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Museums in Mexico: Museo Nacional del Virreinato

Rachel — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:49:14 +0000

Located in Tepotzotlán on Plaza Hidalgo #99, the Museo Nacional del Virreinato is also known as the Colegio de San Fracisco Javier, owned by the Jesuits who arrived in this place in the year 1572.

The museum houses in impressive collection of art and historical pieces. Aside from that, it is also well-known because of its beautiful structure. The museum has plenty of interior courtyards with well-groomed gardens and wide passageways where sculptures are put on display, including the Salta de Agua fountain, which was done when the very first Chapultepec aqueduct was built here. The old school/museum houses a library and used to have dormitories, the refectory, school chapel and kitchen. In the early 60′s this was renovated to help maintain it, but much of its original look and aesthetics were kept in place.

Museo Nacional del Virreinato has a vast collection of Religious Art from the Mexico City Cathedral. These includes crosses, silver tabernacles or chalices, ivory or wood pieces, candlesticks, naviculas and many others. It also has the works of Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera, Jose De Ibarra and the Rodriguez Juarez Brothers. These are all artists from Mexico’s colonial period who are revered today.

The museum also have non-art pieces like silverware, tools and textiles, chairs and other furniture used during the colonial period, including Asian pieces from Manila. Numerous feather art from Germany and France are also on display and its library has an extensive collection of books that come in different languages.

Museums in Mexico: The Franz Mayer Musem

Rachel — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:25:25 +0000

Museo Franz Mayer houses the personal art collection of stockbroker and financier Franz Mayer. Initially, this was supposed to be his private place, but the house officially opened its doors to the public in 1986, and thus became a cultural showcase for Mexico.

Located in Mexico City, where the San Juan De Dios monastery is, the museum is an 18th century structure that was rehabilated and restored before its opening.

Many of Mayer’s collection included books, sculptures, paintings, furniture and other works of art from Europe and Asia and the museum, in fact, only displays a fourth of his whole collection for the public. There are several others that are kept from view, because of their extra ordinary value and worth. The museum management, however, has acquired its own pieces to add to these collection over the years.
The Rogelio Casas Library is also part of this museum which has quite an important and extensive archive.

In order to support other artists in the city, the museum has also partnered with several artist groups, such as those silver and ceramic artisans who frequent the place to learn more about century old pieces. Today, with a more updated look, in spite keeping with its original 18th century style, the museum is used to hold workshops and exhibits, guided tours, as well as seminars and workshops to help improve the art scene in Mexico. It has also created a lovely cafe in the middle of the site, in the courtyart garden, for guests to dine and take breaks from.

The museum is located at Avenida Hidalgo #45.

Museums in Mexico: Museo Nacional de Arte

Rachel — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:53:09 +0000

Mexico’s National Museum of Art is found at the city’s historic center, at the Tacuba #8. The museum’s doors openend to the public in 1982 and at that time shared the building with the Ministry of Communication and Transport. But since 2000, the entire building has been transformed and dedicated to exhibits of art pieces from the XVI to XX centuries.

Museo Nacional de Arte or MUNAL is part of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. Exhibits, guided tours, workshops, seminars and performing arts are regularly done here, to help promote culture and arts in the country, as well as to help conserve arts in the modern world.

There are three sections to the exhibits at the museum, covering periods of art revolution from 1550 to the mid-50′s. Some of its most notable pieces include collections of Modern Art in Chapultepec Park, paintings of western art from the Academy of San Carlos, art work depicting Mexican Independence, and pieces from the Mexican Revolution. Paintings of artists like Pedro Gualdi and photography from Carlos Monsivais and Marina Yampolsky are also found in this museum.

The museum building is like an art exhibit in itself and inside, the Reception Hall at the second floor has an awesome display of sculpture exhibits. This area is a lot similar to European art museums. It’s big and very colonial, and has murals that carry different themes that highlights cultural significance. So beautiful is this hall that, President Porfirio Diaz chose this as the site where public declarations are done, or where guests from the international community is received. Overall, the museum carries classic and gothic architecture. To the center is a large staircase that leads to the rest of the halls around the building.

Museums in Mexico: Museo de Arte Moderno

Rachel — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:05:13 +0000

The Museo de Arte Moderno or Museum of Modern Art can be found at the Chapultepec Park in Mexico City. It is part of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes and mostly showcases work of contemporary artists, sculptors and muralists, both in the national and international scene.

Foremost of its collection include the works of artists like Frida Kahlo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Gelsen Gas, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Diego Rivera, Olga Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, Leonora Carrington, Rufino Tamayo, Juan Soriano, and Vicente Rojo.

The museums main building is a round structure that is of two-storey construction. There’s a big central staircase that serves as the focal point. The museum is divided into four spaces, dominated mostly by its four masters of the arts, while the rest of the spaces are for temporary exhibitions and other showcases. There is a beautiful garden inside the museum where scupltures in large scale are displayed.

Open to the public from Tuesdays to Sundays, Mexico’s Modern Art Museum is truly a must-visit venue for those who love to see more of what the culture is about. Guided tours are scheduled and starts at ten in the morning, while the museum is close by six in the evening.

Tortilla: The daily fare

Azzi — Mon, 30 May 2011 17:42:35 +0000

No matter how glamorous and stylish the signature food of a country can be, there always exist a stream of fares that are common place and yet, are delectable in every sense of the word. Stuff that can be considered daily fare, something that you pick up from a vendor on your way to work that substitutes for a skipped breakfast, such food can sometimes taste like heaven. Mexican cuisine has a long tradition of some excellent variety for the pleasure of the taste buds, and stuff like Tamales are just a small introduction. What you should look, when in a mood to have a quick snack is a Tortilla. Guaranteed, it is delectable.

Corn, being the staple of Mexican cuisine, is the basic ingredient behind a tortilla. In simple speak, a tortilla is prepared by making a cake made of corn to wrap around a filling that is usually tomato and omelette based. The word Tortilla itself means “little cake” in Spanish. This simple treatment to the remedy for quick hunger removal has almost developed a fan following of its own. You’re on a busy street? You are famished? You find not restaurant in vicinity? Tortilla is the key, and what a key it is!

Due to the ever increasing demand, in the modern times, mechanized methods of preparing Tortillas have come into existence and that means that there’s more Tortilla for everyone at half the expense of time. Low in cholesterol, low in fat content, a Tortilla is the Mexican’s way of starting the war against the demons of hunger. It is a meal that can be held in one hand while the other hand continues to work, whats more, it has got taste like no other. If you happen to visit Mexico, make doubly sure your day starts with a tortilla..

Puebla: One place, many virtues

Azzi — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:46:13 +0000

Just one view of the magnificent Pico de Orizaba from Puebla gets you a feel of the city you are in. Puebla, being a colonial city and one of the most important of it’s kind, certainly has a lot to offer you in ways more than one, be it the fabulous cuisine, the breathtaking scenery, the industrial setting or the fact that some of the best pottery businesses happen to be in Puebla, this city is comprehensive. For a good reason too, after all, it is the fourth largest metropolitan city of Mexico, and certainly one of the most beautiful.

Puebla is perched high up at an altitude of 7217 ft, and is every bit as historic as it is cultural. The architecture is good enough to make it a World Heritage site. Of the 5000 historical pieces of architecture present in the whole state, you have to take special notice of the Cathedral of Puebla, a Gothic beauty at it’s best. Move along and the various museums, which chronicle the historic value of the city and the country catch your immediate attention of you happen to be a history freak. Take a walk inside the Museo Amparo, and you’d know what we mean. Besides these, the host of libraries, the noble houses etc all exude an aura that is worth experiencing first hand.

Just as you would think that you’d had enough of Puebla, think again. Don’t miss out the cuisine too. It is unique and special and every bit Mexican as you would expect. Relish, for example the savory taste of the Mol Poblano, the chiles en nogada and the cemita, all unique to the place that is Puebla. Wind up the vacation with the Talavera Pottery and the El Cinco de Mayo (the fifth of May) celebration, in honor of the French defeat in 1862. Just a last recommendation: Visit this place. This post alone does not do it justice.

Hermosillo: The economic part

Azzi — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:43:14 +0000

Much of a nation’s comes through its ability to generate revenue through industries and the usage and development of advanced methodologies. To that effect, the country’s economic status among the nations is an important parameter and crucial ingredient in its overall image. Hermosillo, situated in Sonora, is one shining example of a Mexican city that has its roots deeply fixed into economic growth and industry. It is, in fact, one of the country’s most important industrial centers. Despite the fact that its an industrial center, the city is a big draw for tourists with its many museums, impressive buildings and typical Mexican extravaganza.

In the vast Sonoran desert, the city lies on a plain surrounded by desert vegetation on all sides. The only city to provide purified drinking water for domestic use, Hermosillo is a popular stop for tourists who happen to be the road aficionado types. Places in the city worth a look include, among others, the Cathedral de la Asunción, the Plaza Zaragoza, the iconic Government Palace of 1881, and, among the natural wonders, the Cerro de la Campana, a small mountain symbolic of the city. Museums are another of the city’s strong points, and you should definitely visit the Regional Museum, the Museo de Sonora and the Museo de Culturas Populares e Indígenas. All of these museums are sure indicators of the rich Mexican heritage.

And since you have come to Hermosillo, dont leave it without paying attention to the Centro Ecológico de Sonora, if you happen to be a nature lover. The ecological center will satisfy you with its comprehensive collection of 300 species of plants and about 200 species of animals. Also worthy of note are the two important festivals in the form of Fiesta de la Vendimia (the grape harvest festival) and the Feria Exposición Ganadera e Industrial (The exposition of livestock and industry). You’d be amazed at how much Hermosillo can offer you. Just visit it.

Taco: Irresistible helpings

Azzi — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:24:10 +0000

As much as food is signatory of a country, as much as it is a paradigm of a country’s culture, it is a feast for the senses ofr which it was originally intended. The very aroma that good food provides is sometimes enough to singlehandedly attract a wannabe tourist to a nation, and yet, the method and objective of any food is very rudimentary and quite simple. Food is thus a dichotomy like no other, and speaking of Mexico, which has got its own storehouse of excellent cuisine and delectable menus, there’s no dearth of options for a foodie, and, among the many choice dishes that come out of Mexico, Taco is one of the most eye catching and certainly one of the most satisfying.

At the very outset, Taco is simply a filling(a yummy one) engulfed with a corn or wheat tortilla helping. The filling is a pretty exciting place to be. You can have a filling in the form of meat, beef, pork, chicken, seafood and what not. (in fact, anything that makes a Taco heartily satisfying) . Accompanying the taco is a garnish made up of any permutation of spicy helpings. You are looking at tomatoes, lettuce, cilantro, onions, guacamole, salsa, avocado etc. The bottom line in preparing the Taco is ultra nice taste and at the same time ensure that the belly satisfied to the hilt.

Tacos are traditional to Mexico, and appear in many forms. Popular versions of Tacos include Tacos de Asador, Tacos de pescado, Tacos de Cazo, Tacos sudados and many other notable versions that are each worth a try at least once. Our recommendation is to come to the restaurant with a growling stomach (you can achieve this by sightseeing in Mexico, no big deal) and let the creamy aroma fill your senses with joy. Rest assured, Tacos are irresistible helpings..

Lila Downs: Soul knee deep in music

Azzi — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:04:55 +0000

Mexican culture is no alien to good quality, sound music that emanates straight from the heart, passes through the dark passages of the soul and comes out to form a melody that is captivating in every sense of the word. In fact, music, be it of any country, is so steeped into the life of humankind that it is hard to imagine performing arts without it. Music and its composition is complex enough, and as such there is no such demarcation as to who brings the real element of soul in the composition. However, it is the singer that expresses that whole composition and churns out a melody befitting the song. Lila Downs, one of Mexico’s premier singers, was just that.

Born to artistically prolific parents (her mother being a singer and father a professor of arts), Downs began her career by singing in clubs of Philadelphia and Oaxaca, in the beginning of the 1990s. With American Saxophonist Paul Cohen, she formed a music group that never looked back. Cohen later turned love interest to Downs and they married. Now Cohen is her director and band member. Lila Downs is adept at both French and English lyrics, and she tours regularly in Latin America to give fresh food for soul to her ever increasing audience of fans. Down’s secret lies in her silvery voice that she inherited from her mother.

Downs has been nominated for an academy award, for her stellar composition “Burn It Blue” for the movie Frida. This song was performed by her at the 75th academy awards ceremony, and is an indication of her popularity in countries outside Latin America. Listen to her albums and you’ll get a drift of what we are talking about. Downs sends a frenzy of emotion down the spine that touches the soul to reinvigorate the mind and free the intangible intricacies. You gotta listen to her sing.

Uxmal: Pyramid of the Magician

Azzi — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:03:43 +0000

Mayan architecture again triumphs. In fact, there is little that even comes close to Mayan architecture that has the capability to leave you open mouthed with awe. The various Mayan ruins scattered around the entire of Mexico are testimony of that. Talk about architecture, we are awed simply by the ruins of the magnificent building that used to be. The Pyramid of the magician, situated in Uxmal, holds in every possible way to the truth about the mysticism surrounded by Mayan ruins. Although known as the pyramid of the dwarf, it is the tallest Mayan structure in Uxmal.

Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Pyramid of the soothsayer (that’s what the Pyramid of the Magician is also called), and this pyramid is one of it’s shining stars. Starting construction in about 6AD, the expansion process continued for as many as 400 years to complete. Many believe that at one time, the pyramid stood at about 131 ft from the ground. In the Yucatán Peninsula, there is not a better piece of architecture than this concoction of pure stone. It is Puuc architecture at it’s best. There are five temples here, each with a unique architecture style that is better seen than read. (Its pleasantly rhythmic but the point is made).

There is a most mystical legend that goes with the Pyramid of the Magician, the description of which is beyond the scope of this post. What you should know, is that the now conserved pyramid is a hot bed for tourist activity and is a sure attraction if you happen to visit Uxmal (Uxmal literally means “thrice built”). The ancient temples and the rich aura that is so characteristic of Mayan architecture is a fresh indicator of how very important this monumentent was in the thick of Uxmal’s flourish. Don’t miss the Uxmal detail..