Nation’s cultural icon
prebook your tickets). But there’s far more to this area than just one particular house. The margaritas were strong and free-flowing at El Hilo de Cuervo, a bar overlooking the Coyoacan’s colourful plaza with families milling among the shoeshiners, dog walkers and two bronze statues of coyotes.
I pondered Frida’s life, her choices and troubles, during a stroll around the neighbourhood before eventually reaching Parque Frida Kahlo.
This small open space, opposite a custard yellow building that was once a convent, was where she offered free lessons to impoverished budding artists.
Today it remains a place of quiet reflection, a discreet oasis in a city that is fast and frenzied. Close by, seeking shade under a tall eucalyptus tree, was a woman sat in deep meditation.
At the other end of the park, beyond the dancing water fountains, stood a demure figure. Frida, immortalised in bronze, set unassumingly against a verdant backdrop.
Next to her, pot-bellied and eyes bulging, was her one great love, Diego.
It may have been a relationship that overwhelmed her but clearly it also brought her moments of joy and unexpected bliss, just like the great city she called home.
THE KNOWLEDGE
Journey Latin America (020 8600 1881/ journeylatinamerica.co.uk) offers nine days in Mexico City and three nights in San Miguel de Allende from £2,564pp (two sharing), B&B. Price includes return flights from Heathrow to Mexico City and transfers. British Airways (0344 493 0787/ba.com) offers return fares from Heathrow to Mexico City from £566. Mexico tourism: visitmexico.com V&A (vam.ac.uk). Tickets from