Today is my last day in Mexico City before I leave for Peru tomorrow and I have a jammed packed 15 hours in front of me! I start the day with 100 laps in the underground pool (an absolute must, considering the amount of calories I am consuming these days!!) and it’s off to Cuernavaca to have lunch with my mother. Cuernavaca is an hour and a half outside of Mexico City and it’s a beautiful weekend escape for many DF Mexicans who need a brake after a long week. It was famous in the 60′ and 70′ among all the jet-setters including “Poor little rich girl” Barbara Hutton and many European royals; that is of course until the Mexicans kidnapped the son of the Italian King, Umberto di Savoia and murdered him…that was the end of Cuernavaca amongst the world elite. They did, however, leave behind a collection of extraordinary estates that still shine today as private residences or museums open to the public.
They call it the “City of Eternal Spring” because of it’s unique climate: never too hot and never too cold (though I find it hot as hell most of the times). My Formula 1 driver Jose Luis, gets me there in just over an hour, just in time to pick up Mom and go to her new favorite hideaway: Casa Manzano (www.casamanzano.com.mx). I order the Huevos Devorciados (Divorced eggs…Humm) which are delicious and my mom’s favorite smoothie: a blend of Parsley, fresh Pineapple, fresh Oranges and cactus (nopales); though reluctant at first, I end up loving this concoction so much that I had it made every morning from there on. After the lovely lunch it’s time to go back to DF.
Casa Manzano’s Menu
The beautiful courtyard at Casa Manzano
Enchiladas de Guajillo con Requesón
Huevos devorciados…I love the analogy!
The famous Cactus Smoothie
More courtyard beauty
Once again, it’s museum time…I just can’t get enough and in Mexico City there is never a shortage of possibilities! Today we will go to the Museo De La Bellas Artes to see the Henry Cartier Bresson photo exhibit, the cathedral and government palace and the Chapultepec Castle (www.castillodechapultepec.inah.gob.mx). The castle is located on top of Chapultepec Hill in the middle of Chapultepec Park in Mexico City. The site of the hill was a sacred place for Aztecs, and these buildings have served several purposes during its history, including that of Military Academy, Imperial residence, Presidential home, observatory, and presently, the Museo Nacional de Historia. It is the only royal castle in North America that was actually used as the residence of a sovereign: the Mexican Emperor Maximilian I, and his consort Empress Carlota, lived there during the Second Mexican Empire. Though not as opulent as it’s counter parts in Europe, there are many beautiful rooms and art pieces to look at and most of all, amazing views of Mexico City. I don’t suggest walking up the long driveway on a hot, humid day as I did; once I arrived at the top gasping for air and wet as a rag, I realized there is a little choo-choo train that goes up and down the long walk transporting smarter visitors…argh!!!
Palacio de las Bellas Artes
The stunning iron gate at Chapultepec Castle
Side view of Chapultepec Castle
The beautiful stain-glass windows at the castle
The dramatic “Affresco” at the entrance stairway
The jade imperial door
The viewing tower
The view form Chapultepec Castle
Alright…I am done with museums, get me to a bar!! My ever-so-resourceful driver Jose Luis doesn’t waste a moment and quickly whisks me through the infernal city traffic to the famous Cafe de Tacuba (www.cafedetacuba.com.mx), just off the Zócalo; here I have a Cafe con Leche (turns out it’s to damn early for a drink…Misery!) and a Trés Leches cake (one of my favorites…though my Mom’s is much better). This Mexican classic opened in 1912 in a section of an old convent; at the entrance to the main dining room are huge 18th-century oil paintings depicting the invention of mole poblano, a delicious Mexican classic sauce featuring a variety of chilies and chocolate that was created by the nuns in the Santa Rosa Convent in Puebla. Though touristy, this place is a must see with it’s stunning pre-colonial decor and it’s classically uniformed waitresses…chic-diner-hat and all…ya’all.
Cathedral at the Zócalo
Zócalo Square
Mexican flag standing proud at the center of the Zócolo
Cafe de Tacuba front window
Mariachi’s playing in Cafe Tacuba
Our lovely waitresses
Cafe Tacuba interior
I now have been going strong for 8 hours straight and I’m officially dead to the pulp!!! I’m going home.
After a well-deserved siesta and a foot massage, its dinnertime with the handsome, Venezuelan, telenovela super-star: Raul Olivo. I’ve met Raul at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles almost 15 years ago and we became instant friends; I’ve watched his career, in both film and music, grow through the years and I am so happy with his success. He takes me, Raphael and his beautiful girlfriend to his favorite steak house: Puerto Madero from Buenos Aires, Argentina (www.puertomaderorestaurantes.com).
Puerto Madero Menu
Puerto Madero’s signature potatoes
My delicious Ribeye
The place is definitely on the stuffy side and très expensive. Raul suggests the lobster tacos, which are the best I have ever had in my entire life, so much that we order another round so by the time my enormous rib eye steak arrives, I am too stuffed to enjoy it…what a waste! I did however manage to eat 35 puffed-up potatoes…a house specialty. The day is definitely taking its toll on me and by dessert time I am literally falling asleep at the table; it’s most definitely time to go to bed.
Buenas noches amigos!