Mexico City - Day 4 - El Centro and Polanco

Protests which have been occupying Mexico City's major public square, the Zocalo, have been keeping tourists at bay, but today, Dave and I ventured into El Centro.  Keeping mostly to the side streets and only brushing by the protests in the Zocalo, we saw the mix of buildings from colonial to contemporary that make up this central neighborhood.  With foundations on the soft soils of the drained lake bed, heavier buildings have been sinking since their construction.  Some, like el Palacio de Bellas Artes, have accepted this fact in their relationship to the street and maximized the landscape potential in that zone.

Others make do with limited space like this museum on Calle de Tacuba connecting the building entrances to the sidewalk corners which are several feet higher:

And inconsistent settling leaves others to bend like this building on Calle Adalco:

Before heading up to Polanco to meet up with my former classmate, David Dana, we strolled through the Alameda Central behind the Palacio de Bellas Artes and around its numerous, busy fountains.

The leafy neighborhood of Polanco, northwest of El Centro, has a walkability and comfortable density not found in much of the city.  Tree lined avenues and gracious public parks give a sharp contrast to the narrow streets and bustle of El Centro.