In my last blog, I wrote about my experience while I was in Mexico City for some business meetings. I wrote about having to turn in my ID in order to get into the buildings and the earthquake drill that I experienced during those meetings. I figured this time I would talk about the wonderful places I was able to experience while I was in Mexico City.

To start off, the hotel that I stayed at was the Hilton Reforma in Mexico City. This is a great hotel which I would highly recommend if you want to be in the center of everything. It is walking distance to Reforma Avenue and located next to Alameda Central Park. It is right on the edge of Mexico City’s Historic Center and a 10-minute walk from Bellas Artes Palace. A little further walk, about 15 minutes, is The Zocalo Square, Templo Mayor and Cathedral. The Main Financial District is also just a mile away.

One morning I ate at the El Cardenal restaurant located in the hotel where I was staying. The eggs were so good, but the baked goods served before the meal were so fresh and delicious, they won the honorable mention! I was seated next to where they were baking all of them fresh. So good, and so many!

I was in Mexico City during their Independence Day celebration. In the square in front of The White House, where the president of Mexico lives, they had the lights featuring Aztec Heritage, Period of the Moon, Aztec Calendar, and the Founders of the Nation for the Declaration of Independence. It was a really neat time to be in Mexico City and walk around. You will see from the pictures how colorful and festive it was. You could feel the energy, the excitement. It was busy, and it was a fun evening to be there to experience Mexico City.

That evening, we ate at a little restaurant in Mexico City on the rooftop of the restaurant not too far off of the square near the White House, which we could see from our vantage point. I ordered the traditional dish of this time, Chiles en Nogada, which is meat-stuffed poblano chiles bathed in mogada, a walnut cream sauce garnished with pomegranate seeds. It is a festive dish; the garnishes represent each color on the Mexican flag, as the dish commemorates Mexican independence.

For one of our lunches, we ate at the St. Regis Hotel, also in Mexico City. The restaurant had tables where you could look out into the city itself where one side of the restaurant was open and the fresh air flowed throughout. The elegance of the hotel clearly showed through in all of the final details to the presentations of the dishes and even the drinks we were served.

Mexico City did not disappoint. It was a quick trip but certainly a memorable one for sure! I know I only got to see a fraction of the city and culture. There is so much more to see and do for another trip and time.

— Eli R. Shapiro, director of sales