Which North American city is more underrated/under-the-radar? Mexico City versus Toronto
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There are actually a lot of Argentine immigrants in DF because the city is so similar to BA, but with better economic opportunities.
There's actually a joke: "What do you call a Porteño in DF?" The answer is "Waiter! Waiter!"
Another reason why I prefer DF to BA is that the Defeños are not arrogant about their language. When I was in BA, I remember being mocked for pronouncing ll as y and not as je. The Porteños would also impatiently listen to my Spanish, all the while refusing to speak English (probably because they couldn't). Some people just won't talk to you unless you speak in their accent, which could be difficult for a foreigner. Whereas the Defeños were helpful, patient, and eager to engage with me in small talk in restaurants and bars. My Spanish improved tremendously on that trip.
And here are some of my own pictures from from my trip.
Last edited by Dawn.Davenport; 09-09-2015 at 02:54 PM..
I completely disagree with both of you. It's really like neither, and I doubt either of you are familiar with DF beyond Google Steetview.
I have actually lived in DF! You are simply talking complete nonsense. DF is new. It's a modern city of the automobile age. You think it looks like Paris? Where in Paris are the massive double-decker freeways, or the gigantic shopping malls, or the huge office parks?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawn.Davenport
The central parts of the DF feel more like Paris with tropical plants or a clean version of Buenos Aires--really nothing like anything in the US.
DF looks absolutely nothing like Paris or BA. I suspect you haven't visited DF, because it would take 30 seconds in that city to be confident your statement is untrue.
And "tropical plants"? LOL! DF is high up in the mountains, with an alpine altitude. It's characterized by pine trees, not "tropical plants". Are you getting DF mixed up with Cancun or something? DF doesn't even get particularly warm. It's warmer in Minnesota for one-third of the year.
DF was a relatively small city prior to 1970. It boomed faster than any other city in world history during the 1970's, and was the biggest city on earth by 1980. So DF is basically a product of the 1970's, and is characterized by boxy buildings, freeways, shopping malls and the like, but in a dense environment. Paris would be almost a polar opposite of DF.
Also, some of the previously posted pics are nonsense. They're showing a few blocks in Roma and Condesa, and a few blocks around the center. 99% of DF looks nothing like that. Even those neighborhoods don't look like that; it's obvious cherry-picking.
I have actually lived in DF! You are simply talking complete nonsense. DF is new. It's a modern city of the automobile age. You think it looks like Paris? Where in Paris are the massive double-decker freeways, or the gigantic shopping malls, or the huge office parks?
DF looks absolutely nothing like Paris or BA. I suspect you haven't visited DF, because it would take 30 seconds in that city to be confident your statement is untrue.
And "tropical plants"? LOL! DF is high up in the mountains, with an alpine altitude. It's characterized by pine trees, not "tropical plants". Are you getting DF mixed up with Cancun or something? DF doesn't even get particularly warm. It's warmer in Minnesota for one-third of the year.
DF was a relatively small city prior to 1970. It boomed faster than any other city in world history during the 1970's, and was the biggest city on earth by 1980. So DF is basically a product of the 1970's, and is characterized by boxy buildings, freeways, shopping malls and the like, but in a dense environment. Paris would be almost a polar opposite of DF.
Also, some of the previously posted pics are nonsense. They're showing a few blocks in Roma and Condesa, and a few blocks around the center. 99% of DF looks nothing like that. Even those neighborhoods don't look like that; it's obvious cherry-picking.
None of this makes sense.
DF was specifically designed to look like Paris both in terms of architecture and layout. Up unitl the Revolution, the country was run by francophiles, who modeled their capital after Paris. This is why DF looks different from other Mexican cities, which are more inspired by Spanish architecture.
Both DF and Paris have wealthy, dense urban cores, and both cities sprawl out to slummy suburbs that vary in density. No American city is like this. While Paris's slums are not as poor as DF's, suburban Paris is amoung the poorest places in all of Europe. The only shopping mall I remember seeing in DF was in Zona Rosa, and it was far more modest in size than the suburban shopping malls most Americans are familiar with. It doesn't even have a parking lot. And, yes, Paris has freeways and shopping malls too.
Yes, DF did grow extensively in the 70's, but in 1960, DF's population was 4.5 million--that's hardly small. The urban core stretches for miles. It takes two miles to walk across Colonia Roma alone. And, yes, my photos are completely typical of Roma; anyone who has been there would know. Just google "Colonia Roma," and you'll see. And while the rest of the city does not look like Roma and Condesa, I explained that much in my earlier post.
Saying that DF is cooler than Minnneapolis in summer does not mean that DF is cold. It rarely drops below 50 degrees, and it's often above 80 and humid during the wet season. That climate supports tropical plants. Just look at the tropical plants in the pictures I posted above. Actually, the plants are a similarity between DF and LA. I love the purple jacaronda flowers that that bloom across DF, LA, and BA in the spring. I didn't recall seeing any pine trees in DF, and even if the city were covered in pines, that wouldn't mean anything given that the flora of Central Florida is a mix of tropical plants and, yes, lots and lots of pines. And while it's true that DF is over 7,000 feet above sea-level, the plant life there is nothing like Lake Tahoe or Aspen--you'll have to travel just outside the city for that.
Last edited by Dawn.Davenport; 09-09-2015 at 05:17 PM..
Well, in large parts, yes, but not everywhere. DF is a mixture of two worlds. In the wealthy, central parts, it looks like a first world city at times. Clean streets, great mixture of old and new architecture, and 7-11s on every corner.
However, if you go away from the city center, you do see a lot of blight. There are legitimate slums in Mexico City!
I find Mexico City is very under rated. I love MC.
That said part of the reason it is so under rated by North Americans is that most in NA don't view it as being in NA.
Most view it as Central or Latin America both culturally, politically and economically. I think it's kind of the way people in Europe view Russia.............technically part of Europe but people don't really view it that way. The difference is that Mexico is generally very well liked by NA while everyone seems to hate Russia.
Think of it as Egypt............technically part of Africa but people view it as a Middle East country.
Many Middle East countries are also in Africa.. Middle East isn't a continent. And Russia is in 2 continents.
I don't know anyone who doesn't think of Mexico as North American. I mean, I live in California, it is right below us.. Obviously it has a lot in common with Latin America though.
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