Although we didn't see nearly as much as we hoped with museums and events closed for swine flu, here are some great things to check out in Mexico City.

1. Any trip to Mexico City should start by reading David Lida's First Stop in the New World: Mexico City, the Capital of the 21st Century. The book is chock-full of fun facts and interesting insight into a fascinating city.

1. Mercado la Merced: is one of central DF's biggest, with nearly anything you could ask for: from the obvious spices and produce to rare local delicacies.

1. Pastelería Ideal has some delicious treats and eye candy for sweet lovers.

1. Palacio de Bellas Artes with some well-known murals from the big three muralists (Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros). Although you may have seen them in a book, seeing these murals in person adds an entirely new dimension. The building itself is quite stunning.

1. El Centro Histórico and the Zócalo, clearly, is an important stop on your visit around the city. The flag is lowered with great ceremony each afternoon, and the Zócalo provides a great evening meeting place for locals and tourists alike. Friends and couples wander the surrounding cobblestone streets, and you will likely run into live music and dancing.

1. Museums: there is so much art in Mexico City it's hard to have the time to take it all in. Some must-see museums include the Museo de Antropología and Museo Dolores Olmeda Patino.

2. The pyramids of Teotihuacan provide some easily accessible ruins that used to be the center of the largest pre-Colombian American city. The pyramids are well preserved and vast, although they don't have the ancient feeling of ruins like Mayan Copán in Honduras or Tikal in Guatemala.

1. Events: From seeing the Ballet Folklórico at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, to Lucha Libre to a soccer game, to live music, there are are endless things to do in Mexico City. You can find out about the week's events through purchasing a Tiempo Libre from a local kiosk or looking at the Tiempo Libre website.