Day 2 Mexico City

 Hi,

We had a great day today. DR arranged for a Traveling Beetle tour of a monastery and a home with a large garden designed by Luis  Barragán. We had a lovely guide, and the two spaces were beautiful. Our guide pointed out a lot of things about the buildings like the use of light and the asymmetry he loved to work with. I think the monastery was the most amazing.

We started at the Camino Real hotel, which was a fascinating piece of architecture itself.

There was a Rufino Tamayo painting in the hotel too. Huge!

Here is our mode of transportation.... a VW bus for the Traveling Beetle Tours. We are parked in front of the monastery, which is super plain and dull.

This building was very complex, with beautiful surprises in each room. I am only going to show you the main room of worship because I wasn't able to take any photos in the space. These pictures are from some postcards I bought. I was desperate to show you the place.

The main altar

The main altar with a view of a large cross to the left of it. Notice the shadow.

A different view of the large cross

The source of light for the cross and what made the shadow in the first image, where this big cross appears.

A little wider view of the altar.

Sorry, I can't show you more... but phones weren't allowed in the building. 

So next we went to a home and gardens that Barragán created for himself.  Again, the exterior is very plain.

Starting with the gardens, which are wild and overgrown and filled with birds.

And filled with fountains.

Up on the roof deck

Looking down on the living room from the roof deck

In the living room

Wider view of the living room

The door in the living room opened

Just loved this weird thing

Another room's view of the garden

Entry way

View to the living room from the entry hall

View up to the rooftop from the entry way- look at that color!

The entryway with our guide showing us the asymmetry of this door

The entry door

Then I tried to go to the Contemporary Art Museum, but there was some confusion with the guard, and so I decided to just walk back to the hotel. 

The route back to the hotel

The route

The route

By this time, I was exhausted due to the altitude, at 7,350 feet, and the amount of excitement of the day. A delicious Negroni was waiting for me in the bar.

Sorry, the photos started in the garden and ended at the entry, but that is the way they lined up.... I hope this gave you a taste of what his interiors were like. Bright and vibrant colors and lots of playing with natural light sources.

That's all for today.

Hugs,

Susan