Viking64
28 Jan 2005, 02:02 AM
I have read the thread on people coming down, and I notice a lot of people are concerned about safety, not just in the stadium, but in Mexico City. That's a good thing because you have to be careful. Here is what I tell my friends when they come down. It's a long list, but I would hate to have something happen to you.
1. Leave your personal ATM card at home, unless you have zero alternative. Use a regular credit card that is protected in case of fraud or theft, and use it to withdraw money in small amounts at a time.
2. Use ATM's that are inside malls, banks or hotels, and if something looks "weird" with the card slot of the machine, leave and go to another. Cover your hand when you put in your PIN.
3. There are four kinds of taxi's in Mexico City: Free wandering taxi's called "libres," Taxi's that operate from taxi stands, called "sitio taxi's" and tourist taxi's that are attached to hotels. The fourth kind are airport taxis. NEVER get in ANY taxi with only two doors. EVER. While libre taxi's are the cheapest, they are also the ones most often used to commit violent crimes so they are not recommended for foreigners. If you have no alternative but to take a libre taxi, take one with four doors. Sitio taxis (also called radiotaxis because some you can call for one to pick you up) cost more, but because the drivers all know each other at a given stand it would be rare to have a problem. If you call a radio taxi, they will tell you the number of the taxi sent to get you. Tourist taxi's are big cars, and are usually the "hotel taxi" that operates out of the hotel. They are the most expensive, but they are at the hotel for your use and are seldom a problem.
Official airport taxi's have yellow doors with black airplanes painted on them. You can pay dollars or pesos at the window inside the airport, they charge by the zone and give you a two-part ticket. They can only take you from the airport to somewhere. My personal recommendation is to take only that kind of taxi when leaving the airport. Don't let the driver scam you at the end with "you paid for you, not for your suitcase." Yea, right. Threaten to report them to their taxi company if they try it.
4. Most taxi's don't use their meters. Ask how much before you get in.
5. Leave copies of all travel documents and travel plans at home in a place where they can be found. If you have one, a certified copy of your birth record is good to keep in that pile. E tickets are a godsend.
6. Use a hotel room safe if it has one.
7. Jewelry, a watch or ring that looks expensive, whether it is or not, makes you a target.
8. The biggest annoyance on the metro is pickpockets and having to stand. If a scrum of youths jostling playfully start to head your way, try to get out.
9. Most people tip 10 percent.
10. Smile a lot and have fun. Mexico City is awesome, the people are friendly, a little formal, and loads of fun. Just be careful like you would in any city you don't know. Attitude is everything.
Remember this is what I tell MY friends. Anyone is welcome to disagree.
[end of security briefing]
Holy Week is one of THE BEST weeks to come to Mexico City.
getting a sitio or tourist taxi to take you from Zona Rosa to Azteca on that day will cost you, because unless it's really early it will be over an hour due to traffic. If you can convince a taxi to take you, it's a nice way to get there. If there are four of you, it's probably worth the money.
Metro then Light rail to Azteca is easy as pie, it will just be very crowded. Go good and early and you'll enjoy the grounds outside of Azteca, lots to see at the stands. Be sure you know where you are going, you pay when you get on.
Don't wear a big belt buckle to Azteca, they may demand you remove it.
US cellphones work if you sign up for an international plan before you leave. Local ones can be rented at the airport, I have no idea how much they cost.
Heaven forbid you need one, but ABC Hospital is the one to use.
Call home or send email telling your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/mom or whoever that you are fine, you just had too damn much good tequila. You would not believe how many people call in a panic because you have not called in 3 days and "it's just not like him to do that!"
Now get to the game.
1. Leave your personal ATM card at home, unless you have zero alternative. Use a regular credit card that is protected in case of fraud or theft, and use it to withdraw money in small amounts at a time.
2. Use ATM's that are inside malls, banks or hotels, and if something looks "weird" with the card slot of the machine, leave and go to another. Cover your hand when you put in your PIN.
3. There are four kinds of taxi's in Mexico City: Free wandering taxi's called "libres," Taxi's that operate from taxi stands, called "sitio taxi's" and tourist taxi's that are attached to hotels. The fourth kind are airport taxis. NEVER get in ANY taxi with only two doors. EVER. While libre taxi's are the cheapest, they are also the ones most often used to commit violent crimes so they are not recommended for foreigners. If you have no alternative but to take a libre taxi, take one with four doors. Sitio taxis (also called radiotaxis because some you can call for one to pick you up) cost more, but because the drivers all know each other at a given stand it would be rare to have a problem. If you call a radio taxi, they will tell you the number of the taxi sent to get you. Tourist taxi's are big cars, and are usually the "hotel taxi" that operates out of the hotel. They are the most expensive, but they are at the hotel for your use and are seldom a problem.
Official airport taxi's have yellow doors with black airplanes painted on them. You can pay dollars or pesos at the window inside the airport, they charge by the zone and give you a two-part ticket. They can only take you from the airport to somewhere. My personal recommendation is to take only that kind of taxi when leaving the airport. Don't let the driver scam you at the end with "you paid for you, not for your suitcase." Yea, right. Threaten to report them to their taxi company if they try it.
4. Most taxi's don't use their meters. Ask how much before you get in.
5. Leave copies of all travel documents and travel plans at home in a place where they can be found. If you have one, a certified copy of your birth record is good to keep in that pile. E tickets are a godsend.
6. Use a hotel room safe if it has one.
7. Jewelry, a watch or ring that looks expensive, whether it is or not, makes you a target.
8. The biggest annoyance on the metro is pickpockets and having to stand. If a scrum of youths jostling playfully start to head your way, try to get out.
9. Most people tip 10 percent.
10. Smile a lot and have fun. Mexico City is awesome, the people are friendly, a little formal, and loads of fun. Just be careful like you would in any city you don't know. Attitude is everything.
Remember this is what I tell MY friends. Anyone is welcome to disagree.
[end of security briefing]
Holy Week is one of THE BEST weeks to come to Mexico City.
getting a sitio or tourist taxi to take you from Zona Rosa to Azteca on that day will cost you, because unless it's really early it will be over an hour due to traffic. If you can convince a taxi to take you, it's a nice way to get there. If there are four of you, it's probably worth the money.
Metro then Light rail to Azteca is easy as pie, it will just be very crowded. Go good and early and you'll enjoy the grounds outside of Azteca, lots to see at the stands. Be sure you know where you are going, you pay when you get on.
Don't wear a big belt buckle to Azteca, they may demand you remove it.
US cellphones work if you sign up for an international plan before you leave. Local ones can be rented at the airport, I have no idea how much they cost.
Heaven forbid you need one, but ABC Hospital is the one to use.
Call home or send email telling your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/mom or whoever that you are fine, you just had too damn much good tequila. You would not believe how many people call in a panic because you have not called in 3 days and "it's just not like him to do that!"
Now get to the game.