There’s a metro and metrobus going from the airport to the city center. The internet is convinced that no traveller with any luggage – or just all their belongings – should ever take the metro. The metrobus is said to be safer, but also 6times so expensive 🙂 I had kind of decided on the metrobus.. when I got a ‘welcome’ brochure from my hostel explaining how to get there by metro. And thus it was decided. Internet also says, if you change or withdraw money at the airport, someone might watch and then rob you outside. I guess I’ll risk it – changing just a bit to make it to the city center.
I prepared and packed a fake wallet and discovered that my old phone doesn’t start up anymore. So, no fake phone.
Changing planes in NYC worked with quite some time to spare. Then, upon arrival in CDMX, I used the automatic immigration gates: I was hoping I’d make it to the hostel before their check-in closes (and I’d have to call them to open the door for me). Too bad I didn’t get a stamp in my passport that way.. but it was very fast!
The metro station is outside the airport, but just a few metres, and easy to find. I bought a metro card, and took the first train towards the city. I had to change in La Raza – and managed to go in the wrong direction! Note: be careful if there are stairs and an underpass where an arrow shows. Don’t just walk around the corner without using stairs 🙂 The first carriage of the metro is for women only and usually less crowded than the rest.
I started my first whole day in Mexico with an archeological walking tour with a couchsurfing guy. It was great, and among lots of other interesting facts,.. he told me he drinks the tap water in the city. It’s good, the only problem could be the pipes inside the house, if it’s old. Great to know 😀
All over the city center, there are markets and people selling stuff in the street just about everywhere. So I looked what they’re selling 🙂 Surprisingly few people, even in a very touristy traditional handicrafts market speak english!
On December 25th I had decided to go to Teotihuacan – I was afraid everything in the city would be closed because people are celebrating christmas, so touristy stuff seemed to be a perfect choice. It was easy to go by public bus and when I arrived around 10:30am – later than I had planned! – it was still very empty there and even all the sellers weren’t there yet or just started to arrive!
Unfortunately it’s now really not allowed anymore to walk up any of the pyramids..
Back in CDMX, after some fruit, I took the cablecar across the city, seeing it from above.
