Mexico City is a suburban jungle and the capital of Mexico. It’s a massive sprawling metropolitan area. The city overflows the valley it sits in, The Valley of Mexico. This city is the largest in Central America and the most populous in North America. It’s the second largest metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere. Only Sao Paulo in Brazil is larger.
The city is massive, so much so, that it is quite difficult to explore in a couple of days. There are many sites to see and many tours to take. Yet, I’ve spent quite a lot of time in large cities and had little desire to be in another.
I took a day to rest and adjust. I’d spent around 18 hours between airports and planes, so it was very much needed. As the early afternoon approached hunger began to set in. So, I went in search of food, while exploring the Centro Historico (the Historical Center). Luckily my hostel, Mexico City Hostel, was only a two-minute walk away.
The main plaza, or the Zócalo, was two blocks down from my hostel. The “Plaza de la Constitucion” is the formal name for the Zócalo. This part of the city houses the city’s government buildings. As of August 2020, Mexico City had closed the plaza off to all vehicles, I couldn’t find any information on why. My guess was in preparation for Dia de Indipendencia on September 16th.
Built where the ancient Aztec capital once stood, Mexico City is rife with ruins. They’re the coolest part about the area. The ruins are right in the middle of the city, tucked away, hidden by the surrounding buildings. Unfortunately, they’re temporarily closed due to health concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, visitors can still walk the perimeter, for a glimpse inside the site.
Do not miss the chance to explore the intricate flavors of Mexico City’s street food. Everything I tried was delicious, and I mean everything. I tried chalupas, gorditas, elotes con saltamontes frito (corn with fried grasshoppers). But my absolute favorite was the always delicious street taco!
My second day I explored the Castel Chapultepec (or Chapultepec Castle). The castle is on Chapultepec Hill in the center of Mexico City, allowing for a 360° panoramic view. The castle houses Mexico’s National Museum of History, which wasn’t always the case.
I could have spent two or three weeks exploring everything that Mexico City has to offer. Yet, I wanted to get to know the deeper parts of Mexican culture. I couldn’t wait to delve deep into the Mexican countryside. After only a few days I knew I was ready to head out. The next stop is Puebla, Mexico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
