Spanish in Mexico City
Wednesday, 11th March 2009

Probably not the first place you would think of to go and study Spanish in, Mexico City surpasses all its expectations as a diverse, appealing and sometimes chaotic place to visit.
Having lived there for 5 years I got to know the city very well, and now plan my vacations around the chance to go back.
One of the biggest cities in the world, Mexico, or el DF (dé- éfé) as the locals call it, still retains the charm of a smaller city, as it’s divided up into distinct areas to wander round and explore. From el Zocalo to la Condesa, from Coyoacán to Teotihuacán, you won’t know a moment’s boredom, and will be hard pushed to be able to choose what priorities you have there.
One sight on everyone’s ‘must-do’ list is Teotihuacán, the awesome archeological site just to the north of the city, an hour’s bus ride away. You get a glimpse of the pyramids as the bus loops its way off the highway, but this doesn’t really prepare you for the close- up size and magnificence of the pyramids of the sun and the moon, or the details that went into the original design of the whole complex, precisely laid out to align with the moon during the spring and fall solstices. Climbing to the top of the pyramid of the sun is quite challenging, as I have found out on more than one occasion, but the views of the surrounding area make it a great experience.
San Angel is one of the prettiest neighborhoods in the city, with cobbled streets and narrow lanes leading to peaceful plazas. On Saturday is the San Angel Bazaar, which draws a lot of visitors, but is worth it for the atmosphere of relaxation and the fun of crowd- watching at one of the restaurants on Plaza San Jacinto.
Mexico is a city of extremes, and can be exceptionally noisy or crowded. As with any big city it is always necessary to be alert and aware of your environment there, but you’ll find that el DF gives you a lot in return. You wouldn’t be able to imagine anything bad happening on Reforma, the main avenue leading from Chapultepec Park to the Zocalo, where the road is closed to traffic on Sundays and instead is full of cyclists and rollerbladers enjoying the open space and beautiful weather.
I was back in Mexico City last week, rushing to fit everything in during the short time I had there. Best of all was the opportunity to catch up with friends- Mexicans love nothing more than an opportunity to socialize, dance and knock back a couple of tequilas in brindis! I can’t think of a better place to go to on a Spanish language course, with the opportunity to soak up all the culture at the same time as increasing your knowledge of the language- the perfect combination!
More about Spanish courses in Mexico
Tags: spanish, culture, language, course, mexico
Posted by Augusta under Anecdotes, Experience Cultures,
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