The colors, the colors, the colors of Mexico. These bright hues have been drilled into my head by years of viewing the amazing canvasses of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. But never did I know how deeply these colors moved me until I found myself spellbound, again, by the amazing Ballet Folklorico of Mexico holidays.

The twice-weekly performances occur in one of the world's most beautiful theaters, the Palace of Fine Arts. Built when Diego and Frida were young, it explodes with color and revolutionary sentiment. Murals by Diego and others, the famous Tiffany stained glass curtain, the European Art Nouveau design all of these features primed my eyes for the performance itself. The very traditional elements of the performance its rhythms, its musical instruments, its costumes, its superbly trained and choreographed dancers help me see all that is conservative in the works of Frida and Diego.


And who were Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera? Americans by the million have been learning about these two. Recent exhibitions in major US art museums have drawn large crowds. A new motion picture starring Salma Hayek draws a new generation to these artists. Suffice it to say that Frida inaugurated a tradition of psychological art that brought sanity and depth to a twentieth century struggling to breathe under a dumping ground of Modernism. Diego rose above the Abstract training that he received from European masters and began a nationalistic tradition that brought art directly to his people and lifted them up. I can imagine no other artist as beloved by common people as Diego. These are all artists you can experience in any chosen Mexico holidays.

Three important sites give us an insider's view of Frida. Before visiting any of them, a traveler ought to give some consideration to how to get around in this large city. Ideally, a small group itinerary would include a private of one site, an after-hours dinner or reception at another, even a cooking lesson focused on one of Frida and Diego's favorite meals. I remember the small private groups, fresh from private receptions with lectures or stars swirling into the lobby of the Palace of Fine Arts minutes before the evening performance. Certainly, the right tour operator can arrange sumptuous events that could only be called muy exclusivo.

Other destinations on Mexico holidays to book for are the Dolores Olmedo Museum, presents canvasses of Frida and Diego in a logical context, surrounded by pre-Columbian artifacts. Within the beautiful rooms of the Olmedo hacienda, we see how comfortable these canvasses are in their very casual setting. Usually we can only see their work in formal museums. In Senora Olmeda's home, I realized more than ever the social dimension of Frida's and Diego's work.

They painted for their friends. And their friends were many and loyal. The Olmedo hacienda is south of the city in Xochimilco, famous for the canals and flower gardens that most visitors want to see. Indeed, the colors of Xochimilco help our eyes better appreciate how natural and unpretentious the colors of Frida Kahlo actually are. The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, featured in the film Frida, provide an excellent venue for an elegant, private dinner on board a boat.