Around Town, Mexico City

Favorite thing: Never hesitate to stay in the Centro Historico of Mexico City. This is where I begin many wonderful adventures in central and southern Mexico. I always feel safe, and am instantly immersed in Mexico's culture, past, present and future. Quality accommodations ranging from budget to luxury, mind-boggling culinary choices and eye-popping architecture are all within walking distance of the true heart of Mexico, its Zocalo.

Fondest memory: I have many wonderful memories of Mexico City. The Zocalo always holds something new and exciting, no matter how many times you return... On one trip I was blessed with an incredible traveling art exhibit, Ashes and Snow, ensconced in the Zocalo in such a way as to appear permanent, even though it was constructed of shipping containers and bamboo... When my taxi approached and I saw this phenomenal structure and believing it to be permanent, I asked my driver what had been erected in the Zocalo. "It's art!" he enthused. "I've lived here all my life and it's always something different in the Zocalo -- it may be war, it may be love, but it's always different and never boring!"

I agree with my driver. The Zocalo is a very special place to spend time, and I look forward to being there during each return visit.

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Favorite thing: This is a double decker panoramic bus that makes a great tour comprising the most popular tourist spots in Mexico City (original tour goes through Downtown, Zona Rosa, Condesa, Polanco, Chapultepec -- but a new route has been opened, more info below) with an European concept: ticket valid all day long and the opportunity to get on and off the bus as many times as you want at any of the fixed bus stops.

You can buy tickets valid for 1, 2 or 3 (consecutive) days, and the children and senior citizens get a special discounted price. The regular price for a 1 day ticket is $125 MXN (about USD $10) on weekdays and $145 MXN on weekends and holidays - per person. If you buy 2 or 3 day passes the daily fare is cheaper, of course.

The entire tour takes about 3 hours (without getting off the bus), but it could be longer because of the traffic and depending on the time of the day you take it. They have a recorded description of the whole tour and important spots/monuments along the way in 6 different languages: spanish, english, french, german, italian and japanese (and you can see a brief paragraph with the main terms & conditions of the tour at their website in these languages as well -- URL provided below), ear phones and small maps with the routes and bus stops are provided on board and are included in the ticket fee (see picture of the maps: these are sponsored so you can get discounts in some places with them, such as the Torre Latinoamericana).

Fondest memory: The Turibus used to have only 1 route but a second one has been opened recently, as well as a night tour on weekends. The new route goes through some of our main attractions/neighborhoods in the southern part of the city, such as Coyoacan, San Angel and the National University area. All tickets are valid for both routes, so you can make a whole 5-6 hour tour through most part of the city for the price of a single ticket. Good deal uh!? The night tour is more expensive (it's purchased separately) and runs from 9 PM to 3 AM, THU-SAT.

I haven't tried the new route yet, but I took the original tour and loved it. You really get to see some of our nicest streets, buildings and monuments and get a general feeling of what the city is like. Plus, you can use this bus as a means of transportation between any important spots you plan to visit and thus save $$ in taxi rides. The bus runs from 9 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Sunday. Keep in mind though: once you leave the bus you might have to wait for the next one to pass by for around 30-45 mins. On the 2nd route the waiting time in between buses is longer.

The original tour starts at the Auditorio Nacional in Chaultepec/Reforma area, but you can hop in at any of the fixed stops - marked with a poster - and buy your ticket on board, and if you get down and ride a different bus later you just show your ticket & wrist band to the staff.

For further details you can visit:

* http://www.turibus.com.mx/

* http://www.ciudadmexico.com.mx/transporte.htm

The official site (first URL) is now updated with info about the newest route and has an English version....... The second one makes a very brief description of both routes and is only in Spanish.

Favorite thing: We were very fortuneate to meet up with Yvon (ledragon) from Canada. He was going to be in Mexico City before we got there and was leaving the day after we arrived so we scheduled a meet the day we arrived. It is so much fun meeting different people from different parts of the world and at least one thing that you know for sure that you have in common is a love for travel and VT.
It was great meeting up with Yvon and it was awesome getting to know VT members who couldnt make it to the meeting but kept in touch via email etc...
Thank you everyone!

Favorite thing: Mexico City is just like any other big city in our world. I was initially worried when I read about the crime, but for some reason people comment on and talk about the negative things. Let me enlighten you, Mexico City is SAFE, just as long as you use common sense and there are many positive things about the city, concentrate on those things.

Walking around town is safe because there are huge crowds, just avoid trying to get a taxi from any place other then mentioned.

Enjoy beautiful Mexico City

Favorite thing: i've stayed in town for 4 days only, and so was recommened to take a city tour. it was a good choice.

the tour is divided into two parts; city centre and the southern neighbourhood. the city centre is Zocalo, Condesa, Zona Rosa, Polanco and the tour is way much bigger. i haven't been to the south, so don't know much really. however, each tour may last approximately for 3 hours, total of 6 hours if you continue to be on the bus. you can feel free and hop off and on anytime you wish up from 9 to 9.

you'll be given a headset so you can listen to a tour guide on each area you pass by, either in spanish or english.

Fondest memory: i took the bus from zocalo where i stayed. since i was on my own, my eyes automatically lied on someone on their own as well. she had a seat on the fifth row on the right. i had mine 2 or 3 rows after hers, shying away.

it was a nice a lift in the beginning but then i said i'd do something and have a company. so i used my oldest and best trick ever; i suddenly got lost and was looking for the place on the map i was given, just randomly asking,
"hoy senora, hablo ingles?" pleaing for a tourist-related help.
"oui, je palrez espanol" a lady with a mexican feature replied
eventually i ended up with a mexican lady who spoke french and couldn't speak english. i was surprised - what a combination. she turned to be married to a french guy and living in france, and visting her family in mexico. we hopped off, had a nice mexican lunch, while communicating with malretarded french and disabled spanish. it was such a great fun

Favorite thing: Central district is a very interesting and beautiful part of the city. The churches, ruins, buildings and people were all great. It was very easy to get around the entire city. I spent 6 days walking, eating great cheap food, taking tours in the city.

Fondest memory: Went to visit a friend there. Found a great dentist and had major work done for about %10 of what it would cost here. Saved $10000

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Favorite thing: Developed in 1903 as a high-end neighborhood, it originally was filled with eclectic mansions and art nouveau buildings; it started to decline in the 1940s and between the 1970s-1990s it was impoverished. This area had a big proportion of its original architecture replaced by mediocre international-style buildings; however, there are still hundreds of the original structures surviving, featuring beatifully sculptured stone façades and giving an old-times feel to the area. Today Colonia Roma is experiencing a revival, with open-air cafes, and many restored buildings.

Walk over Orizaba Ave., between Luis Cabrera Square and Rio de Janeiro Square to get a taste of one of the city's most famous neighborhoods. Colonia Roma has a very central location (it is immediately south of Zona Rosa).

For those interested in literature: This neighborhood was the home of William Burroughs the three years he lived in Mexico City; his apartment (and where he killed his wife) is at 122 Monterrey Ave.

http://www.mexicocity.com.mx/Col_Roma.html

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Favorite thing: Visit Coyoacan and San Angel neighborhoods; until the middle of XXth century they were small towns outside the metropolitan area (about 15km south of downtown), which later engulfed them. They have preserved a more traditional little-town Mexican architecture with (mostly) quiet streets. Walk over Francisco Sosa Street to watch traditional balconies and stop in Santa Catarina Garden. The house of the painter Frida Kahlo, now a museum, is located on 247 Londres St. (almost at the corner of Allende St.); it can be an interesting place from an etnological point of view, however if you want to watch her paintings you should go to the Museum of Modern Art in Chapultepec Park; the house has very few paintings.

For those interested in literature: This neighborhood was the home of Gabriel Garcia Marquez when he lived in Mexico City; One hundred years of solitude was written here.