Xochimilco on a Busy Day (video)

On Saturday we went to visit someone we first met in Canada, who is working for the school year in Mexico City.  We were also able to meet some of the mission team that she, Monica, has been with.  It was great to see Monica and meet some of her friends! 🙂

When we found out she’d never been to Xochimilco, we decided to go on a whim.  Actually, we haven’t been since we moved here, so Hannah and Nathanael have never seen it.

As you may or may not know, Mexico City was once called "the Venice of the New World".  Started on an island, it expanded out into the lake with a series of canals.  It was a beautifully organized, developed city when the Spanish first saw it.

Spreading out from the city were man-made mini-island gardens called chinampas.  This brilliant method of farming provided rich soil and rapid growth and harvesting of crops for a rapidly expanding empire.

When the Spanish arrived, the chinampas covered almost 90 square km (35 square miles).  Today, the lake is gone, and the few canals of Xochimilco are all that are left.

Taking a boat out onto the canals is popular with Mexicans and tourists alike.  Especially on holidays – like yesterday.  I talked to several people who worked there, and they all said that it was crazy-busy – busier than last year.

So, at times, it was more like bumper-boats than a leisurely float down the canal!  But it was still fun to see the sights, and listen to the music.  You’ll hear it and see it in the video, and see how gardening is still key in this small part of Mexico City.

Here’s your video tour of Xochimilco: