Favorite Mexican City

[LMvCP]

Which city do you love going to the most in Mexico?

[IncaEnclave]

Los Angeles

[LMvCP]

I love Mexico City. I love the culture, the food, the night life, the museums, etc. Its considered the cultural capital of the Americas. Thousands of years people have lived and populated that area. If you think about it, Mexico City is older than many of Europe's finest cities.

But it can be a hassle. Thats why i chose Guanajuato. Its a pretty big city. You have everything you need there. Its vibrant and you walk out and you are in a time capsule.

It truly is a gem

[LMvCP]

http://www.mexperience.com/inmexico/photos/8/guanajuato/2003_0129BV.JPG
http://www.mexperience.com/inmexico/photos/8/guanajuato/2003_0129AO.JPG

[Don Boppero 3000]

I been to 4 of the 7 cities noted above. But I really dig Guanajuato for the historical feel. I really need to experience Mexico City before I can be truly sure its my favorite. I hear my things about Mexico City positive and negative, but I want to experience it for myself. But for the moment its my favorite big city.

[PumaBear]

Important city:

Oaxaca,

It's great. They have renovated the old buildings extremely well. The entire centro is a Museum. Then, you have the still present indian culture (mixtecos & zapotecas), The ruins, Montealban overlookinf from afar and Mitla nearby, and the indian towns areound the city where you can find the most amazing artwork. Also, there is a young vibrant artist movemente around Oaxaca so that is also great. Ah, and then there is the food... The best Mole, of course....

Regarding towns or small cities, there is no question:

Sand Cristobal de las Casas. It is simply magic. You have to be there to understand.

[mejulian]

Hell yeah! I agree with all of the comments above, except for Mexico City, is an awful place to live in, a great one to visit though.

I'd add Taxco (which is not really a city), Zacatecas, Querétaro, Mérida, Cancún and Hermosillo, the latter is rather simple but is home of the most beautiful women in the country.

[Levante]

Guanajuato, Zacatecas, and for resort towns..................Puerto Vallarta.

[LMvCP]

Originally posted by mejulian
Hell yeah! I agree with all of the comments above, except for Mexico City, is an awful place to live in, a great one to visit though.

I wouldnt say awful. If you wanted to too, you could say that about any city. I have aunts and uncles that reside in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Puerto Escondido.. Those places are great to 99% of the people who go there, because its a get away. But my relatives see it as the norm. ANd its those norms that usually make a city boring or dangerous or noncomforting. Its the same for Mexico City.

The reason I said its a hassle because I lived there and there are some things you could definitely do with out (traffic, crime, laziness). I didnt live there for a long time, but long enough to realize it was a hassle. But my dad lived there for many years and a have a lot of direct family who still live there.. And every time i visit, i dont think of it as vacation.

But Mexico City has everything. Its modern. Its colonial. Its ancient. There's culture. There's pop culture. And like any other city, it too has its problems pollution, crime, drugs, traffic, etc. I study in Houston, and right now they are restoring Houston. A lot of it. And there are some old buildings, and you here people say, "we have to keep these buildings, they are part of Houston's History." These buildings are like 60 years old. Thats history?? Mexico City can beat just about every city in the world as far as culture is concerned, and can compete with those other great magnificant ancient cities.

I'd add Taxco (which is not really a city), Zacatecas, Querétaro, Mérida, Cancún and Hermosillo, the latter is rather simple but is home of the most beautiful women in the country.

Merida is real nice. good choice.

Id add Tampico. Tampico is truly a gem. So much investing has been going on there it has grown a lot. It also has just about everything you need.

[Thomas Flannigan]

I was going to start this thread so I am glad rdl beat me to it. I think Xalapa is the best. There are few tourists and very little crime. It has a lovely location and is full of university students. The colonial center is very charming, and the climate is agreeable. The monthly newslatter of Lonely Planet had an article 2 months ago: Ten reasona Xalapa is the best city in Mexico.
I used to say Morelia but that is now number 2. Guanajuato is absolutely fantastic. It is hard to find fault. The best chilaquilles I ever had were in a student care near the Diego Rivers Museum. The Boatnic Garden outside the city is amazing; one of the best Japanese gardens outside of Japan.
I read somehere that Romancing the Stone was filmed in veracruz because the medieval quarter is almost as good as Cartagena's and the security situation much better.
Mexico City is a great place as rdl said, with the old and the new

[LMvCP]

Originally posted by Thomas Flannigan
I was going to start this thread so I am glad rdl beat me to it. I think Xalapa is the best. There are few tourists and very little crime. It has a lovely location and is full of university students. The colonial center is very charming, and the climate is agreeable. The monthly newslatter of Lonely Planet had an article 2 months ago: Ten reasona Xalapa is the best city in Mexico.

Veracruz is just a great state. I wouldnt say Veracruz is one of my favorite cities but veracruz certainly is one of my favorite states. Xalapa is a nice place. Not going to lie, havent spent a lot of time there, but the few I have liked a lot. On of my friends has a nice little ranch outside Jalapa.

I am going to Veracruz (the state) for a day during the day of the dead festival (which is in a week). I am going with some buddies. We will go to Tempoal and Tantoyuca.

I used to say Morelia but that is now number 2.

Im surprised you didnt say Morelia. You use to say it was the best and the Athens of the Western World

Guanajuato is absolutely fantastic. It is hard to find fault. The best chilaquilles I ever had were in a student care near the Diego Rivers Museum. The Boatnic Garden outside the city is amazing; one of the best Japanese gardens outside of Japan.



I met a tourst who spoke spanish real well. I asked what he thought of it. He said this to me in perfect Spanish, Gto is truly a tragedy. Its yours then, its taken.

He meant that because you are there then you have to leave and it makes an impression the first time you go there.

I read somehere that Romancing the Stone was filmed in veracruz because the medieval quarter is almost as good as Cartagena's and the security situation much better.

I have heard that as well. Its been a long time since I have seen that movie, but I do remember Alfonso Arau with his little donkey

[mejulian]

Mexico City has indeed beautiful things, but unfortunately they are not part of the every-day life. Centro Histórico, for instance, is a magical place (if you dismiss the sellers on the streets and the people living in the "zocalo"), but you don't go there quite often.

That is why I said that is awful for living. I cannot go anywhere in less than 25min, crime is taking over the city, vandals will charge you for parking on the street, etc. Those are the things I face every day when I go to work, and they define the quality of life for me. I have a nice living at home, but when I go outside it's a different world.

Edit: This is a great forum btw. Lots of nice polemic topics!

[LMvCP]

Like Aristotle said, desires are infinite.

when people are asked if money was not a problem, would you work or go on vacation.

Most people say vacation. A vacation is just a a desire. But if you were to choose vacation over productivity, you are just choosing desire and peoples desires are infinite so you will never be satisfied.

THe point is, Mexico City is a daily routine. And daily routines get boring but its what keeps you going. People at times need to break thier routines. But most people think that breaking thier routines is a 3 month planned event (like a vacation).

a stroll by Polanco or Chapultepec or Santa Fe. Changing some habits is all it takes. It doest have to be a vacation.

[mejulian]

It is not about Mexico City being boring, is about it being dangerous.

[Various Styles]

I would have to say that my favroite Mexico City bar none is Guadalajara. Home of Chivas, some damn fine looking chicks and the colonial towns especially los Altos de Jalisco for even better looking girls..

[Thomas Flannigan]

The only two cities I could live in in Mexico are Mexico and Guadalajara. But visiting as a tourist is altogether different. It is true I raved about Morelia. It is hard to top.
Taxco is lovely but the traffic is awful. This is something Guanajuato has over the competition. The viaducts under the city are now used as roadways so traffic at street level is not so bad.
San Miguel de Allende is another beauty, but here I think that the large number of norteno retirees has changed the character of the place a bit. Still a nice place but I think the locals are bit put out with all the people who don't bother to learn Spanish.
Puebla is another gem. They have finally finished the rehab after the terrible earthquake damage and it is very pretty.
My wife wants us to go to Oaxaca. I was there in 1983 and loved it. Perhaps the best zocalo in Mexico. I also want to go to San Cristobol de los Casas. Backpackers rave about this town.
I have not been to Los Altos de Jalisco but I have heard great things about it. Tlaquepeque, near Guadalajara, is very pretty and not too touristed....yet.
I was disappointed in Patcuaro. Sure it is nice and all but not worth much time.

[Aguilas Del America]

Originally posted by Various Styles
I would have to say that my favroite Mexico City bar none is Guadalajara. Home of Chivas, some damn fine looking chicks and the colonial towns especially los Altos de Jalisco for even better looking girls..

Ever been to Monterrey? thats chick heaven dude

[El CHarro_NEgro....]

BTW. Mexico City is the City with most museums in the world, and the third speaking of movie's theaters (behing NY and London).

[mejulian]

Originally posted by El CHarro_NEgro....
BTW. Mexico City is the City with most museums in the world, and the third speaking of movie's theaters (behing NT and London).
What's NT? AFAIK St. Petersburg is the city with most musuems. Well, at least was like that a few years ago.

[sidspaceman]

I think Nt mean NY for New York.