Mexico City #1

This picture has nothing to do with this blog
post. It is more of a tribute to my previous
blogs, both of which dealt primarily with
food. These are eggs with chilaquiles and beans.
They're amazingly delicious. One time I ate it
with tortillas and only later realized how
hilariously redundant that was.

Mexico City is a crazy, hustling, bustling place. There are SO MANY people, SO MANY cars, and the cars all drive really, really fast.  It's kinda freaky because 1) A lot of the streets are level with the sidewalk, so you (read: Emma H. Ashley-Roth) often unknowingly step into the street before you notice the five cars in a row barreling down in your direction determined to stop for NOTHING, not even the unassuming gringa who should probably be paying better attention. 2) Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way here. Not even when they have the green light. On more than one occasion I have stood on a corner, waiting to cross while I watch the cars go by and my "walk" sign turn into a "stop" sign. 3) Stop lights are almost irrelevant. I remember the first time I visited Mexico 14 years ago and learned that "red lights are treated like stop signs in this country," but in this city they they aren't even given that much respect. People seem to just drive wherever they please unless there's a cop present directing traffic. 4) There are so many cars that during rush hour, a cop will be stationed at every busy intersection, deeming the stoplights even more irrelevant than usual. This is the case because rush hour traffic gets so backed up that if there wasn't someone ensuring intersections didn't get blocked, they would probably be clogged for hours at a time.

Ok sure, I've only been here for four full days, and yes, I'm feeling especially prone to hyperbole, but this traffic is like nothing I have ever seen. Hayley, who has been living here for a little over two years, observed how this phenomena is all the stranger considering "Mexicans in general are extremely patient people- they can stand in a line for hours without it bothering them at all, but put them behind the wheel of a car..."  In light of all this, my street-crossing strategy has been to stand next to people on the opposite side of oncoming traffic. So far no injuries or fatalities have been endured by those I use as human shields, but they give me a sense of safety and comfort, not unlike a seat-belt. You very sincerely hope it never has to serve its full purpose, but you wear it for the feeling of (sometimes false) security that it gives you.

Other than that terrifying element of the city, things have been great so far! This is a huge city with so much to offer. Its vastness and density are quite terrifying, but it adds to the excitement and intrigue of the place.