Thirsting for adventure? Travel is the surest hydration, but are some watering holes too dangerous to drink from? That's what people told me when I announced my plans to visit Mexico City. "It's not safe there for girls like you. You will be kidnapped, ransomed, and murdered. Why don't you just go to a resort like the other girls?" Because renegade spinsters don't hang out at resorts; we prefer the wild. Besides, Rachel is a Spanish teacher and longed to see the places in her textbooks, and I just wanted to eat real tacos and drink tequila. So we booked our trip, packed a carry-on each, and waved goodbye to our family and friends for what they thought surely was the last time (check out Spinsters in Dangerous Places: How I Afforded Mexico City).
Before you let commonly held prejudices ruin your trip, find out how Rachel and I survived "dangerous" Mexico City.
Mexico City Myths Debunked
(1) I'll get kidnapped. Being kidnapped wasn't so bad. One evening, Rachel and I were walking to dinner when we were chased down by a gang of Mexican teenagers and held hostage until we helped them with their English homework. Presuming we knew English (how did they know??), the kids asked if they could film an English interview with us. The recorded interview was 100% of their grade, so we interviewed again and again until it was just right. Only then, having paid our ransom, were we released.
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| Cafe de Tacuba |
(2) I'll get sick from the water. Moctezuma's curse is real, but outwit it by drinking bottled water. Bottled
water is sold everywhere, and the nicer hotels stock it for guests.
(Like our hotel, Historico Central Hotel) Other tips that saved us from the Aztec emperor's revenge including rinsing our toothbrushes with bottled water, eating cooked foods, and drinking beer and tequila. We brought medicine with us, and although we didn't need it, it was good
to have.
(3) I'll get Hepatitis A from the food. Not if you use common sense and have a vaccine. Vendors with people waiting in line will have more food turnover and clearly are popular with the locals. Rachel and I also ate at nicer places and took a
food tour of the street vendors and market stalls. (I recommend Eat Like a
Local--Mexico City Food Safaris.) Also, we got a Hepatitis A shot before we left for Mexico, which will serve us well everywhere.
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| Keep an open mind, Raquell! |
(4) I'll get mugged. The only reason you should lose your money in Mexico City is because you spent it all. Just use common sense. Rachel and I walked in well-lit areas in safe neighborhoods. We had a professional guide show us the city's treasures that we would not have found alone. Just to be doubly cautious, we wore zipped, cross-strap purses and left our diamonds and pearls at home.
(5) Mexicans will harass me. Good luck trying to get Mexicans to leave you alone. Their hospitality is relentless. "Would you like more cafe con leche?" "Would you like a free ticket to the museum?" "Would you like another taco, more bread, another tequila????" I was so full of delicious food and laden with shopping bags of beautiful things that I needed a daily siesta. As for cruising around during the day and at night, no one harangued us on the streets; everyone treated us with respect. Mexican madres and abuelitas (mothers and grandmothers) are everywhere, and no one screws around when they're in town.
(6) Mexicans hate Americans. Although Mexicans dislike some U.S. politicians, they
dislike their own politicians more. Mexicans understand that just because
a government behaves one way does not mean its people agree. Mexicans like to make fun of the problems they face and
work collaboratively to fix them. In our political discussions, no one got mad, and we laughed together at our dysfunctional governments.
(7) I don't speak Mexican.
I don't speak Mexican either, no one does. Mexicans speak Spanish, and although you needn't speak Spanish
to get by in Mexico City, you should show your hosts the respect of
trying. Here are the basics:
"Buenos dias" (Good morning)
"Buenas
tardes" (Good afternoon)
"Buenas
noches" (Good evening)
"Gracias"
(Thank you)
"¿Dónde
está el baño por favor?" (Where is the bathroom, please?)
"Dos
tequilas por favor" (Two tequilas, please).
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| El restaurante Azul Historico, a good place to try mezcal and tequila |
Give it a try, and you will delight your hosts, but don't be offended if they switch to English so you will stop slaughtering their language.
(8) Mexico City is expensive. Not if you have American money! The U.S. dollar is stronger than the Mexican Peso, and we exchanged dollars for pesos at our hometown bank, which didn't charge us fees. Cash is king in Mexico City's markets, so we were glad to have small and large bills for buying nice things like the work of local artisans and designer labels in the stores. We used our credit cards at the nicer restaurants, and we tipped 15% to 20% or more for excellent service. We wanted people to remember Americans as well-mannered and kind, so we tipped generously.
(9) It's too dangerous and too hard to get around Mexico City. Our hotel concierge ordered us a cab from the airport to the hotel, Uber is everywhere, rental bikes are available for under $1.00, sidewalks are plentiful, and the Metro is inexpensive and extensive. On the Metro, the first three cars of every train are only for women and children under twelve years old, and security guards stand on the platforms. In fact, police are all over the city, primarily helping pedestrians cross the streets, but also for security. We walked, rode the Metro, and cabbed all over Mexico City for pennies on the dollar. (Spinsters in "Dangerous Places": How I Afforded Mexico City)
(10) Mexico City is dirty. Try telling that to the shop owners who scrub their sidewalks with soap and water every morning. Restaurants are clean, the Metro is tidy, and no one leaves home with greasy hair in a bun on top of their heads or wearing pajamas. We were sure to dress simply and stylishly every day and definitely washed our hair before stepping out.
Now that you know the truth about Mexico City, you are so close to an authentic, enchanting adventure
over the border. Your friends and family may warn you off, but take
it as love and go anyway. Let your curiosity and courage
guide you to the travel locations that replenish your soul. I can only warn you that Mexico City
will leave you hungry for more.
Saludos!
The
Super Spinster
**Need more reassuring? Post your questions in the comments below. **
