Manhattan in June

Manhattan in June is about proms, graduation, Father's Day, and the Summer Solstice.  Normally, we would not be here for any of those days, but we were this past June.  It was chilly, and that was good.  We saw lots of people out enjoying the city around the many landmarks.

The Flatiron Building

Candy selection in the Eataly Caffe

Where else but in New York City!

Conservatory Water or The Model Boat Pond in Central Park

Views from atop the Empire State Building

Looking Up!

Bill and Marge were in New York City, too, and had the free passes to the top!  We also all went to see a wonderful production of "Kinky Boots".

Columbus Circle at Midnight

The Metropolitan Museum of Art had an extensive and most beautiful exhibit, China: Through the Looking Glass.

Meanwhile, at the Museum of Modern Art, Andy Warhol: Campbell's Soup Cans and Other Works, 1953-1967 was showing.  I really liked all the Marilyns.

Jim took Roxie for a walk everyday we were there...around the block and into the park.

Finally the weather warmed and created a wonderful evening to participate in the 37th Annual Museum Mile Festival.  We wanted to go into the Guggenheim Museum, but the line was too long.  Instead, we took the long, right way, around the Reservoir home.  

I can hardly wait to go back.

Beaches of Oaxaca

Beaches are my favorite places to be in the winter.  The Mexican state of Oaxaca has some beautiful ones including Mizunte, Augustinillo, Zipoliti, and La Perla.  They are uncrowded, clean, and warm with a variety of restaurants, bars, and hotels.  All you need are a few good books.

Oaxaca

Mexico City was the first stop-over on our way to the beach.  Oaxaca was our second stop-over.  Arriving by bus after a long, but scenic, ride from Mexico City, we located our room then walked to the main plaza area.  One area was nearly covered with tents belonging to teachers who were striking for higher pay and better working conditions.  Posters of the university students recently killed were strung up also.  The tents and posters confused us and angered the citizens of Oaxaca who believe their plazas are being co-opted, limiting their enjoyment of their public space.

A wedding procession was in progress along one of the pedestrian streets.  Guests dressed all in white and holding colorful lanterns followed the dancing bride and groom.

I took a bus out to Monte Alban to see the ruins.  The ball court is minus its ring.

The steps are steep.  It was a trek to the top, but the views were great.

Another smaller ruin was off to the north above the valleys that comprise the Oaxaca area.

We drove out to Hierve El Agua, an area created by mineral deposits long ago.

Much gringo activity, many wonderful restaurants, tasty mezcal, indigenous ruins, and bountiful artisan diversity characterizes Oaxaca.

Mexico City

I have never been to Mexico City before, but Jim has.  It was very sweet of him to say that he would go one more time with me this past winter.  We stayed three nights at a well-located Airbnb apartment in the Zona Rosa District.  During those three days, we saw Chapultepec Park, the National Museum of Anthropology, Templo Major, and Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul.

This very tall building was just to the left of the entrance to Chapultepec Park.

The people in this mile-long line in the park are waiting for a healing blessing.

The National Museum of Anthropology displays nearly all the movable artifacts from all the historical sites around Mexico.  Copies replace some of them in their original places.

This is the original Mayan calendar that is copied onto countless t-shirts.

The pedestal is a fountain that holds up the center roof of the museum.

In 1989 I first toured Palenque with my friend Lisa.  We saw the tomb where these artifacts were discovered.  It was an empty tomb.  In the museum the tomb is recreated, and I finally got to see the many precious items that were taken from the original.

Chacmool

At the main Zocolo of Mexico City, we explored the Templo Mayor site and museum.  The original indigenous temple buildings were built here and added to over and over again.  After the Spanish conquered Mexico, the stones of the buildings were essentially recycled into new buildings over the old foundations for the conquerors.  It is only recently that the site has been excavated, artifacts removed to a new onsite museum, and self-guided tours created through the area.

On our last full day, we took the metro out to Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul.  It seemed to be a wonderful place to have lived.  I did not know about her paper mache sculptures.  The skeletons were her creations to reveal how empty and childless she felt as a result of the tragedy in her life.

I enjoyed Mexico City for the time I was there.  It would be a hard place for me to live due to the pollution.  But people enjoy life in Mexico City.