AdventureDad

Hanging out in the worlds largest city with a toddler and an infant sure is different.  If you haven't been to this city of 20+ millions it's difficult to explain how difficult everything is.  Even the simplest thing is made complicated by Mexico City's size and  enormous problems.  First a little background information  and things to do if you're in town before looking at the unique challenges of the worlds largest city.

Mexico City is located in a very unfortunate place, Valley of Mexico (Valley of the damned).  The city is located 2200 m. (7500 feet) above sea level and surrounded by mountains on all sides. There is little wind and the clouds lay low over the city which means the horrendous pollution has nowhere to go.  

The city was founded in 1325(!) by an Indian tribe and is one of the most powerful and important towns in Latin/South America.  The city and country has  gone through several violent periods under occupation, mostly by the Spanish and the French.   The Mexicans are proud people and celebrate important historical dates with lots of Tequila.  The two most important events in history are the independence from the Spanish on September 15 1821 and the Battle of Puebla on May 5 1862 (The well known Cinco de Mayo).  You might recognize those dates, they are famous for big parties all around the world.

Mexico City is a major player among the big towns in Latin America.  The city alone would be the 30th largest economy in the world and is of course crucial to the economy of the country.  Many businesses have moved outside the city but it still counts for roughly 20% of the country GDP.  U.S. and other countries  have moved lots of manufacturing jobs in all kinds of areas here in the last 15 years because of the low labor costs. Mexico is especially well known  for handicraft (textiles, leather, silver), tequila production, oil, and tourism.

In case you prefer some views from a respected paper you might want to check out the nice article in Washington Post about sightseeing in Mexico City while staying safe. 

If you're in town for business or want to be tourist for a few days I highly recommend staying in the Polanco area.  This relatively wealthy  part of town is filled with nice hotels, restaurants, and shops. More on safety later but keep in mind that you're always a target for criminals in Mexico City, and the Polanco area is no different which is apparent by all the armed guards on the streets.  Kidnappings are unfortunately common.

Life in the city is actually not too bad if you're staying in Polanco a few days and don't have to move around much.   Traffic is not a catastrophe, just a complete disaster.  But there is no way around the horrible pollution and crime.

Food is fantastic everywhere in Mexico, especially in Polanco.  You  will struggle to find a restaurant that doesn't leave you smiling from the flavorful food and impeccable service.  I have found no other place in the world which offers as great service as Mexico. Malaysia is a close second.

So what's worth seeing if you're in town for a few days?  Spend half a day in the legendary Zocalo area and feel the pulse of the city.  Some of Mexico City's most famous building are located right here. The national palace, city hall, the huge cathedral with its Spanish influences, and large murals by Diego Rivera.  Visit at 6 Pm. and see the honor guard take down the gigantic Mexican flag for the day.  It's a powerful sight.  The most amazing site in the Zocalo is without doubt  Templo Mayor, the Aztec ruins built many hundreds of years ago and not found until 1978 by accident.  The exploration of this site is still going on, researchers have been able to learn a lot about Mexico's ancient history and traditions.

Chapultepec Park is a huge green oasis filled with great museums and attractions for tourists and Chilangos, as the people from Mexico City are often called. It's located at the end of the majestic avenue Paseo de Reforma.   I have seen no city in the world with more cement than Mexico City, trees and lack of cars are unheard of so this park can give people some breathing room.  It has a few great museums, among them the Modern Art Museum and the admired Museum of Anthropology which has some outstanding collections.

If you have kids you should not miss the amazing Museo del Papalote.  A huge amusement park but filled with mostly fun intellectual games and exhibits.  Very educational and fun for the kids.  You can easily spend a full day here and the kids will not be bored. 

Don't miss the floating gardens of Xochimilco located in the southern part of  the city.  Here you can relax among 50 miles(!) of narrow canals, it's like Venice but with less tourists and better weather.

One of my favorite places in the Mexico City area is Teotihuacan, the most popular of the many archaeological sites in Mexico.  It's located 25 miles outside the city and home to some amazing ruins and pyramids  dating back to the birth of Christ. There are two huge pyramids, Pyramid Of The Sun and Pyramid Of The Moon, with a 2 mile road called Avenue Of The Dead in between.  The pyramids are larger than you can imagine, Pyramid Of The Sun is apparently the third largest in the world.

Spend a full day here, soak up the atmosphere and be prepared for lots of walking.  I highly recommend climbing all the way to the top of the pyramids.  It's well worth the effort.   Go here for some good advice of what you can expect at this must see historic site.

If you feel like partying and Polanco is too fancy and boring for you, check out Zona Rosa which is full of clubs, bars, and restaurants.  This area never sleeps.  It's also home to the financial district in Mexico City.  Shopping is also nice here.  Like all other places in Mexico City, don't forget to be very cautious.  Especially at night time.

Coming up in part 2.  The many challenges in Mexico City.  Crime, safety, pollution, traffic, and inefficiency.  Also, the need of a father to act as a bodyguard 24/7.

Have a nice weekend!

Categories: Family, Travel
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