Colonia Roma
Colonia Roma is the Greenwich Village of Mexico City. Colonia Roma is famous for being the counterpoint for hipsters, full of restaurants, bars, clubs, shops and galleries. From the early 1900's until about 1940 the rich moved here to escape downtown and created grand old mansions. In the 40's they moved on to the next neighborhood and Roma fell into despair. Later the bohemian element arrived including Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs.
Roma was built on a shallow lakebed and you can tell by the number of old mansions that are slowly sinking including the one we rented. I kid you not the back left corner was two feet lower than the front right. Still it was an interesting experience staying in the part of Mexico City where people lived and slept. Watching the many dog owners take their pets to Plaza Rio de Janeiro every morning to let them run and play in the fountain gives you a very different perspective than staying on the Zocolo.
Each morning I'd venture out to find a new cafe or bakery and on our last day ate at one of the many Mexican breakfast spots. I could see myself doing this if I lived in Mexico City.