Mexico City

It's feeling increasingly likely that Mexico City will be our first stop. Today's research: get a sense of how long we should spend there.

Initial thought: 2 weeks, plus a week at a culinary school in Oaxaca or elsewhere, OR 3 weeks, with one or two half-day or so cooking classes in Mexico City

Art and Culture

• The Spanish Cultural Center
• Museo del Juguete Antiguo Mexico
• Museo Nacional de Antropologia
• Palacio de Bellas Artes
• Museo Frida Kahlo
• Museo Casa de Leon Trotsky
• Luis Barragan House and Studio (preeminent Mexican architect)
• Biblioteca de Mexico Jose Vasconcelos 

Food and Music

• Plaza Garibaldi - mariachi every night
• Salon Tenampa
• Mercado de Medellín
• Folkloric Ballet
• National Music Conservatory

Outdoors

• Zocalo (main plaza) -- flag raising and lowering each evening
• Paseo de la Reforma on Sundays by foot or bike (EcoBici--1 day $90)
• Parque Mexico/Parque Espana
• Castillo de Chaputepec (free on Sundays)
• Monumento a la Revolucion
• Bazar del Sabado (arts and crafts market on Saturdays)
• Plaza de la Angel (antique market)
• Plaza la Ciudadela (dancing) / La Ciudadela Mercado de Artesanias  

Short Trips and Tours

• Iztaccihuatl Volcano Hiking Tour (12 hours, including travel) ($48) 
• Market Tour: La Merced, Sonora, San Juan Markets (Viator, from $21) 
• Teotihuacan Pyramids (Viator self-guided tour, from $26) 
• Xochimilco (flower market)

Sites visited
36 hours in Mexico City (NY Times, 2014)
Lonely Planet
AirBnB (cool filter for choosing a neighborhood)
AFAR (a "multi-platform travel media brand" US-based)