In My Hood: Out and About in Coyoacán, Mexico City

Before I strolled through Coyoacán for the first time, I knew only that the Frida Kahlo Museum was located there. The cobalt blue house, also known as Casa Azul, is the birthplace and workplace of Mexico's most famous artist. A friend of mine comes from this district in the south of the mega-metropolis, and it was through him that I discovered it for myself.

Some 22 million inhabitants are said to live in the greater Mexico City area. It's not easy to keep track of it all. And it's all the more amazing to discover a district like Coyoacán, with its cafés, secluded courtyards, cobblestone streets and flower-covered walls. It feels almost cozy and a bit out of time. Mexican women walk their dogs, old VW Beetles are parked on the roadside. The atmosphere is boho-hippie and relaxed. Nevertheless, Coyoacán is a rather affluent district.

The heart and tourist magnet is the aforementioned Frida Kahlo Museum. Even in the morning, long queues of museum visitors form in front of the entrance. My tip: book tickets online in advance to avoid the queues. Before going to the museum I fortify myself with a good breakfast at La Esquina de los Milagros. This restaurant in a colonial villa offers traditional Mexican cuisine from morning to night – nice and spicy, I like that.

Right next door is the Jardín Centenario, an idyllic city park with a popular fountain. The water gushes from two coyote sculptures by Mexican artist Gabriel Ponzanelli. The Parroquia San Juan Bautista church is located in the central square of the district, Plaza Hidalgo. The history of the parish dates back to the 16th century. It's a most welcome place of silence and coolness; although Mexico City lies at an altitude of 2,300 meters, it can get quite hot in summer. But there are also cool days from November to April. 

If you want to take a longer tour, walk down to the oldest university on the continent, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. The campus is a Unesco World Heritage Site. On the way there, just let yourself drift and see what appeals to you at the many street food stalls. The majority of Mexicans eat at these street food stalls. Tacos are a science in themselves. Fillings with beef or chorizo are especially popular. For me, churros are an essential part of a stroll through Coyoacán. I order the sweet, greasy pastry in the Churrería General de la República. Together with a coffee, it's pure perfection.

As a nightcap, I recommend a tequila. The agave brandy from certain regions of Mexico has nothing to do with the party drink we know from Germany and other European countries. At the La Europea liquor store in Calle Arquímedes, you can get advice – and even try some.

Christina Stegmair has been working as a flight attendant for Lufthansa since 2016. She lives in Neuburg on the Danube, Germany and does a lot of sport when she's not in the air.