Monday, December 8, 2008

Skating in DF - Big Taco or Big Apple?

Eat your heart out Rockerfeller centre!! We only need to nip down to the Zocalo to put on our skates and join the seasonal festive fun. The ice rink was inaugurated last year by our Mayor to bring the best of the icy Winter Season to the masses here in the metropolis of Mexico City.

Allegedly billed as the largest ice rink in the world, it takes centre stage in the Plaza of the Centro Historico, overlooked by the Palacio Nacional which houses the Rivera murals, and the impressive Metropolitan Cathedral ( just a little lopsided these days due to serious subsidence ).


When I visited this time last year, there were very few people skating with confidence in the middle (although perhaps they were put off by the melting puddles...); most were clinging to the wooden sides for dear life and just trudging around the edge, but having the best fun with the biggest smiles on their faces.


Just in case you do momentarily mistake the scene, and suddenly think you may be in the Big Apple rather than the Big Taco, let me pull the camera back and let me show you what was happening in other parts of the Zocalo on the same day at the same time...


Limpiador - traditional Aztec cleansing ritual with copal.


Hordes of ordinary Mexicans queue to have this cleansing ceremony performed.

The skating rink is in the zocalo this year from 29th November until 10th January, open from 9am until 9pm... and totally free (including skate hire). Instructors from DF Youth Institute are on hand to help you if you feel ready to venture away from the edge!!

12 comments:

Lakshmi said...

sounds like a lot of fun ..:)

Fly Girl said...

Who would have ever expected an ice skating rink in Mexico? Is it really cold on the ice? It looked like the skaters were bundled up. That copal ceremony looks very similar to the smudge ceremony done her by Native Americans. Is copal like sage?

Unknown said...

oh WOW, this is so fantastic! man, i'm loving seeing your images of mexico- it's fascinating!

Sara said...

I'm so glad you stopped by my blog as I've now found a nice blog on Mexico! :-)

Garrincha said...

great post.
congrats!
very happy to find this blog.

Catherine said...

Hi Lakshmi, Jess, Sara and Garrincha...thanks so much for all your appreciative comments...I love sharing what I find so surprising and fscinating about this city I am living in!!

Catherine said...

Hi Fly Girl... yep DF can get really cold in winter due to the altitude but the ice is all artificial.. the incense is the copal... I need to find out what the herb is...

kristine said...

everyone has crazy full on christmas decorations up around here, and it feels completely strange since it is still essentially summer as far as I am concerned.....ice skating though...there's a good idea. always fun.

ninja said...

Great to know I want miss one of my favorite sports if I'm in Mexico.
Anyways, I'm participating in this Uber Amazing Blog Award thingy and I've nominated You as my blog choice.
Here's a link to all the fuss:
http://koalek.blogspot.com/2008/12/thanks-to-rhi-ive-got-my-first-badge-it.html

Cecile/DreamCreateRepeat said...

I enjoy reading your posts! Never would have guessed there would be ice skating....and free skate rentals!

Catherine said...

Hi Kristine, Cecile and Koala... glad you liked the ice skating shots... this city never fails to surprise...and Koala thank you so much for the recommendation... much appreciated and I look forward to checking out the link...I still have not forgotten those great shots of yours in that Roumanian cemetery...can you give me a bit more info about where it is??

ninja said...

That particular shot from Romania is not mine. I've heard about it before but I've never been to Sapanta. So can't really give You much info. Sorry.