Internet access was unreliable in the Centro Historico hotel, and this was a problem at breakfast as one was supposed to consult the breakfast menu by a QR code. Though I was told breakfast was from 7am in practice the restaurant was full by 7am and I had to sit in the windy bar area. I couldn’t find my sun cream to start with but Juan had found I dropped it in his car.

Juan picked me up and took me to Xochimilco which was a highlight of my Mexican odyssey for me. Xochimilco is a series of artificial islands created by the Aztecs on what was a huge lake. The islands are now used for growing flowers, and you take gaily painted covered boats through the canals between the islands. The boats are punted like Venice but the experience is much better. The boats tend to have girls’ names, and often have Toxica on them which is what boys call their girlfriends here. At weekends Xochimilco turns into a traffic jam of the boats (like Mexican roads) but it was relaxed when we went.

People try to sell jewellery from travelling folding cases of the stuff. Smaller boats cruise around offering food. A man was selling coronets of flowers - girls used to wear them to indicate they were virgins. There was a boat of mariachi musicians ready to perform for you (for a price).

We saw a black squirrel but didn’t see any axototls who can be found here. Like Venice Xochimilco is sinking, in fact Mexico City as a whole is sinking causing buildings to list and lean. On leaving Xochimilco we had some Aztec sweets very nice from a lady selling them.

A long ride to Coyoacan (the name is derived from the word for coyote) where there were some neat Day of the Dead decorations. We went to an indoor shopping market where Juan met a friend running a tea / coffee slot, I should have asked for green not black tea but I only saw it was available later. I waited outside a Frida Kahlo museum, very blue, for Juan to fetch the car.

We had a wander round downtown Mexico City, seeing a very ornate Post Office. Subsidence is very noticeable here with two buildings originally side by side now one leaning one way one the other. Travelling round Mexico City is fun because of frequent demonstrations. Sometime political parties hire demonstrators who have no idea what they’re demonstrating about but need the money. Corruption is endemic here, only when army marines moved into airport security did wholesale thefts there decrease.

I had a very messy chocolate churros in the afternoon, and in the evening ate at Azul Historico which was a good place but I chose a silly dish to consume which had raisins in it.