Off to Mexico City

This winter I had booked a mini winter break to Mexico City using my Aeroplan miles. When I checked it said 25,000 miles, but when I waited to the next billing cycle on my credit card and went to book they changed it to 33,000 miles.

I'd last been to the western Yucatan region of Mexico in 2016 to see the Mayan sites on the Ruta Puuc around Merida (see blog http://v2.travelark.org/travel-blog/londone7/33)

For my 830am flight I had to take a cab to the airport station for $16. On boarding immigration escorted two individuals onto the plane back to Mexico. Who knows what they had gone thru to get here though they were illegal.

On take off there was cloud the entire time. I had sat on the left hoping for a view of Toronto and Niagara as I had done on clear days. The back where I normally sit was empty so I had the row to myself.

On descent the clouds cleared and I had good views of Mexico City. Sitting on the left is best as this is the flight path over Chapultepec park and the downtown sights.

I managed to get the perfect shot spanning down Paseo Reforma. I also took a short video of the descent.

Youtube vid - Landing Mexico City - https://youtu.be/s2_pJyCcZQg

Local time was one hour behind Toronto. After clearing immigration I tried to find my way to the metro station. The terminal is very long and the station is after you exit at one end.

Metro fare is 5P (.30 cents) and luckily I had coins left over from my last trip. I didnt realize but I boarded the train going the wrong way so had to switch and come back.

The route from the airport to the centre involved me changing twice. Unfortunately the transfer stations are far apart so not advisable if you have a lot of luggage. I only had one hand luggage for my travels.

Getting to the centre I first wanted to drop my bag and freshen up. The hotel was relatively easy to find in a market area just north east of the Zocalo.

The staff spoke little English and the room they gave me had no window. That would have been ok for a one night stay but not for five nights. A room a few doors away had been cleaned and had the door open. I asked if I could have this room with the window.

As they didnt speak English there was some back and forth on google translate with the manager. They offered me a room on the first floor with window but I wanted a higher floor. They said it wasnt available so I took the first floor room.