Leigh's Bloggy Recuerdos

 

September 7, 2017:

Click HERE for some random photos.

While on the plane and once again missing an earthquake by hours, I read in the newspaper, "Tiran los cines abandonados y levantan malls."  

  • Cine Latino, now Complejo Torre Reforma Latino
  • Cine Manacar, now Torre Manacar
  • Cine Chapultepec, now Complejo Torre Mayor
  • Cine Roble, now Senado de la Republica
  • Orfeon, La Raza, Ariel, Polanco, etc., don't know.

September 4, 2017:  I added a few more photos.  From my childhood: Lomas Book Shop on Cerrada Monte Libano and the bicycle shop around the corner on Monte Libano.  Also added some photos from the American Legion Post, Alan Seeger chapter, including a tribute banner to the Fuerza Aerea Expedicionaria Mexicana.  Wasn't Mr. Gottfried in that squadron (Dad of Nena, Mario, Tita, and Carlos)?  Take a look at stained glass windows from the post.  Also put up some random photos of neat buildings and my breakfast.  Yum.

Click HERE 

September 4, 2017:  While wandering around the internet, I found a reference to an Alf Rey Conde of the 60's rock group Los Checkmates, click HERE.  Could it be the same guy in '64, I think, who used to drive a Volvo PV544??  Where is he now?

September 3, 2017:  Took a walk around the zona rosa - now a seedy area with lots of construction.  At least the construction will create pedestrian walkways rather than streets, or so I imagine.  The Cine Latino is gone, as is the Rivoli, Focolare, Orlui, Pizza Real, Gondola, and Champs Elysee (I think it moved a few blocks blocks toward Lomas). 

If I took a picture of the correct structure (see photo link below), it is tragic that the stately building once housing the Rivoli is now a shuttered, graffitti decorated shell.  I think it was Hamburgo 103.  I remember the owner (Dario Borzanni), the tournedos Carlos V, and the beautiful desert souffles that you had to order in advance.  Also chicken Kiev and the thin steaks that would be cooked tableside.  (It just came back to me:  Steak Diane). 

What was the name of the night club at the top of the Hilton?  The Hilton, of course, is long gone.  First split by the 1957 earthquake, then finished off by the 1985 big one.  Speaking of the big one, there are still buildings that are empty but not torn down - these are further downtown.  The buildings are a metaphor for the fascination with skulls (think Dia de los Muertos) with the empty windows being the hollow eyes.  (WOW!  where did THAT come from??)

Reforma is closed on Sundays for pedestrian and bikes.  It is really festive and lovely to see families strolling down lanes that are normally choked with traffic and fumes.  I added a couple of photos in the link below.

Londres street (I think the Fonda del Refugio was there), is a construction mess and home to several quite blatant sex shops (shoppes?).  The Mercado de Artesania Londres is still there and I am headed back to get some fun artesania.

This link HERE may take to some archives about the Zona Rosa.  Click HERE for some photos I took.

Ten minute movie about Mexico from 1942, click HERE.

Another ancient movie about DF, click HERE.



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