I often see conflicting reports when it comes to Mexico City, a fascinating place which offers a wide range of experiences to those who come here. Having lived here for just over 5 years now I can say that I have seen pretty much all sides of the place, and that is why I wanted to offer something of a more honest breakdown, based on what many people say about the place. Is this paradise? No, it’s a bustling city with plenty to offer, and it does take a certain type of person to live here. For me however, it is one of the coolest cities on Earth, and here is a more truthful look at the place.
The Food Makes You Sick
One of the first things that people say to me when they come here is that the street food makes them sick, some even say the same about the restaurant meals. My take on it is that yes, foreigners do struggle with the food here, be it on the street or in restaurants. In some cases this is down to poor hygiene, in most cases however it is because of the growing conditions. Different soil, different plant treatments and different ways of raising all contribute towards an upset stomach. My advice is to eat at places with good reputations and not to try all new foods at once. Ease yourself in.
Narcos Everywhere
If you have been watching the Netflix special Narcos then you may very well believe that narco violence takes place across the capital. There is no doubt that there is a lot of money here from drug trafficking and to suggest there is no activity here would be like saying there is no mafia activity in New York. The reality is however, we don’t see any of it, there are no street shoot outs, and there are very few events which take place that you would ever notice.
Get Mugged
Many of my friends who grew up in Mexico have stories about getting mugged and assaulted, it happens here just as it does in any big city. For my part however, I have been here for 5 years and never even had a wrong look. I think much of it comes down to just being street smart and knowing where you should and shouldn’t be at certain times.
Always Earthquakes
The first quake which I had here back in 2017 was a pretty scary experience, and following that we had a series of mini-quakes too which were no joke. After that first one however I was talking to my friend here Rose Burillo, and she was saying how there hadn’t been an earthquake for many years before 2017. Since 2019 I cannot remember a single one, not even a small one, and the reality is that whilst it can happen, this is not something which takes place every day. Furthermore, it is important to know that the earthquakes actually don’t hit the city, generally, and that is why they have an alarm which gives you about a minute to 90 seconds to get to safety.
Any more questions you have, feel free to write them in the comments below.
