Zocalo,
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Mexico
ZocaloVisited: January 2005 More pictures of Zocalo:
These pictures have been tagged with the following tags (clicking on the tag will take you to all pictures on this site with that tag) american Mexico Mexico City North America palace people square Zocalo blue face man car streetvendor hat brown detail green red spices cathedral christian church grey lanternSearchSearch pages at Traveladventures.org Go directly to:Travel picturesYou can travel the world using images - select your preferred language below:  |  |  |  |  |  MailinglistIf you want to be updated regularly about new stories and pictures: Google EarthClick your way around Mexico with pictures (needs Google Earth software) Visual GeographyAdvertiseIt is possible to advertise on this travel site. Travel advertisers, ask for more information! SurveyIs there a difference between a traveler and a tourist? View Results Related search: |
After its independence from Spain, Mexico wanted to have a monument in its memory on the central square. Zócalo means base, or platform, and because of lack of money, the platform never got its monument, and even the platform has disappeared. Still, the name stuck, and although the official name of the square is Plaza de la Constitución, it is most commonly called Zócalo.
On it, you can find the cathedral, the National Palace, government buildings, remains of an ancient Aztec temple. During the day, it turns into a very lively place, on which demonstrations are held, all kinds of items are sold, love couples embracing, Indian dancers dressed in traditional costumes, wearing enormous feathers on their heads, traditional healers with their medicines, a row of parents in front of the cathedral wanting to baptize their children you can also find shoe polishers, food, drinks, and all kinds of other things. 
The square also clearly shows the signs of the subsiding that is going on in Mexico City, buildings slowly capsizing in the enormous high altitude basin in which Mexico city was built. Especially the older buildings are clearly not standing firm. But as you contemplate the future of the city, the rhythm of the drums goes on, and reminds you of today, of the lively city and its inhabitants, that cheerfully enjoy the square in all its colourfullness.
