The main plaza in Coyoacan is like a festival every day but particularly on the weekends. Before getting to the Zocalo, take a wander down a beautiful tree-lined street called Francisco Sosa. Admiring the beautiful houses in the shade of the branches you will feel like you are in a fairytale. When you finally arrive at the Zocalo, the balloons, the organ music, and the sounds of children playing will lift you to cloud nine. Buy yourself a hot chocolate in El Jarocho…and let the happiness flow!
It is a well known fact that animals are brilliant for lifting your mood. Therefore, head to Animalia, in Condesa, where they will lend you a dog to walk for a few hours. There are two beautiful parks nearby, Parque España and Parque México, where you can head with your four-legged friend. But a quick word of warning, returning the dog might lead to sadness and ultimately to permanent adoption. You have been warned.
Although mariachi sing songs of heartbreak, their music can’t help but make your soul smile, even if they also make you cry just a little. Grab a shot or two of tequila, which obviously cures everything and sing along…ay ay ay, Canta y no llores!
For me, the smell of old books can quickly rid me of any sadness. If you are the same, head to Donceles Street in the historic center where you will find shop after shop of secondhand books. You can spend hour upon hour searching, reading, and enjoying all that these shops have to offer, and without doubt your sadness will have drifted away by the time you leave.
Sometimes you just need to spend some time in nature to feel better when you are sad. Chapultepec is an enormous park full of trees, with botanical gardens, orchid gardens, a lake with rental row boats and a whole clan of cheeky squirrels. You can simply walk in the fresh air or even head to one of the many museums that surround the park, getting yourself lost in all the wonders they have to offer.
Dust off your bike and join one of the many bike tours through the city at night. It’s a known fact that exercise improves one’s mood, and if you add that to the incredible view of the city lit up in all its glory, you will have forgotten your woes just half way through the ride.
There is nothing quite like seeing men dressed in lycra flying through the air and landing on top of each other to make you laugh. Head to the Arena Mexico with your friends, squeeze on your mask and let all of your sadness out, screaming for your favourite wrestlers.
You know what they say in Mexico “Para todo mal, mezcal. Para todo bien, también. Y si no hay remedio, tómate un litro y medio.” For everything good, mezcal, for everything bad, mezcal. And if there is no cure, drink a liter and a half. 