Mexico is a perfect escape for the New Year, dry sunny and above all hot, a little cooler in Mexico City due to its altitude.
Last minute change of plans as hurricane Otis flattened Acapulco on October 25th, so that was struck of the itinerary in favour of Manzanillo, some 500 miles along the pacific coast towards USA, unaffected by the largest weather event ever to hit Mexico.
BA also played their part to blow us off course, missing the connecting flight in Gatwick, we were re-routed through Amsterdam the next morning, the KLM flight was the bones of 11 hours, but with a positive time difference we still arrived in Mexico City the same day as planned, albeit a little later.
We stayed at the Hotel Geneva ( see link 1). An historic luxury hotel located in Mexico’s pink zone close to bars shops and the new normal of gender fluid entities identifying as pedestrian crossings.
Casual cruising completed we walked towards the Avenue de la Reforma and the war of independence monument. The Avenue runs through the modern part of the city flanked by corporate offices and accounting firms associated with its northern Neighbour.
As it was late December, the streets were empty of traffic and people, who were in party mode. The avenue runs in a straight line until it hits the botanic gardens,
A lovely oasis in a big sprawling city.
Heading back towards the war of independence monument, you still get the odd reminder it is late December, apart from the reindeer, the rest of the festive bunch have long departed.
It gets dark early enough in these parts so, it wasn’t long before we availed of local hospitality.
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we planned to head to the other part of the city, which is far more historic and less “Americanized”. The Palacio de Bellas Artes sits proudly next to Alameda central Mexico city’s oldest park.
You get a sense of proportion when you visit Sears store opposite and take a snap from the top floor, conveniently also housing a cafe and much needed facilities. 
Moving further into the historic area you pass many a well know brand store which seem to have sprung up in every direction, these shopping streets opening out into grand plazas with grander monuments and buildings. Most impressive being the Cathedral, surprising it is still standing as it has been affected badly by earthquakes which are frequent in this area. Most notably as you walk around inside you get the full effect of the previous disturbances.
Outside the two main towers are distinctly heading in different directions !
The National Palace flanks the square and terminates the tourist trail, plenty of natives then outnumber the camera happy.
After a long afternoon and early evening time to get back to the hotel and refresh, Mexico City is definitely a walkable city, and we didn’t experience any uneasy in the various neighborhoods, few you would imagine argue with rear mounted sub machine guns in the hands of the local peacekeepers.
In and around the hotel plenty of eating options so no need to walk far at night, we found one very inviting Dog House pub–€ 50 for good food and drink always a bargain.
Not being great fans of Mexican cuisine, we did however go fully into the local food scene at a very authentic restaurant complete with sombrero wearing mariachi band, toss up if they were better than the soggy enchiladas.
With the major sites covered it’s good to relax and explore the other parts of the city–and it is one big city, by population the biggest in North America. We came across the Museo Franz Mayer
We also enjoyed the National Art Museum from the outside with a more traditional lunch at an eatery within the square.
Sightseeing and shopping over, the party was starting, our trip to Mexico City ending and part two approaching.
Time to leave
Next day we made our way out of the city back to the airport, through the mass and tangle of people and ramshackle shelter that encircle many a fine city in the world, Mexico was no different, and a glimpse into their lives gives an insight into why they want someone else’s.
Manzanillo
We arrived after a short one -hour flight to the heat, one snap before phone quickly back in pocket as the authorities are not keen on photography.
Driver booked–few taxis in this part of Mexico, we were quickly whisked away through pineapple and watermelon fields to the small resort area.
We were staying at the Barcelo Karmina Resort, complete with golf course you couldn’t ask for more with a private beach area and plenty of pools to sit around in the day. We had upgraded to the premier level to get the best rooms overlooking the Pacific Ocean and passing maritime traffic.
It also allows preferential dinner reservations, great selection we even had Japanese
No golf but the 18th across the water kept players focused.
5 nights later our Mexican odyssey was closing, hop back to Mexico City overnight and then out early to Dallas for onward flight to Dublin. There are only a handful of direct routes from Manzanillo to the US, which tempers “the donald types” –they flock to the more hedonistic and brash Puerto Vallarta –how bad !
