Hi.

Hi Bob,

I didnt download the maps - b/c those are 5 bucks a piece.... Any good maps that are free?

Thanks,
Tak

As you want to go to the zocalo straight forward, near the cathedral you´ll see a government tourist kiosk; they will give you a free a map, ask for the "Guia Passport".
The question about Xochimilco was already answered in one of the links I gave you, you need to take the light rail.
Frida´s house, Casa Azul, is in Coyoacan. To go to La Basilica de Guadalalupe, the metro station is "Basilica". If you want to go to Coyoacan, go straight to Coyoacan or Viveros. Zona Rosa, metro Insurgentes. Alameda, metro: Bellas Artes (you need to visit Bellas Artes, the interiors are amazing), just across the road (on eje central Lazaro Cardenas), there´s a post office (El Palacio de Correos), it must be one of the most beautiful post offices in the world.
Zona Rosa is a nightlife district, so there´s always what to eat, but don´t expect too much in terms of food, there's a decent Mexican restaurant on Hamburgo St. between Florencia and Amberes, when you see it from outside does not look that nice, it´s not very colorful, but they serve pretty decent mole, arracheras, etc.
To find your way around your hotel, go to www.guiaroji.com.mx and search for calle "Atenas", as there are many streets with that name, choose the option "Colonia Juarez". It´s not that far from zona rosa, maybe a 20-30 mins walk. The name of the gondolas is "trajineras"...

The Turibus runs from 0900 (9am) to 2100 (9pm). They sell 1,2 and 3 day passes. You can pay in pesos or dollars. Paying in pesos is conciderably cheaper. Cost: 1 day-115 pesos, 2day-155 pesos, 3 day-200 pesos when purchased on Sat. or Sun. Slightly cheaper on weekdays. The bus has 24 stops on a circuitos route that takes in the Zocalo, Reforma Ave, Polanco, Chaputepec, Condesa, Zona Rosa, etc. It is hop on-hop off, buy your ticket when you board.

it's right here takkie ;P

The bad crime reputation for DF was formed in 1998. Now, the streets in the daytime and early evening are extremely cool. The doomsdayers don't seem to know it has changed.

I had 4, repeat, four, attempts to separate me from my assets in DF, all in that approximate 1998 time frame. None of the four succeeded, since DF crooks aren't too smart. None since then. I did have one, also extremely transparent and stupid, a couple years ago, in a small town in Puebla.

The only attempt we have ever had to over-charge us for taxi service was from a sitio taxi. We have never had a problem with the roving street taxis. Once, with several thousand dollars in my Bean Bag for house construction, we took a street taxi, which had a flat tire, and had to wave down another street taxi.

Things may be different late at night.

Let me say there is no city in the world where it is impossible to get robbed. But, as a general statement, for tourists with any common sense at all, DF is not now especially dangerous.

Several years ago, a man we did not know with really nice clothes was lying drunk and passed out near our house. We worried about him, that expensive suit seemed risky. We fussed but had no idea where he belonged. Finally, a neighbor came, dug in his pockets, found a key, tried it on the next house, it worked, so we shoved him inside on the floor on his side, tossed his key after him, and slammed the door. Apparently, he did not die from choking on his vomit...

Yes, this was in scary, crime-ridden Mexico City, sarcasm intended.