When I was first asked if I was interested in a Girlfriend Getaway trip to Mexico City I didn't know how to respond.  That's not really high on my list of destinations to visit.  However, the more I researched Mexico City and what it had to offer, I realized this could be an uncovered travel gem that I must go see.

The trip centered around Fita 2010, which is an international Tourism Fair aiming to bring together professionals from the global tourism industry to enhance the promotion and marketing of tourism products and destinations.  As Mexico City is celebrating its 200 anniversary of independence, the city was the logical choice for the inaugural event. 

Upon arrival, we were transported to our hotel for the next few nights, the Westin Santa Fe Mexico City, which is ideally positioned in the heart of Mexico City's downtown Santa Fe. The hotel is just a stroll from Expo Bancomer Convention Center, corporate offices, restaurants and shopping at Centro Comercial Santa Fe. This area of Mexico City is very modern in architecture and economics.

We toured the National Museum of Anthropology, which contains the world's largest collection of ancient Mexican art and also has ethnographic exhibits about Mexico's present-day indigenous groups. There is a hall dedicated to each of the cultural regions of Mesoamerica and the ethnological exhibits are located on the second floor.

The conference was quite impressive as representatives from various tourism venues were on hand, including Egypt, Cancun, Bangladesh, Brazil, Panama, Thailand, Guatemala, Columbia, Uruguay, Cuba, Los Cabos, South Africa and China.  We attended a few press conferences,  walked the trade show floor and enjoyed lunch with Mexico City's Tourism Secretary Lic. Alejandro Rojas Diaz Duran.

The next day, we toured Mexico City's Centro Historico and did a night tour through the fabulous Plaza de la Constitucion (or Zocalo) and Templo Mayor, which was one of the main temples of the Aztecs in their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City.  The plaza is a great place to visit during the day and even more incredible at night as it lights up and serves as a gathering place for people to hang out, catch up and (in some cases) pay homage to the Aztec city located below.

We had a mission to do some vintage clothes shopping and found our first store, Vintage HOE (Heaven On Earth), which is located in the La Roma neighborhood.  Cessie made a few purchases and we were on our way to the next stop when it started raining.  Stop the shopping! Let's head to a bar.  We found the rest of our group at Hotel Brick in the bar, of course.  We had a round (or two) of Lychee Martinis and decided it was time for dinner.

The next morning we left the Westin for a tour of the city's San Angel area.  Our first stop was the Frida Kahlo house where the influential Mexican painter lived and worked.  Her worked reflected her turbulent life, and we were enlightened as we learned more about this woman who lived most of her life in pain.

We enjoyed lunch at Fonda San Angel Restaurant and Piano Bar where we enjoyed the outdoor seating and the traditional and contemporary Mexican food.  Everything was delicious and we quickly learned to avoid all eye contact with the vendors who walked by our table trying to sell everything from toys to peacock feathers.  The San Angel is also a great place to shop as there are several boutiques, indoor shopping areas and street vendors selling everything from jewelry to home decor.  We all made great purchases in El taller del mueble, so be sure to stop there.

During our last night together, we celebrated at Villa Maria Restaurant.  Not only did they serve the biggest Strawberry Margaritas we've ever seen, but they also had an amazing (and interactive) mariachi band who began their set at our table with La Bamba.  Life doesn't get much better!!!!

So what wasn't on our scheduled events that will always be remembered???  Shake face.  We can thank the Brits (we nicknamed them Harry and Potter) for that new phenomenon we have all grown to love.  Meredith's "Snooki Hair."  More tequila than we have ever seen.  Eric's crazy driver's license....so funny we had to take a picture of it. And, of course, the friendship of Meredith, Cessie, Christine, Rosa, Theresa and Amanda. Adios Mexico.  Muchas gracias por los recuerdos!!!!