although some have speculated that she may have overdosed on painkillers .
Your ticket from the Frida Kahlo Museum also includes entry to Rivera ’ s Anahuacalli Museum , which combines modern art and the pre-Columbian aesthetic . The building , made of lava rock from the Xitle volcano eruption , houses more than 45,000 pieces from Mexico ’ s ancient civilizations — such as arrowheads , pottery and stone figures — including 2,000 on permanent display . Mosaics by Rivera and Juan O ’ Gorman embellish the ceilings in several rooms . One space also features 16 large sketches for murals by Rivera . And a rooftop terrace affords expansive views of the area .
LOCAL FLAVORS Another worthy excursion is a boat trip through the “ floating gardens ” of Xochimilco , about 17 miles south of Mexico City . Step aboard a brightly colored “ trajinera ,” a flat-bottomed boat , with a guide who will ply the shallow waters with a long wooden stick to move the vessel through the canals . Bring a picnic and a cooler of beer or buy food from “ chalupas ,” or gondola-type boats passing by ; from those boats , they cook and sell traditional Mexican street food and drinks , including roasted corn , sopes and pulque , an alcoholic beverage made of fermented agave sap .
Boats carrying mariachi bands will also step aboard to perform music for your group , for a fee , creating a lively party atmosphere . And vendors may suddenly appear as if out of nowhere , selling their wares from jewelry to decorated blankets and the like . Alongside the canals are several fields where farmers grow produce and flowers on “ chinampas ,” or artificial islands — the “ floating gardens ”— which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site . These are the only reminder of pre-Hispanic land use in lagoons within the city ’ s basin . Also an ecological reserve , a variety of birds can also be spotted along the way .
There are also land tours that will tempt your taste buds , like visiting popular taquerias , street taco stands and bars in the Narvarte neighborhood of Mexico City during a nighttime walk led by friendly and knowledgeable guides from the Eat Mexico culinary tour company . Among the spots on a recent tour was El Vilsito , which is an auto repair shop by day , then the doors are rolled up at night to reveal a taqueria within . Tables and chairs are also set up on the sidewalk as the crowds often spill outside . Known for its al pastor , the meat is cooked on a spit ; watch as the
cooks slice off pieces to make the tacos , piled high with cilantro and onions on warm tortillas . Then choose from a variety of salsas based on your flavor preference and heat tolerance . Plenty of other options are also on the menu , but al pastor is what they are known for .
Down the street is the Tacos Tony stand , beloved by locals for steak and sausage tacos . You ’ ll eat standing up at raised tables , but part of the fun is watching the workers prepare the meat . For “ suadero ” tacos , thin meat is cooked in a special pan with a raised mound in the center . The meat is simmered in fat with water , onions , longaniza and chorizo sausage for added flavor . With your tacos , be sure to also grab a Boing ! soda in mango or guava for a unique refreshment . Farther down the street taco tour route , brave eaters may want to try tacos de cabeza ( braised meat from the head of a cow ) or lengua ( beef tongue ) at the Tacos Manolos stand .
End the evening at Alquimia Cafe Barra y Tostadora , a neighborhood spot with both coffee and cocktails . Sidewalk tables provide a nice place to gather with friends , enjoy the evening air and toast the end of a trip filled with good food , history and culture — and start planning your return visit . /
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