As my taxi pulls up to our conference hotel, the Intercontinental Presidente in downtown Mexico City I am impressed by the downtown area that surrounds it. The hotel is situated in Polanco and is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, (Starbucks!) and upscale shopping. I am struck by the many similarities to 5th Avenue in New York City.
Nearby the hotel is a beautiful park, where my colleagues inform me is a safe and good place for jogging. From the view of my hotel room I can see the impressive Guadalupe Shrine in the distance. The famous Anthropology Museum is only a ten-minute walk from the hotel. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to visit, but there will be a guided tour Monday morning before the conference for those who are interested.
The façade of the city with its shopping, skyscrapers and discotecas is very modern, yet Mexico City is still very grounded by culture and tradition. One of my favorite traditions is the food. From savory mole, enchiladas, to spicy fajitas there is much to be written about the tasty dishes. Our hotel alone houses six restaurants. French, Italian, Chinese, Mexican and American restaurants can all be found without leaving the hotel.
Through a donation from Grupo Pando IPADE Business School secured some of the top chefs in Mexico to prepare mouth-watering meals with dishes representing each of the regions in Mexico. Santo Tomas, a regional winery will be donating wine, and La Suiza will be providing a gourmet chocolate tasting.
Believe me, Mexican food is one tradition not to be missed.
Join us next month as Lisa continues her Mexico City Travel Blog Series, with Surprise #3: Dress to Impress.
Read last's month's log: 5 Pleasant Surprises in Mexico City: Pleasant Surprise #1— A Peaceful Oasis
