| Xochimilco is a Native American word meaning "plantation
of flowers. It is a southern suburb of Mexico City. The atmosphere
is very Mexican, with vendors, flowers, and music everywhere.
Mainly a commercial and tourist center, it is famous for its canals
lined with poplars and flowers. Boating on the canals is popular
among tourists and city residents.
During the pre-Hispanic period, Xochimilco was a popular residence for
Aztec nobles. The Xochimilcas built soil-covered rafts (chinampas)
in Lake Xochimilco on which they grew vegetables and flowers to be shipped
to Mexico City on the canals. |
