To Guide or Not to Guide……..
…….that is the question…….
In years past when traveling to new places, I never hired a guide to give me a tour of anything. I did my research, took along tour books and saw what I could. I still do that. But, ever since my trip to Costa Rica a few years ago when I hired someone to walk me through Manuel Antonio Park, I have changed my leanings on this for some types of exploration. In Manuel Antonio, the guide pointed out animals that blended into the flora of the forest that I would never have seen had he not pointed them out. I find it the same with a walking tour when the walk is the main event. Last week in the Cardesa and Roma sections of Mexico City, had we not opted to hire a private guide, we would have missed some of the interesting, more obscure things in these areas as well as their stories, which is the point of the exercise.
A private guide, you say?!
Isn’t that expensive?!
Well……it depends on your perspective. We had a full 9 hour walking tour that included transportation to and from our hotel, a multi-course lunch in a French deli……with a bottle of wine……,
……..a coffee at the “witches coffee shop…..here are the pictures of the witches……..,
and a special Mexican chocolate treat in the mid-afternoon just as we were needing a boost. But, the best value of the tour was in the expertise and knowledge of our trained local tour guide, Roberto, who walked us through the neighborhood where he lives and the one adjacent to visit and view some of the places that are on his personal “hit parade”.
What is that worth? Let’s see………
As we walked along, we got a lesson on the history of Mexico City and how these neighborhoods were developed. Mexico City has 22 million inhabitants in a 60 square mile area. It is the third largest mass of people per square foot in the world. The city sits on a maze of canals that were filled in years ago, so the foundation of the city has some weaknesses. Some of the buildings are sinking.
The neighborhoods were developed and designed by European immigrants who came to Mexico City and incorporated elements of their own culture into the areas where they settled.
For example, the Roma neighborhood was an area where many wealthy French immigrants settled. Much of the architecture there reflects the Gothic style that is typical of the older sections of France. You can see this reflected in this old home.
Inside the house was a mixture of the Gothic, Baroque and Art Deco styles of design.
Across the street was another house that looked very similar. And, across the street from both of them was the church that anchored the neighborhood, built by the people who lived in these homes.
Next to the church was a small museum that most people miss that tells the story of Father Miguel Pro who was executed by the Mexican government in the early 1900s for going against the government’s ban on religion. The Mexican government thought that the church was getting a little too full of itself. Imagine that!
It’s all about control…..isn’t everything?
So, Father Pro went underground to perform church services, weddings, funerals and other religious rites. When his antics were discovered by the government, he was made an example and killed at gunpoint, execution style…..with his arms outstretched….a martyr. He is in line now to become a saint.
I can support that. No one is asking me. But, if they do, he has my vote!
Our guide took us to several of his favorite art galleries, which are abundant in the Roma area. And, we visited the home of Ramon Lopez Valarde, a famous Mexican poet……deceased of course.
In the home, we walked through the closet in his bedroom…
yes, the closet….
….to a very secretive avant-garde museum that reflects his lifetime struggle with his own internal opposing thoughts. For example, he wanted to be a priest, but liked the ladies too much….had syphilis in fact when he died, which put him out of the running for priesthood. The whole museum was set up to reflect these dichotomies. It was highly unusual, but very interesting…..and off the beaten path.
In the Cardesa neighborhood we found a more residential feel with groupings of restaurants and shops at different intervals in between the houses and apartments. This area was developed by a group of Jewish immigrants. Again, there was a mix of architectural styles reflected in the houses and shops that lined the streets.
It was also here that we saw some of the sad devastation from the recent earthquake.
Although the Cardesa section seemed more residential, both of these neighborhoods had lots of green spaces for the enjoyment of the residents.
They were delightful.
Now……back to the question on the value of the private guide.
We saw things that were obvious. But, we also saw many things we would have not found on our own. Without the guide we would have been looking at the sections and the buildings. But, we really wouldn’t have learned too much. And, we wouldn’t have gotten the personal insights into Mexico City and the neighborhoods that we gleaned from talking to Roberto.
And, honestly, in places like Mexico, a private guide doesn’t cost as much as you think it might. We were happily surprised when we tallied up our bill at the end of the day.
So, what’s a private guide worth, you ask?
I say….. it’s “priceless”…….
Travel With Betsy 
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