future posts).

Twenty years has not affected Isabel's funkiness, but perhaps has even added to its charm. I loved staying here! The price (500 pesos a night), location, ambience and cleanliness all add up to my idea of a great hotel.

Hotel Isabel

Isabel la Católica 63

Centro Histórico, CDMX

tel. (55) 5518-1213

http://hotel-isabel.mx/

 

 

 

 

 

            View from my window

An Easter morning stroll through Colonia Condesa

The light was crystalline, the air was clear, and the streets were almost deserted--a perfect morning to stroll through Colonia Condesa. Happy Easter.