Can you tell me about Mexico City?

[judyramone]

Hi there!  I'm new, and I'd love your thoughts on some upcoming travel plans.

I found out that I'll be spending a lot of time this fall in Mexico City for work.  A few shorter trips (a few days to one week each), and one month-long trip to finish the project.  It's a great opportunity within my office, and I love to travel.   I'm excited to have been tapped for this project.  However, when I share the news with people in my life, they have largely been less-than-excited for me, and more concerned for my safety.   (FTR, my husband is super-supportive, and will come down to visit for a week during the month-long stint).

I'd like to consider myself a pretty safe and informed traveler, and I am feeling like if I behave wisely and take the same precautions I'd take in any unfamiliar big city/metropolitan area I will be just fine.  (If it matters, I live in NYC, so that's kind of my frame of reference.)  Am I being naive?

What do you all think?   If you've been there, did you travel alone, with your H/SO, in a group?  What were your impressions?  And what would you do with your one-day-off a week while there?  Anything you can tell me, good or bad, would be much appreciated.  Thank you so much!

[scout8]

I was in Mexico City for about 5 or 6 nights a few years ago on a 3 week trip around Mexico. I loved it! It was DH and I and we were not part of a group. We took the subway to get around for the most part and did not have any issues. I did not ever feel unsafe there, but you would want to take the same precautions you would for any big city. As MX said, ignore your family. They have likely never been there and have no idea what it is like.

One of our favorite days was spent at Xochimilco. I don't really know how to explain it, but you take boats through the canals. Go on a weekend when it is busy. There are tons of locals having parties on the boats, there are boats that pull up next to you with food, boats with mariachi bands. It was so much fun.

We also spent a day at Teotihuacan (pyramids) which is about an hour bus ride outside of Mexico City.

We had an earlier version of this book with us: www.amazon.com/Mexico-City-Opinionated-Curious-Traveler/dp/1605280127. It has a bunch of walking tours in different neighborhoods. It was great, because it got us into some different areas of the city.

Make sure to try tacos al pastor. Yum!

If you have a weekend and want to get out of the city, I highly recommend taking the bus (which is very nice) to Guanajuato. It is a really colorful town about 4 hours from DF. We loved it so much that we want to retire there.

[librarygirl]

I visited the DF 3 times when living in Mexico and always had a great time. The other posters said it perfectly as in don't listen to people who have never been there, their thoughts/comments are going to be ignorant and uninformed. Since you live in New York you'll find that the DF is a major city just like any other with its good and bad parts.

Two of my visits I went with a friend, and on my last visit there it was when my family came to Mexico to visit me, but no, never in a group. I rode the subway all over (very efficient) and on some of the lines there are female only cars as well (this might be all the lines now, I can't remember). But when there I did go about on my own, and while I speak Spanish fluently, I still majorly stand out (pale with red hair). But knowing some Spanish will help immensely, if for no other reason than some extra street smarts.

Some of my favorite things are the Zocalo, Palacio Nacional (this is where the famous Diego Rivera murals are), Anthropology Museum and any of the big markets. I'm blanking on their name as it's late at night but the ruins (something with tres culturas) are also neat-near to all the city center sights. Chapultepec Park is also really nice (it was nice to relax in some greenery!). For a bit further afield, I would definitely recommend venturing to nearby Coyacan, site of Frida Kahlo's Blue House (really cool to visit). I had a bit of a time trying to find it from the subway stop as it's in more of a residential section but nothing terrible. Xochimilco is also cool, definitely a unique experience.

And for heading out of town, I would also recommend Teotihuacan (you may also be able to swing a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe as it's extremely close-some tour companies visit both). For other cities there's Cuernavaca (this is only about 70 minutes away-it's where I lived), and yes any of the colonial cities north of the DF are gorgeous (San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Queretaro). My only rec is to not take a night bus, do your traveling (if you're going alone that is) during the daylight.

Overall, I never felt unsafe in the DF. I always take the same precautions I would anywhere in the world. Enjoy, sounds like it will be a fantastic experience.

[udscoobychick]

I went back in 2005 with a study abroad group, so this is definitely dated, but I felt quite safe. They did warn us to beware of gypsy cabs. TaxiFam, I believe, was the cab company that we were told to stick with. I'm sure your hotel concierge can recommend a safe one, so just get a recommendation and stick with that.

Ditto PP's recommendations on the Zocalo, Palacio Nacional, Anthropology Museum, Frida Kahlo's house, and Teotihuacan.

[judyramone]

Hi again! I realize that this is quite belated, but I just wanted to thank you for your recommendations and replies!  I'm 3 weeks into my longest trip here and I LOVE it.  My biggest travel concern is being able to fit everything in that I want to see on my days off, as I only get one a week.  I have 2 more between now and when I leave!  I'm thinking of hitting up Coyoacan this weekend, and probably the Modern Art museum.  I'm fortunate enough to get to be here over the independence day, so I think that will be my day off in Zocalo.  I'm staying right near Chapultepec Park, so I'm there every chance I get.  So far I've been to Castille Chapultapec and Teotihuacan, Basilica de Guadalupe, the Anthropology museum, and lots of eating and drinking with new friends and acquaintances I'm here working with.  I also experienced my 2nd earthquake.  My local colleagues here have been so wonderful to work with and also have terrific advice on seeing their city.

Apologies if that got long, but I wanted to thank you again for your input and reassurances!  All the best, J.

[alleinesein]

Will you be in Mexico for Independence Day? If so go down to hear El Grito at midnight.

[librarygirl]

Sept 6, 2013 23:14:39 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Will you be in Mexico for Independence Day? If so go down to hear El Grito at midnight.

This! I only heard it in Cuernavaca but it's still a very neat experience!

But glad to hear you're having a great time! I love the DF and hate that it gets such a bad rap all the time!