If you’re looking for a funky local experience in Mexico City, then head down south to the ancient canals of Xochimilco to see what the Mexicans made of the ancient Aztec UNESCO heritage water systems. No, it’s not a museum, and you probably won’t get to see much of the history, I’d say the preservation of whatever little was left of the history of these canals wasn’t a huge success . Instead, you hop on a boat and ride through the crowded canals while listening to happy Mariachis, sipping ridiculous amounts of alcohol, and tasting all that the boat merchants have to offer. It’s funny enough to just watch the locals rent a boat and do their thing, they’re a happy bunch, no doubt. Yet, along the way are other little bizarre cultural experience, like a weird doll island where some loner (Julián Santana Barrera) started collecting creepy dolls thrown to the canals and hanging them on trees on a semi-island along the canals. Luckily, the canals can also be serviced by a traditional colorful gondolas (Trajineras) which make the canals look really funky. All in all, it’s a really fun getaway from the hectic Mexico City, and it seems there aren’t many foreign tourists in the area, so you’re in for a local Mexican experience.
The Trajineras
The merchants and food
The Doll island
The land merchants at the southern entrance
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Fun times. So much to see and do in Mexico City. If you have the time and looking for a slightly different local experience, definitely add this to your itinerary.