Mexico
The next solo trip did not come for an eternity. At least that is how it felt. Covid-19 impacted everyone fortunate to be alive on a very personal level. For me, it served as a wake up call – a reminder not to leave all the things that bring me joy until the later years of life. For me, traveling and exploring new cultures was one big source of joy. In March 2021, I had enough savings to last me for at least one year based on a frugal lifestyle and decent pay in jobs until that point. As soon as I was vaccinated, I decided to quit my job that I started after the Singapore trip to begin traveling for as long as the savings lasted (Spoiler Alert: they lasted me 13 months.). The first destination I chose after I got my Covid-19 vaccination card was Mexico.
Why Mexico?
There was still a lot of public angst around traveling in April 2021. Gradually, countries were starting to open back up for tourism after vaccines but with tight restrictions such as masks, curfews and mandatory Covid-19 tests. One of the earliest countries to open up for tourism was Mexico. It is possible Mexico never closed its borders but please fact check me on that. There were various news outlets reporting on swift changes to international travel policies during the pandemic. Mexico had lenient entry rules and given the close proximity to the US, I had some assurance that I would be able to return easily if one of the two countries made impromptu changes to their public health policy. Also, with no dependable source of income in April 2021, I needed a destination where the dollar would go far. Mexico did not disappoint. To give you a sense, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice outside my hostel was less than $1 and five meat-stuffed tacos were less than $2. Lastly, Mexico City had also been a destination as part of my MBA Program so once again, I had a ready-to-go itinerary for my trip. YouTube filled in the gaps with other tips and suggestions.
Where did I stay?
I alluded to this in the section above but I stayed at a hostel called U-Co Juarez in Mexico City. I picked it based on reviews on Hostelworld. You get the idea by now! 🙂 I gravitate to hostels with good reviews (I look for a minimum rating of 9/10 on Hostelworld), good facilities and easy access to public transportation. U-Co Juarez fit the bill. The people I met there were interesting. I remember meeting this one older guy called Ethan in his late-30s who loaned his friend about $250 a few years prior and received 3 bitcoins in return since his friend couldn’t pay him back with cash. When I met him, that bitcoin stake was worth north of $150,000! He had been to 90 countries and was not even 40 years old yet. Most people frown at the thought of staying in hostels but I have met so many cool folks at hostels who have served as a source of inspiration for future travels. If you are looking for accommodation in Mexico City as a tourist, you can’t go wrong with the Polanco (a bit upscale), Roma Norte, Condesa or Coyoacán neighborhoods. Each of these neighborhoods has its unique personality and charm. The only disadvantage of Coyoacán for me is that it is a bit out of the way of the metro system.
What did I do there?
I could not do many activities I had hoped to do such as Lucha libre (Mexican version of WWE wrestling) and Soumaya Musem (Carlos Slim – richest man in Mexico – sponsored this museum and named it after his wife) due to them being closed because of the pandemic. I have listed below some of the things I managed to do.
- Had churros and hot chocolate at El Moro. El Moro is an authentic chain restaurant in Mexico City and must-visit spot if you have a sweet tooth! The location at the historic center (“centro historico” in spanish) is the original location.
- Chapultepec Park. It’s twice the size of Central Park in NYC and even has a castle and boating areas in the lake. I went for a walk more than once in this park. The castle was closed during my visit. Womp womp.
- Went to the Zócalo – This is the main square in the historic center. This is where you will find the “CDMX” sign and the president’s palace. I saw the ceremony in the evening when the military takes down the huge Mexican flag in front of much tourist fanfare.
- Walked around in the historic center and saw the iconic-domed Museum of Fine Arts (Palacio de bellas artes) from the outside and the Latin American tower with the digital clock that stands out in the skyline.
- Went to El Huequito. It is a chain restaurant. If you eat pork, I recommend getting the tacos al pastor here. I went to this restaurant more than once and the tacos were great each time!
- Visited the Museum of Cultural Anthropology. This was a top attraction on TripAdvisor and it was luckily open to visitors when I went despite Google saying it is temporarily closed because of the pandemic. I don’t recall the entrance fee but it was nominal.
- In the Polanco neighborhood, I went to Palacio de Hierro mall to window shop and get some AC. The Polanco neighborhood has some nice green open spaces so even though it was a bit of walk from the metro station to reach, I had fun exploring it on foot.
- Drank coffee at Tierra Garat near the Insurgentes metro station. This is their equivalent of Starbucks even though there are plenty of actual Starbucks locations in CDMX. It was my go-to coffee spot in the mornings.
- On a separate night, I went to the famous Rosetta restaurant in Roma Norte without a reservation (I will never learn!). I was placed on the waitlist but could not get seating as it started raining that day and they had limited space for walk-ins as a result. Instead, I ended up going to an Indian restaurant I found on Google. I am not making this up, but after I left that Indian restaurant, I saw a group of street performers in costumes doing garba (Indian folk dance) in the streets.
- Went to the quiet little town of Puebla for a day trip on on a 2 hour bus ride. I went from the TAPO bus terminal in Mexico City to CAPU bus terminal in Puebla. The trip was ~$20 US round trip. Puebla is also the birthplace of the famous chocolate mole that you order at fancy Mexican restaurants in USA. I had a friend in Puebla – I am no longer in touch with her – and she showed me around. I went more to see my friend than to see Puebla.
- Went to Sonora Market back in Mexico City. This market is located near the Historic Center and known for selling very odd goods such as powdered lion teeth. It’s said the market is popular with people who believe in dark magic.
- Tried bubble tea at Cassava Roots – it is a chain in Mexico City – and had some of the best bubble tea I had in Mexico.
- Tried “Pulque” (it is a traditional liquor made from agave nectar – think of it as a less potent cousin of tequila) at Los Insurgentes restaurant.
Is it safe?
Mexico City was largely safe in the tourist areas but there was a list of several neighborhoods that were considered unsafe and I avoided visiting them. One such neighborhood is Tepito. If you go, I would go with a local friend you trust with your life. Also, certain areas such as the historical center did not feel safe at night.
I used the metro to get around. I can only recite one incident that caught me by surprise in the evening one day. A drugged out man started following me on the platform and hopped in the same metro car as me. He attempted to get off at the same station as me but I managed to dodge him and lose him in the crowd.
Always check to see if you are being watched or followed, especially at night. I would not recommend taking the metro after dark in Mexico City. Below is an image of a security guard station taken around noon on a routine day. You ride in the metro at your own risk.
Tips for other solo travelers?
In general, airports are the worst places to exchange money. In the case of Mexico City, you will find some of the best exchange rates at the airport near the airport exit after you leave the immigration area. Just shop around for the best rates.
Tap water in Mexico City is not safe to drink. Always buy bottled water or fill up on-the-go at one of the Starbucks locations. I used to ask for “agua filtrada” (filtered water) everywhere I went.
Food and services are cheap in Mexico City. The street food scene is also amazing! However, if you have a weak stomach, you are better off avoiding some of the places. There were many taco vendors and tortas (sandwich) vendors in the streets selling mouth-watering meals for less than $2 US.
For the better – and pricier! – restaurants such as Pujol (ranked among Top 50 restaurants in the world!), make a reservation a few months before your trip. For others like Rosetta, it is advisable to book at least a week or two in advance. You will find latest updates to this rule on Google.
Brush up on your Spanish. You can get by with English only but knowledge of Spanish will enhance your experience and allow you to interact with locals at more than a superficial level.
Until you are comfortable with your surroundings, stick to the more tourist-friendly neighborhoods such as Condesa, Roma Norte and Polanco.
Would I go back to Mexico?
I already did in March 2022 and would go back again whenever I get a chance again! I covered some of the things I could not due to the pandemic on my second trip. Mexico City has a lot to offer and is one of my favorite cities in the world.
See you in the next post. Thank you for reading if you made it to the end!