Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/45845
24 Hours: Mexico City Culture Capital With its proud, indigenous heritage and magnifi cent European styling, Mexico City combines a vibrant arts scene and excellent cuisine with the throb of a world-class metropolis. by Marty McLennan RUB ELBOWS WITH politicos, tourists, hawkers, Aztec dancers and protestors all vying for space in the Zócalo, the city's central square. Be overwhelmed at the Metropolitan Cathedral, the continent's largest and oldest, on the north side of the square. Then explore the remains of nearby Templo Mayor, dating from the 1300s. The temple's museum showcases the grue- some Tzompantli, a wall built with human skulls. • Get artsy at the National Palace and San Ildefonso College (sanildefonso. org.mx), where Diego Rivera's vibrant murals grace the walls. • Bed down in luxury at Las Alcobas (lasalcobas.com), which offers every amenity in its 35 guest rooms: personal attendants, designer linens, spa-style bath- rooms, breakfast smoothies and nightly shoeshines. HISTORY BUFFS WITH A PENCHANT for tequila should stop in for a caballito, a narrow shot glass, of aged Don Julio at La Opera, the cantina where revolutionary Pancho Villa blasted a hole through the ceiling. Romantics can head up to the 41st fl oor of the Torre Latinoamericana for a sunset cocktail at the Miralto, which has a view like none other of the city centre (miralto. com.mx). And if it's mariachi bands you're after, Plaza Garibaldi, just north of the Palacio de Bel- las Artes, guarantees the biggest party in town. INDULGE IN THE BASQUE tasting menu at Biko (biko.com. mx) or lunch at El Mayor (porrua. com/elmayor), one of the city's newest design bistros. • Bring your walking shoes to the Museum of Anthropology (mna. inah.gob.mx), a kilometres-long labyrinth of pre-Hispanic artifacts located in Chapultepec Forest, Latin America's most expansive urban park. The 686-hectare park is also home to a zoo, three lakes and the National Museum of History (mnh.inah.gob.mx), a 19th century hilltop castle designed and lived in by Hapsburg royalty. • Check out the breathtaking Palacio de Bellas Artes (www. palacio.bellasartes.gob.mx), with its Italian marble facade, murals by David Alfaro Siqueiros, Diego Rivera and Rufi no Tamayo and 22-tonne stained glass opera house curtain. (centre) An aerial view of the Palacio de Bellas Artes; (far left) an Aztec dancer in the Zócalo, the central square; (above) a traditional cantina; (bottom) a mariachi band performs in Plaza Garibaldi. AMA MEMBERS SAVE MORE Before you go: See the world-famous Folkloric Ballet at the Hidalgo Theatre. From US$97 per person. 1-866-667-4777; AMATravel.ca While you're there: AMA members receive discounts from Ahorra con AMA discount program. Just look for the Show Your Card & Save sign at par- ticipating businesses. AMARewards.ca/ SearchForDiscounts 6 WESTWORLD >> NOVEMBER 2011 (centre and top right) Marty McLellan, (left) Getty Images, (bottom) Rafael Ben-Ari/All Canada Photos