Mexico City - getting started

Enough people have asked me how my trip is going, that I figured I post it

here. Thanks again to everyone who helped me prepare for the trip. Your

advice came in handy (more on that in a minute). I'll try and post the stuff

I'm learning on my trip. Hopefully, it'll be useful to the next photographer

in the area. the 17-55mm/2.8 is a great lens to bring. It's heavier than I'm

used to. I should hire a sherpa.

Logistics: I'm staying at the NH Centro Historico. It is roughly $80/night and

close to Alameda Cental and the Palacio Nacional (1 block away). I took a

paid cab from the airport for about $13USD - pay inside and don't "find your

own" cab on the street. If you are going to change money at the airport, wait

until you clear customs. There were better rates there than at the booths in

the terminal.

Security: Despite what has been written here and elsewhere, I didn't feel

unsafe at all today. There are plenty of police in the Zocalo area and

despite having a massive camera around my neck, I never felt like I was in

Baghdad. I found many of the people to be freindly and not menacing like many

internet posts would have you thinking. A freind did tell me not to wear

shorts, because mexican don't wear shorts. She wasn't kidding, if you want to

blend in, wear pants. Leave your passport, credit cards, and most of oyur

cash in the hotel safe. Pickpocketing is real. Despite my brazen

proclamations and doubt before my trip, my wallet was stolen in the market

within 3 hours of my adventure. I couldn't resist the urge to get some good

street shots in the very crowded market, but my velcro pocket was no match for

a skilled thief. I lost $60 and my drivers license - could have been much

worse. Bring a little cash and a copy of your passport. Leave the rest in

the safe!

Getting around: To get to the pyramids, I had hotel call "a guy". The guy

quote me $120 (twice what the desk said). I told him forget it and hung up.

he called back witihng 30 seconds and said $80. We settled on $75. He came

at 7am and dropped me off after 1pm, so I felt it was worth it. The tours

leave at 9am, but I wanted to beat the crowds and be on my own timeline. I

paid half when he arrive and half when we dropped me off. (no need to get

dropped off and left behind at the pyramids) Tomorrow, I'll have my hotel

send a cab to get me to Chapultepec. In the Zocalo area, I wlaked most of the

time.

Again, despite my stupidity with my wallet and getting got, so far it feels as

safe as any other big city... nothing crazy going on. I did get back to my

room by 8pm, which was aorund dusk.

Hope that is helpful to the next one. Day #1 post coming up.

Wow - I am glad you went. It sounds like you are having a good time exploring a new city and

culture. Mexicans tend to be quite friendly in my experience and they seem to be happy to

share their culture and their food with anyone who is open-minded enough.

So sorry to hear about getting pick-pocketed but I guess you know that this can (and usually

will) happen in any big city. It's unfortunate, especially when it's easy to stand out as a

foreigner.

I hope you get to enjoy some authentic food - it can be spectacular.