Museum of Popular Art, CDMX

The Museo de Arte Popular is Mexico City's folk art museum.

It is situated in a fabulous white Deco ex-fire-station in the historic centre of the city.

The courtyard of the museum displays parade floats on the ground floor

and paper-mache piñatas encircling the floors above.

The parade floats get street exposure in a parade on the Day of the Dead. We'd love to see it happen!

"Don't touch the monsters!"

Here are a few close-ups of the piñatas. A grandmother

and a crowned skull.

The museum is extensive with glass cases displaying 

gorgeous ceramics

and other folk art pieces.

We loved this spirited wooden coyote

and these "trees of life" -- another popular folk creation.

John inspects a big, ornate tree of life with two attendants on the ground floor.

Here is his detail of the tree.

There is so much to enjoy on the various floors. How about a row of mariachi musicians

or all the past presidents of Mexico?

We loved these skeletons at a banquet table

and this painting of a carnival scene.

Of course the mass of intricate creations need a regular dusting!

A feather-covered skull.

This group of skeletons over hell fire is entitled "Spell".

Let's end with these bizarre creatures called Nahuals which are apparently humans with the power to transform into animal forms.

A creature to avoid, we'd say. But a visit to the Museo de Arte Popular is a must during any visit to the city!

Devils of the Museum of Popular Art

Along with it's armies of living skeletons, the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City is also filled with devils.

Devils of all sizes -- in creative stagings.

While I took that picture of Bill, he took this picture of the little devil at bottom left.

 We enjoyed this wall of devil masks

 Here's a close-up of the mask in the centre.

 Lovely. It's nice when people make an effort with their appearance.

Detail of the corner of a pyramid of devils on a parade float.

 Detail of the detail of the corner. (above)

This one looks like it could be a maquette for a parade float. Heaven and Hell.

No-one does groups of figures like Mexican artists -- a Last Supper.

A cartload of devils demonstrating The Seven Deadly Sins. 

I see Sloth! 

Devil and his child? 

Same to you, Buddy!

 Two devils presenting The Moon.

Handsome devil. Bill would say, "Great nose!"

Roma Norte, Mexico City

Let's have a look at the neighbourhood where John and I stayed in Mexico City. 

 Here is our street, Calle Tabasco -- tree-lined and quiet.

There is always interesting commerce on the streets. Here at Colima and Orizaba a plant vendor displays his cacti and ferns near the gate to an empty lot that has pop-up markets on weekends.

Other streets are lined with shops

amid the colour

and the gleam of latice-work doors.

The neighbourhood is in transition. Architecture dating from the early 20th century is being revitalized and smart shops opening up.

Smart shops and restaurants line Avenida Álvaro Obregón. This is the multi-storied shop of El Péndulo combines a smart bookshop with a cafe. 

 This faux-castle displays the entrance to a galleria of shops

with it's exit on colourful Calle Chihuahua to the south.

Elsewhere beautiful European details

and European-style architecture

mix with funky corner stores.

In the early 1950s the area had gone out of favour and so attracted artists and writers like the Beats. 

William Burroughs and Jack Kerouac both had apartments on Calle Orizaba. 

There is street art on Avenida Álvaro Obregón

as well as street food stalls.

We were shy of eating at the street stalls generally but this little clump of eateries

tempted us every time we passed. Next trip we'll try it

Here's another example of the European-inspired architecture.

To finish with this wonderful building that houses the famous secondhand bookstore, Under the Volcano, on Calle Celaya near the La Condesa neighbourhood to the west

and this wonderful blue vision at Jardin Pushkin at the east side of Tabasco.

What a neighbourhood!