Self-drive in Mexico | 24 hours in Mexico City

The 4,500-kilometer self-driving journey begins in this largest metropolitan area in America. In just 15 days, you have to drive a large circle in Mexico, and every minute and second on the road is naturally compressed to the extreme. Even though Mexico City is the core stop of the entire country, you can only get about 24 Fortunately, Mexico City greeted the day set off with blue sky and white clouds. From the National Palace of Arts to the Presidential Palace, we passed by all the historical buildings along Juárez Avenue. Although just took a quick look, But it’s also surprising enough.

Of course, If you don’t know about this self-driving trip across the mountains and seas of Mexico, you might as well start with Chen’s first Mexico guide: Self-driving in Mexico | Across 4,500 kilometers, from the plateau to the cape

After being delayed for six hours at Los Angeles Airport, it was already 5 a.m. in Mexico City when we arrived. After exiting customs, go straight to the currency exchange point at Mexico City Airport opposite the arrivals hall. After walking around, I chose an outlet with the highest exchange rate, and exchanged all the cash needed for the trip in one go (I came to Mexico one after another, and the one with the highest exchange rate must be the Mexico City Airport). The sales department of the Hertz company at the Mexico City Airport is at Gate 1 of the terminal. I successfully rented a pretty good Chevrolet basic sedan Aveo with my Chinese driver's license. The moment I started the engine, this long-awaited trip to Mexico The self-driving journey has officially begun.

Mexico City Airport is not far from the city center, only 12 kilometers away. I picked up the car at 07:00 in the morning and went straight to the hotel where I would stay tonight. Like many big cities, during the morning rush hour, the roads in the city are always dark red. Although I have been mentally prepared before coming, the traffic jam is really distressing. The short 10 kilometers from the airport to the city is actually magical. It feels very similar to driving in China. It turns out that driving in Latin America is not that difficult. It is not recommended to drive by car in Mexico City (no one will probably do this). The central city of Mexico City is all within walking distance, and other major attractions can also be reached smoothly through the huge subway network. I had no choice but to do this. After all, I had to drive 16 hours to Campeche, which is more than 1,200 kilometers away the next day. In order to save time, I had no choice but to rent the car at the airport in advance today, saving precious money for the long-distance drive tomorrow. time.

The hotel we stayed at is located at the intersection of Reform Avenue and Juarez Avenue Ave Juarez in Mexico City, a 2-kilometer walk from Zócalo, the historical center. There is a narrow one-way street in front of the hotel. The parking lot is located behind the hotel. You need to go around to find it. It is guarded by a dedicated person and the price/performance ratio is pretty good. I arrived at the hotel at 08:00 in the morning. I originally planned to come too early and the hotel would not allow me to check in, so I would simply rest on the sofa in the lobby. However, the hotel staff informed me that a pair of guests had just left and were cleaning the room, so they asked me to wait a moment; It was a bit lucky to check into the hotel so early, after all, I hadn't slept for 24 hours.

Although I have traveled south to Mexico three times before, I still couldn't hide my excitement to be in Latin America again. After a brief rest in the hotel, I went out without stopping. The 2-kilometer Juarez Avenue connects the hotel to the central city. Major attractions and pedestrian streets are arranged on both sides of Juarez Avenue. Starting from the hotel, you can quickly walk to Mexico City's Chinatown. Opposite it is the spectacularPalacio de Bellas Artes, the National Art Palace of Mexico. There was no money to take pictures, so we didn’t stay too long. The Sears Mall opposite the Palace of Fine Arts overlooks the Palace of Fine Arts. Sears Mall is open to the public (11:00-21:00), but it needs to be separated by not very clean glass. Of course, if you have plenty of time, there is an open-air bar on the top floor of the mall. It is also a good choice to order a glass of Mexican-specific Mojito at dusk and watch the people coming and going downstairs.

The intersection of Juarez Avenue and Eje Central Avenue next to the Palace of Fine Arts is probably the intersection with the most traffic in Mexico City. Standing next to it is the tallest building in Latin America. Torre Latinoamericana I have been to the Latin American Tower three times. Telcel Telecom Business Hall, the purpose is very clear: come here to apply for a Mexican phone card, Even though there were many local people waiting in line to handle business, "foreigners" always enjoyed the privilege of special treatment. Most of the staff in this business hall knew a little English. In the 15 minutes in the business hall, I successfully used 180 Peso to get 10G of traffic. Later it turned out that such a large amount of traffic was necessary for self-driving navigation. Telcel's signal was very good, and there were many telecommunications base stations throughout Mexico, so there was basically no signal on the road.

Continuing eastward from the intersection of Juarez Avenue & Eje Central, you enter the Av Francisco i Madero pedestrian street in Mexico City. Probably the entire city is crowded into this small block, and there are always huge crowds of people even on weekdays. There are many people cosplaying various comic heroes on the pedestrian street, asking tourists to take photos, and they all tip 5-10 Peso after taking the photos. The House of TilesThe House of Tiles is just around the corner. This historic restaurant is also a popular brunch spot for locals. There are long queues early in the morning; as the Romans do, Naturally, I joined the queue. Because there was only a Spanish menu, I naturally had no clue, so I asked the waiter to recommend a few. For the Chinese stomach, Mexican food is really hard to describe. Dry steak and fish cakes with various bean sauces will satisfy your appetite. These local people laughed heartily while eating. I think you are too satisfied. If you just want to take pictures, you don't actually need to dine in this "famous restaurant". You can go directly to the second floor after entering.

Av Francisco i Madero pedestrian street is bustling with people. Starting from the House of Tiles towards the historical center of Zócalo, you will also pass by the Citibanamex Culture Palace and the Templo de San church that tell the story of colonial history. Felipe Neri La Profesa, it is free to visit. There are Coca-Cola factory stores and various department stores and souvenir shops along the way.

If you carefully observe the map of Latin American cities, you will find that there is a place called Zócalo in the center of these cities, even Mexico City, which has a population of 21 million. Zócalo is Constitution Square, the seat of the city's highest administrative agency: On the north side of Mexico City's Zócalo is the Mexico City Cathedral, which took 250 years to build, and on the east side You can visit the National Presidential Palace, and nearby are the Mexico Supreme Court and the Aztec ruins Templo Mayor——Mexico City It was from here that the city was built.

The National Palace Palacio Nacional, located on the east side of Constitution Square, is quite interesting and is also the best place for you to learn about the history of Mexico. This palace was built by the Spanish in the 16th century on the site of the original Aztec palace and is now the Mexican presidential palace. The most famous one in the presidential palace is Diego Rivera's "The History of Mexico". This mural was created by Rivera from 1929 to 1935. It vividly tells the story of the Mexican people's struggle against Spanish, French and other foreign colonists and the country's revolutionary independence and social status after independence. There is a nameplate on the second floor that clearly introduces the content described in each part of the mural. Corresponding one to one, I found that this is really the case.

The mural on the left is about Aztec culture, including the Aztecs and their traditional costumes. special The Aztecs believed that in order to renew the world, they had to offer sacrifices to the sun god every 52 years, so they built pyramids and sun temples that symbolized the center of the world. In addition, Rivera also depicted the daily life of the Aztecs, including volcanoes around the Valley of Mexico, corn and other major crops, craftsmen weaving and pottery, mothers holding babies, art and handicraft activities, and even their people's worship of snakes and jaguars. All of the above details can be found in the paintings.

The main mural tells the story of a series of conflicts, rebellions and revolutions against oppression over the course of Mexican history. The entire mural depicts Mexico's violent but beautiful history, with ordinary Mexicans and Indians rebelling against the Spanish, French, and various dictators. The central image of the painting is a large eagle with a snake in its beak, representing Aztec culture, a symbol that remains the main symbol of Mexico today.

The right hand side of the mural tells the story of Mexico's future. The picture includes: factories, Soviet flags, workers, Karl Marx and the "Communist Manifesto", as well as the image of Rivera's wife Frida Kahlo. Carlo and her sister Cristina are shown as socialist teachers who represent a better future. These murals are all about progress, prosperity and a better future for Mexico.

Visiting the entire Presidential Palace is free, but ID registration and mortgage are required. Backpacks and water are not allowed inside the Presidential Palace, and there is a storage room at the door.

Mexico City's main attractions line both Plaza de la Constitución and Avenida Juárez. In addition, around the central area of ​​Mexico City, there are: Museo Nacional de Antropologia ; Frida Kahlo Museum Museo Frida Kahlo ; Biblioteca Vasconcelos and Yellow Wall Market La Ciudadela and other wonderful destinations. These attractions can be reached quickly by subway and bus. If you have enough time, a Don't miss it either.

Located west of Mexico City National Museum of Anthropology This is a place that every travelogue of Mexico City has to mention. If conditions permit, it is highly recommended that you put the time to visit this museum at the end of your entire trip to Mexico, because when you have traveled through Mexico, especially after seeing those Mayan and Aztec ruins, you will be surprised to find that the essence and the most authentic restoration of all the attractions are here! You will see the exquisite restoration of the Quetzalcoatl Temple in Teotihuacan, the colossal stone statues of Olmeca, the Aztec Sun Stone, the entire statue of the rain god Chaac in the Puque area, or the priceless emerald mask in the Temple of the Inscriptions in Palenque and the cinnabar prototype in the Temple of the Red Queen. Everything you can see in Mexico can be found here in a more vivid and specific way.

Before sunset in Mexico City, I once again came to the busiest intersection in the city next to the Palace of Fine Arts, and climbed up to the tallest building in Latin America before dark. There are not many people queuing up to climb the tower. You need to pay a ticket of 75 Peso to go up to the tower. After buying the ticket, the staff will give you a paper bracelet After you go to the elevator twice, you can reach the outdoor observation deck. , The observation deck is surrounded by barbed wire, but there is enough space for the camera to stick out.

The smog in Mexico City is heavy, and the bloody setting sun slides from the gray sky, leaving behind a warm orange-red twilight. The city stretches endlessly to the distant horizon, and thousands of lights reflect the sky. bright.

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Practical information

(updated to 2018/5)

Food and accommodation

There are countless B&Bs from international chains to various styles. The few times I stayed near the Zócalo Square were average. I suggest staying at Juarez Avenue near the National Palace of Arts. The Ave Juarez sides are better.

Sushitto on the pedestrian street is the only Asian restaurant nearby. Although it is not comparable to the Japanese restaurants in China and North America, it can comfort the Chinese stomach. There are also several copycat Chinese restaurants opened by locals in Chinatown near the National Palace of Arts. , the taste is pretty good.

transportation

Mexico City is very large, with a complicated road system and congestion in the morning and evening peaks. Driving in the city will also encounter problems such as license plate restrictions. It is recommended to use public transportation and walking to explore Mexico City. The attractions along Avenue JuarezAve Juarez and around Plaza de la Constitución Zócalo are relatively dense, but go to the Museum of Anthropology and Kahlo in nearby New Town The former residence needs to rely on the subway or bus. Mexico City's subway lines extend in all directions, and the rides are similar to those in China. In addition to the unique women's carriages, the small vendors selling goods everywhere in the Mexico City subway are also eye-catching.

Safety

Like most cities in the Americas, there is no absolute safety or insecurity. As long as activities are carried out in traditional tourist areas, drugs, guns, kidnappings and robberies, which are far away from tourists, will not happen.

arrival and departure

Mexico City Airport is not far from the city center, and major cities in East Asia and North America have direct flights to Mexico City. Mexico City Airport is also a major hub for routes throughout Latin America. You can transfer from here to various places in Central and South America. The row of currency exchange shops directly opposite the airport customs has the highest exchange rate in Mexico. Don’t be stingy with the US dollars in your hand, exchange the entire trip cost here at once.

There are three bus stations in Mexico City: North Bus Station Autobus Terminal del Norte It is the most frequently visited by tourists. Yellow Line 5 of the Metro Autobuses del Nor Directly connected to te station . Operation to Guadalupe There are buses heading north from Mexico City, including Najuato, San Miguel, Guadalajara and cities along the US-Mexico border. The company on the far left of the station entrance also operates the only route to the Teotihuac Pyramids. Luggage storage is available in the central aisle of the bus station.