Mexico City: Coyoacán coyotes, parks, and mole
After touring the Frida Kahlo Museum, we walked around Coyoacán, one of Mexico City’s charming historic neighborhoods with sherbet-colored buildings, bustling plazas, green parks, a food and souvenir market, and coyotes everywhere. No, not real ones. “Coyoacán” means “place of coyotes” in the Aztec language Nahuatl.
Two bronze coyotes frolic in a large fountain in Jardín Centenario, within view of a lovely patio at Los Danzantes, where we had lunch.
We sampled a variety of moles (pronounced MOH-lays), earthy, rich sauces made from dried chiles, herbs, fruits, tomatillos, and/or sometimes chocolate.
David and I tried chapulines — fried whole grasshoppers, a traditional Oaxacan snack– stuffed into plantain hush puppies. They were pretty good, and I just tried to ignore the occasional leg sticking out.
At the market we saw mole powders and pastes piled high like modeling clay.
The colorful buildings of Coyoacán make a pretty backdrop for the occasional potted aloe or rambling bougainvillea.
This classic car squeezed into a narrow gated driveway reminded me of the husband’s daily parking ritual in the movie Roma.
Across the street from the market, Parque Allende’s neatly fenced boxwood hedges rein in an exuberance of bold and airy foliage and glowing white flowers.
Strappy African iris, Acanthus mollis, and other plants I don’t know are block-planted within the orderly hedges.
The brick-red stucco of a neighboring building makes a perfect contrast with powder-blue agaves.
Coyoacán didn’t elicit any howls of disappointment from us! We explored for a few hours and then headed back to our Airbnb in the Centro Histórico neighborhood, which I’ll show in my next post.
Up next: Purple jacarandas, spiky agaves, and more in Centro Histórico, the historic center of Mexico City. For a look back at the Frida Kahlo Museum and garden, click here.
__________________________
Digging Deeper
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!
All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Grasshoppers huh, you sure are brave dear! I imagine you had lots of great food to choose from in a city that large. Loved the Frida museum, that wonderful courtyard and the fabulous shot of datura against the cobalt wall. Thanks for letting us in on your travels, looking forward to more posts!
It’s a foodie city, so yes, lots of great restaurants. I’m glad to know you’re enjoying the recap. More soon!
I heard about all the excellent, small neighborhood parks in that huge city. Better than I imagined! Coyote fountains and colorful walls, cars, etc…what’s not to like? Maybe I’ll finally try some mole which some Mexican restaurants here offer…
The parks are lovely, and there seemed to be lots of them. The food was pretty darn good too — better than animal crackers for sure.