Saturday 13 September 2014

3 THINGS & MORE YOU CAN DO IN MEXICO

Zócalo


Montserrat Arcos
Name: Montserrat Arcos, alias Montse or Mon.

Where are you from?

How long have you lived in México City?
27 years

What do you do?
I’m a journalist and 'curvy' blogger

Where can we see your work?

Tell us about Mexico and what it is famous for?
Oh my God, difficult question! Well, Mexico City is a big city that even the people living there could never fully see it. I mean it. For me, there is always something new to know, a lot of places to go to. Not only New York, Mexico is also a city that NEVER EVER sleeps, because, you know, we like 'fiesta' a lot! Haha! And it has so many contrasts: very rich people, very poor people, magic places, ugly places, very safe places, very dangerous places. Something curious is that when the famous painter, Salvador Dalí, came to Mexico City, he said “I'm never ever getting back to Mexico City, because I can’t stand that there is something more surreal than my paintings!” And yes, there are  traffic jams every day, all day.

3 best kept secrets of  Mexico city, which only the locals are aware of?
  • Mmm where you can buy tacos — in your locality (yes, that knowledge is essential)
  • The police are very corrupt, so you can solve almost everything with money (sad but true).
  • Mexicans  are ALWAYS late. So, if you have been invited to a party at 6 pm, the host is actually expecting you to arrive at 8 or 9 pm.

3 foods that one should taste in Mexico and where can we find it?
  •  Pozole (traditional Latin American soup — dried corn based — that's been served since pre-Columbian times) and quesadillas (flour tortilla filled with cheese and other ingredients). Place: La casa de Toño. To die for!
  •  Tacos. Place: Los Chupacabras or El Borrego viudo. OMG!
  •  Barbacoa (tender, shredded meat-based dish) and Chiles enogada (poblano chiles stuffed with a mixture of meat and dried fruits, covered in walnut sauce). Place: Hacienda Los Morales.

 But there are many other places too; it all depends on where you are

3 best places to shop
  • It depends. For international brands, you can go to Perisur, Centro Comercial Santa Fe and Reforma 222.
  • For regular stuff, Alameda Central and Centro Histórico.

3 sights one should definitely see
  • Las trajineras of Xochimilco: is a lagoon and you can take a typical Mexican boat where you can eat. Ask for  'mariachi'.
  • Paseo de la Reforma. Is the most beautiful street in Mexico City.  A lot of shops, restaurants, beautiful buildings. A lovely place to walk.
  • Zócalo The heart of the city where ancestors arrived in the past and set their empire. Then the Spanish arrived too and set their churches and houses. Next to the cathedral there are pyramid ruins from Aztecas, so you can see this fusion between natives and Spanish.
3 things a traveller should know about Mexico
  • Don’t take a taxi. I’m ashamed to say it, but I wouldn’t take a street taxi just like that…it’s dangeours. It’s preferable to ask at your hotel for taxi numbers and, although they are more expensive, your safety is totally worth it.
  • It’s better to ask at the lobby of the hotel you are staying about the safe and not-so-safe streets...and of course don’t go to the no safe streets.
  • Mexican people are very happy and friendly. They know how to party seriously. So, its pretty sure you can have a good time.
  • Mexican food is for strong stomachs. So, be careful with the food. It’s delicious, but you have to get used to it because it’s spicy..if a Mexican tells you something is not spicy, DON’T BELIEVE IT! Try it first and then proceed.

3 things a traveller should do in Mexico
  • Drink tequila.
  • Go to little market places to shop and eat for very very good prices.
  • Party with Mexican people at Centro Histórico (historic center). Again: fiesta, fiesta, fiesta!

3 things a traveller should not do in city
  • Do not stay at your hotel because “everything is dangerous”.
  • Don't stop yourself from trying the local food, because “its so spicy”.
  • Do not go to fancy restaurants. I mean it, the people that lives here know that the best food is the one you find on the street (but first ask someone who is from the city, don’t choose randomly).

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