Around City Hall

I mentioned previously that in 2016 Mexico City ceased being the "Distrito Federal" (Federal District) and gained a level of autonomy comparable to that of a state.  Technically, it's not a state, because the constitution says that no state may have the honor of having the nation's capital.  But, for all intents and purposes, Mexico City is the country's 32nd state.

Mexico City is divided into 16 boroughs which were formerly called "delegaciones".  Since 2016 these divisions are now called "alcaldias", and they are almost like separate autonomous cities within the larger city.  Each of the "alcaldias" is governed by an "alcalde" (mayor) and the headquarters of the former "delegaciones" are now called city halls.

Alejandro lives in the northernmost "alcaldía", Gustavo A. Madero.  It is the second most populous "alcaldía" in Mexico City with a population of more than one million inhabitants.

I have passed by the city hall of Gustavo A, Madero numerous times on the Metrobus, but I have never walked around that area.  So, one day during the week, I decided to do a little exploring, and took the Metrobus from the stop close to Alejandro's house to the one next to the city hall.

There is really not a lot to see.  It's just a government building with a large esplanade in front where special events are held.

 

Notice the bell high above the entrance to the city hall.  It is a replica of the Independence bell that was rung by Miguel Hidalgo on September 16, 1810 when he began Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain.   On the eve of Independence Day, the plaza is filled with throngs of people while the mayor rings that bell.  It's a smaller version of the event that occurs in the center of Mexico City when the President rings the original bell that hangs over the National Palace.

Just to the north of the city hall is a public market building, and I always wanted to take a look inside that colorful building.

The sign right above the entrance says "Welcome, Pilgrims".  We are just a couple blocks away from the Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico's holiest shrine.  The basilica is visited by around 10 million pilgrims every year, many of them coming for the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12th.  This neighborhood is referred to as "la Villa de Guadalupe" or just "la Villa".  As the sign on the building implies the specialty of this market is selling meals ('"comidas").

Much of the market building is occupied by small stalls where you can sit down and have something to eat at an economical price.  Surely, much of their business is from hungry pilgrims who often travel great distances to visit the basilica.

Just to the west of the city hall there is another market building.  This one was more typical with stalls selling produce and meats as well as clothing and household goods.

The market's proximity to the basilica was obvious.  This mural painting near one of the entrances is entitled "The Sponsorship of the Virgin".

I'm sure that some pilgrims who have made the long journey to the basilica want a T-shirt with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

It's not at all unusual for a market to have an altar dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, but this one also had a cut-out cardboard image of the Pope.

I figured that I could use some exercise, so instead of taking the Metrobus, I decided to walk the two miles back to Alejandro's house.