The Image of Sharing Mexico City
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The Image of Sharing Mexico City IIT College of Architecture Cloud Studio Spring 2016 Travel Itinerary Jan 15- 22 1 Mexico City Travel Information 2 CONTACT INFORMATION Jennifer Park 917-674-1996 [email protected] [email protected] Hotel Carolota Río Amazonas 73, Cuauhtémoc, Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico www.hotelcarlota.com +52 55 5511 6300 Downtown Beds Isabel La Católica 30, Cuauhtémoc, Centro, 06002 Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico +52 55 5130 6855 http://www.downtownbeds.com/ Universidad Iberoamericana Universidad Iberoamericana, A.C. Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Col. Lomas de Santa Fe Delegación Álvaro Obregón, México, D.F. 01219 http://www.uia.mx/about-ibero Mtro. José María Wilford Nava Townsend Coordinación del Programa de Arquitectura Universidad Iberoamericana Tel. 59504121 [email protected] 3 PRE-DEPARTURE • Call credit cards and bank about travels to Mexico City • Call phone provider for international use • Set up UBER on phone • Make copy of Passport and pack somewhere other than with your passport • Letters to other class professors • Leave enough time at airport to get through security and get to gate; international flights close thier doors earlier than domestic flights, try to get to airport 2 hours before flight PACKING • PASSPORT • copy of passport • Bring some cash • Sunscreen/sunglasses • Walking shoes • Comfortable clothes (layering) • Good bag for walking around (maybe not backpack) • Phone • Phone charger • Camera 4 Cloud Studio in Mexico City Travel Information from Frommer’s and State Department The Embassy of the United States in Mexico City is at Paseo de la Reforma 305, next to the Hotel María Isabel Sheraton at the corner of Río Danubio (tel. 55/5080-2000); hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm. Visit http://mexico.usembassy.gov for information related to U.S. Embassy services. Emergencies -- In case of emergency, dial tel. 066 from any phone within Mexico. Dial tel. 065 for the Red Cross. The 24-hour Tourist Help Line in Mexico City is tel. 01-800/987-8224 in Mexico, or 55/5089- 7500, or simply dial tel. 078. The operators don't always speak English, but they are always willing to help. Safety Personal Property: Travelers should always leave valuables and irreplaceable items in a safe place, or avoid bringing them at all. Visitors are encouraged to make use of hotel safes, avoid wearing expensive jewelry, clothing, or accessories, and carry only the cash or credit cards that will be needed on each outing. There have been significant numbers of incidents of pick pocketing, purse snatching, and hotel- room theft. Pickpocketing is common on public transportation. Do not leave valuables in rental vehicles, even when locked. Some travelers have had their passports stolen from their bags at airports. Remember to safeguard your passport within a zipper pocket or other safe enclosure so that it cannot be easily removed from your person or your luggage. Take steps to protect your passport even after passing through security and while waiting in a departure lounge to board your flight. Taxis: Avoid the use of the green Volkswagen Beetle and libre taxis, many of which have been involved in "pirate" robberies, muggings, and kidnappings. These taxis are also common in incidents where passengers are "hijacked" and released only after they are forced to withdraw the limit on their ATM bank cards. Always use official airport or radio taxis (called sitios) instead. Tourists and residents alike should avoid driving alone at night anywhere in the city. ATMs: Be very cautious in general when using ATMs in Mexico. If you must use an ATM, it should be accessed only during the business day at large protected facilities (preferably inside commercial establishments, rather than at glass-enclosed, highly visible ATMs on streets). Travelers to remote areas should be aware that they may be far away from appropriate medical services, banking facilities (such as ATMs), and law enforcement or consular assistance in an emergency. Water Quality: In many areas in Mexico, tap water is not potable. Bottled water and beverages are safe, although visitors should be aware that many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. Ice may also come from tap water and should be avoided. Visitors should exercise caution when buying food or beverages from street vendors. 5 High-Altitude Hazards -- Travelers to certain regions of Mexico occasionally experience elevation sickness, which results from the relative lack of oxygen and the decrease in barometric pressure that characterizes high elevations (more than 1,500m/5,000 ft.). Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, insomnia, and even nausea. Mexico City is at 2,240m (7,349 ft.) above sea level, and a number of other central and southern cities, such as San Cristóbal de las Casas, are as high as or even higher than Mexico City. At high elevations, it takes about 10 days to acquire the extra red blood corpuscles you need to adjust to the scarcity of oxygen. To help your body acclimate, drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol, and don't overexert yourself during the first few days. If you have heart or lung trouble, consult your doctor before traveling to places above 2,400m (7,872 ft.). For more information, please visit: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/mexico.html 6 ARRIVAL Arrive Friday, Jan. 15 - Benito Juarez International Airport (AeroMexico - Terminal 2) (United, Volaris - Terminal 1) You will have to go through customs which will usually have some line. Have passport and customs documents with you. You need to save one of the documents for leaving Mexico - so don’t loose that slip. Exchange money at airport. FInd cab stand within airport and order a cab from stand, give them address of hotel - the area is in Centro. Will take approx. 40 mins to get to hotel. Downtown Beds Isabel La Católica 30, Cuauhtémoc, Centro, 06002 Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico +52 55 5130 6855 http://www.downtownbeds.com/ Check-in to hotel - reservations are under my name. Confirmation Number: RESERVA N° 1285128011 • turn data roaming off and try to use WiFi wherever possible; might need to switch on to call for Uber DEPARTURE Departure Friday, Jan. 22 Check-out (hotel stay is already paid, but any other charges can be dealt with at check-out) Order cab through desk at hotel - might need to do this the day before if it’s an early flight. Allow enough time for traffic (40 mins approx.) and enough time to get through security. 7 Mexico City Background and Schedule 8 BACKGROUND Some articles as background: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/07/travel/places-to-visit.html http://www.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/mexico/mexico-city/overview.html http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/travel/seeing-mexico-city-guided-by-architects.html Travel Guides http://www.designsponge.com/2010/08/mexico-city-guide.html 9 SCHEDULE (subject to change; updates via text/blog) Friday Check-into hotel, chill out, walk Historic Center Saturday 10 am: Meet at Hotel Carolota Walk Reforma – coffee at Torre Reforma or drink at St. Regis Walk by Museo of Contemporary Art to Museo Anthropology Lunch in Polanco (Prado Norte) Cab to Museo Jumex, walk Polanco Dinner Polanco or Condessa Sunday 10:30 am - 2pm: Tour with Jose Castillo Cab back to Historic Center Dinner Historic Center Monday 10 am: Meet for coffee at Hotel Carolota Tour Frida Kahlo Museum Walk to Cineteca National Cab to UNAM, lunch on campus (Cab to Iberoamericana) Cab to Condessa for dinner Tues 11:30am: Casa Barragan (#NIS3471 confirmation) 1:00 pm: Meet at Iberoamericana 5:30 pm: Office Visit - Mayer Hasbani Wed 10 am: Meet at Iberoamericana or site visit to Condessa 6:30 pm: Office Visit – Javier Sanchez, JSa Dinner in Condessa Thurs 10 am: Meet at Iberoamericana Dinner in Condessa/Roma Friday Depart back to Chicago 10 Mexico City Dining 11 FOOD (Refer to google maps) • Tacos: Califa and Farolito • Mercado Roma (by Rojkind) • Fonda Fina and Fonda Mayora • Contramar • Lardo • Comedor Romita • Roseta • San Ángel Inn (also famous margaritas) • Contramar DRINKS • Condesa DF (drink - rooftop) • St. Regis Hotel • Licorería Limantour • Jules Basement • Beer Bank • La Nueva Opera (tequila tasting) • Area bar at Habita (rootop) http://www.worldsbestbars.com/cities/mexico-city OTher food/drink/city guides: http://www.hotels.com/articles/ar000540/top-10-food-and-drink-things-to-do-in- mexico-city/ http://blog.forbestravelguide.com/where-to-drink-in-mexico-city-right-now http://www.fodors.com/world/mexico-and-central-america/mexico/mexico-city/things- to-do/nightlife/la-condesa http://www.everytrail.com/guide/condesa-a-night-out-in-mexico-city http://www.designsponge.com/2010/08/mexico-city-guide.html 12 Mexico City Historic Center 13 HISTORIC CENTER http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/mexico-city-walking-tour-3/ Palacio de Bellas Artes Immense murals by world-famous Mexican artists dominate the top floors of this splendid white-marble palace, a concert hall and arts center commissioned by President Porfirio Díaz. Construction on the iconic building began in 1905 under Italian architect Adamo Boari, who favored neoclassical and art nouveau styles. Complications arose as the heavy marble shell sank into the spongy subsoil, and then the Mexican Revolution intervened. Architect Federico Mariscal eventually finished the interior in the 1930s, utilizing the more modern art deco style. www.palacio.bellasartes.gob.mx 10am-6pm Tue-Sun museum admission M$43, Sun free 14 National Art Museum The Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL) (English: National Museum of Art) is the Mexican national art museum, located in the historical center of Mexico City.