DF - ultima dia - the last day
I had been to Mexico City about a year and a half ago
it was a great trip but I did not get to see any paintings of Frida Kahlo
something I very much have been wanting to see
like since first saw copies of her work
we had one day left on this trip and I was determined to find Frida
I had done my research
the largest collection of her work was at the Museo Dolores Olmedo
an old restored hacienda near Xochimilco
it was across town in the south east, which in Mexico City is no small distance
it was fun though to take the Metro and then the light rail (almost to the end)
I was starving by then and that was the best breakfast torta - ever
with a jugo of course
we go inside to pay and there is a small handwritten sign
something about Frida
WHAT!!!
- all the Frida's were gone
WHAT!!!
- all together on a traveling exhibit
I could not believe it
all of them - could they not have left ONE
really, they should have left one
I didn't even want to go in
but W. did - since we were there, he said
first thing you see is a big statute of her
who is this person?
"María de los Dolores Olmedo y Patiño Suarez was a Mexican businesswoman, philanthropist and musician, better known for her friendship with Mexican painters Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera; she appeared on some of his paintings." says the internet
the grounds are huge and well kept
full and I mean full of peacocks
here is a mom and her baby
the roamed around like they owned the place
here is the old church of the hacienda
you can tell it is terribly old
by the way they supported the walls
her house was gorgeous of course
she bought the property in 1965
that is W. entering and they did not let us take photos inside
the main room was filled with photos of her with famous people
popes, presidents, movie stars
to the left is the balcony of her bedroom
to the right is the 2 story dining room and kitchen
with parking underneath
this was build behind it
it was Sunday and we had the treat of some great music
we were the only gringos there
when she died she gave her property and huge art collection to the people of Mexico
I think she was a very beautiful and interesting woman
born in 1908 she lived to be 88
you can tell she still had it
she love these hairless dogs called xoloitzcuintle
a dog of the ancient Mexicans
known to have been around more than 3,000 years
she loved and raised them
I am not much into dogs and these were not very appealing to me
I thought it was interesting though that in the areas where the dogs were
there were statues of the dogs
and that is where they liked to hang out
they had big yards but they hung out with the statue...
this was one of my favorite pieces and since it was outside on the patio
we could take a photo
thank-you very much
(I could not get over it - no Frida's!!)
but I did get to kiss Diego
hope she doesn't mind
on the way back to our hotel we decided to go to Coyocan
where Frida had a house that was now a museum
there was only one of her works that lived there
but better than nothing
three metro stops later we find the Blue House
this is all I got to see
that and a line that went around the block....
maybe next time
