Belles Artes, Photo by Catherine Krantz
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, D.F. (“day EFFay’) or just plain México, has long had a reputation as a scary place, don’t you believe it! Mexico City is so impressive: beauty, history, color, teeming with life, it’s unforgettable in every way. I travel alone, almost exclusively, and D.F. made me hesitate. But with a good guide book, an adventurous spirit and some common sense, Mexico City can be a wondrous experience for any traveler.
With a population somewhere in excess of 20 million, sprawled out across 2000 sq km of a single valley, Mexico City can be daunting to say the least. But a well organized and easy to understand Metro system makes travel around the sprawling metropolis simple and entertaining. I found the locals friendly and helpful, the attractions easy to find and wandering a joy. In five days I felt I barely scratched the surface and look forward to many returns. With a wide array of beautiful parks, plazas and avenues, colorful markets, an awe inspiring array of museums and culture of every kind, bursting with travelers of every sort, Mexico City is a thrill to wander and explore. Not the expensive mega-metropolis I had envisioned, Mexico City is full of bargains in hotels, food and shopping.
Mexico City is made for shopping, with the best of cosmopolitan boutiques, antique markets and bargain hunting, there’s something for everyone. Art films, international bazaars and an awe inspiring kaleidoscope of color. With clean bus and metro stations, friendly people and enough things to see and do to last a lifetime.
Although, with any large city safety precautions are necessary, I experienced absolutely no problems with crime or “gringa harassment” and truly loved the entire city.
And even late night TV was a shock for my stimulation deprived brain. The week I was there I was kept awake by BBC productions of Shakespeare, French documentaries on the golden age of silent films, Italian retrospectives on Roberto Rossellini and Japanese art films from some by gone era. The only thing missing from Mexico City is a good night sleep. There’s far too much to miss to waste a moment sleeping.
Mexico City is truly a world of wonder. A mind boggling feast for the senses, an oasis of life, a perfect cure for the oh so small, beach town blues.
Buen viaje.
-January 2000
