by Pablo Solares
As expected, DF is not good for training BUT if you are visiting for only a few days and if you are staying in the Polanco or Chapultepec areas, it is easy to manage training. There are a couple of places where you can do easy runs. The first one is Chapultepec Park, this is the most famous park in D.F., it is big, green, and surprisingly empty in the mornings, there is a small but soft trail that loops around the park for about 15 min. The other option is “el Sope”, which is a 20 min run from Polanco and it has a 2km gravel loop. Don’t go here on the weekends unless you want to feel like a running sardine.
Aside from running, our favorite things about Distrito Federal walking around the Zocalo and city center, and the food that you can find there. Food is amazing in this great Azteca city for so many reasons: It is much cheaper than in San Francisco, way more authentic and flavorful, there is more variety (burritos can get old in the US), there are restaurants everywhere, and almost all of the restaurants are good. If you come to D.F. and stay close to Polanco, here are a few places you should check out for food and coffee. You wont be disappointed.
Pojul (pricy Mexican food but really good, Shannon says this is the best restaurant she has ever been to)
Since pictures tell more than words, here are a few photos from our trip. I hope you like them and stay tuned for the next BATC blog.
Last week I had to go to Mexico City for an appointment, so Shannon and I decided make a trip out of it. This is our second time going to DF while training, and just as last time, we left hoping to stay for a few more days. Differently from last year’s trip when we drove, this time we took the bus. Now, don’t let the word “bus” mislead. Aside from saving myself for driving 4+ hours under the sun, having to deal with traffic, and saving money from an almost mandatory “multa” in D.F. (Cops like to take money from out of state drivers, last year it was $600 pesos for us), the bus that we took was also really nice. It had Internet, a TV with dubbed movies (I say awesome!, Shannon says boo!), big and comfortable recliners, and tons of space for my long legs. I was very happy.
As expected, DF is not good for training BUT if you are visiting for only a few days and if you are staying in the Polanco or Chapultepec areas, it is easy to manage training. There are a couple of places where you can do easy runs. The first one is Chapultepec Park, this is the most famous park in D.F., it is big, green, and surprisingly empty in the mornings, there is a small but soft trail that loops around the park for about 15 min. The other option is “el Sope”, which is a 20 min run from Polanco and it has a 2km gravel loop. Don’t go here on the weekends unless you want to feel like a running sardine.
Aside from running, our favorite things about Distrito Federal walking around the Zocalo and city center, and the food that you can find there. Food is amazing in this great Azteca city for so many reasons: It is much cheaper than in San Francisco, way more authentic and flavorful, there is more variety (burritos can get old in the US), there are restaurants everywhere, and almost all of the restaurants are good. If you come to D.F. and stay close to Polanco, here are a few places you should check out for food and coffee. You wont be disappointed.
Pojul (pricy Mexican food but really good, Shannon says this is the best restaurant she has ever been to)
Pasteleria Ideal (near the city center, very cheap and good bakery bread)
El Bajio (Good Mexican food overall, get the Panuchos, they are amazing)
Eno (Coffee place owned by Pojul)
El Pendulo (Coffee place and book store. It is good for getting some computer work done)
Finally, one of my favorite places to visit for the trip was the Tenochtitlan museum. For people who are not familiar with Aztec culture, Tenochtitlan was THE Aztec city. It was built over a lake and, at the time, it was the greatest city in the Americas.
Since pictures tell more than words, here are a few photos from our trip. I hope you like them and stay tuned for the next BATC blog.