Travel Mexico Vacations

Imagine the king’s surprise at learning that "one of the plazas is twice the size of that of Salamanca," and "the principal pyramid is taller than the tower of the cathedral at Seville," or that the stone and wood craftsmanship that adorned these monuments "could nowhere be bettered." The conquistadors were amazed at what they found, though just a short time later they would destroy it to make way for the Spanish reign that followed.

Nowhere is Mexico’s explosive past better depicted than at its central plaza, the Zocalo. Surrounded by some of the finest buildings of the colonial era, lie the remnants of one of the Aztecs’ principal monuments, the Templo Mayor. Its mysterious shapes stand as a haunting tribute to the pre-Hispanic civilization that flourished here long ago.

Officially known as the Federal District "Distrito Federal", the country’s capital ranks as the world’s second-largest city, after Tokyo, with nearly 19 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area.

For decades, the federal government was concentrated in the old quarter, here called the Historic Center (Centro Historico). The official headquarters of the president, the Palacio Nacional, is still there, but the various ministries are now scattered all over the city.

The poshest residential areas lie to the west, in an area called Las Lomas (The Heights), and to the south, in San Angel and Coyoacan, once independent towns and still delightfully colonial in style. Other interesting neighborhoods, or colonias, are Condesa, Mexico City’s answer to SoHo, and Roma.

Most major cities grapple with urban problems–a city this size, all the more so. Notorious levels of air pollution (especially during the winter months), crime, traffic congestion, slums, beggars, overpopulation, and lack of sanitation plague the city. To curb pollution levels, a one-day-without-a-car program is in place.

The weather is usually mild. Cold snaps are short lived, so few homes have central heating. Summer is the rainy season, but showers rarely last more than an hour and usually occur in the late afternoons or evenings. Spring and fall are warm, but not hot. Air-conditioning is rare.

Elevation is important. At 7,350 feet the air is much thinner and takes getting used to. One drink packs the wallop of two. It’s also best to eat light when first arriving