Along with multiple reports of the swine flu, which has been named a stage five pandemic by the World Health Organization, the State Department warns against visiting Mexico because of increased drug cartel violence, particularly on the U.S. border. – Forbes April 2009
Bah ! WHO pandemic warnings are for wussies ! We visited the El D.F. aka Mexico City in June so the pandemic was subsiding as was the air and hotel prices. We stayed at a hostel called Casa Comtesse in Condessa, a upper middle-class area of Mexico City. Upper-middle and any middle class is a sliver between the poor and ultra-rich. (Sometimes I forget that I the world majority is poor and brown). Overall we felt safe but the local police thought it best that we not walk around at 11pm and hailed us a cab one night. When I visit a foreign land I try to take in the people, food, and culture. I think HJ’s order is food, food, and culture (between meals). Here’s the rundown…
Comida: Seafood at Contramar, tasting menu at Pujol (yes, pronounced Poo-hole), original al pastor tacos at Tizoncito, hot choco and churro at El Morro, and steak sandwich & salad at Sputino
Culture: Indigenous arts at the National Anthropology Museum, Contemporary Art Museum at U of DF and hiking around Teotihuacan.
People: Like in all major urban cities, most folks were rushing around minding their own business. Subways are the best way to travel but also a great place to meet and hug some of the 21M DFers during rush hour.
