Mexico City
Following the invitation of friends, I have come to Mexico to celebrate new year’s eve and then spend some time to explore the country in more depth.
Quite obviously this has soon brought me to the cultural and economical center of this country, Mexico City, and I am now slowly getting my be bearings after some hick-ups in the beginning.
The first few days in Mexico have been difficult due to an extreme jetlag. Coming from Europe I was dead tired already in early evening hours in Mexico, especially after the long trip. It was a bit unfortunate that I didn’t have any possibility to relax and recover before the New Year’s celebration, so I was really tired and barely could hold out until midnight. That was in (or near) Guadalajara. Somehow I caught a ride to Mexico City, after spending a few days in Manzanillo by the sea (nothing special was going on there, just sea and tackos).. so anyway now I am in Mexico City and the trip gets quite interesting.
Mexico City is difficult to portray because it is very big in every respect. For example: When I first approached the city, riding in a car and entering the city from the north, it took around an hour riding at high speed to arrive at the destination slightly south of the city center. Another thing that is difficult to capture is the atmosphere of the place. When I took a long walk at no point the “citiness” got less extreme, always there is the feeling of endless urbanization. Also, you can ride the metro for 2 hours and you will stil be in the city, as if it would be impossible to escape. There is also something deadly serious and unforgiving about the whole experience, which is more related to the (mostly) psychological warfare that advertises against coming to Mexico these days.
The main impression however, is that this city feels roaringly alive, full of risks, action and adventure, as well as extremes between the ugliest negative and the nicest postive. I wonder how any Mexican who visits European towns doesn’t get bored to death.
