"Mexico City at a Glance" Mexico City by gypsysoul73

Mexico City is a pleasant assault on the senses of its visitor. The unique sights & sounds, tastes & smells can overwhelm you, and at the same time make you feel at home. As we drove around the city, I was surprised by how much I was reminded of Madrid in some places, and of Manila in others. It also has to be the most colorful city I've ever had the pleasure of visiting.

This is a city of extremes. Which is expected from a country that is a product of a collision of two cultures that occurred when the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs in the 16th century. As time passed, the ancient civilizations of Mexico fused with the European culture of Spain. However, the local people’s struggle to regain its own identity is still evident to this day.

Mexico City is HUGE! It is home to 8,700,000 people and is currently the world’s third largest metropolis (after Tokyo and New York city). There are over 350 neighborhoods, most of which are overcrowded which inevitably leads to somewhat impoverished living conditions in most areas.

It is also the highest city in North America, with an altitude of over 2,200 meters above sea level. For this reason, many of us had difficulty breathing. I found myself almost gasping for air sometimes. This kinda freaked me out at first until I found I wasn’t alone and was told it had to do with the air being so thin and polluted.