Xochimilco
I spent a couple of days in Mexico City where I visited the Floating Gardens at Xochimilco. The area is made up of many canals between islands (no longer floating, but anchored) that served as the agricultural center for the Aztecs empire. When the Spanish arrived, they drained most of the lake that surrounded what is now Mexico City and Xochimilco is what remains of the wetlands.
Today there are two sections - one is touristy and the other is remote and more natural. The islands are still used for farming and for raising nursery stock. To travel the canals, there are colorful, flat-bottom boats (trajineras) that hold about 12 people. Since the only motorized boats are those used by the canal police, navigation by is either by oars or pole. While cruising the touristy area, you may either bring a picnic (which we did) or purchase food from floating kitchens. You can also chose to pay a few pesos to be entertained by floating mariachis.
The orange boat above is where a meal is being prepared and then served to those on the blue boat. Below is a mariachi boat.
There were eight of us on our boat and we were headed for the Island of the Dolls.
This is one of several nurseries that we passed.
To get to the natural area, our boat had to be lifted out of the water and transported along a rail to the other side of the lock.
We then cruised through beautiful waterways that reminded me of paintings by Monet and Corot.
Painting below is by Jean-Baptiste Corot.
Painting below is by Claude Monet.
We encountered men fishing with nets and also children returning from school on a floating school bus.
The area is full of wildlife, especially birds. We stopped at a nature preserve to observe Axolotes, a salamander that is unique to this area that needs to be protected. This rather ugly creature is capable of regenerating severed body parts which makes it a focus of medical research. The populations are consequently decreasing.
After two and half hours on the canals, we arrived at our destination, the Island of the Dolls. This will be the topic of my next blog so stay tuned!
Today there are two sections - one is touristy and the other is remote and more natural. The islands are still used for farming and for raising nursery stock. To travel the canals, there are colorful, flat-bottom boats (trajineras) that hold about 12 people. Since the only motorized boats are those used by the canal police, navigation by is either by oars or pole. While cruising the touristy area, you may either bring a picnic (which we did) or purchase food from floating kitchens. You can also chose to pay a few pesos to be entertained by floating mariachis.
The orange boat above is where a meal is being prepared and then served to those on the blue boat. Below is a mariachi boat.
There were eight of us on our boat and we were headed for the Island of the Dolls.
This is one of several nurseries that we passed.
To get to the natural area, our boat had to be lifted out of the water and transported along a rail to the other side of the lock.
We then cruised through beautiful waterways that reminded me of paintings by Monet and Corot.
Painting below is by Jean-Baptiste Corot.
Painting below is by Claude Monet.
We encountered men fishing with nets and also children returning from school on a floating school bus.
The area is full of wildlife, especially birds. We stopped at a nature preserve to observe Axolotes, a salamander that is unique to this area that needs to be protected. This rather ugly creature is capable of regenerating severed body parts which makes it a focus of medical research. The populations are consequently decreasing.
After two and half hours on the canals, we arrived at our destination, the Island of the Dolls. This will be the topic of my next blog so stay tuned!
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