Any tourist sites?
Cautions?
Experiences? Oh and Yautepec, Morelos?? i travel to mexico city all the time and i've been there 16 or so times, i can't remember the exact number, but mexico city.....wow.
cautions? DON'T attempt to DRIVE there. it's chaos, and if your a pedestrian, you better walk QUICKLY. the drivers have NO patience for pedestrians. just keep an eye out for oncoming cars.
if your gonna take a taxi, don't go alone! go with 1 or 2 more people, preferably a male with you, like a brother or uncle or something.
SOME drivers, when they see that it's only females that they're transporting, they will take them to an unknown location and rape them and such. which is why i advise you to take a male friend with you, incase you plan on taking a taxi.
but some drivers can be very kind, i'm not saying that ALL of the taxi drivers are dangerous.
i take a taxi all the time when i go to mexico, seeing as my mother is a native of Mexico city, and i'm like, 100% american washed...so my mom knows the city like the back of her hand.
and most of the taxi drivers we've run into are very kind. and we end up talking with the drivers on just about any topic.
and if you do take a taxi, and the driver notices that your a tourist, they'll PROBABLY jip you and charge you MORE for the taxi ride, than the original cost.
so make sure that the taxi has a meter, which tells you how much you owe the taxi driver. if it doesn't have one, don't get in.
and if they DO charge you more, than what you know you actually have to pay, don't bother to argue with them.
some drivers actually carry guns with them in their car, incase some passenger doesn't want to pay them. you never know if they'll try and do something to you if you refuse to pay them what they want.
we actually had a bad experience with this we had to pay about $12 more.
my mother and I always take a taxi back and forth from the bus terminal to my grandmother's home. and it always comes out to about $9 USD. we have other family members from around mexico that come to mexico city, and we go to pick them up at the bus terminal when they arrive.
So, one time instead of going with my mother, i went with my father. and my father and I were at the bus terminal, and we were going to go to my grandmother's home, like usual.
but during the ride, my father started talking with the taxi driver all nice. and the taxi driver, having picked us up from the bus terminal, asked my father "where are you from?". and my father told him "well, i'm from this other city in mexico, but i'm AMERICAN and i'm just here visiting".
that was the BIGGEST mistake my father could've made. but they kept talking. and the whole time i was quiet and said nothing.
so as we were getting closer to my grandmother's home, my father and the driver were still in their kind conversation, and since i was sitting in the back seat, and my father was sitting up front with the taxi driver, i SAW that the taxi meter said $ 9. but then i saw the driver push 'clear', on the meter. and i knew something wasn't right. and then when we got to the front of my grandmother's house, my father looked at the meter and it was blank. and then my father asked the driver, "how much do i owe you?" and the driver said "you owe me $20 USD.". and my father looked at him like, "NO, your wrong." and my father DID in fact tell him, since my father knows the usualy price is $9 USD.
and the driver argued back saying "NO NO, you owe me $20 USD, i know that this is the correct price becase there was a lot of traffic.".
but I KNOW, that the traffic had NOTHING to do with the price being higher, seeing as i've driven in taxis so many times.
so my father ended up paying the $20 USD. and all because my father had told the driver in their conversation that he was American.
So, if they know your a tourist, they'll try and get as much money out of you as they can. so that was my experience. tourist sites in Mexico city, visit "el Angel", which is, in like the center of this chaos street..the angel is very beautiful and high up like a statue.
visit the Basilica of the Lady of Guadalupe.
but if you go in, make sure your not wearing shorts, because they will not let you in since it's a religious holy place.
guys and girls can't show their legs while they're in there. but you CAN wear them outside of the place.
but you can wear t-shirts inside, and you don't have to cover up your head with a veil or anything, although some women do as a sign of respect.
bargain as much as you can with the vendors. keep your belongings close to you. my father was pick-pocketed once where this little kid ran across him and literally, stuck his hand insdie my father's pant's pocket and tried to steal his wallet, and the wallet fell to the floor and the little kid never got it.
also, stay close with a group of people you know. never separate yourself from them.
if your in a busy area that is crowded with people, some men will just come and grab you by the arm and take you away, without your family even knowing because there's so many people in that area,and its crowded, and it's hard to tell who's missing.
and some men will come to you when they grab you and sometimes piont a knife to you VERY discretely so that you only see it, and tell you, "if you scream for help, i'll stab you.". and sometimes you'll see a guy with a woman, and you won't even know that he's forcing her to come with him, or if they'r really just a loving couple.
so i advise you to stay close with your family if your going.
really, you just gotta be aware of your surroundings. do that, and you'll have a fun and safe trip.
take care. You are an idiot. Report It
I have driven to Mexico city 2 times. You have to pay attention and know where you are going. Then you drive you don't talk - you drive there as fast as you can and stay alert. That is how the Mexicans drive. Report It
Hello,
Eventhough Mexico is not a Dangerous place. This year there has been some problems in Oaxaca with the security because of a group of people that are fighting against the local government. I dont recommend going to oaxaca this year.
Mexico city is a little bit dangerous you just have to take care of some stuff , do not wear a lot of jewerly, really nice shoes and don not look like a total tourist.
On the other side , Mexico is one of the countries with most visitors and it is because is a really beauty it has everything , the weather , places , people. To know more about the places and things you can do log on to : www.visitmexico.com Be seriously careful when you go to Mexico, the country has serious problem with tourist and their travels.
Be aware that kidnapping are more frequant, you might say, "why would anyone pick me". the fact is money, you might not realize that $500.00 dollars is alot of monies and they know you got it or can get it easy or more. If your visiting Mexico or South America you got monies!
Even native Mexicans are having problems, those with upper incomes, due to kidnappings, they are not asking for 1 million but know that a few thousand are within your reach and they want it, you will pay. They might not kill you but fequently badly beat you.
If you travel in Mexico get someone to guide you around for a few dollars, stay aways from the beaten passes, never go beyound the city limits of the city. Not all of them are bad but increasely you are for sure to have problems.
I'm Mexican-American and have faced it in real life, I'm a large man and have extensive military training, when all this happen to me, i knew what to do and did. I was at a local boarder town in Texas, really down south(Progresso). I wanted to have a few beers so wondered into the near-by places but I was being stalked into this place that I was in. I was aware of my surroundings and notice them noticing me, I was told that I should leave by this younger lady, that it was not safe for me there.
I did confront these people as I left and got a few dirty looks, knowing the language and understanding what was happening i walked out safely. Hope this doesn't happen to you.
The city of Progresso is fabulious for those tourist doing local daily shopping but seriously when it start to get dark, your welcome is just about to end quitly. The shops close down and the not so nice people come out and they are not your friends. You will find thousand of shops and resturants, they want you there. The police are there to protect you as a tourist during the day but night fall is another issue, your on your own. You have no reason to be there at night as they see it.
I did return back the next day and found the young lady, she didn't work there but it was the local watering place for them in that area, it was early this time, took her to dinner that evening but never saw her again, I thanked her for her good deed !
Take care and be very carefull and totally aware of your surrounding ! Get a lonely planet guide.
Mexico City
I highly recommend visiting the pyramids just north of Mexico City called Teotihuacan. Get a tour guide there to show you around. They all speak several languages and are very informed and entertaining. Eat at the restaurant inside a cave!
The Chapultapec is the largest city park in the world I believe. It has numerous museums. The palace there is very interesting as well as the world renowned Archaeological museum.
The Zocalo is pretty cool too. The capital building and the huge church and Aztec ruins are all right there.
Go to the Zona Rosa to party at night but be careful! Have your hotel get you a taxi. Lots of great restaurants and clubs.
I Saw a soccer game at the Cruz Azul stadium when I was there. That was great fun, but standing room only. If you have money, buy a ticket down closer to the field. The general admission seats were packed but there were plenty premium seats available. I just bought tickets from a scalper.
If there in the winter, go see the millions of monarch butterflies north of Mexico City. Very impressive.
Oaxaca
Monte Alban ruins. Get a guide.
Watch Nacho Libre. That film was made in Oaxaca.
Mitla Ruins east of the city.
Eat Chapolines - chocolate covered grasshoppers, a regional treat.
Teotitlan de Valle is a town nearby that specialized in handwoven rugs. Very nice.
The worlds biggest tree El Mite I think is on the way to Mitla. Oaxaca seems OK right now, they probably could use some tourism after being held hostage by a bunch of anarchists for the last 6 months.
Mexico, in general, is not the worst place you could go in terms of safety and security. It is however a place where law and order is just a theoretical concept. I lived in Mexico for 5 months--came back to the US a few months ago when the rioting was at its worst. That said--I only felt unsafe once (and I am a single woman traveling alone). and the main reason I left is that the rioting made local travel too difficult The people are very friendly. I butcher the Spanish language and they always tried to help me out鈥攏o attitude or anything. As far as kidnappings鈥erhaps in Mexico City but not Oaxaca.
Getting around in Oaxaca: Busses鈥攜ou can catch them almost anywhere but to get to Mitla or Yagul, there鈥檚 a big bus stop next to the baseball stadium. Just read the name on the bus and wave them down
Taxis: Expensive
Collectivo: A cross between a bus and a taxi. A car that fills up with people going to a certain destination. The name of where theya re going is displayed on the windshield. More expensive than a bus but cheaper than a taxi if you are not comfortable braving the bus system
Food: In Oaxaca, spend at least one afternoon at the zocolo. I suggest the Blue Table (I think that鈥檚 the name) If you drink beer--order it 'suero'--its how most people drink it there. Remember, if food is cooked it鈥檚 safe. I鈥檝e had some amazing tacos by street vendors. And make sure you try Chapulines (grasshoppers). it鈥檚 said that if you eat them you will always return to Oaxaca. :-)
In Oaxaca: Manners are everything! Always say Please and Thank You and you will go a lot farther and get more.
To Visit in Oaxaca:
Monte Alban鈥攖he bus leaves from Hotel Angel
Yagul-Take a bus to Mitla and tell them to let you off in Yagul. They鈥檒l stop the bus and it鈥檚 a mile hike up the hill/road (make sure you notice the giant pertogrlyphs on the cliff across the river)
Mitla-take a bus and spend the day. Buy some sherbet/ice cream outside the gate. VERY GOOD and safe Try Tuna (means cactus)
I only spent a little time in Mexico City but you should go to Teotihuac谩n. Take two days for this ginormous site. Most hotels should be able to book a bus for you. It's a MUST SEE!
I have a ton of pictures on my travel blog: http://www.sharronmcclellan.com/blog/blo...
More links of what to see can be found on my uncles B&B website (he鈥檚 in Tlixtac right outside of Oaxaca): http://www.casaadobe-bandb.com/
Please note that Oaxaca will not be *** pretty as it was 6 months ago. It was in turmoil for a long time, but the locals were mad at the governemnt--NOT tourists (no matter that the newspapers say) HELLO I AM MEXICAN AND ALIVE IN the CITY OF MEXICO IF YOU WANT THIS ONE IS MY MAIL interscope_nike@hotmail.com BY FAR TASTE I WILL GIVE MUCH INFORMATION YOU OF MY CITY |
