Ya estoy en Mexico!

Question

Hi, I'm in Mexico City for a few days on vacation, and thought I would stop in to say hi and pass on my experience from yesterday. We got to the hotel around 5 and I wanted to go to the Gandhi bookstore to pick up tickets from Ticketmaster. I had bought them online and needed to go to will call with my credit card to pick them up. We got on the subway and it was jam packed, you could barely breathe! We got off a few stops later and my wallet was missing from my purse! We went back to the hotel and it wasn't there, so I am forced to conclude it was taken while on the subway. This is not to say that I think Mexico is dangerous, it could have very easily have happened in Phoenix, but I do think I'll avoid the subway at rush hour in the future! When I got to the bookstore we were supposed to show my credit card to pick up the tickets. The good news is, I was able to explain to the man that I had lost my credit card and he was able to explain to me that I needed to call ticketmaster. AND, I was also able to talk to the woman on the phone. She was super patient with me as I gave her a new credit card number one number at a time and very helpful. So, I was very happy to have been able to talk to the man at the store and also the woman on the phone, definitely made me feel a lot better! I wanted to thank everyone here who have been so instrumental in helping me learn, and now I'm off to enjoy the city!

• A big challenge for your first day in MC. Good job. - Leatha Jun 16, 2011
• I am so happy for you. I will be leaving for the Yucatan Sunday and can hardly wait to be immersed in Spanish!!! - Nicole-B Jun 17, 2011

Answer 1

NickDan is absolutely right.

Stay off the metro (subway), stay off the peseras (small boxey buses driven by nacos), take only taxi de sitio (not ones hailed from the street), and don't dress like the typical sloppy tourist. Don't carry credit cards unless you have a definite plan to buy something - cash would be better, but not a large amount. Don't bother reporting the crime to the police (many times the cops & crooks work together). Don't go wandering around at night.

Mexico City can be a wonderful place as long as you know your enviroment and take the proper precautions. Enjoy!

• Excellent advice! - NickDan Jun 16, 2011
• "don't bother reporting the crime to the police" really??? Is it that bad over there? How would she go on getting insurance payouts etc, if she hasnt got a reported crime number? - billygoat Jun 17, 2011
• Omg! me asustaste hasta a mí... y eso que vivo en México!!! LOL - fjfuentesh Jun 17, 2011
• Billygoat, really. What insurance? - JulianChivi Jun 17, 2011
• Tocayo ¿a poco no te han secuestrado todavía? A mí sí, hasta en Polanco. En cuál colonia vives? - JulianChivi Jun 17, 2011
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Answer 2

Watch yourself in Mexico City. Pickpockets (especially on subways) are very common. Given that you stand out as a foreigner only makes it worse. Never leave any valuables in plain sight, whether on your person or in your vehicle.

A city is a city, I don't care where in the world it is.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Thank you for sharing your negative of the day but also the positive! It´s so nice to speak the language and be understood and it´s even nicer when they let you set your own pace and show patience! Hope you continue to enjoy ¨la ciudad¨!

Answer 4

I don't know if this happens in Mexico, but Barcelona is famous for the "water pistol trick". I know someone who was a victim of it. The pickpocket has an accomplice with a water pistol containing some stuff that looks like what comes out the back end of a bird. The accomplice squirts your back or shoulder. The thief (usually a pair of them) "helpfully" hand you a hankerchief, and you can guess what happens while you're distractedly wiping yourself off.

• I've never heard of this. But there is always a first time. Thanks for sharing! - NickDan Jun 16, 2011
• Believe it or not I had a blind pigeon sit on my foot, A guy stole my bag while I was looking at the bird, I wondered if it might be a tame one. - MaryMcc Jun 17, 2011

Answer 5

Wow, theresa! I hate to hear about the problem, but I'm glad you were able to report the loss and replace the card. Stay safe!

Answer 6

My girlfriend is from Mexico City!

Fun place, lots of shopping to do eh?

Just watch for the chilangas, jaja!

Answer 7

Theresa, good for you for maintaining a positive attitude! Hope you have a great time for the rest of your stay--it's a fascinating city.

Answer 8

That's a shame this happened on the first day of your holidays but it sounds like you dealt with it all really well. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Mexico City!

Answer 9

Sorry to hear you lost your wallet, I lost mine on La Ramblas once,. Well done on communicating so well in Spanish. Enjoy the rest of your stay.

Answer 10

Carry it in your front pocket. You will know if someone trying to get it.

Answer 11

I'm glad this experience turned out well for you. I hope you enjoy your vacation!

Answer 12

This can happen in any crowded situation anywhere - I'm sorry, and good on you for rising to the occasion. In the markets or subways you can fall prey not only to pickpockets but to "los cirujanos" - they use sharp knives or razors to cut your backpack or even pocket to access your wallet! Nacos y mocos. When you go to a taxi stand to hire a taxi you can arrange to have the driver not only drop you off but pick you up at a pre-arranged time as well. They'll give you a card with their cell phone on it as well so you can call them in advance to be picked up. I found that most of the taxi drivers in el DF spoke exceptionally clear Spanish, and were friendly and talkative. Enjoy the rest of your stay! And, may I suggest a trip to Xoxomilco? Spend a few hours on the 15th century canals, buy lunch and a few beers, fend off the mariachis, and disfrutate una tarde muy bonita en el medio de un día caluroso! If you like museums, the Museo de Dolores Olmego is one of the finest in el distrito, una gema escondida.

Answer 13

Well done theresa!!!! Its a great feeling when you actually use some of the stuff you have been learning about for so long isnt it

Sorry to hear about your wallet. You need to read my (and some other peoples) comments on Dogwoods thread about travel tips. Carrying a wallet is a no-no in my book - especially on crowded subway.

Sounds like you are a really pragmatic person and just got on with it anyway - well done to you!

Answer 14

Muchas felicidades, theresa. Qué pena que te hayan robado tu tarjeta de crédito.

Te recomiendo tomar el Turibús. Si vas al centro (downtown), te recomiendo:

En la Alameda: El museo Franz Meyer, el Palacio de Bellas Artes y la terraza de la cafetería que está en el piso 8o. del edificio Sears, enfrente de la Alameda (bonita vista de la Alameda), en la Avenida Juárez, junto a la librería Gandhi. El mirador de la Torre Latinoamericana y el Sanborn's de la Casa de los Azulejos. (un día o dos)

En el Zócalo (o Plaza de la Constitución): los murales de Diego Rivera en el Palacio Nacional, el Museo del Templo Mayor, el Museo de San Ildefonso y el Museo José Luis Cuevas y la terraza del Hotel Majestic (bonita vista del Zócalo). (Un día o dos).

No dejes de visitar las pirámides de Teotihuacan. It is a must.

Saludos y disfruta tu estancia en la ciudad de México.

Answer 15

After my experience in Barcelona I always carry cash in several different places so if I loose my purse I can still get home.