Mexico Bus Tour Notes

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Mexico Bus Tour Notes
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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. Aztecs main food is corn
• 6. Spanish built Mexico City on Tenochtitlan
  /Aztec ruins

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Slide 2 Zocalo

• 1. Zocalo is Mexico Citys main square.
  This is the citys 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

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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 Citys problems
  poverty, pollution, and traffic.
• 4. Mexico City worlds largest metropolitan
  area.

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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

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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
• Todays Mexican food is a mixture of these two
  cultures.

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Slide 6 Plaza de Garibaldi

• 1. Mariachi often mispronounced as French
  word, mariage.

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Slide 7 Zona Rosa

• 1. Famous shopping district for the wealthy
• 2. Expensive merchandise jewelry, clothes,
  antiques, and art

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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.

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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 Marys picture, or image,
  appeared on Juan Diegos cloak.
• 7. The bishop immediately ordered a church be
  built on this spot.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.