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As the plane landed last July in Mexico City, I was incredibly
awe-stricken at its sheer magnitude. Looking through the small
oval window, all I could see for hundreds and hundreds of
kilometers around was an endless sea of buildings. Over the
course of my short stay, I got a glimpse of what lies inside
and in between some of these buildings: one of the most incredible
places I have ever visited with its old and rich history,
diverse cultures, stunning natural and contrasting beauty,
as well as people that are ever so passionate, genuine and
kind.
The depth of the poverty was certainly humbling. Large shanty
towns spanning across numerous street blocks, heavy pollution,
children putting on short circus-like shows in between green
lights, while others sold small toys and food, all for a couple
of cents from the millions of motorists driving to and from
work everyday. After handing a coin to a teenage boy for cleaning
our windshield, my friend explained that if the millions of
people that make up the informal sector in Mexico City did
not work on the streets, many would likely resort to crime
in order to survive.
One image that remains so vivid in my mind is walking with
my friend and her mother through the maze of narrow pathways
adjoining hundreds of garage-like spaces of an outdoor market
that sold beautiful native Mexican crafts, an array of silver
jewelry and multicolored tapestries. As I stopped to buy a
few bracelets, I noticed four little girls - the eldest maybe
nine - that were selling handpainted pottery. They were all
barefoot, laughing and dancing to music blasting from their
radio, completely oblivious of their surroundings. They made
us laugh because they looked so happy and care-free.
What fascinated me more than anything in Mexico - as in all
my travel experiences - was walking inside and in between
the buildings, learning about people, understanding how they
live, their intricacies, similarities and differences to others.
The smell of coffee in Coyoacan, the sounds of dogs barking
late at night, traffic jams that are not so much a nuisance
as a part of daily life, an artist's explanation of his impressionist-like
painting of a ballerina dancing freely, majestic and intricately
designed cathedrals, European-style buildings, as well as
standing on my friend's rooftop and just gazing out at the
city are just a few of the moments, conversations, encounters
and details that have formed a multicolored tapestry of memories
in my mind...making me incredibly excited at the thought of
venturing out to seeing and exploring more of the world. Carpe
diem.
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Travel Writers: 
Globe
Trekker:
