đ˛đ˝ CoyoacĂĄn CDMX and El Metro - 03.17.23
Some quick scribbles on a far too short visit to Mexico City, as I pack to head the the airport this morning. It was initially just a jump off point to Buenos Aires while I was working my way through Central Mexico. I had landed in CoyoacĂĄn because I had read it was an artsy neighborhood and it was all that and more.
I tooled around the neighborhood the first full day. Walking at Viveros de Coyoacån, a huge tree filled park. Checked out the food and shops⌠and post office. Walked by the Frida house that was sold out all days. Located the Metro. Lots of people watching and I was in no hurry to see it all because there is just too much and I will have to return.
Day 2⌠I wanted to check out downtown⌠lots of museums, parks, people, traffic⌠all the stuff that every downtown has. Itâs 10km from where Iâm staying and I just need to figure out how Iâm going to get there⌠and thatâs what this story is about⌠the Metro.
The Metro costs 5 pesos to ride whether itâs one stop or 15 stops. Very inexpensive⌠but later read itâs all very realative and pricey compared to the average wage. It certainly works for my budget and I dig public transport and more so if itâs a train.
So⌠thereâs a Metro Card you can buy and charge up⌠and you can use it on the bus system⌠I guess. I read that the busses here donât take cash. It looked to me as if they did but they donât dish out change. Iâm easily confused and just wanted a Metro Card to simplify my experience.
Some people like to collect souvenirs⌠I collect public transportation cards from various cities. And this city⌠the one they call CDMX⌠I will be thwarted from owning a Metro Card.
I was headed downtown and found my stop⌠and found the Metro Card Machine. There was a buzz of people, like all subways and it was already confusing. The machine wouldnât let me buy a card and there were flashing lights saying âno change!â Lots of people waiting to charge up their cards to I didnât mess around long⌠and gave up. Thereâs a couple of ticket windows and you can buy paper tickets. I asked, in my best Spanish, if I could get a card here? Lots of shakes of the head⌠âbut⌠but⌠where? There? Over there?â Again, donât hold up the line when people are on the move. I ducked out and regained my thoughts⌠âok⌠just there and back, thatâs all I need.â I went back to the window and bought two paper tickets and the ticket lady was polite and patient and I appreciated that and thanked her much.
Ticket in, through the turnstile, people all over the place, which way do I go?, find the platform, thereâs a train waiting⌠boy jumps on the train and boom! On my way!
Iâve jumped on many-a train and busses and ended up going the wrong way⌠no big deal. You get off and go the other way if needed and just say âyo soy nuevo aquĂâŚâ (I am new here). This works in many circumstances in life folks⌠believe me! I use it often.
Anybloop, Iâm on the train, standing because there are no seats, looking at my phone and making sure Iâm going in the correct direction. The car is a light peaceful vibration and Iâm relaxed now. Stop number one⌠âCoyoacĂĄnâ. âCool! Iâm headed in the right directionâŚâ Again, peaceful vibration⌠I look up⌠and thereâs no other blokes in this car. đ¤ Wha?!? Next stop⌠only nice ladies. Ok⌠somethingâs off⌠I quickly googled and yup, the Metro has âonly women and childrenâ cars⌠for all the reasons it should. I was quickly feeling very uncomfortable and jumped off at the next stop and then onto the âcoedâ cars. And yup, hereâs that subway, crowded, smelly dudes⌠the chaotic subway vibrationIâm used to.
I did catch the train back from downtown and itâs Friday, rush hour⌠the train was so fkg packed that I had to wait for the next train (only 3 minutes) to board. The next train was equally packed but we all jammed our asses in there. I have never been anywhere with so many human beings crammed in one spot. I mean⌠I have officially entered the local gene pool simply by osmosis because I we were pressed so tight. Thereâs 21 million people in CDMX metropolitan and I think half of those people were in that car! There is absolutely no way that youâre going to escape any of the variant strains of tuberculoses from the aspirations in that space. đł
Fk it⌠why fight it⌠I would breath and breath deeply⌠hoping i would breath in a bunch of conflicting pathogens that would cancel each other out. Also, Iâm so close to everyone here now⌠that I believe⌠in all central states of Mexico, we are now all legally married. My people đ
So⌠I did a bunch of stuff, some museums, blue tile house lunch, the giant zocalo⌠and just stuff. More to the story that Iâll share while on a ventilator back in the States⌠now I must boogie to the airport to find my way to another land that birds fly upside down in a place called the Southern Hemisphere.
Please forgive the multitude of typos and grammar mistakes⌠my editor had a flight to catch and needs to stop by the farmacia for tuberculosis medicine.
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