Elite Traveler September-October 2018

EXPLORE MEXICO CITY

Flying high About 30 miles outside of Mexico City lay the pyramids of Teotihuacan, an archaeological site that is said to date back to 100 BC. It’s easy to hire a car (or an Uber) to make the drive — or you could experience it from above at sunrise from a hot-air balloon. (We know which option we would choose.) Travel advisor Zachary Rabinor of Journey Mexico can organize it all, from transportation to the sparkling- wine toast to the expert-led tour. zach@journeymexico.com

MUST-SEE SIGHTS

Step back in time There’s always a discernible zest in the Centro Histórico, home to iconic sites including Zócalo (main square), Aztec-era Templo Mayor and Palacio Nacional, which houses a large-scale mural by Diego Rivera. More of the artist’s work (and those of José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros) adorn the walls of the nearby Palacio de Bellas Artes cultural center. To see it all from above, head to the towering Torre Latinoamericana — but instead of joining the crowds on the viewing platform, get off on the 41st floor and order a drink at the Miralto restaurant. templomayor.inah.gob.mx, palacionacionaldemexico. mx, palacio.inba.gob.mx, torrelatinoamericana.com.mx Embrace your creative side The artist Frida Kahlo was born and raised in the southern neighborhood of Coyoacán, and her house and studio has been meticulously preserved as a museum, down to the table that holds her paints and brushes. Make sure to buy tickets online in advance. Design buffs should seek out the appointment-only homes by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Luis Barragán, including Casa Gilardi where brightly painted walls and surprises await at every turn. museofridakahlo.org.mx, casagilardi@gmail.com

Shopping spree Polanco has earned its

nickname as the “Beverly Hills of Mexico City” mostly for its abundance of international brands, such as Dolce & Gabbana and Bulgari, but indie and local designs are also on offer, if you know where to look. SandraWeil sells feminine, floral fashions in her flagship boutique, while Onora Casa is the go-to for super-chic housewares and accessories inspired by traditional Mexican crafts. In the market for rare antiques? Rodrigo Rivero Lake runs a showroomwhere you can browse colonial-era Hispanic pieces, like 18th-century oil paintings, as well as ancient Asian art.

Clockwise from above left: Frescos inside the Palacio Nacional; Palacio de Bellas Artes from above; distinctive cobalt walls of the Frida Kahlo Museum; artwork at Rodrigo Rivero Lake

sandraweil.com, onoracasa.com, rlake.com.mx

Park it Mexico City has a surprising number of green spaces — including Bosque de Chapultepec, which is about 850 acres larger than Manhattan’s Central Park. Spend a day exploring its paths, renting paddle boats for the lake and visiting museums, such as Museo de Arte Moderno and the expansive Museo Nacional de Antropología, which is filled to the brim with ancient artifacts. (One-hour guided tours showcasing the highlights are available.) And high on the hill, there’s Castillo de Chapultepec, where the country’s presidents resided until the mid-1900s.

Photos mexicoculturaltravel.com, Museo Frida Kahlo