Shopping in the Historic District and the Zona Rosa

To do a little shopping there are literally scores of stores, shops and craft stands from which to make your purchases in and near the Zocalo and in the Zona Rosa. Making purchases in the Historic District is far cheaper than the often sky-high prices usually found in the Zona Rosa, which caters to the Upper Crust, International and Business travelers. Stands selling postcards, maps, magazines, books, newspapers, T - shirts and a cornucopia of crafts are open along the edges of the Zocalo from 9am until the late afternoon.

Beyond the Zocalo

Further into the Zocalo, around on the side of the cathedral, there are dancers performing Aztec ritual dances to traditional music from late mornings to early afternoons. Frequently they'll stop and pass collection baskets through the crowd for donations. The multi-colored, feathered costumes of the tanned, muscular dancers (including some women and children) make great photos. You shouldn't miss this.

You can also pick up pretty decent city and Mexico maps from vendors in the Zocalo. Guia Roji publishes very good, informative ones. Most will be in Spanish (well this is MEXICO, remember ?). There's no shortage of shops or goods of any type elsewhere in the area either as virtually every street in the Historic District consists of corner to corner stores and shops.

For Ladies, For Men

For Ladies clothes, shoes and accessories walk along Cinco de Febrero (the street that borders the Zocalo) with the front of the Cathedral behind you. Go about three blocks and the boutiques will begin. They go on for many blocks so you won't get bored.

For Mens clothes and accoutrements, Avenida Lazaro Cardenas is Tailor's Row, starting about one block from the Palacio de Las Bellas Artes (with the front of the Bellas Artes building behind you) and continuing for an additional five blocks or so. You'll pass right by the Torre Latinoamerica, so if it's a clear day you might want to pop up to the observation deck or caf on the 43rd and 44th floors for a spectacular view. Tickets are sold at street level around on the side street (Alarcon) and cost 30 pesos.

Avenida Lazaro Cardenas is good for other shopping sprees as well since street vendors hawk virtually everything imaginable along its length. This avenida runs for miles so you'll run out of steam well before it does.

Other notable shopping specifics
Other notable shopping specifics in the Historic District include:

FOTO DISK
Address: Isabel La Catolica No. 20
Phone: 510 - 8928

This small but full-service photo store sells 35mm color film (36 exp.) for only 20 pesos ($2.20 USD) a roll. A price not equaled at other area photo stores. How? They buy film in bulk and load the film cartridges themselves. The film is top quality and the price is right. So stock up and save.

THE NEW OPTION BOOKSTORE
Address: Motolinia No. 39
Phone: 518 - 2498

If you're an English Teacher, you need books and materials in English for your work, right? This bookstore features didactic materials, texts, videos, cassettes and dictionaries, etc. in English and French for teachers. The friendly and helpful staff offer a 10% discount on purchases made in cash. Some English is spoken. The Historic District store is across from the Hotel Lafayette and a few doors down from Centro Educativo Norteamericano . There are four other locations in Mxico City.

OPTICAL TURATI
Address: Madero No. 37
Phone: 512 - 3847, 512 - 1146, 510 - 4407

Optometrists and opticians who offer particularly fast, friendly service for glasses, contact lenses (American-made brands), eye exams or eye problems. They repair glasses on the spot - free of charge for minor repairs. Services are low cost and some English is spoken.

EL TRIUNFO de la CIUDAD de MEXICO, S.A., de C.V.
Address: 16 de Septiembre No. 41
Phone: 510 - 4018, 510 - 8932, 518 - 2712. 512 - 7848
Fax: 510 - 8908

Don't let the long name get you down; this is a craft store "par excellence" with an imported selection of crafts from the Orient as well as all over Mexico. You'll spend literally hours in this huge place perusing crafts and objects d'arte you'd never imagined. Prices range from virtually free to American Express card levels. A far cry from the Mom and Pop local handcrafts, however, there is something for every taste here. A great change of pace place to shop for that oh-so-unique item.

It won't take you long to find many more options and develop some new favorites of your own. So get out there and start looking and poking around for other finds and treasures. There's always something or somewhere new to be discovered and explored.

Finally, be sure to check out my other articles in the two continuing series: Teaching English in Mexico and Traveling in Mexico. If you would like more information, have questions or comments, the author can be e-mailed at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com