Mexico Bus Tour Notes

1. Diego Riveria painted the city of Tenochtitlan Slide 1 – National Palace: painting of the city of Tenochtitlan by Diego Riveria 1. Diego Riveria painted the city of Tenochtitlan 2. Tenochtitlan was built on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco 3. Tenochtitlan is the capital of the Aztec Empire 4. Aztecs bartered (traded one thing for another) for goods – they did not use money to “buy” 5. Aztec’s main food is corn 6. Spanish built Mexico City on Tenochtitlan /Aztec ruins

Slide 2: Zocalo 1. Zocalo is Mexico City’s main square. This is the city’s Cathedral – one of the most important Catholic churches in Mexico. 2. The Spaniards (from Europe) brought fancy architecture (building design) to Mexico. 3. It took 240 years to build the Cathedral. 4. Hernan Cortes is buried at the Cathedral. 5. Cathedral = large Catholic church 6. Bishop = church leader

Slide 3: Paseo de la Reforma 1. Over 20 million people live in Mexico City. 2. The city covers 1,000 square miles in the Valley of Mexico. 3. Mexico City’s problems: poverty, pollution, and traffic. 4. Mexico City = world’s largest metropolitan area.

Slide 4: La Plaza de las Tres Culturas 1. Three cultures: Aztec, Spanish, Mexican 2. The plaza is surrounded by architecture from all three cultures. 3. Aztecs: fought last battle against Spain in 1521. 4. Spanish: church = Templo de Santiago (has early & late colonial architecture) 5. Mexico (Modern): apartment and business buildings surround the plaza

Slide 5: Open Air Markets 1. Much of what is grown in Mexico has been grown since before the Spanish came. 2. Aztec foods: corn, turkey, chocolate, chilies 3. Spanish foods: beef, wheat, rice Today’s Mexican food is a mixture of these two cultures.

Slide 6: Plaza de Garibaldi 1. Mariachi – often mispronounced as French word, mariage.

Slide 7: Zona Rosa 1. Famous shopping district for the wealthy 2. Expensive merchandise: jewelry, clothes, antiques, and art

Slide 8: Basilica de Guadalupe (1/2) 1. Center of religion in Mexican life. 2. Must be quiet and respectful at all times. 3. Juan Diego saw vision of the Virgin Mary on the Hill of Tepeyac. 4. The Hill of Tepeyac is where the Indians had always worshipped Tonantzin, mother of the Gods.

Slide 8: Basilica de Guadalupe (2/2) 5. In this way, the vision combined parts of the Christian and Aztec religions. 6. Once asked to prove his vision by the bishop, three days the Virgin Mary’s picture, or image, appeared on Juan Diego’s cloak. 7. The bishop immediately ordered a church be built on this spot.

Slide 9: Outskirts of Mexico 1. Low Income/Lower Class – no electricity, worked as dish washers, maids, street vendors, or construction workers 2. The poorest of the poor often live and work on the street, performing for tips and begging

Slide 10: Apartment Building 1. Middle Class – live in apartment buildings 2. Phones are a luxury - very expensive 3. Many work as tour guides, run small restaurants and businesses, and work for the government or for a bank 4. Able to afford a car or an occasional vacation

Slide 11: El Pedregal 1. One of the wealthiest (Upper Class) neighborhoods in Mexico City. 2. These people live a life completely different than most Mexicans. 3. Many speak several languages. 4. Most travel and study abroad (out of Mexico - in another country). 5. They make their money: working for the PRI, some are large landowners and business owners, and others are doctors and lawyers.

Slide12: River 1. 8 million people in Mexico City have no running water. 2. Most pollution in Mexico City is caused by cars. 3. Fresh water for drinking and farming has always been scarce in the Valley of Mexico, because many of the lakes are salty. 4. 45% of all cars in Mexico are in Mexico City.

Slide 13: Goodbye 1. In Aztec times, 250,000 people lived in “Mexico City.” 2. Today, 20 million people live here. Take a minute and share thoughts with your group - be prepared to share main points with the class.