Day 5

Dear you,

Sometimes I thank heavens that I am travelling all by myself. Today's visit was planned a long time before I land in the city. I was going to see two museums : Jumex and Soumaya, which are in a chic area of Mexico, Polanco. As Google map told me it was so long to go by subway, buses and all sort of detour, I had planned to walk. The most direct way to get there from my hotel was a walk of almost 8km with an itinerary quite simple to follow on the map. What Google map will never say is how horrible was going to be that walk. Less than 10 minutes after I left, I had to climb a pedestrian bridge, passing over a highway... how fun. Worst, most of the path was on a street in an industrial area, full sun, cars flying by, and nothing to see but fences, walls. Imagine I would have brought you or anyone actually, in this adventure. I would have been hated for the rest of my life.

one of the very rare interesting architecture on my long walk

At destination, I ended up in a surrounding of head offices, office towers, wealth and a lot of suits. The museum Jumex is a foundation for contemporary art. Unfortunately, two floors out of three were closed for installation (these shows start next week). Only a retrospective of John Baldassari to see, a famous artist from USA that I enjoy mildly. I was glad I went anyways, I couldn't come to Mexico as an art lover without visiting the Jumex. Right after I went to the building just beside, the museo Soumaya.

Museo Jumex

This is the perfect illustration of giving everything to the containing and nothing to the content. The architecture is stunning, but the collection (if I understand it is the collection of a very rich family) is surprisingly bad. Yes there are many big names in art history of every period from Middle-Ages to modern (Renoir, da Vinci, name it) but you always get to see the works that didn't make through. The work no-one wants to buy in an auction at Sothebys, the work done much before the artist found his style. So I walked around, was very glad I saw the building, but that was obviously a one-shot-deal.

Museo Soumaya, please note this beautiful tree blooming to add to the beauty

After, I walked in the very luxurious area where you can find, as in Yorkville, all the Cartier, Chanel and Gucci of this world. No interest. I then went to a large park, Bosque de Chapultepec, mostly off the usual path for tourists so it was very refreshing and quiet. Finally I walk almost with no interruption from 9:30 this morning until 4:00 this afternoon. I deserved my nap!

To end my day : a bit of sashimi, a bit of merengue, a bit of latino karaoke (intense by 10). I am done.

It's Tuesday night only once a week. Thank god.

Plenty of kisses. I will come back to you a bit tanned, a bit drunk and a bit crazier.

xx

n.