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Mexico City--6 hours



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 15th, 2003, 04:49 AM
Les Wright
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Default Mexico City--6 hours

We have a 6 hour layover in Mexico City on both Oct. 18 and 25
..
Any suggestions as to where to visit and how?

Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks,

Les Wright


  #2  
Old September 15th, 2003, 06:37 AM
Jorielle
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Default Mexico City--6 hours

The central plaza area (El Zocalo) is a very busy place for a real feel of
Mexico. Lots to see just at the plaza: National Palace, Metropolitan
Cathedral, and Aztec temple site. Always like a market day. Lots of people
to see. You can easily spend 6 hours there. Subway system is very good
(but be aware of pocket lifters!). Also I enjoyed the Antropology Museum
greatly (and I am not even a museum goer!).

Jo


"Les Wright" wrote in message
...
We have a 6 hour layover in Mexico City on both Oct. 18 and 25
.
Any suggestions as to where to visit and how?

Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks,

Les Wright




  #3  
Old September 15th, 2003, 02:44 PM
Richard Ferguson
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Default Mexico City--6 hours

I am with Jo, choose either the Anthropology museum or the Zocolo area.

The templo Mayor museum near the zocolo is worth a visit. You can have
lunch in the rooftop museum of the Majestic hotel, view the zocolo on
high, a good place to hang out.

Security is a concern in Mexico City. Besides pickpockets and robbers,
beware of random passing taxis. At the airport, buy a taxi ticket at
the window, and take it to the official taxi stand. In town, look for
an official taxi stand with someone with a clipboard logging departures,
or have a hotel call you a radio taxi. More info below.

MEXICO CITY TAXI ROBBERIES

For tourists, perhaps the most serious crime problem in Mexico is taxi
robbery in Mexico City. This problem is more or less unique to Mexico
City, so many tourists are not aware of the problem. The governments
of the US, UK, Canada, France and Australia warn travelers of taxi
robberies. I have also read several first person accounts of taxi
robberies, via the internet and in the media. Taxi robberies in
Mexico City have been covered in US and Mexico media, both TV and
newspapers. Basically, anybody who knows Mexico knows that taxi
robberies are a problem in Mexico City, and takes certain precautions
to prevent themselves becoming a victim. The exact recommendations may
vary, but it is unwise to ignore the problem and pretend that "It
can't happen to me."

A taxi robbery generally works something like this: The victim or
victims get into a taxi, usually a green VW beetle taxi. After a few
blocks, the taxi stops, and one or two armed men enter the taxi and
rob the victim. In many cases, the victim is held for hours while the
robbers use the victim's ATM card to get more money. This is
sometimes called a "fast food" kidnapping. In a few cases, the victim
is held overnight to allow withdrawing more money the next day. The
taxi driver is part of the gang, and may have stolen the taxi. In
some cases, a waiter or hotel employee may also be part of the gang.

In one article that I read, the robbers found out that they were
robbing a reporter. While he was being held at gunpoint on the floor
of the taxi, they told him not to write anything bad about Mexico! An
American resident of Mexico City was killed in a daylight taxi robbery
in December 1997. An American reporter was shot in a taxi robbery
April 20, 1998. The personal accounts that I have read indicate that
a taxi robbery, even if you are unhurt, is a very traumatic
experience.

So, what can you do to protect yourself from taxi robberies? Use the
official sitio taxis at the airport and bus stations. Buy a ticket at
the window, and take that ticket to the official taxi stand. If there
is no taxi stand (sitio) where you are, call a radio taxi. Get the
taxi number so you get into the correct taxi. According to an article
about taxi robbery in the November 1998 issue of US/Mexico Business,
radio taxis have become so popular that it is difficult to get a radio
taxi after dark on a weekend. Generally, the roving taxis are the
problem, not the ones that work from official taxi stands, which
should have a supervisor with a clipboard logging taxi departures.
You can use the metro (subway), but pickpockets and robbers are a
problem.

I was in Mexico City in January 2002, and I was very satisfied with
the radio taxi company "Radio Servicios Moviles de Transporte", and
got their card, which showed numbers 5771-4012, 5771-0130, 5760-4696
and 5551-7710. One of the taxi drivers told me that the company was
founded more than 30 years ago, partly at the instigation of the then
US ambassador, because American visitors were being robbed in those
days also. If you call yourself, you will need to give your location
and what you are wearing. I am not sure if their dispatchers speak
much English, I did not put them to the test. They will give you the
color of the taxi and it's unit number. One time they asked me to
move to the other side of the street to simplify a pickup, I did, and
the taxi was there in five minutes. These taxis are not marked.

There are many other radio taxi services. The US government suggests
the following phone numbers. 5271-9146, 5271-9058, and 5272-6125.
You can ask your hotel for a recommendation.

The Canadian government in their March 1998 advisory said that you
should leave your credit cards and ATM cards in the hotel safe, to
minimize the risk that you will be held prisoner while the robbers use
your cards. (The current warning is worded more mildly). The current
Australian government also advises you to leave your credit cards in
the hotel safe. Only carry the cash that you will need that day. Some
people, including the French government, say you should carry 20 or 30
dollars US, to prevent a robber from becoming angry with too small an
amount. Consider using your ATM cards only at ATM machines inside a
bank or other commercial facility during regular banking hours, as
recommended by the US government. Even the Mexican government
recommends that you not carry your ATM card with you unless you plan
to use it.

If you are robbed, comply and hand over your valuables immediately.
This will greatly reduce the risk of violence. Don't look the
criminal in the eye. Your life is worth much more than your
camera or your credit cards.

Other types of public transportation are also targets of crime.
The buses are robbed often enough that the government has listed
the bus routes and times that are most frequently robbed, and
gives specific instructions about what to do if the bus is robbed.
The metro (subway) also is subject to crime, both pickpockets and
robbers.

Official statistics show that crime in Mexico has doubled since the
start of the economic crisis in 1994. However, I should note that
victim surveys and many government crime statistics indicate that
crime rates in Mexico City are similar to or lower than rates in urban
areas in the US. In private correspondence with a university
professor working in statistics, I have been told that Mexican crime
statisics are a little primitive, and are not really worthy of
confidence. I have seen few crime statistics for visitors and
tourists, just overall statisics or surveys of residents. There
is some information to indicate that crime in Mexico is more
likely to include violence or threats of violence than in the USA.

In a brief visit to Mexico City in July 1999, my friend Miguel, a
lifelong resident of Mexico City, said that he felt that the crime
situation was exaggerated. When I was with him, I did get into a
couple of roving taxis, somewhat against my better judgement. I still
feel that roving taxis should be avoided, and I did avoid them for the
rest of our time in Mexico City. I also carefully reviewed the ID for
the driver before I got into a tourist taxi outside a museum. We did
see one noteworthy thing on that trip, relating to the police. There
was a police car, running red lights and siren, so overstuffed with
police officers that neither of the rear doors could close. It looked
a lot more like the Keystone cops than a professional police force. Of
course, the Mexican police are often critized for being ineffective
and corrupt.

Should you go to Mexico City? Of course, the decision is yours. There
are lots of things to do in the largest city in the world, but it is
not a place to relax and let down your guard. Mexico is a big country,
and most areas of Mexico are much safer than Mexico City. If you do
decide to go to Mexico City, read the various government travel
advisories before you arrive, and practice security while you are
there.

Richard Ferguson
August 3, 2003


There are several web sites with security information for travelers
and tourists. The ones that I am aware of are listed below. I urge
people to review the information on these web sites, compare the
recommendations of the various countries to each other, and compare
the various government recommendations to any personal opinions
expressed on the internet. The government web sites include security
and other travel information for virtually all the countries in the
world, including each other.

USA - http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

UK - http://193.114.50.10/travel/default.asp

Canada - http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/graphic...os/cntry_e.htm

Australia -http://www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice/advices_mnu.html

The French government has a web site with security information, in
French. http://www.diplomatie.fr/voyageurs/e...avis/conseils/

The Mexican government has their own web site on tourist security -
www.safemexico.com

The following web sites offer personal views on security.

Mexico Mike gives his views about security in Mexico at
www.mexicomike.com



Jorielle wrote:

The central plaza area (El Zocalo) is a very busy place for a real feel of
Mexico. Lots to see just at the plaza: National Palace, Metropolitan
Cathedral, and Aztec temple site. Always like a market day. Lots of people
to see. You can easily spend 6 hours there. Subway system is very good
(but be aware of pocket lifters!). Also I enjoyed the Antropology Museum
greatly (and I am not even a museum goer!).

Jo

"Les Wright" wrote in message
...
We have a 6 hour layover in Mexico City on both Oct. 18 and 25
.
Any suggestions as to where to visit and how?

Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks,

Les Wright


  #4  
Old September 15th, 2003, 08:32 PM
OLSEN
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mexico City--6 hours

In article OEa9b.142311$3o3.10200007@bgtnsc05-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net, says...
We have a 6 hour layover in Mexico City on both Oct. 18 and 25
.
Any suggestions as to where to visit and how?


One trip to the Zocalo and its surrounding sites.

The second layover consider El Chapultepec.....esspecially if it is a
weekend.
  #5  
Old September 16th, 2003, 09:28 AM
tile
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mexico City--6 hours

In 6 hours you can visit the Pyramids. just out of
Mexico city

take a guided tour there and skip the visit to
souvenir shops.
"OLSEN" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
In article OEa9b.142311$3o3.10200007@bgtnsc05-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net, says...
We have a 6 hour layover in Mexico City on both Oct. 18 and 25
.
Any suggestions as to where to visit and how?


One trip to the Zocalo and its surrounding sites.

The second layover consider El Chapultepec.....esspecially if it is a
weekend.



  #6  
Old September 16th, 2003, 02:17 PM
news.verizon.net
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Posts: n/a
Default Mexico City--6 hours

In the airport's international section, near the escalators to the second
floor, there is a very small booth for tourist guide services. The
supervisor wears a suit and tie and speaks English so he is easy to
identify. Ask him to guide you in the time you have. The zocalo and
cathedral would be my choice for a quickie. The museum of anthropology is
essential for anyone who will visit Mexico's ancient cities. However, in a
couple of hours you will only get a taste of that magnificent museum. To see
it in a day is like running a marathon, two days are better.

"Les Wright" wrote in message
...
We have a 6 hour layover in Mexico City on both Oct. 18 and 25
.
Any suggestions as to where to visit and how?

Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks,

Les Wright




  #7  
Old September 16th, 2003, 02:55 PM
Richard
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Posts: n/a
Default Mexico City--6 hours

"tile" wrote in message
. ..

In 6 hours you can visit the Pyramids. just out of
Mexico city
take a guided tour there and skip the visit to
souvenir shops.


If you're the type of person that doesn't have any particular fascination
with history and archaeology, this might be a good suggestion, as you'll
just zip hrough the whole site and leave, but if you find the pyramids
interesting then you'll feel really rushed if you have to get there, see the
sites and get back in six hours.

Richard


  #8  
Old September 16th, 2003, 04:16 PM
Pacal1
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Posts: n/a
Default Mexico City--6 hours

"The museum of anthropology is
essential for anyone who will visit Mexico's ancient cities. However, in a
couple of hours you will only get a taste of that magnificent museum".


I would go to the Museum of Anthropology. In my opinion, it is the best thing
to see in Mexico City. You can see enough in 2-3 hours. The Zocalo is very
crowded. The Museum is peaceful and wonderful
John Pacal
  #9  
Old September 16th, 2003, 04:31 PM
Richard
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Posts: n/a
Default Mexico City--6 hours

"Pacal1" wrote in message
...

I would go to the Museum of Anthropology. In my opinion, it is the best

thing
to see in Mexico City. You can see enough in 2-3 hours.


Two to three hours? I spent a whole day there and I barely saw half of it.

The only problem with that museum is that there are so many quality
exhibits. It gets tedious after a while and toward the end of the day I
found myself going over things much more quickly than I would have, had I
not already been there for a few hours. I think it would probably be best
split up over three days during which you spend part of the day at the
museum and part of it doing something else for the sake of variety.

Richard


  #10  
Old September 16th, 2003, 04:41 PM
Miguel Cruz
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Posts: n/a
Default Mexico City--6 hours

Pacal1 wrote:
I would go to the Museum of Anthropology. In my opinion, it is the best
thing to see in Mexico City. You can see enough in 2-3 hours. The Zocalo
is very crowded. The Museum is peaceful and wonderful


Coming from the USA, where there really aren't (sadly) any crowds, that
makes the Zocalo sound very appealing.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Site remodeled 10-Sept-2003: Hundreds of new photos, easier navigation.
 




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