Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Mexico City

I'm here for a week on business and I'm glad that I didn't get a rental car. The driving here is insane. Our cab was cutoff 27 times in a half hour drive. We cut off equally as many. Road rage seems non-existent. They just keep on driving without noticing one anothers reaction.

Wait until someone tries to a make a left hand turn from the far right lane. I almost got crushed in an escort while some woman in a Crown Vic tried to pull that.

As for road rage, people are too concerned with getting kidnapped, they DON'T want to see the other drivers.

That's how it is all over Mexico. Try driving on some of the highways, especially 2 lanes where you're having to pass slow moving trucks with 2 45' trailers.

There's some nice restaurants in the Zona Rosa quarter (pretty safe, too, given the number of guards they keep on the street corners). Though I can't remember the name, there's a seafood restaurant there that's got a KILLER crab, octopus, shrimp and fish bouillabaisse (best I've ever had). It's a few blocks West from the Sheraton Maria Isabel (if I've got my directions right).

IIRC, stay away from the green VW bug taxis, unless you feel the need for a mugging (not experienced this, but have heard a number of warnings, though). The best thing to do is hire out a driver (the same one) for the time that you are going to be there, if you are doing a lot of traveling back and forth by taxi. You can pretty much set up a schedule and have them keep to it. Also ask for their cell phone number for pickups.

If you've got the time for some sight-seeing, check out the National Cathedral in the Zocalo. They've got a pendulum in the middle of the building that shows you the sway and pitch of the church (half of Mexico City is sinking into the earth, to say the least). They've also got one HELL of an museum: National Museum of Anthropology. A must if you're into musems.

One don't-miss item, though: Teotihuacan. Whatever it takes (if you've the time), make sure you see it. The size and scope will drop your jaw. If you're into punishment, see how fast you can head up the Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon. just notice that they have ambulances waiting outside both, in case you fall...

Enjoy the stay! The city gets a worse rap than it deserves, though do keep your eyes open.

I said the same thing when I went to Chuiahua (sp) for Ford. I considered renting a car, but decided that I would use the travel reimbursement to pay for taxis everywere I needed to go (not many places, airport-hotel-plant-airport). Boy was I glad I did that when I was in the taxi when I first got in.

I also noticed that every driveway, no matter how small, had a tall gate with bars to close it. And not a single person working at the plant drove a car newer than 5-10 years (and those were the engineers).

We went out for dinner one night, and the Canadian and I were especially careful about getting the runs. Well, at least I was. Bottled water, no ice, etc. etc. for both of us. Except he ate the white/pink rice that came with everyone's dinner. Just him. He looked pretty green the next morning at breakfast. Because cooked rice is rinsed before serving. Sucka.

Close, Chihuahua!

See this post in Pics n video for information about Mexico.

http://www.contour.org/cgi-ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=40;t=002857

don't keep your eyes too open. Pollution is a killer. Zona Rosa is cool. So is the hotel bar at the NIkko.

Mark

Oh yeah, say hi to the Pope while he's there. That ought to be fun to get around in Mexico City, with the cannonization of a saint and all.

So far after two days, I'm very pleased with my experiences in Mexico City. I ate at a restuarant called Correo Espanol for dinner. I tried baby goat head, and broiled goat meat. Both were surprisingly good. Makes me wonder why we don't eat goat. The food and service was excellent.

Interesting fact about Mexico. Office workers are referred to as employees, while people on the mfg floor are called workers. The bathrooms in the offices are locked so the workers don't use them and give the employees herpes....

We are trying to avoid Zona Rosa because of the Pope's visit, but we are leaving Friday to visit the pyramids.

Should be an interesting week to say the least.