I had truly expected an intense and difficult stay in a city out of control; but the case was the exact opposite in Mexico City. Tales of excessive crime and pollution were all I heard about this place, but I found it to be no more dangerous or polluted than any other major city.






The culture here is rich; the old downtown centre, with its well preserved colonial buildings, is stunning. The museums are filled with great art and artifacts, and the teotihuacan complex is an excellent site as well despite it being a prime tourist destination. I would highly recommend the Museo Antropologica, Museo De Arte Moderno, and Museo Rufino Tamayo, all in the Chapultepec park; excellent permanent collections of modern art in the two art galleries, with some stunning temporary exhibitions. And if you've never seen a Frida Kahlo or Diego Rivera up close, here is the best place to do it.
The two are truly deified in Mexico City myth; Diego Rivera has his very own museum with a massive mural, quintissentially Diego Rivera. His work is excessively political, continuously analytical of his own nation. It is painters and thinkers like these that have allowed Mexico's culture to thrive as it has. And furthermore, he set a high standard for all contemporary Mexican art, and I am happy to say that the artists of Mexico City who are seeing their art displayed are of a very high quality. Certainly the ceramicist's exhibition(whose name escapes me) was an excellent example of how incredible the medium of Ceramics can be.




Mexican culture is deep and rich, and gives the sprawling city a chance to be unique to its own nation. It's all been good; on friday night me and two other travellers were invited up to a hotel room for an impromtu dance party with about 20 Mexicans and 2 Chileans. Then it was down to the bar for a competition of Tequila shooters with the Chileans.

Saturday night there was a group of people doing native dances in the plaza outside the National Art Museum; a circle of people, some dressed in traditional garb, surrounding two large ancient drums and a variety of shakers and conch shells. The Mexicans seem to still have a respect for their native culture, despite the preeminence of catholic idolatry in the city.





Even the subway here is clean; crowded, but clean(cleaner than Rome's subway). The only evidence of a city with a crime problem is the large numbers of private security guards who all have shotguns or M-16s and bulletproof vests; the metal detectors outside of some museums; and the way they pat you down before you get on a bus at the bus stations.

But perhaps all of this talk and security has reduced the crime in the city; I didn't ever feel threatened, and was never approached in a negative manner. I never even saw or heard about someone getting robbed or attacked. I am leaving this city with..... oops, just spent 10 minutes practicing english with more friendly Mexicans. Where is this dangerous city? Is there another Mexico City that I don't know about? Sure, I am certain that it is unwise to wander the shantytowns at night, but this means that I would be looking for trouble if I went to areas like that. The actual city, with the attractions, is perfectly safe as far as I have experienced. Perhaps if you were stupid about being here you will run into trouble; but if you take your usual precautions as you do when you travel to a foreign city, you'll be fine.






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