What is the Tor Meeting?
A meeting of the core Tor team, developers, volunteers and invited guests in Mexico City, to discuss plans, milestones, deadlines, and other important matters.
Please read our documents:
Participant Guidelines (in English) and Directrices para Participantes (en Español)
Code of Conduct (in English) and Código de Conducta (en Español)
Week at a glance
- September 29: team meeting day (anyone not on teams will arrive today), group dinner in the evening (3rd floor, Embajadores room, 19:00). (if you need to be present at this day, you will have received an invitation from one of the teams)
- September 30: invite-only structured day
- October 1: invite-only structured day (midweek party in the evening)
- October 2: public day for open hacking with some special sessions to introduce new people to Tor
- October 3: public day for open hacking with some special sessions to introduce new people to Tor
Pre/Post Meeting Events
- September 27: Tor Meetup en Rancho Electronico (More information here)
- October 4: TORmenta - Encuentro feminista - (Oct. 4th, 4-8pm. Faculty of Engineering, UNAM. Video conference room, in the basement of the Advanced Engineering Center. This event will be held in Spanish.)
- October 4: Coloquio Academico Mecanismos de Privacidad y Anonimato en Redes - UNAM
- October 5: Coloquio Academico "Mecanismos de Privacidad y Anonimato en Redes" (October 4-5, 10am-6pm. Auditorio Sotero Prieto, Facultad de Ingeniería, in the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). This event will be held in Spanish and English.)
- October 3-5: Semana 2018 Nacional de Transparencia: Transcendencia e Impacto de la Transparencia y Rendicion de Cuentas / National Transparency Week: Corruption and Accountability (1200 October 3 - 1415 October 5 Auditorio Alonso Lujambio ubicado en Insurgentes Sur No. 3211 Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Delegación Coyoacán, C.P. 04530. This event will be held in Spanish (?).)
Check out our blog post Hack With Us in Mexico City / Hackeá con Tor en México
Schedule
Agenda for invitation-only days
Agenda for public days
Notes
Location
The event venue will be located in central Mexico City, just by the iconic Ángel de la Independencia.
Hotel
Sheraton María Isabel website,Openstreet Map
Paseo de la Reforma 325 Col. Cuauhtemoc
Mexico City, Distrito Federal 06500 Mexico
Group Dinner
The group Dinner will be on 29 Sept at 19:00 on the 3rd floor of the Sheraton. Embajadores room. Come one, come all!
Midweek Party
Oct 1st 19:00-23:00. Location: Los Insurgentes Pulqueria
Important things to know before your arrival in Mexico:
- All places accept cash but not always credit or debit card (due to the non existence of bank secrecy for government)
- The exchange rate is + - 1 MXN = .05 USD
- Very few establishments do accept U.S. dollars (mostly in neighborhoods like Polanco or Condesa) but it’s not in your best interest to pay with them, because you will get a bad exchange rate
- Mexican power outlet is same as US. The standard voltage is 127 V and the frequency is 60 Hz
- There are three cell service providers in Mexico: Telcel, Movistar and AT&T Unidos.
- Mexico City time zone is -5 UTC
- It is expressly forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages on the street - not even concealed in brown paper bag
- Lunch is usually from 2pm. Breakfast ends around 1pm.10% tip on meals and drinks is customary, with the exception of street food vendors.
- Mexico City is at an elevation of 2,239m (7,344 ft.). There's a lot less oxygen in the air than you may be used to, and unfortunately, the air is very polluted. Consequently, some people may suffer from headaches, shortness of breath, sinus, allergic rhinitis/cold and fell very tired. Don’t panic, it’s just your body adapting to high air pressure.
- Intestinal infection (diarrhea and vomit) unfortunately can be quite common. Usually a resting day with a lot of hydration will make you good to go next day. All Oxxo’s (convenience store in almost every corner) have saline water but if you do feel like you need a doctor, a cheap easy one can be found in the drugstores (more information above)
- There are basically no public restrooms, the only options are mostly offered by restaurants and shopping centers; some of them are not free, average rate is $5 MXN and they give you a small amount of paper toilet. Would recommend to keep a Kleenex in you backpack ;)
- Watch out for pick pockets. SUPER common in public transportation and crowded places. So… no cellphones or wallets in the pockets.
- Be aware of the traffic: cars and buses do not respect red lights and traffic police can change the traffic flow anytime, be very aware and look at both ways before crossing the street
- Toilet paper (in Latin America in general) are thrown in the garbage not at the toilet.
- Bicycles are a very good alternative to the daily heavy traffic, most of the city is flat, but exclusive bike paths are not everywhere. Be super careful with cars, specially taxi drivers. On Sundays more than 50km of the city are closed from 7h30am to 2pm and theres free city bikes to use
- You will have to fill out a form to receive your mandatory Mexican Tourist Card: https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html It is recommended that you fill this out online as some commercial airlines no longer hand them out on the flight. These cards are also necessary for anyone staying in the group block at the hotel. You will need it to check-in.
- Mexico uses the American style plug. Be sure to bring an adapter. There will be a few provided and the hotel may also offer some, but there won't be enough to go around.
Airport
Nearest airport is Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez (MEX). You might find some budget flights from North America to the Toluca International Airport (TLC)(+- 1h45m from Mexico City).
Transportation
- Metrobús (Bus)
Metrobús station "El Ángel" is just by the hotel. You can take Metrobús Line 7 (green, NorthEast-West) line just there, or walk some blocks over to Insurgentes and take Line 1 (red, North-South). http://www.metrobus.cdmx.gob.mx/mapas-rutas
Metrobús costs MX$6 per two hours (that is, to change lines, you exit the system and present your card again in the corresponding station; it will not charge extra as long as not more than two hours have elapsed since you started your trip). Cards can be bought or recharged at any Metrobús station. Hours of operation vary slightly according to the line and sub-line (http://www.metrobus.cdmx.gob.mx/dependencia/acerca-de/rutas), but in general, 05:00-24:00 is a safe bet.
In Mexico City there are many, many, many more buses. It takes some expertise getting used to them, so we suggest sticking to Metrobús whenever possible.
- Subway (Metro)
Nearest Metro stations are Sevilla and Insurgentes, both on Line 1 (pink, East-West). Metro can work either with a rechargeable card (you can buy in a machine at the airport) or buying individual carton tickets cost is MX$5 per trip.
Metro gives a very good coverage of Mexico City (http://www.metro.cdmx.gob.mx/la-red/mapa-de-la-red), although only the A and B lines enter Mexico State (where half of the city population lives). It is a fast, safe and easy way to move around the city, although it can be unpleasantly crowded at peak hours. The Metro system operates 05:00-24:00 on weekdays, 06:00-24:00 on Saturday, and 07:00-24:00 on Sunday.
Taking Metro from the airport is kind of complicated; you may prefer to take a taxi (it is a good idea to take an authorized cab service) or Uber/Cabify. https://www.aicm.com.mx/en/passengers/transportation/taxis
The first car on most Metro trains is reserved for women and children only.
-
Uber, Cabify
-
Taxi
Pink-and-white that says "CDMX" are the authorized taxi service Avoid take cabs if you are not familizarised and/or do not speak Spanish, but if you do, always take an authorized cab service. Ensure your taxi driver is properly licensed - driver’s license card is visible- as car as well. All licensed cabs have a distinctive white colored licence plate beginning with a capital letter and five numbers. Any street cab you flag down should show this new plate. Here is a link for estimated cab fare to/from the airport to the hotel: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/mexis-sheraton-mexico-city-maria-isabel-hotel/ It's about $25USD or $469pesos
Weather
September and October in Mexico City are at the end of the rainy season. In this time of year, it is usually sunny and pleasant in the morning, with rains almost every day at the evening or night. Temperature is moderate (≈15-25°C).
Weather Forecast
Light to heavy rain, in the afternoon and night, from 1600-0000.
Who
If you want to tell people that you're going or not going, please add yourself to this table.
(Remember, only 2 October and 3 October are open to the public, all other days are invitation only.)
A note about name tags: Pronouns optional; Even if you think yours are obvious, please consider displaying them anyway to help us create a more welcoming environment, especially for those of us for whom strangers often assume incorrect pronouns. Also, we'll have plenty of blank name tags at the event, in case of changes or misprints.
| Person | Attending | Arriving | Departing | Mark this column if you want a room in the hotel block | Name for name tag | Pronouns for name tag (optional) | Special Dietary Needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger | Yes | 27 Sep | 6 Oct | Yes | Roger | he/him | |
| Kat | Yes | 27 Sept | 5 Oct | Yes | kat | she/her | vegetarian |
| Ian | Yes | 27 Sept | 5 Oct | Yes | Ian | he | no pork |
| ewyatt | yes | 28 Sep | 3 Oct | Yes | Erin Wyatt | she/her | |
| catalyst | yes | 27 Sep | 4 Oct | Yes | Taylor (catalyst) | they/them | |
| Alison | yes | 27 Sep | 5 Oct | yes | Alison (flexlibris) | she/her | |
| Richard | yes | 25 Sept | 4 Oct | yes | Richard (pospeselr) | he/him | |
| isabela | No | - | - | no | --- | ||
| Antonela | yes | 27 sept | 5 oct | yes | antonela | she/her | |
| sajolida | yes | 29 Sept | 4 Oct | No | sajolida | he/his | vegetarian |
| Philipp Winter | No | ||||||
| Lorenzo | yes | 29 Sept | 4 Oct | No | Lorenzo | he | |
| Maria | Yes | 28th Sept | 6th Oct | Yes | Maria (agrabeli) | she/her | |
| Aaron Johnson | Yes | 29 Sep | 4 Oct | No | Aaron Johnson | he | |
| Shari | Yes | 28 Sept | 4 Oct | Yes | Shari (ssteele) | she/her | |
| Griffin | Yes | 28 Sept | 4 Oct | Yes | Griffin (saint) | he/him | bread-free options preferred |
| Rob Jansen | Yes | 29 Sep | 4 Oct | No | Rob Jansen | he | vegan |
| Chelsea Komlo | Yes | 28 Sep | 5 Oct | Yes | Chelsea (komlo) | she | vegetarian-ish |
| intrigeri | Yes | 29 Sep | 4 Oct | Yes | intrigeri | he | |
| Mike Perry | Yes | 27 Sep | 3 Oct | Yes | mikeperry | he | flexitarian |
| Nick M | Yes | 29 Sep, 5am | 3 Oct, afternoon | Yes | Nick M | he/him | |
| Arlo | No | ||||||
| emma peel | Yes | 28 Sept | 6 Oct | Yes | emma peel | she/her | not much dairy. local & organic if possible |
| Jon | Yes | 26 Sept | 5 Oct | Yes | Jon | he/him | |
| gwolf | Yes | Local | Local | No | Gunnar Wolf (gwolf) | he/him | tasty! |
| teor | Yes | Sept | Oct | Yes | teor | they/them | yes |
| Fabiola | Yes | 29 Sept | 04 Oct | Yes | Fabby | she/her | none |
| Marco Ruano | Yes | Local | Local | No | Marco Ruano | he | |
| Jacobo Nájera | Yes | Local | Local | No | Jacobo Nájera | he/him | |
| boklm | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Nicolas (boklm) | he/him | |
| Hans-Christoph Steiner | Yes | 28 Sep | 3 Oct | Yes | Hans (_hc) | he/him | vegetarian-ish |
| stefani | Yes | 28 Sep | 4 Oct | ?no? | stefani | she/her | omni |
| Colin | Yes | 27 Sep | 4 Oct | yes | Colin (Phoul) Childs | He / Him | none |
| Arturo | Yes | 28 Sep | 6 Oct | yes | Arturo (hellais) | He / Him | none |
| Sukhbir | Yes | 27 Sep | 4 Oct | yes | Sukhbir (sukhe) | he/him | none |
| Alon Braier | Yes | 27 Sept | 5 Oct | Yes | Alon Braier | he/him | Vegetarian |
| Gus | Yes | 27 Sept | 6 Oct | Yes | Gus | he/him | Vegetarian |
| Riastradh | Yes | 29 Sep | 4 Oct | Yes | Taylor ‘Riastradh’ Campbell | no seafood; vegetarian good, meat OK | |
| Steph | Yes | 27 Sept? | 5 Oct? | Yes | Steph (stephw) | she/her | no dairy/peanuts |
| ilv | Yes | 30 Sept | Oct 6 | Yes | isra (ilv) | he/him | none |
| mo | Yes | 28 Sept | Oct 9 | Yes for 28-4 | Moritz (gamambel) | he/him | none |
| Glenn | Yes | 29 Sept | Oct 5 | Yes | Glenn | he/him | none |
| n8fr8 | Yes | 29 Sept | Oct 3 | Yes | Nathan | he/him | none |
| David F. | No | ||||||
| David Stainton | Yes | Sept 28? | Oct 4? | No | David Stainton (dawuud) | he/him | none |
| Silvia [Hiro] | Yes | Sept 27 | Oct 4 | Yes | Silvia [Hiro] | Vegetarian/fish | |
| Cybelle | Yes | ? | ? | no | Cybelle | she/her | Vegetarian |
| Thyla V. | Yes | Sept 28 | Oct 4 | Yes | Thyla | she/her | none |
| Justin Tracey | Yes | Sept 29 | Oct 6 | Yes | Justin | he/him | no beef/pork |
| Sajin | Yes | Sept 29 | Oct 6 | Yes | Sajin (sshsshy) | he/him | none |
| ignacio | Yes | Sept 29? | Oct 6 | No | ignacio (osu) | he/him | vegetarian |
| NickCalyx | Yes | Sept 29 | Oct 3 | Yes | Nick (Calyx) | he/him | none |
| samba | Yes | 29 Sep | 5 Oct | Yes | samba | vegetarian | |
| juliana | yes | local | No | juliana | no gluten | ||
| dkg | Yes | 29 Sep | 6 Oct | No | dkg | he/him/they | vegan |
| Bill Budington | Yes | 29 Sep | 6 Oct | No | Bill (legind) | he/him/they | vegan |
| Konark Modi | Yes | 27 Sep | 4 Oct | Yes | kmodi | he/him | |
| Alex Catarineu | Yes | 27 Sep | 4 Oct | Yes | Alex | he/him | |
| Jen Helsby (Freedom of Press) | Yes | 29 Sep | 3 Oct | No | Jen (redshiftzero) | she/her | vegan |
| Camille Fassett (Freedom of Press) | Yes | 29 Sep | 3 Oct | No | Camille | she/her | vegan |
| Sarath | Yes | 29 Sep | 7 Oct | No | Sarath | he/him | |
| qbi | No | ||||||
| Mark Smith | yes | 27 Sept | 3 Oct | yes | Mark (mcs) | he/him | |
| Kathy Brade | yes | 27 Sept | 3 Oct | yes | Kathy (brade) | she/her | |
| Julius M | yes | 28 Sept | 3 Oct | yes | Julius | he/him | |
| juga | yes | ? | ? | ? | juga | they/them | not hot spicy |
| ahf | yes | 27 Sept | 4 Oct | Yes | Alex (ahf) | he/him | |
| Georg | yes | 27 Sept | 3 Oct | yes | Georg (GeKo) | vegetarian | |
| Arthur | yes | 27 Sept | 1 Oct | yes | Arthur | vegetarian | |
| Parinishtha | yes | 29 Sept | 5 Oct | yes | Pari | she/her | None |
| micah | Yes | 28 Sep | 6 Oct | yes | micah | he/him/they | vegetarian |
| ln5 | No | ||||||
| Steven Englehardt (Mozilla) | No | ||||||
| carlosm2 | Yes | Local | Local | no | carlosm2 | he/him | sabrosa |
| Ethan Tseng (Mozilla) | Yes | 28 Sep | 2 Oct | Yes | Ethan | he/him | |
| Gary Chen (Mozilla) | Yes | 28 Sep | 2 Oct | Yes | Gary | he/him | |
| Tim Huang (Mozilla) | Yes | 28 Sep | 2 Oct | Yes | Tim | he/him | |
| irl | Yes | 28 Sep | 4 Oct | Yes | Iain (irl) | he/him | |
| karsten | Yes | 28 Sep | 3 Oct | Yes | Karsten (karsten) | he/him | vegetarian |
| leez | Yes | 29 Sep | 4 Oct | Yes | leez | she/her | vegetarian |
| nah | Yes | 26 Sep | 5 Oct | no | nah | she/her | vegetarian |
| Leonid | Yes | 28 Sep | 6 Oct | Yes | Leonid (darkk) | ||
| erinm LocLab | yes | 28 Sept | 10 Oct | Yes | Erin | she/her | |
| pastly | Yes | 29 Sep | 4 Oct | No | pastly | he/him | |
| Adelita Schule (Operator Foundation) | yes | 29 Sept | 4 Oct | yes | Adelita | she/her | |
| Karl (Internews) | Yes | 29 Sept | 4 Oct | Yes | Karl | he/him | |
| Alex Argüelles | Yes | Local | Local | No | Alex K. (Safkoe) | she/her | None |
| Estrella Soria | Yes | Local | Local | No | Estrella•°✫ (ek) | she/her | None |
| George | yes | 26 Sept | 6 Oct | yes | George (asn) | he/him | |
| Matthew Wright | yes | 29 Sept | 2 Oct | yes | Matt | he/him | Vegetarian/fish |
| Irene Soria | Yes | Local | Local | No | Irene S. (arenitasoria) | she/her | None |
| Israel Pirra | Yes | Local | Local | No | Pirra | he/him | Vegan |
| amoghbl1 | No | ||||||
| gaba | yes | 28 sept | 6 oct | yes | gaba | she/her/they | vegetarian |
| Igor | yes | 27 sept | 3 oct | Igor(igt0) | he/him | ||
| Andres | yes | 29 sept | 4 oct | Andres (andresazp) | he/him | ||
| Pili | yes | 27 sept | 4 oct | Yes | Pili (pili) | she/her | None |
| Maggie | yes | 27 Sept | 5 Oct | Yes | Maggie (wayward) | she/they | Vegetarian, egg allergy |
| meskio | yes | 26 Sept | 5 Oct | No | meskio | he/him | |
| Florence Poznanski (IWB) | yes | 29 Sept | 7 Oct | No | Florence Poznanski (IWB) | None | |
| Paul Syverson | Yes | 29 Sep | 4 Oct | No | Paul Syverson | None | |
| Nikita | Yes | 30 Sep | 3 Oct | No | Nikita | None |
Dinner
Here's where information about the group dinner goes. If you plan on attending the "meet and greet" dinner, please add yourself to this table:
| Person | Attending |
|---|---|
| Roger | yes |
| Kat | yes |
| Ian | yes |
| ewyatt | yes |
| mikeperry | yes |
| catalyst | yes |
| Alison | yes |
| Richard | yes |
| antonela | yes |
| sajolida | yes |
| lorenzo | yes |
| Maria | yes |
| Aaron Johnson | yes |
| Shari | yes |
| Griffin | yes |
| Rob Jansen | yes |
| Chelsea Komlo | yes |
| intrigeri | yes |
| Nick M | yes |
| emma peel | yes |
| Jon | yes |
| gwolf | yes |
| teor | yes |
| Fabiola | Yes |
| Marco Ruano | Yes |
| Jacobo Nájera | Yes |
| boklm | yes |
| Hans-Christoph Steiner | yes |
| stefani | yes |
| Colin | yes |
| Arturo | yes |
| Sukhbir | yes |
| Alon | Yes |
| Gus | Yes |
| Riastradh | yes |
| Steph | yes |
| David S | yes |
| Hiro | Yes |
| Cybelle | Yes |
| Thyla | Yes |
| Justin | Yes |
| Sajin | Yes |
| ignacio | Yes |
| NickCalyx | Yes |
| samba | Yes |
| juliana | Yes |
| dkg | Yes |
| Bill Budington | Yes |
| redshiftzero | Yes |
| Erinm LocLab | Yes |
| Camille | Yes |
| Sarath | Yes |
| Mark Smith | Yes |
| Kathy Brade | Yes |
| Julius M | Yes |
| juga | yes |
| ahf | yes |
| GeKo | yes |
| Pari | yes |
| micah | Yes |
| carlosm2 | Yes |
| Ethan | Yes |
| Gary | Yes |
| Tim | Yes |
| irl | Yes |
| karsten | Yes |
| leez | Maybe |
| nah | yes |
| Leonid | Yes |
| pastly | Yes |
| Adelita | Yes |
| Karl | Yes |
| Alex K. | Yes |
| Estrella•°✫ | Yes |
| George | Yes |
| Matt W | Yes |
| Irene S. | Yes |
| Pirra | Yes |
| Arthur | Yes |
| Gaba | Yes |
| Igor | Yes |
| Andres | Yes |
| Pili | Yes |
| Maggie | Yes |
| meskio | Yes |
| Florence | Yes |
| Keka | Yes |
Coordination mailing list
Subscribe to the tor-meeting mailing list to keep informed about plans.
Nearby (temporally and physically) conferences
Just after the Tor Meeting, on October 4-5, there will be an academic-oriented Colloquium on Mechanisms for Privacy and Anonymity On-line at Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Everybody is welcome to attend; contact Gunnar Wolf (gwolf@gwolf.org, 0x673A03E4C1DB921F) if you would be interested in presenting a talk.
October 4th, 16:00 (place to be confirmed) Feminist meeting with women and non binary Tor community. Not restricted participation
October 3-5: Semana 2018 Nacional de Transparencia: Transcendencia e Impacto de la Transparencia y Rendicion de Cuentas / / National Transparency Week: Corruption and Accountability (1200 October 3 - 1415 October 5 Auditorio Alonso Lujambio ubicado en Insurgentes Sur No. 3211 Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Delegación Coyoacán, C.P. 04530. This event will be held in Spanish (?).)
Safety
Earthquake (Temblor)
One year ago, a huge earthquake magnitude-8.1 struck off Mexico's southern coast. Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Guerrero, and Tabasco were seriously damaged. In Mexico City it lasted a full minute. After a devastating earthquake in 1985, hotels and home structures are built to withstand earthquakes. Nothing is wholly-immune from nature’s forces, however.
Alerta sísmica!
Earthquake is an unpredictable natural phenomena. This may or may not occur. Mexico City is one of the few places in the world to have a public earthquake warning system. If you hear a seismic alert blaring. Public alert speakers are pretty much everywhere - means an earthquake is rumbling up from one of the tectonic plaques around (there’s more than one, some further, other closer). Seismic alert is build to announce, before as possible, the coming of a strong earthquake. Ideally will advice around one minute before it strikes the city, in rare occasions it may strike before the alert. Protocols vary from where you are, but basically: keep calm and look for strong structures and/or avoid places where things can fall down on you.
- You will find earthquake security protocols and evacuations route in public and private buildings, museums, hotels, etc. DO NOT take elevators.
- It is very important that you STAY CALM! The sound of the seismic alert frightens a lot, but you have to react promptly! You only have a few seconds up to 2 minutes to move to a safe place.
- During an earthquake you will experience a movement of earth that might start gently but may become severe seconds later. Probably it will not last more than a minute. You may hear many loud noises from the objects as they fall as well as the numerous alarms that will activate.
- If you can easily (up to 3rd floor maximum) leave the building, do it calmly, otherwise wait until everything returns to normal. Open doors and windows to make sure there is an emergency exit. Stand near large pillars or walls.
- Avoid running during the earthquake.
- Cover your head with both hands, especially if you are in a place where things can fall.
- Place yourself under a table or desk, put your head between your knees and cover you head with with both hands;
- If there is no furniture, stand next to a column, under a beam, or under a door frame (it is safe if you have columns on the sides, doors without glass) or in an internal corner of the building.
- Stay away from windows, showcases, mirrors, or glass doors.
- DO NOT use elevators or ladders. Stay in the assigned security zone, and away from buildings or power lines.
- In a high-rise building, expect the fire alarms and sprinklers to go off during a quake.
- If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow.
- If you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Drop to the ground if necessary. Bright green rectangles and circles painted on city sidewalks, and white arrows are the safest places to be.
- If you are in a car, slow down and drive to a clear place. Stay in the car until the shaking stops
ATTENTION: You can hear the alerta sísmica demo here, but, it's not a pleasant noise and, in Mexico everyone knows what it means, so DO NOT toy with it and, if you're going to listen it while in Mexico, do it with LOW VOLUME so you don't scare anyone: alerta sísmica (audio)
General Safety Tips
Despite the nasty headlines about crime and violence in Mexico give many people the idea that it is a dangerous place to visit, full of drug dealers, well, it’s not exactly true. Note that headlines highlight particular events and are designed to grab readers' attention, but they do not accurately reflect the general safety of a destination. As a tourist, you are in little danger of having trouble as long as you follow common sense safety precautions.
Most people who travel to Mexico have a wonderful time and don't encounter any problems. However, as in other tourist destinations throughout the world, crime is a fact of life, and as a tourist, you may be targeted for theft and scams. When it comes to safety, common sense is the best option
- Pickpockets can be very crafty and sometimes work in pairs - one person will distract you while another takes your wallet, be alert especially in crowded areas;
- Avoid hailing cabs in the street. Prefer using apps like Uber or Cabify;
- Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry \which might bring undue attention to you or others with you;
- Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs;
- It’s generally safer to use ATMs during daylight hours and inside shops, malls or hotels;
- Have all your documents scanned, this is very useful in case of loss, theft, or even earthquake;
- Debit or Credit Cards cloning (or skimming) is an issue in Mexico. Never leave bank cards out of your sight.
Local Medical Resources
Doctor
If you have minor health issues, or not so critical, you can reach a doctor or dentists in some pharmacies (see below)
** Pharmacy / Chemist
-
Farmacias del Ahorro - several locations
-
Farmacias Benevides - several locations
- Farmacias Benevides with clinic's services (Consultorio Médico) nearest to hotel: Republica de Uruguay No. 36 Col. Centro 36 Centro Tel: 83575781 Av. Paseo De La Reforma 350 Pb Local 2 Entre Lancaster Y Varsovia Col. Juarez 350 Juarez Tel: 83108268
-
Farmacias Similares - several locations
- Farmacias Similares with clinic's services (Consultorio Médico) nearest to hotel: Paseo de la Reforma 569, Juárez, 06600 Calle Río Lerma 277, Cuauhtémoc, 06500
- Clinical Analyzes (Análises Clínicos) Paseo de la Reforma 569, Juárez, 06600
- Dental Clinic (Consultorios Dentales) Paseo de la Reforma 569, Juárez, 06600
Police
The police can be reached by dialling 911 and ambulances and fire services are available on 066 or 080
Additional Accommodations Near Our Hotel
| Name | Address | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Express | Av. Paseo de la Reforma 334, Col. Juárez, Mexico City, Mexico. CP 06600 | https://www.cityexpress.com/plus/hoteles-mexico/ciudad-de-mexico/cuauhtemoc/reforma-el-angel | |
| Marriott Hotel | Paseo de la Reforma 276, Juárez, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico | https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mexmc-mexico-city-marriott-reforma-hotel/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2 | |
| Hotel del Angel | Calle Río Lerma 154, Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Ciudad de México, CDMX | https://hoteldelangel.mx/ | |
| Room Mate Valentina | Calle Amberes 27, Zona Rosa, 06600 – Mexico City | https://room-matehotels.com/en/valentina/ | Eclectic and Charming |
| EuroStars Hotel | Londres 115, Mexico City Df, Mexico, 06600 | https://www.eurostarshotels.com/hotel-eurostars-zona-rosa-suites.html | |
| Hotel Geneve | Londres 130, Col. Juárez, México, D.F | https://www.hotelgeneve.com.mx/en/ | |
| One Hotels | Av. Juárez No. 88, Centro, México, D.F | https://www.onehoteles.com/en/web/one-ciudad-de-mexico-alameda | Use CUS005162 for discount |
| Fiesta Inn | Av. Juárez No. 76, Centro, México, D.F | https://www.fiestainn.com/en/home | Use CUS005162 for discount |
More about Mexico
Movies use to portrait Mexicans as living in rural zones, using big sombreros (hats), or they are naive or criminals. This is far from true. Mexico is a huge country and Mexico City is a remarkably metropolitan city. There a mix of traditional and modern everywhere: despite the country is very catholic, you will find lots of pre hispanic habits, foods, monuments, clothes, etc. There are more than 200 museums, parks, bars, restaurants and many more activities.
Mexicans are very friendly and the hospitality are generally warm. They frequent use of diminutive suffixes such as -ito/ita to indicate affection, e.g. "un poquito más” (a little more), "muñequitas" (little dolls), "rapidito" (quickly), and so on.
Remember, you’re in a foreign country, even if some people speak english, or try to understand you, is very polite at least make an effort to speak some words/phrases in Spanish. Here are some useful phrases/words you can use:
Some useful phrases in Spanish
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Hello, Hi | Hola |
| Good morning | Buenos días |
| Good evening, Good night | Buenas noches |
| Excuse me | Con permiso |
| Yes | Sí |
| No | No |
| Please | Por favor |
| I am sorry | Lo siento |
| Excuse me | Disculpe/ Permiso |
| Thank you | Gracias |
| Thanks, very kind | Gracias, muy amable |
| Thank you very much | Muchas gracias |
| You’re welcome | De nada |
| What is your name? | ¿Cómo te llamas? |
| My name is... | Mi nombre es… |
| Can you help me? | ¿Me puede ayudar? |
| Can you speak more slowly? | ¿Puede hablar más despacio/ despacito? |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Habla Inglés? |
| Does anyone here speak English? | ¿Hay alguien aquí que hable Inglés? |
| How are you? | ¿Cómo estás? |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| I'm fine | Yo estoy bien |
| I don't understand, sorry | No comprendo, perdóname |
| I am very glad to meet you | Me alegro en conocerte |
| Pleased to meet you | Encantado en conocerte |
| May I take a photo? | ¿Puedo sacar una foto? |
Food and restaurants
Mexican food is far from the Tex-Mex, it's quite exotic. Mexican food is a fusion of indigenous, Spanish, and modern flavors and spices that scrumptiously make up the delicious and colorful Mexican dishes.
Mexico City has some of the best food in the world! There are many excellent restaurants, but if you want to eat fresh, home-made, delicious, and economical, go to "comida corrida". This is basically an all inclusive meal, usually comes in 3 courses: soup of the day, rice or salad, and main course, - this one may change everyday or every week - and an agua of the day (fruit juice) for a set price. These are small restaurants or "fondas" (you can come across fancy and expensive fondas but this is a hipster thing) and you can find it almost everywhere.
There also street food, these are really good and cheap. But if you are vegan or vegetarian, you may have a difficult time to find something meat, dairy and egg free.
In Mexico, it is customary to say “Provecho” or “Provechito” before starting a meal or when you enter or leave the presence of someone who is eating. It can be translated as “Bon appétit” or "Enjoy Your Meal".
One of a kind experience is to eat in the Mercados. It is a must go! Mercado is mix of flea, street, and farmer markets. You will find fruits, vegetables, wine, cheese, flowers, herb, candle, clothes, arts and crafts, odds and ends, food court (with fondas!) and many other merchandises.
Mercados
| Name | Address | Notes and links |
|---|---|---|
| Mercado de Coyoacán | Ignacio Allende S/n, Del Carmen, Coyoacán | |
| Mercado de Medellín | Medellín 234, Roma | |
| Mercado de San Juan | Calle de Ernesto Pugibet No. 21 | http://mercadodesanjuan.com/cdmx/ |
| Mercado de Sonora | Av. Fray Servando Teresa de Mier 419, Venustiano Carranza | Also known as the market of witches, where people go in search of love potions, lucky charms and herbal remedies. |
Vegan/Veggie Restaurant
| Name | Address | Open Hours | Notes | link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Pan Comido | Tonalá 99, Roma Nte | Mon-Ed de 9M - 10pm Thur - Sat 9am - 11pm Sun 9am - 9pm | https://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion/elpancomido/ | |
| VegAmo | Revillagigedo 47, Colonia Centro | Mon-Sat 11am - 8pm Sun 11am - 7pm | https://www.vegamomx.com/ | |
| Centro Macrobiotico Tao | Cozumel 76, Colonia Roma Norte | Mon - Sat 1:30pm - 5pm | ||
| La Pitahaya Vegana | Queretaro 90 | Mon-Sat 12pm - 10pm | https://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion/LaPitahayaVegana/ | |
| Falfelito | Iztaccihuatl 56 Col. Hipódromo | https://www.falafelito.com/ | ||
| Yug Vegetariano | Varsovia 3-b Col. Juarez (near the hotel) | Mon - Frid 7am - 9pm Sat - Sun 8:30am - 8pm |
You can find more vegan/ vegetarian restaurants:
- https://www.happycow.net/north_america/mexico/mexico_city/
- http://www.hazteveg.com/restaurantes/mexico/mexico_df
Fondas/Small and economical restaurants
| Name | Address | Open Hours | Notes | link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antojitos Dani | Av Independencia 100, Colonia Centro | Mon-Sat 10am-5pm | Small restaurant in Centro (nearby Alameda Central), serves tacos, quesadillas, flautas doradas, pambazo, etc. Veggie option available | https://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion/antojitosdanii/ |
| Los Chilotes | José de Emparan almost in the corner of Puente de Alvarado (nearby Monument de La Revolución) | Mon-Fri 10:00am - 9:30pm | Very small restaurant serving regional food from all around Mexico, delicious menu that varies every day, also a veggie/vegan option | https://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion/Los-Chilotes |
| Taqueria Los Clavados | Emilio Castelar, 14A Polanco | Mon-Fri 11am-4pm | Small restaurant nearby Museo Nacional de Antropologia, serves comida corrida, veggie/vegan option available | https://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion/Los-clavados-Taqueria |
Other restaurants
| Restaurant Name | Address | Type of restaurant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Burguesa | Cozumel 67B, Roma Norte | Gourmet burgers | |
| Pizza del perro negro | Parque España 3, Roma Norte / Doncele 64, Centro Historico | Pizzas | www.pizzadelperronegro.com |
| Cancino Cibeles | Plaza Villa Madrid 13, Roma Norte | Pizzas | |
| Salon Rios | Rio Lerma 218, Cuauhtemoc | Different type of food and drinks | |
| Churreria El Moro | Rio Lerma 167, Cuauhtemoc | Churros with sugar, cinnamon, chocolate, etc. | coffee, desserts, etc |
| Casa Quimera | Orizaba 131, Col. Roma | Multiple stalls offering a variety of vegan and organic choices | Tacos with hibiscus tortillas, vegan ramen, and more. |
Groceries / Supermarket
| Name | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Superama | Rio Sena 23, Cuauhtemoc | Supermarket |
| Waldo’s | Andador El Farol de Puebla, Roma Norte, Roma Nte., 06700 Cuauhtémoc | |
| Oxxo and 7Eleven | Convenience stores in every corner |
Interesting local stuff
| Name | Address | Notes | link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mama Rumba | Queretaro 230, Roma Norte | Great place to dance and drink | |
| Helado obscuro | Orizaba 203, Roma Norte | Ice cream with alcohol | |
| Calle Regina | Regina, Centro | Pedestrian street in downtown with a lot of places to eat and drink. | |
| Cine Tonala | 261 Col. Roma Sur | Unique hipster independent art cinema/restaurant/bar | http://cinetonala.mx/ |
| Tianguis Cultural del Chopo | Juan Aldama - Metrobus/Metro Buenavista - Saturday from 11am to 4pm | Tianguis is an open-air market or bazaar where you can find everything related to it, including clothing, shoes, accessories and many other things, and also, a meeting point to punks, goths, and other alternative punk rock style | |
| Ciudadela | Avenida Balderas 1, Centro - Monday to Saturday from 10 to 7 pm. Sunday from 10 to 6 pm | This is the place where you can find the handcrafts from all over Mexico. Nice place to buy gifts with good prices such as toys, jewelry, decorative objects for the home, traditional clothes, handbags, etc. | http://laciudadela.com.mx/ |
| Punto Gozadera | Plaza de San Juan 15, Centro - Tuer-Sun 9[am-10:30pm am-10:30pm] | It works as a restaurant and a feminist meeting place. In addition to being a space for eating and drinking, this site organizes talks, film screenings, workshops, exhibitions and parties around feminism and gender equity. | https://www.facebook.com/Punto-Gozadera-1471050349857079/ |
| Rancho Electronico | Lorenzo Boturini 61, esquina Bolívar, Colonia Obrera | Hackespace | https://ranchoelectronico.org/ |
Craft Beer
TBD
Tequila, mezcal y pulque
| Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Pulqueria los insurgentes | Insurgentes sur 226, Roma Norte | All types and flavors of pulque |
Sightseeing in Mexico City
| Attraction | Cost | Open Hours | Address | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratorio Arte Alameda | 35MXN | Tue-Sun 9am - 5pm Thur 9am - 9pm | Dr. Mora 7, Centro | http://www.artealameda.bellasartes.gob.mx/ | Museum welcomes Tor Meeting people, just let them know and you enter for free |
| Lucha Libre | 140-600MXN | http://cmll.com/ | The most amusing thing to do in Mexico | ||
| Museo Tamayo | 60MXN Sun free | Tue - Sun 10am - 6pm | Paseo de la Reforma No. 51 / esq. Gandhi, Col. Bosque de Chapultepec | http://museotamayo.org/ | The exhibition Visiones de Maquina, Trevor Pagan there is a Tor Relay as piece of art - Jun 20 to Sept 30. "Trevor Paglen’s work investigates the role that pictures currently have in relation to the digital and satellite technologies that produce them. Considering that these pictures are a product of military and police developments associated with surveillance, Paglen accounts for the relation between the human perspective and these technologies, in other words, of how we see them and are seen through them."! |
| Chapultepec Park | free | 9am-5pm | There are many museums inside the park. Chapultepec in nahuatl means Grasshopper Hill | ||
| Chapultepec Castle | 70MXN | Tue-Sun 9am-5pm | http://mnh.inah.gob.mx/informacion-general | ||
| Museo Nacional de Antropología | 70MXN | Tue-Sun 9am-5pm | http://www.mna.inah.gob.mx/ | ||
| Centro de Cultura Digital | free | Tue - Sun 11am - 7pm | Paseo de Reforma s/n Esquina Lieja, Colonia Juárez | https://centroculturadigital.mx/ | |
| Cineteca Nacional | Av. México Coyoacán 389 Col. Xoco Del. Benito Juárez | https://www.cinetecanacional.net/ | |||
| La Casa del Cine | República de Uruguay 52, 2 piso Centro Histórico | http://lacasadelcine.mx/ | |||
| Museo Nacional de Arte - Munal | 65MXN | Tue - Sun 10am - 5:30pm | Tacuba 8, Centro Histórico | http://www.munal.mx/en/visita | |
| Palacio de Bellas Artes | Mon - Sat 11am - 7pm Sun 8:30am - 7pm | Juárez s/n, esq. Eje Central, Centro Histórico. | https://palacio.inba.gob.mx/ | ||
| Templo Mayor Museum | 70MXN | Tue - Sun 9am - 5pm | Seminario N. 8, Centro Histórico | http://templomayor.inah.gob.mx/English | |
| Trajineras Xochimilco | starts from 500MXN | https://www.trajinerasxochimilco.com.mx/#1523466739213-cbeedcb4-99fa | A boat ride in the Mexican Venice, Xochimilco. Trajineras are very colorful boats , with capacity of 20 people. There are 170km of canals, with lots of island, the most famous is the creepy Isla de las Muñecas. Xochimilco is also habitat of the axolotl (ajolote), an cute amphibian that looks like a Pokemon. Keep in mind that Xochimilco is a popular outing for Mexican families and friends on weekends and holidays, so it can be quite crowded. You can buy food and drinks from other passing trajineras, or to save money, buy some before you board the boat and take it with you. |
Day trip
| Attraction | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Teotihuacan | http://www.inah.gob.mx/zonas/23-zona-arqueologica-de-teotihuacan | Located 48km (30 miles) from Mexico City. Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone - Sun 9am - 5PM 70MXN - Visiting the Teotihuacán Pyramids is a must for all who visit Mexico. It is a UNESCO World Heritage, is an impressive archaeological sites. Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage, is an impressive archaeological sites. Teotihuacan is known for its two pyramids, the Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) and the Pirámide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon). Starts at gate 1 and ends at Gate 3, walking along the Calzada de los Muertos, a huge road that is about 4 kilometers long. At its sides, there are the sanctuaries of the Temple of the Plumed Serpent, the Temple of Agriculture and the Temple of the Plumed Snails. |
| Puebla | https://www.zonaturistica.com/en/things-to-do-and-places-to-visit-in/401/puebla.html | Puebla is located +- 130km (82 miles) from Mexico City. Pueblos Mágicos (magic towns) are villages/ small towns that promote the rich cultural heritage, historical, and natural treasures of Mexico. There are 111 towns currently recognised as Pueblos Mágicos. |
| Tepoztlán | https://www.zonaturistica.com/en/things-to-do-and-places-to-visit-in/330/tepoztlan-morelos.html | Pueblo Mágico +- 50km (30 miles) from CDMX. Tepoztlán is know by the temazcales (http://www.tlahui.com/temaz1.html), Tepoznieves - an ice cream shop that serves around 100 distinct flavors, ranging from the classics to more curious concoctions such as nopal (cactus) and lettuce - and UFO sightings. |
| Taxco | https://www.zonaturistica.com/que-hacer-en-los-lugares-turisticos-de/147/guerrero-taxco.html | Taxco, 176km (109 miles) from CDMXis one of the most important producers of fine silver jewelry handmade by artisans |