So much to do

South of the border: Who needs beaches when Mexico City offers so much toexplore?

Art pieces such as this one, are found all over the city and are quiteinteresting.
Photo by Karen Burd
Polanco Shopping District
MexicoCityExperience.com
Ecobicis are found all over town.
Innovapedia.org
Palacio de Bellas Artes
Photo by Karen Burd
Catedral Metropolitana
Photo by Karen Burd
Building in the Historical District, wouldn't you want that tile on your house?
Photo by Karen Burd
El Angel de Independencia located in Paseo de Reforma.
Photo by Karen Burd

The typical vacation spots for Mexico usually tend to be places like Cancun or Cozumel, but what about Mexico City? As one of the largest cities in the world, it has a lot to offer for vacationers. Get away from the heat and enjoy the great weather along with the occasional rains at night that help keep the city cool.

The abundance of art galleries and great restaurants in the Colonia Condesa provides a wonderful area to unwind after "must see" visits to such notables as the Museo de Antropologia and the Museo de Arte Popular, Palacio de Bellas Artes and the incredible historical district with tons of interesting architecture.

If you are feeling a little adventurous and want to get some exercise, Mexico City now has great Ecobicis (Eco bikes) that you can rent and take around town.

Zócalo is the main square or plaza inside the city's historic district and one of the largest city squares in the world. It is bordered by the Catedral Metropolitana, Palacio Nacional and the Federal District buildings.

For shopping, the city provides countless opportunities including the Polanco, home to the city's upscale residential and shopping district. You can spend all day there window shopping, finding local notable designers and enjoying a wonderful array of unique boutiques and cute little coffee shops and restaurants.

The food is fantastic; one of the best and long-standing restaurants in the city is La Hacienda de Los Morales. An original hacienda, it is now home to a wonderful restaurant and bar with flowing gardens and a welcoming and cozy atmosphere.

Whether sitting outside in the courtyard or inside by the bar, you get an incredible view of the wonderfully decorated, historic restaurant. It is a great place to go to get away from it all, listen to live music and enjoy cocktails — the "tamarind" margarita is house specialty — and specials like the famous tortilla soup.

When traveling to the capital, remember that it is 7,940 feet above sea level, so plan on taking it easy the first day to allow your body to acclimate to the altitude. It's the perfect time to enjoy an afternoon stroll down the massive Paseo de la Reforma — where you see the iconic Mexican monument of El Angel de la Independencia commemorating the centennial of the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence.

If you are feeling a little adventurous and want to get some exercise, Mexico City now has great Ecobicis (Eco bikes) that you can rent and take around town to explore the city and avoid driving in the hectic traffic.

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sip and ship

Southwest’s checked-wine program lands at Houston's Hobby Airport

Photo by A.C. for Unsplash

Sip and Ship enables flyers to check one case of vino for free on flights from participating airports.

Lovers of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir may want to raise a glass for Southwest Airlines.

On Monday, November 2, Dallas-based Southwest expanded its Sip and Ship program to Houston's Hobby Airport and three other Texas airports, enabling travelers to check qualifying bottles of wine at no extra cost.

The program already served 19 airports in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Now, Sip and Ship enables flyers to check one case of vino for free on flights from 23 U.S. participating airports. To ship more than one case, a traveler must pay a checked-bag fee.

In addition to Hobby Airport, Southwest added Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dallas Love Field, and San Antonio International Airport to Sip and Ship.

A Southwest spokesperson said the airline introduced the program at the four Texas airports “following an overwhelming response from Texas wine lovers and growers.”

With the Texas airports included, Sip and Ship allows travelers to transport vino from wine regions in five states. This means a passenger could pack a case of Cabernet Sauvignon from Northern California’s Napa Valley, Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, or dry Rosé from the Texas Hill Country.

So, how does the program work?

Southwest says a traveler can ship one packaged case of wine — up to 12 bottles — weighing 50 pounds or less and adhering to size limits (up to 62 inches, counting length, width and height).

The container holding the vino must be a single box or a special wine suitcase.

Additional leak-proof packaging is required to prevent breakage. This includes packing materials such as Styrofoam, molded foam inserts, cardboard liners, bubble wrap, and extra padding for glass bottles. The airline sells padded wine bags for $5 per bottle.

Then, a Southwest agent at the check-in counter inspects the case to ensure it’s properly packed, and seals and labels the wine box or suitcase.

Once passengers arrive at their destination, they can pick up the case at baggage claim or the area for oversized baggage.

To take advantage of Sip and Ship, travelers must be departing from one of the program’s 23 airports, be traveling within the U.S., and be at least 21 years old. The program applies to connecting flights as long as the person is flying within the U.S.

southwest airlines texas wine wine