March 28,09 Highlights #1

Policemen on patrol in La Alameda, the large park in the center of Mexico City

Organ Grinder in front of Belles Artes, the famous art museum near La Alameda in Mexico City

Rosario and David's apartment

On February 10, we flew into Mexico City. Rosario met us at the airport and took us by taxi to the small apartment that she shares with her husband David. We used their apartment as our hub from which we spoked out 150 miles in different directions to visit friends. We spent Feb. 10-13, 17-20, and March 9-12 with them.

I have mixed emotions about Mexico City, always have.
The largest city on the planet, with a population of between 20 to 24 million people, depending on who you ask, the city is an anomaly. Towering skyscrapers, tower over buildings that were constructed 500 years ago. A downtown that boasts its wealth with fine shops, boutiques, upscale restaurants and La Alameda where thousands of people promenade daily, while at the Zocolo, the huge square in front of the National Cathedral, Indian peasant women sit on blankets trying to hawk the few handicraft they made. Streets are lined with small stalls where merchants sell Chinese junk articles like copy-cat, name brand merchandise. Some might ask," How do the Mexican people in such a large city make a living?" I would answer, "Anyway they can."

Crime
Another question people asked frequently is "How dangerous is it in Mexico city?"
It can be very dangerous. David has a job working for the Mexico City government. The city is doing a census on unregistered, small, street-side, businesses. David has 5 men working under him. These men are to interview the small merchants in their grid and make an accounting to the government. On numerous evenings David came home frustrated by the dangerous atmosphere in which he had to work. On one occasion his "man" as he called him, was jeopardized when he inadvertently was caught in gunfire between rival gangs. On another occasion another man was involved in a robbery that happened near one of the stalls he was registering. This all happened within 4-5 days.
Banks, government buildings and fine restaurants are all guarded by men with AK-47 and they are on the alert, ready to fire. Lounging on the job may cost them their life.
However, Ruth and I moved around the city on the Metro, by taxi, and by foot and saw no trouble. However we became aware that Rosario and David lived in a high crime area when the taxi driver we tried to hire refused to drive us to their section of the city. To enter their apartment one has to go through 3 locked doors so we felt safe while there.

Smog
The pollution in Mexico City is horrendous. I always get sick but this trip was an exception since I was only in the city for no longer than 3 days at a time. Many years ago Dr. Esparza asked me to be a member of the faculty at the Bible College in Mexico but I had to refuse because of the smog. When one flies in from Lancaster they are immediately met by trying to cope with altitude higher than a mile and the smog. Thousands of people who live in the city have serious respiratory illness. When I asked some of these people why they didn't move they would reply, "Where would I go, the jobs are here?" Each week thousands of people move to the city in search of a job. Many end up on the street.

Traffic and accidents
Yes, it is true, drivers all drive like Jehu! Major avenues are six lanes wide. Traffic lights and policemen control the intersections. We traveled extensively throughout the city weaving in and out, competing with busses and tractor-trailers.
But we did not see one accident, a miracle.
Metro ... Subway system
The Metro will take you anywhere for two pesos=to 15 cents. It is an excellent system, clean, fast and safe, unless you are traveling at night or over rush hour when it is packed. We rode during off hours. There are 12 lines that radiate across the city and we learned to use them years ago. Large, wall maps are in all Metro stations. One can now buy automatic 'swipe cards' that make entering quick. I like the Metro and have had trouble only on one occasion some years ago when we had to run to escape being robbed. But thats another story.

Fast Food Restaurants & Wal-Mart
If you are a fast food junkie, you can still visit McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut,Burger King and Dominos. You can also buy Ben and Jerrys and Haagan Daass ice cream at Wal-Mart but come prepared to pay $9.00 American for a half-gallon. I didn't.
Wal-Mart is very popular and full of customers in its downtown locations. Upscale restaurants have parking lots full of late model cars.
However, when one leaves center city one falls down the economic ladder into the basement. Here passersby stand at taco stands munching on spoiled meat tacos, drink off-brand pop and eat chicharones, a hard, deep-fried pig skin. If you never have tasted it, don't!
Surprisingly Mexico City, at least the downtown area, is clean. Street cleaners walk the sidewalks and parks picking up trash.
My opinion of Mexico City improved during this visit and if it were not for the all pervasive smog it wouldn't be so bad.
I hope this blog posting has answered some of your questions as to what the largest city on earth is like. If you have a specific question, post it in the comment box or drop me an email at noahsark747@yahoo.com