Moving to Mexico City

My move from Merida to Mexico City was somewhat an unexpected one.  Although I had visited the city a few times and really, really liked what I saw, I was stuck in a bit of a rut and found it really hard to leave Merida.  Like always, life has a way of pushing you in one direction.  After returning from San Cristobal where I had friends and actually felt like I had a social life for the first time in nearly a year, I felt lost and lonely in Merida.   I had an upcoming trip to Mexico City planned to meet a friend and I finally decided to bite the bullet and make the move.

I spent my first five days here staying in a hostel and finally found a room in an apartment through AirBnb.  I messaged the host initially asking if I could come view the place before booking for one month since there were only a handful of guest reviews and the next morning, I went to see the place.  I fell in love the moment I saw it!  Floor to ceiling windows, outdoor terraces and my own little patio attached to my room made it a very appealing place to live in case of another lockdown and what was even better is that I would have lots of roommates who the AirBnb host promised were very friendly. A few hours later, I was unpacking my very small backpack of stuff in my new room and a few hours after THAT, I found myself drinking beer and chatting with my new roommates.

I spent my first few days exploring my new neighborhood of Colonia Cuauhtemoc which is smack dab in the center of Mexico City.   I can easily walk to the hipster hotspots of Roma Norte and Condesa, the upscale neighborhood of Polanco and the historic Centro area of CDMX.   Even more, I can easily run in Mexico City’s beloved Chapultepec Park.  Best of all, my rent is only $300 per month!

In all honesty, I was initially a bit hesitant to move to Mexico City because of the city’s horrible reputation in regards to safety. Over the past few weeks, I have discovered the side of Mexico City that we NEVER hear about in school.  Rather than seeing a violent city awash with gun violence,  I see adorable restaurants and cafes, beautiful squares and gorgeous architecture.  Rather than drug dealers and criminals, I meet lawyers, professors and other young professionals.    The city is full of beautiful parks and squares and grandiose architecture. Although the main museums are still closed, there is still a lot to do and see.

People keep asking me what my plan is next and although it is hard to say for sure, I think Mexico City is going to be “home” for awhile.