Down the Street

I still have more to report from my recent trip to Mexico City.

You may remember that last week I wrote about the Miguel Lerdo de Tejada Library with its colorful, abstract mural paintings.  That day I continued walking down the street and came upon several more buildings dating from the colonial era.

Next door to the library is a colonial mansion dating from 1768.  A plaque outside notes that it was the home of Pedro Romero de Terreros, the first Count of Regla.

Pedro Romero de Terreros was a Spaniard from a poor family who came to Mexico to make his fortune. He invested wisely in several businesses including silver mines, and in 1768 was granted a title of nobility from the Spanish crown.  He never forgot his humble origins, and in 1774 established the Monte de Piedad, a charitable institution and pawnshop which provided interest free loans to the poor.  The Monte de Piedad exists to this day, with its headquarters in Mexico City and 152 branches throughout the country.

In the next block and across the street is the Church of San Agustín.  Its construction was begun in 1541, but the present building dates from 1692.

Just across the street is the building which once housed the Augustinian convent which was in existence from 1575 until 1823.

The building now houses a drugstore, the Farmacia París.  The pharmacy looks quite ancient although the date on the tile work inside indicates that the business dates from 1944.

Interestingly, along the sidewalk numerous vendors have set their own kind of pharmacies... they are selling herbal remedies.  

They post signs listing the medicinal benefits of their products.  For example, cardamon is supposed to be good for digestion, and relieves spasms; it is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial; it is an aphrodisiac and a diuretic; it helps eliminate belching and flatulence, etc., etc., etc.

There is yet more to come from Mexico City's Historic Center.