Xochimilco

On our last full day with Dana we took the subway and a light rail train to the outskirts of Mexico City to Xochimilco.  This site preserves the only remnant of Lake Texaco and its pre-Columbian floating gardens.  Known as "the place of the flower field", this site was once a lakeside village connected to Tenochtitlan by a causeway.  Now the city has built up around it but it is the only part of Mexico City where you can boat around the canals and semi-floating flower and vegetable gardens, or chinampas, built originally by the Aztecs.
Chinampas were created by the Aztecs as a way to extend their realm and produce food in an aquatic environment.  Each chinampas was built on a bed of aquatic roots which were covered in soil and gardens were planted here.  They still remain an important source of flowers and vegetables today.
At this location you can hire a "trajineras" or punt to transport you through the canals.  A local boatman poles the punt along the canals.  Along the way you are treated to many wonderful sights, including mariachis(who will perform for you), flower gardens or greenhouses, small boats selling meals, snacks and handicrafts.

Colourful Church Courtyard

Picturesque Punts!

Marvellous Murals!

Roasted corn for sale!

Lunch anyone?

Marion was there!

Musical Mariachis!

Celebrating Mama!

She was there!

Stopping to look at flowers!

Time to go!

Dana poles us back.

Dana makes a sleepy friend on the light rail train!