PLOT TWIST !!!

    Last night, Bob came down with something. We don't think it's Montezuma's Revenge, but whatever it is, it caused him to spend the day in bed, not wandering around Zona Rosa, an interesting neighborhood I'd scheduled for today. So, in addition to doing a run to the local 7/11 for liquids for the patient, I took a couple of excursions around the Zocolo and its adjourning streets. Below are some observations and a few of my excursions into photo journalism.

    Although the square and streets are swarming with people, the streets themselves are remarkably

clean. Generally, people don't litter. And for those who do, there's a small army of street cleaners in bright uniforms.

    And talking about armies, there's a much larger one of

police. In fact, they seem to be everywhere, not just in public areas, but also in front of stores, restaurants and shops. This may explain why the crime rate in Mexico City, at least in areas we've seen, is much lower than many US cities. Chicago, anyone? 

    Around the cathedral are a dozen or so Aztec shaman healers who, for a donation, will rub you with herbs and

blow smoke in your face to cleanse you of evil spirits. Some areas were downright smoky.

    Also around the cathedral are a couple dozen Aztec dancers, mostly men, who perform in elaborate costumes, some of them extremely skimpy, to the accompaniment of drums. You have to wonder how they manage to keep warm.

    There are also beggars and loud-mouthed promoters of who-knows-what, but not as many as I've seen on the streets

of Paris or Rome. And, of course, the ubiquitous selfie takers, and the noise-makers. (Sadly, I don't have a photo of the guy singing “New York, New York.”) 

    In the square itself are parents with young children playing ball much as they must have done five hundred years ago. And everywhere, families with kids and grandparents and relatives eating, laughing, blowing up balloons, having a good time. That what a zocolo is for!