Tourists are drawn to Mexico City for its obvious appeal. The culinary scene in Mexico City is incredible, as are the museums and historic sites. The tourism industry in this area is huge, so visitors can make some mistakes. Locals can see them all. Locals and ex-pats in Mexico City shared some of their favorite faux pas.
Mexico City tourists often make three common mistakes, from misjudging spice to forgetting about altitude sickness. Read on to learn how to avoid them:
Image Credit: © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro
Expecting Everyone To Speak English
Anais Martinez, a culinary tour guide and blogger at The Curious Mexican, said to learn some basics of Spanish before arriving, like good morning and hello. It doesn’t seem polite to introduce yourself in English. Lydia Carey, writer and tour guide, supports this statement. She said that assuming everyone in Mexico City can speak English is a stereotype and can backfire.
While many people in the city do speak it, learning a few basic Spanish phrases can only help enhance your trip. So learn phrases like “Good morning! Nice to meet you! How much does this cost? Do you speak English? Can you help me?”
Only Staying Downtown
Gabilú Mireles, personal coach and motivational speaker, said that most tourists prefer staying downtown, close to Avenida Reforma and Angel of Independence. But there are many other neighborhoods in the city with much more folklore and colors, such as Coyoacan, with its artisan markets and delicious churros, and Rome and Condesa, with their beautiful parks and art galleries.
Image Credit: Bruno Rijsman, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Thinking “Salsa” Refers To A Dip
Max St Romain, food and travel blogger at Gastronauta DF, said that your server will probably bring you different kinds of salsa in Mexican restaurants. Unlike the Americas, salsa is not a dip for your chips but a condiment to flavor your food. Don’t dunk; use the spoon.