A Week in Mexico City

Introduction

(Above: downtown Mexico City)

Mexico is the second country that I have been to. I spent a week with my girlfriend’s family in Mexico City and I was able to explore the very best of what Mexico had to offer. I tasted the delectable cuisine, saw ancient ruins, and explored the beating heart of this beautiful country.

Disclaimer: This is just my experience of a limited time seeing a handful of places within this country. I am speaking from the point of view of a Hispanic, young, straight, man. Your experiences may be very different from mine. It may be better. It may be worse. My experiences are in no way a full reflection of what the country has to offer. This is only a glimpse into what I saw during my time there.

Food

(Above: enchiladas verdes)

Mexico City has the best food I have ever had in my life period. I have been across the United States and Spain, but nothing comes close to the food that I had in Mexico. Everything was so flavorful. My mouth watered at every meal. Every dish was full of seasoning and spice. I never knew food could be so flavorful. I thought I had tried Mexican food in the United States. It does not compare to the authentic cuisine from Mexico itself. There were dishes that I had never even heard of that I tried. I’d recommend experimenting and ordering something besides tacos or enchiladas. You really can’t go wrong with whatever you order. I recommend tlacoyos. These are thick corn dough tortillas in an oval or rhomboid shape, usually filled with beans, pork cracklings, or fava/broad beans. They are served topped with salsa and nopales, cheese, and cilantro.

Accommodations

Typically, I would talk about the hotel or Airbnb that I stayed at and review it so that way you guys could decide for yourself if you wanted to stay there. But this was my girlfriend's house. So, I will just move on to the next section.

Cleanliness

Considering that Mexico City is the largest city in North America and the 5^th largest city in the world, it’s pretty clean. Like, it’s actually really clean. I just combed through all my photos from my trip and all the roads, sidewalks, plazas; everything is clean of trash and litter. I’ve been to Nashville, New York City, and Washington D.C. and from what I’ve seen, Mexico City is cleaner than all three of these cities.

Crowds

Like I previously stated, this is the 5^th largest city in the world. So, it can be expected that there will be large crowds. There are lines for most tourist attractions like museums. However, the lines were never crazy long. They felt like a typical line you would wait in for any attraction in any city in the United States. Traffic is very heavy, and drivers are usually aggressive. When you are shopping or sightseeing there will be crowds. However, I never felt overwhelmed. It didn’t feel any different from any other large city in the United States. However, there is one exception: public transportation. I will talk about this more in the next section.

Public Transportation

(Top: pink seats on a bus, Bottom: bus map of Mexico City)

There is a vast system of public transportation in Mexico City. You can ride in taxis (The taxis are pink which I think is very cool). You can take buses or the metro. You can get wherever you want to go using public transportation. It’s also very cheap by American standards as well. The only downside is that the metro trains and buses are always packed. Typically, every seat is always full. You will most likely have to stand, and you will be shoulder to shoulder with people. In Mexico City, sexual harassment is an issue. As a means to combat that they have created women only seating designated by pink seats on certain public transportation. Only women, boys under a certain age, people with disabilities, and the elderly can sit there. So, if you’re traveling with a person of the opposite gender you may have to consider that when taking public transportation.

Weather

I traveled there in June. Mexico City is typically cooler because it is in a valley. However, it was undergoing a heatwave when I went. Even so, it was never unbearably hot at all. I don’t believe it even broke 90 degrees Fahrenheit while I was there. I comfortably wore shorts and a t-shirt. It only rained once when I was there.

Safety

I know Mexico has a reputation for not being the safest. In my opinion, I think the media overblows the danger of traveling to Mexico. I was never pickpocketed, confronted, or harassed in any way during the entirety of my stay. I didn’t have a single issue. However, I am speaking from the perspective of an American born Mexican man who traveled to Mexico. Many people assumed I was a native. Many would speak to me in Spanish and once they noticed my accent they would switch to English. They were always surprised to hear that I was an American. Men who live in Mexico City generally never wear shorts. They pretty much always wear pants. I wore shorts. However, I believe I was able to get away with this because, again, I look Mexican. My girlfriend advised me in certain areas that I shouldn’t speak in English because shopkeepers may try to raise prices on foreigners or people will target you for pickpocketing. In those same areas I was advised to not speak Spanish either because I have a thick American accent and would incur the same issues I previously mentioned. Also, on public transport, it's advisable to be mindful of pickpockets. It’s also recommended to carry a fake wallet in case you were to get pickpocketed. Some areas had barbed wire on fences. Some didn’t. Some areas had bars on windows. Some didn’t. It just depended on where you went. I also never ventured off alone. If I was out at night, we stayed in well populated areas.

Activities

There is so much to see while in Mexico City. I saw new places and sights every day. I will list my three favorite places I visited while in Mexico City:

1 The Pyramids of the Sun and Moon

(Above: Pyramid of the Sun)

This is my favorite place I have ever visited in my life period. I was awe struck by the majestic beauty of the looming pyramids. You are able to walk along paths that connect the two colossal structures that tower in the sky. There are also street vendors that sell handmade ornaments, clothing, and objects made from obsidian. It is more than an hour's drive from the heart of the city, but if there is only one thing that you can see I would recommend this.

2 Castle of Chapultepec

(Above: Los niños héroes statues at the Castle of Chapultepec)

This building was erected by the Spaniards as a home for Spanish rulers. Then it became a military academy, a home for Mexican presidents, and then finally a museum. The walls of this stunning building are adorned with the most beautiful murals showcasing the rich history of Mexico. On the balcony outside, stands tall and proud the six boy heroes who gave their lives defending this building from the invading American forces during the Mexican American War. You will feel sorrow for the lives lost during that bloody war. You will feel awe struck by the artwork within. You will be amazed and intrigued the story of Mexico itself told throughout the halls of this castle.

3 Anthropological Museum of Mexico City

(Above: The Mayan Stone of the Sun)

This is my favorite museum I have ever visited in my life. The layout of the museum is just genius and inspired. You walk into a huge courtyard with a large waterfall in the center. Then there are 16 doorways that enter into 16 separate rooms that showcase the 16 major indigenous groups from Mexican history. Examples include: the Mayans, the Aztecs, and the Olmecs. Some stand out artifacts include the Mayan Stone of the Sun and a replica of Montezuma's headdress.

BONUS The House of Frida Kahlo

(Above: The House of Frida Kahlo)

It would be a crime to not include this place. Frida Kahlo is one of the most famous Mexicans who has ever lived. She is also one of the world's most famous artists. This is her home where she lived with her husband Diego Rivera and where she painted some of her most famous art pieces.

Cost

(Above: Mexican Pesos)

Everything is cheap by American standards. Transportation, hotels, food; everything. My girlfriend, her parents, and I went out for tacos. We each ate about four tacos and had a drink. The price: $22 USD. However, do note that while Mexican vendors are cheap, American brands are not. If you plan to go to an Applebee's or any other American chain, expect to pay American prices. As of June 2023, the Mexican Peso is worth about 5% of the American Dollar.

(Ex: $100MXN ≈ $5.00USD)

Things to know before you go

(Top: Gatorade with black hexagon warning labels, Bottom: Axolotl wall inscription at Chapultepec Zoo)

Here are just a few random things as well to know before you go. Tap water is not safe to drink. Also, American food is very different from Mexican food. Food health standards are much higher in the United States. Food is also far more processed in the United States. Your stomach is not used to this food, and you may have nausea or diarrhea. Having some anti-diarrheal medicine could come in handy. Stray dogs are a common sight to see and typically avoid people. Remember to get an international phone plane if you want to keep in contact with your family. Your phone chargers from the US will work in Mexico. Candy and other sweets will have black hexagon warning labels saying excess sugar or fat. This is just a fun fact more than anything. Axolotls (little pink salamanders native only to Mexico City) are beloved by the city and are on every merchandise you can imagine. They use the imperial measurement system. Obviously, they speak Spanish there. It would be very handy to know basic Spanish in order to order at a restaurant, book a hotel, and navigate the city and various forms of transportation. Also, I rarely saw any homeless people. Some of those who are struggling will sell food or merchandise in the streets. I tried to buy from street vendors when possible.

Conclusion

So far, Mexico City is my favorite city I have ever visited. It has the best food I have ever tasted. It has some of the best museums and sites that I have ever seen. I would definitely recommend this city to anyone who loves traveling, good food, and appreciates a vibrant culture and rich history.