Given the ready availability of cheap travel optionsto Mexico City, including cheap airplane tickets, cheapdeals, discounthotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages, it isa must see destination for people who enjoy big city vibes and delicious food,massive markets, and many daily cultural events.
Mexico City started as home to an ancient empire and grewinto a massive, modern metropolis. Hometo over 20 people, it is one of the worlds biggest cities.
With its lavish wealth and devastating poverty, there is alot to discover in Mexicos sprawling capital, according to Catherine Shoichet:
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MexicoCity is a great place to set quirky records. This city boasts the record for the most people kissing simultaneously(39,879), the most people dancing to Michael Jacksons Thriller at the sametime (13,597) and the worlds biggest enchilada (weighing almost 1.5 tons),according to Guinness World Records.
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Gays andlesbians are welcome in Mexico City. Same sex marriage is legal here as is adoption by same sex couples. This city has marketed itself as idealdestination for gay tourists.
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Thepollution problem, due in part to the city being located in a valley betweenmountains and the large number of cars traveling its streets, is improving. Government programs that encourage bikeriding and limit the number of days that motorists can drive are helping. An innovative solution was introduced lastyear when a hospital tower was covered with a faade designed to break downpollutants when the sun hits it. This facadeis said to neutralize the effects of 1,000 cars daily.
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MexicoCity was built on a lake. The cityspredecessor was built by the Aztecs and started out on an island, later to be expandedover reclaimed parts of water. Afterwinning the battle for control of the area in 1521 Spaniards destroyed the cityand built Mexico City on top of its ruins. Canals and roads from the Aztec city were used as a basis for MexicoCity streets.
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Beingsituated on top of a dried out bed of a large lake has proven not to be thebest foundation for building construction. The city is sinking as can be evidenced by looking at some of MexicoCitys most iconic structures. One needsonly to look at the sloped floor and a swinging pendulum inside theMetropolitan Cathedral to see that the building is decidedly tilted. The government estimates that the city issinking at a rate of four inches per year. A recent report estimated that Mexico City has sunk almost 33 feet overthe past 60 years.
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One ofthe worlds richest people (Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim) lives in MexicoCity. Slim has an estimated net worth inexcess of $71 billion, second only to Bill Gates.
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MexicoCity is safer than many other parts of the country. While street assaults and kidnapping continueto be of concern for residents and visitors, the citys homicide rate is on parwith other major metropolises around the world.
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Touristson the prowl for good food will be happy to discover that Mexico City has farmore to offer than just tacos and tequila. This citys culinary scene includes fancy restaurants, often found inposh hotels. Many top chefs say thatthey come to Mexico City for inspiration. Market stalls and street stands are known to offer some of the citysmost delicious food.
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Thecitys subway is fast, cheap, and fascinating. Its metro is the most popular way to get around for the masses. Subway rides cost about 40 cents. For many people stations on the citys 12subway lines are destinations given that many offer shops, libraries, artexhibits, and computer labs. Apedestrian tunnel between two subway stations in the center of the city is hometo over 40 bookstores.
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A shortsubway ride in Mexico City can take people to where they feel like they havestepped back in time. Neighborhoods suchas San Angel and Coyoacan have cobblestone streets, beautiful buildings, andquaint cafes where you can get away from loud noise and concrete.
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