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Mexico City: Worlds
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Mexico City counts with one of the most advanced and reliable subway systems in the world... its streets and highways are another story. The car population in the capital is less than one million but its ingenious style of highway construction and the lack of traffic direction puts Mexico City right next to Los Angeles in traffic jams of legendary proportions. Urban legend tells that the reason why Mexico City suffers of such horrific traffic jams is because of the millions of 1969-styled Volkswagen Beetles turned taxis, which half of them are pirated versions created by people who refuse to pay the fees for a taxi operation permit. Other legends say it's because of the badly-funded and badly-maintanced roadway system in a bureaucratic and corrupt government system where all available funds go to the pockets of high-ranking officials and their henchmen below them. These theories are debated everyday on the Mexican TV networks.
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Mexico City is an exciting combination of ancient, colonial and modern art and architecture. The Zocalo (main square) and surroundings in the Centro Historico (Historic Center) were built on ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Modern skyscrapers and hotels flank the stately Paseo de la Reforma (modeled after the Champs-Elysees in Paris), which is the main avenue of the city. The Paseo de la Reforma leads through beautiful Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Park), where you'll find the world-renowned Museo de Antropologia (Museum of Anthropology) and the elegant Castillo de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Castle) constructed for Emperor Maximilian and his wife, Carlotta. Mexico City's streets feature a wonderful mixture of modern and colonial buildings. Mexicans are constantly reminded of their past, and they are encouraged not to forget it.
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Mexico City has one of the cheapest, cleanest, and busiest subways in the world, and this is the best way to get around—except during the crowded peak hours of 7–9 am and 6–9 pm. Taxis are inexpensive and plentiful, but don't flag one of the swarms of green, white-roofed VW bugs: Some are rogues, and muggings and worse have been reported. Phone instead for a taxi de sitio, or have one called—all restaurants and hotels keep a number—or pick up one of the cabs marked with a "Sitio" sign at one of the city's many official taxi stands. Traffic can be a nightmare, so limit your daytime inter-colonia excursions. Consider investing in a car and driver, for the insider information as well as the convenience. Cultur (52-55-5564-0652) has excellent English-speaking drivers and tour guides.
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If you're into sports, then Mexico City has plenty to offer. Soccer Football is the national sport and Mexicans go crazy about it. The city was host to two FIFA world cups, one in 1970 and the other in 1986. Other important sport is Baseball, being Mexico a good supplier of professional players to the U.S. The city has been the only Latin American host to an Olympiade in 1968, when the majority of the City's sport facilities were built.
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Mexico City, now the center of business, culture and government for the country, was once the center of the entire Aztec empire. The current Zocalo, or town square, is built on the same spot where once stood Montezuma's palace. Many of the old mansions and public buildings in the area were built hundreds of years ago using the stones from the Aztec temples that were destroyed by the Spaniards. The Zocalo is the second largest public plaza in the world, only Red Square in Moscow is bigger. Within just a few blocks of the Zocalo, in all directions, are some of the city's finest examples of city history, architecture and art. Here is located the Metropolitan Cathedral, the oldest and most important on the American Continent.
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Mexico City embraces the 21st century as the country's capital and undisputed hub of commerce, while resting on its ancient heritage as Tenochtitlán, capital of the Aztec empire. With over 23 million residents, Mexico City claims the title of world's largest city. It sits in a high valley (alt. over 7300') surrounded by mountains. While evidence of farm villages in the area dates to 1500 BC, the main predecessor goes back to the 1300s, when the Aztecs established a capital on an island in Lake ..[Read More]
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