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Here are my 2 cents. Chicago and Toronto are great cities, no doubt. Mexico City is great too but the place gets a bad rap because its in a third world nation. The smog, altitude and crime would drive away tourist. The perception is that there are a lot of kidnappings, the water is dirty, and just seems like a very dangerous place to visit and live in.
And it can be. There are a lot of poor people living in slums, barrios. The police can be corrupt. But who could blame them. They are way underpaid compared to American police officers. But perception isn't always the reality. Mexico City isn't any different from say Buenos Aires, Santiago, Chile, or Chicago and Detroit.
My grandparents live in Mexico City, so I've been to DF numerous times. Yes, Mexico City certainly has its problems but Chicago is a dump, crime ridden city too. Mexico City is an energetic, flamboyant metropolis with some amazing neighborhoods such as Chapultepec Park, Polanco, Interlomas, Roma, Condesa, San Angel, Coyoacan, Reforma.
I love the open street markets (or Tianquis) that happen pretty much in every neighborhood. You can get any kind of fruit, food, or clothing. I love it when street performers do their acts inside a Mexico City subway train or bus. The Zocalo, the main public square, is the center of activity for protest, major concerts, presidential and religious events, etc...
Chicago is home to the skyscraper, but Mexico City preserves its history quite well. From the Centro Historico, where most of the 5-10 story buildings, date back to the colonial era to the 500 year old Cathedral Metropolitana, built by the Spaniards on top of the great Aztec temple.
Mexico City is also the mecca for museums, theaters, and other cultural and intellectual attractions -- Museo de Anthropologia, Museo de Frida Kahlo, Bellas Artes, UNAM...
As for as diversity go, Mexico City does have an ethnic population. It isn't just a bunch of Mexicans. With being the capital of Mexico, there are over 200 embassies, most of them on Reforma Ave. Most of those diplomats and representatives have raised their children in Mexico. It's common to see Mexicans of Asian, European and American descent anywhere in the city. But we see much of that diversity in the downtown core, in Condesa, Roma, and Insurgentes, and in the suburbs. There is a strong Jew population in DF. ( Jewish neighborhoods of Mexico City - YouTube )
The gastronomy scene is quite good. Obviously, ethnic food (Chinese, Italian, Japanese...) taste better in San Francisco, New York, LA,, but Mexico City's restaurant scene is well regard as the best of Latin America. Still ethnic restaurants are aplenty.
They must really have good drugs out there in California. There is no way that Chicago is a more dangerous city than Mexico City. Most folks in Mexico City don't even bother report crime because they don't trust the cops. The drug cartels pretty much control the police department. I read somwhere that only 1 out of 10 people report crimes to the police. Hell, the cartels have sent cops to do hits dressed in uniform(lol).
If you compare the whole region of Mexico City (19 million) to Chicago proper it MAY be safer statistically. I'm 100% sure than you can find a large part of that region that's more dangerous than the city proper of Chicago. Come on, you have to be smarter than that.
Chicago and Toronto are great cities, no doubt...Chicago is a dump, crime ridden city...
Um...which one is it?
I could see an argument for either city. Mexico City is a huge, powerful metropolis with many amazing artifacts that date all the way back to the Aztecs, and the city also has some surprisingly progressive aspects like legalized gay marriage.
However, Chicago is no lightweight either. I think because it's in the Midwest, some people are dismissive about the cultural offerings of Chicago. It's home to many top museums, theaters, and restaurants. There are many areas where these two can compete. I think Mexico City wins in history, but Chicago ftw in education/universities.
Anyone who doesn't vote for Mexico City has never been there. It's denser, more bustling, and more vibrant than either Chicago or Toronto by a lot. Of course, it has a lot of negatives in comparison to those cities as well - but if the question is on vibrancy, urbanoty, public transit, etc. - it's not even close.
vibrancy-Chicago/Mexico city/ Toronto
culture-Mexico city/ Chicago/ Toronto
size- Mexico City/ Chicago/ Toronto
amenities- Chicago/ Mexico city/ Toronto
scenery-Toronto/ Mexico city/ Chicago
international influence-Chicago/Mexico City/Toronto
food-Chicago/ Mexico city/ Toronto
more urban-Mexico City/Chicago/Toronto
history-Mexico City/Chicago/Toronto
architecture-Chicago/Mexico city/ Toronto
public transit-Toronto/ Chicago/Mexico City
Also, Mexico City has a great subway system with nearly 4 million daily riders. It has better public transit than both Toronto and Chicago.
They must really have good drugs out there in California. There is no way that Chicago is a more dangerous city than Mexico City. Most folks in Mexico City don't even bother report crime because they don't trust the cops. The drug cartels pretty much control the police department. I read somwhere that only 1 out of 10 people report crimes to the police. Hell, the cartels have sent cops to do hits dressed in uniform(lol).
If you compare the whole region of Mexico City (19 million) to Chicago proper it MAY be safer statistically. I'm 100% sure than you can find a large part of that region that's more dangerous than the city proper of Chicago. Come on, you have to be smarter than that.
If you can combat this with something other than "dude, no one reports murders in Mexico City" I'll revise my ranking. The truth is, DF has largely been spared from the Mexican drug wars. Not completely, but it isnt Sinaloa either. As such, the murder rate is less than half that of Chicago's.
[quote=thefallensrvnge;26666782]Um...which one is it?
I mean Chicago isn't paradise either despite the fact that it is in the USA. Great city but it faces many challenges regarding crime and poverty like Mexico City.
I'm not saying Mexico City is better than Chicago, in fact on the contrary. Chicago has a lot going for it. I'm saying people shouldn't dismiss Mexico City because it lies in a third world country.
Also, Mexico City has a great subway system with nearly 4 million daily riders. It has better public transit than both Toronto and Chicago.
you cant change someone's opinion to better suit your own..I travelled to the city twice in three years, so I can say that its decent but certainly not were it should be for an area of 21 million(in my opinion).
They must really have good drugs out there in California. There is no way that Chicago is a more dangerous city than Mexico City. Most folks in Mexico City don't even bother report crime because they don't trust the cops. The drug cartels pretty much control the police department. I read somwhere that only 1 out of 10 people report crimes to the police. Hell, the cartels have sent cops to do hits dressed in uniform(lol).
If you compare the whole region of Mexico City (19 million) to Chicago proper it MAY be safer statistically. I'm 100% sure than you can find a large part of that region that's more dangerous than the city proper of Chicago. Come on, you have to be smarter than that.
Your taking facts from mostly around border towns and applying it to the whole. Mexico City hasn't seen much of that. I read a report not to long ago where some Mexico City citizens even believed that the whole war on drugs thing was probably made up by the government to pocket the money because they saw so little of the action. It's like if Mexicans took the Colorado shooting and all the bomb threats that happen and said that Chicago is unsafe because of it.
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.I travelled to the city twice in three years, so I can say that its decent but certainly not were it should be for an area of 21 million(in my opinion).
