Ruben Goes to Xochimilco

photos and video by Ruben Jay

Venice, Italy is well known around the world.
Well known, often imitated, and often compared to places with similar traits.

Venice, California, for example, was referred to as the "Venice of the West",
and it seems that there are dozens of other places all over the globe that
have been called the "Venice of the ____" (fill in the blank).
Suzhou is known as the "Venice of China",
Amsterdam - the "Venice of the North."

Some of these places were outright copies,
others developed on their own and then someone noticed the similarity.

Such is the case with Xochimilco - a place just south-east of Mexico City.
I've posted about this remarkable location before, and there are plenty of other sources you can find online to read about the waterway and the history behind it.
Today I want to share photos and video of the place.

My friend Ruben Jay is there right now, enjoying Cinco de Mayo (lucky guy), and he took a ride a couple days ago and sent these great photos and video clips for us to gaze at.

So get yourself a nice cold Mexican beer,
grab a taco, and check out the "Venice of Mexico".

The boats in Xochimilco are wide, flat, and designed to host about twenty passengers.  Most have a central table with chairs on both port and starboard side.  Since first impressions matter when trying to get people to climb aboard your boat instead of the next guy's boat, the fronts of these boats are boldly decorated.

Ruben and his relatives stepped aboard the "Lupita", with a bold arching name on the front, and every single inch of surface painted in bright colors.

The boats are known as "chalupas" as well as "trajineras".
I could try to outline the subtle differences between the two names, but the truth is that I'm a pathetic gringo, and I have no flippin' clue if there even are differences.
They are boats - this much I know for certain.

The passenger vessels of Xochimilco are often referred to by outsiders as gondolas, and it's not surprising.  After all, they not only carry passengers, but they are also propelled by guys with poles.
Yes, we know here at the Gondola Blog that Venetian gondolas are actually not pushed around with poles, but those who are less versed in gondolas often believe that to be the case.
So when they see a guy outside Mexico City, pushing an ornately decorated passenger boat...with a pole, they shout "gondola!"

It's not rowing, but it is work.
After all, look at the size of those boats, imagine how much they weigh.
They're made of wood, and apparently they bump into each other often - I'd guess they're built heavy.
So pushing something like that along is no small task.
I'd be really curious to see a few English punters go there and give it a go.

Xochimilco punting in action:

 

Each chalupa has a lightweight aluminum roof.

Ruben told me that the way the guys maneuver to turn

often involves bumping the corner of the roof in the back with his pole.

 

Here's an example:

There are a heck of a lot of chalupas on the water there.
Here's a short video clip of the view as the "Lupita" was gliding along.
Notice how all the chairs are stacked in some of the boats.

Heading out onto the water, the "Lupita" encountered dozens of other vessels like her, with passengers out enjoying the floating festivities.

 

When you first board the boat, there are drinks in buckets on the table,

and you pay for whatever you consume, but along the way there are boats

that will come alongside and sell you everything from food to souvenirs.

 

Ruben chose roasted corn on the cob.

Not sure if he bought any grande-sized emoji pillows,

but they were available too.

 

The "Lupita" passed by a very strange island known as "Isla de las Muñecas" - the Island of the Dolls - which has a sad origin and a sometimes creepy look.

You can read more about it at www.isladelasmunecas.com

 

And then there are the musicians.

Lots of boats go by with different musical offerings.

 

Here are a pair of video clips of musical boats going by:

 

 

 

Ruben tells me that rides come in increments of two or four hours and break down to roughly $20 US dollars per hour.

You are given a bucket of drinks from beer to sodas,

and you pay for what you drink. 

Oh, and it's a heck of a lot of fun.

 

 Punting poles - looks like they stripe some of them.

 

Big thanks to Ruben Jay for the photos, video, and information.
Happy Cinco de Mayo!