My last few days in Mexico City have been full of sightseeing and walking – lots and lots of walking.

I have been spending my days with a new friend named Cinthia. She contacted me before my trip through Couchsurfing. Cinthia has some experience traveling alone, so she reached out to offer her help. 

On Thursday Cinthia and her friend Perla showed me around downtown. The buildings are stunning – beautiful Spanish Renaissance Revival style and many with Art Deco interiors. It is definitely a feast for the eyes. 

My favorite two buildings were the Palacio de Correos and the Bellas Artes. The amount of intricate detail that was put into each of these buildings was jaw dropping. The treads of the stairs in the Palacio de Correos are carefully carved designs from brass. Delicate marble work also encompasses both buildings. Just the sheer size of the Bellas Artes is amazing.

The best part is that admission into both of these buildings is free! If you want to check out the art exhibits in the Bellas Artes – they are free on Sunday as well.

Cinthia’s favorite part of downtown is a famous churros and hot chocolate cafe. The line was out the door with delicious smells of cinnamon, sugar and fried dough permeating from the building. For only $3.50 you can get a hot chocolate and four churros! A little on the pricey side in comparison to the cost of things here in Mexico but well worth it. 

We ended the night at a place called El Greco back in my neighborhood of La Condesa. Apparently this place has been here for over 30 years and is a staple of the neighborhood. The menu is reasonably priced and you can leave here full for under five dollars.