Plaza de la Constitución – Known to everyone today as the Zócalo, this is the heart of Mexico City. Here stood the Halls of Moctezuma – the hub of the ancient Aztec world. Known as Tenochtitlán back then, it was the heart of their empire with immense imperial palaces, and impressive pyramids looming over an enormous square which was used daily as a marketplace and on feast days, was the scene of ceremonial dancing and sacrifices.
Today, it is home to the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace - now the Presidential palace - which was built from the rubble of Moctezuma’s opulent residence to construct a palace for Hernán Cortés. Also located there, the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), Templo Mayor Museum with artifacts from the ancient civilization, National Pawn Shop, and a host of shops and cozy cafés and restaurants.
Pyramids of Teotihuacán – located about an hour’s drive northeast of Mexico City, this is well worth the visit. A network of palaces and temples extending for miles, this vestige from Mesoamerica had tremendous religious, cultural and economic influence from around 500 AD to the 7th century until much of the city was burned. The Aztecs discovered it in the early 1300s and were so impressed with what they found that they named it, “Place Where Men Became Gods” and built a network of palaces and temples extending for miles, dominated by the Palace of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. Several onsite restaurants and food stands dot the area, dishing up traditional Mexican fare and hot air balloon tours offer an exceptional way to view the site.
Bazaar Sábado – Shopping buffs should plan a visit to this colorful handicraft bazaar. Open only on Saturdays, it has been a staple of the charming San Angel neighborhood since 1960, luring visitors and residents alike with a host of unusual crafts, jewelry, paintings and more. Along the way you can select from many dining choices from street vendors, cozy cafés, and trendy restaurants.
Michelle
Michelle da Silva Richmond is an award-winning travel journalist with more than 35 years of storytelling experience. A former travel editor of The News—Mexico’s daily English-language newspaper—she earned the prestigious Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) for “Best Travel Section.”
During nearly two decades in Mexico City, she co-authored the Crown Insider’s Guide to Mexico, contributed to Fodor’s, Frommer’s, and Fisher’s guidebooks, and served as editor of Amigo magazine.
As a longtime freelance writer, Michelle’s work has appeared in inflight magazines for American, Continental, and United Airlines, as well as in Travel & Leisure, AAA World, Porthole, TravelAge West, the Hartford Courant, Bride’s, Bridal Guide, PeterGreenberg.com, and many more. She is also a regular contributor to USA Today 10Best and Afar.com.
Her newsroom background includes writing a weekly travel column for Connecticut’s Middletown Press, reporting for the Glastonbury Citizen, and serving as editor of Avon Life.
In 2024, Michelle published Fleeting Moments, a memoir chronicling her exhilarating years as a Pan Am stewardess—complete with globe-trotting adventures and a life-altering romance with two men on different continents. She is also the author of Travels with Mateo and Joe Mouse: A New England Fair, a whimsical children’s travel tale featuring a boy and his furry companion.
Michelle is a longtime member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the Society of American Travel Writers, and the New York Travel Writers Association.
Growing up abroad sparked her wanderlust early—and her bags are always packed.