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Arriving in Mexico City for the First time
"First Impressions of Mexico City"
I was a bit intimidated arriving at the Terminal del Norte (for autobuses) in Mexico City, my introduction to el DF. I knew from Monterrey to go to the TAQUILLA to get tickets to ride on the Taxis Seguros. Walking outside, I was a little confused at first since there were 10 numbered lineups with about 4-6 people waiting in each; at first I thought the numbers were for the various zones... I was going to Zone 3, so I waited in Line 3. Then I saw the efficiency of the system; to move passengers as quickly as possible, 10 taxis were let in at a time, passengers were let in to the taxis, and then the 10 taxis would depart, allowing the next group of 10 to come in. My "Line 3" had nothing to do with zones but rather that I would be getting in the 3rd taxi of the group of 10.
The next morning (Dec 31st), I discovered how incredibly well-situated I was at the Hotel Maria Cristina, only 1 block from the Paseo de la Reforma and within 10 minutes walking distance of the Zona Rosa. Walking to the Paseo de la Reforma, I could not believe how beautiful this grand boulevard was, what with the Monumento Cuauhtemoc and the glorieta Monumento de la Independencia. I felt almost transported to Paris here except that the boulevard was lined with palms and ornately-sculpted Nativity scenes. Looking up at the beautiful blue skies surrounding me, the grandeur of the boulevard and my general comfort level as a pedestrian, I felt almost angry at the widespread preconception of *crime and pollution*, which are the only words some people had to say when I told them I was going to Mexico City.
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