🗺️ CDMX Day Tour: Xochimilco, Coyoacán Market & The Blue House
| Tour Operator: | Friends Guides (Highly recommend!) |
| Pit Stops & Lunch: | Churros Jordan & La Cocina de mi Mamá (Mercado de Coyoacán) |
| The Highlights: | Xochimilco canals, street-style Chiles en Nogada, and walking Frida Kahlo's historic home. |
After resting up, we set out early to join the Friends Guides tour for a full day exploring two of Mexico City's most iconic areas: the ancient canals of Xochimilco and the historic streets of Coyoacán. The tour started perfectly on time, and before we knew it, we were gliding along the water on a traditional, brightly coloured boat enjoying the calm scenery of Xochimilco lake.
Following the boat ride, our fantastic guide, Pato, took us through a fascinating crash course in Mexican history, detailing the complex lives of Hernán Cortés and La Malinche (Doña Marina). It provided the perfect historical lens just as we began walking toward the vibrant Mercado de Coyoacán.
A Sweet Pit Stop: Churros Jordan
On our way to the market, Pato surprised us with a stop at Churros Jordan for a sweet treat care of the tour. Hubby decided to go the classic route and got the safe chocolate-filled churro. I, on the other hand, couldn't resist trying the arroz con leche (rice pudding) filling.
While Hubby enjoyed his timeless classic, my churro was packed with a creamy filling containing actual tiny bits of rice cooked in sweet milk. The Filipino in me was instantly so happy because it felt like a beautifully nostalgic nod to traditional rice desserts back home!
|
| The Arroz con Leche churro, which was creamy, sweet, and perfectly reminiscent of home. |
|
| Hubby's pick was the classic, decadent chocolate-filled churro. |
Market Lunch at La Cocina de mi Mamá
By the time we stepped foot inside the bustling market, I was completely famished. We headed straight for a food stall called La Cocina de mi Mamá, and we ordered the Barbacoa Taco ($195 MXN). I devoured it a bit too quickly! The meat was incredibly tender. It was not overly juicy or dripping, but it was structurally perfect when layered with their sharp table salsas and a bright squeeze of fresh lime juice.
The taco came served with a whole grilled nopal, which is a whole grilled cactus pad. Admittedly, I was initially a bit unsure of how to tackle eating it! Hubby sliced off a small piece for us to try, and it had a unique, pleasantly tart, and slightly green flavour.
|
| The tender Barbacoa Taco paired with a traditional whole grilled nopal (cactus pad). |
We also ordered the legendary Chiles en Nogada ($295 MXN). This traditional dish features a large poblano pepper stuffed with a sweet and savoury minced chicken picadillo mixture, completely blanketed in a rich, velvety walnut cream sauce (nogada) and studded with ruby-red pomegranate seeds.
The profile leaned firmly on the sweeter side, but we discovered that adding a splash of spicy table salsa and pairing each bite with a spoonful of savoury rice balanced out the sweetness perfectly. I still felt like eating a bit more afterward, but when navigating busy market stalls, it is always tricky to know exactly what is best to grab next!
|
| The gorgeous Chiles en Nogada, which offer a complex blend of sweet, savoury, creamy, and nutty flavours. |
The Finale: An Hour at The Blue House
After walking around the market aisles to absorb all the incredible smells, colours, and sights of Coyoacán, we made our way to the grand finale of the tour: an hour inside The Blue House (Casa Azul), the historic birthplace and lifelong home of Frida Kahlo.
Walking through her personal rooms, looking at her art supplies, and seeing how she lived was an incredibly moving experience. I learned so much more about the intimate details of her life story. As an empath, standing in those spaces made it so easy to vividly imagine the intense physical and emotional pain she endured throughout her lifetime, translating it all into profound art. It was a beautiful, deeply touching conclusion to an unforgettable day.
Have you ever tried nopal (cactus)? If you were ordering a filled street churro, would you stick to classic chocolate or try an adventurous flavour like arroz con leche? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Comments
Post a Comment