city at night

city at night

Sunday, August 5, 2018

More from "El Centro"

Here are some more pictures from my wanderings around the historic center of Mexico City...

At the corner of a busy intersection stands this antique clock.  It was a gift from the Ottoman community in Mexico City in 1910 to commemorate the centennial of Mexico's independence.  (The Ottoman Empire would soon disappear from the map as a consequence of World War I.)




Across the street from the clock is an eighteenth century church.




It was originally part of a Franciscan school for orphans, but in the late nineteenth century it was renamed Our Lady of Lourdes and was the parish church for the French community in Mexico City.

This elegant, old building is topped with a statue of Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods.





More lovely buildings from an earlier era...






This building houses the legal library of the Supreme Court of Mexico.





The architect of this building could never have imagined that someday his structure would house a "Pirates" hamburger joint...



or that standing on the balcony there would be a statue of a pirate holding a hamburger!





I managed to resist temptation and not buy any of the interesting woven baskets that this street vendor was selling.




But then I saw this bazaar located within the courtyard of this old house.  The place is called "Talento Mexicano" (Mexican Talent), and inside are numerous stands with handicrafts and other artesanal products.  



I had never noticed it before, although one of the merchants told me that they have been here for a couple years.  It is not in a area frequented by tourists, but they must be making a go of it.  I went inside simply to check it out... but you know what they say about good intentions.  I did not leave empty handed.

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