Mexico DF Santa Maria la Ribera Neighborhood

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LW

Why send private messages on an issue like this? For safety reasons, I would not recommend communicating with Thorn Tree members via private messages... just too many things that could go wrong. If there's something to say, say it in public. Anyone looking for dating or love matches or whatever should use a different method.

Santa Maria is a fantastic neighborhood with a strong community vibe, and I kinda wish I were staying there right now. That said, there are some areas that are a bit sketchier than others... even though the overall safety of the neighborhood has improved a LOT in recent years. What part of the neighborhood are you staying in exactly? Near the kiosk? Don't worry about not staying out late... it's a 24-hour city and there is a ton of fun stuff to do in the evening hours.

Taxis are safe. Ubers are safe. There's always a tiny chance that you could get some crazy, but this is true in New York, Bangkok, literally everywhere. The days of "dangerous" green taxis and serious problems in CDMX are in the past.

great!! thank for your message. I think we are staying to the south and east of the kiosk... I'm really looking for staying in Santa Maria after reading your message.

Ooooh, that's a great area... and you're very close to the (extremely busy) Buenavista metro stop.

Just to be clear, the area used to have a worse reputation for crime... and if you walk directly east, you'll find yourself in some slightly sketchier areas. However, I go there all the time (I love the restaurant "Mi Jacalito" right north of the kiosko), and I'd love to stay there. One can't miss attraction in the area is the "Art Corridor" on Calle Mosqueta, directly between the Buenavista and Guerrero metro stations. An artist's collective painted literally hundreds(!) of absolutely incredible, huge murals lining the entire street, many of them of women... the effect is awesome and must be seen to be appreciated. You're also very close to the convenient Revolucion station... you should expect to see some prostitution and down-and-out characters around there, but it's still relatively safe.

You're also very close to the Chopo museum, which is another must-see in the area. I think you'll really like SMdR, it's much less touristy than Roma or Condesa but there's a reason why it has received the "Magic Neighborhood" status...

I visited Del Chopo and the Santa Maria la Ribera neighbourhood this morning, and I´ve visited several times in the past. But I´m not out late at night, and we´ve had few reports from others staying out late in that neighbourhood. I´ve found that there are a lot of prostitutes of both genders along Ribera de San Cosme during the evening. And I´ve found few hotels in that neighbourhood; are you staying at a private residence? Be careful about which taxis you take, that is, take a secure taxi with standardized marking and driver´s licence displayed, or better yet, ask your hotel manager to arrange the pickup.

Be careful about which taxis you take

Why, exactly, and how does one do this?

In terms of 2018, please, not, you know, 1999. [spoiler: taxis are fine, and safe... Uber is also fine, though there have been some unpleasant, well-publicized incidents recently]

I've walked around in SMdR many times as late as midnight lately... easy peasy. The side streets near San Cosme/Revolución are worth avoiding, but otherwise, pretty tranquilo, and it's easy to stick to bigger streets, like Insurgentes.

great!! thank for your message. I think we are staying to the south and east of the kiosk... I'm really looking for staying in Santa Maria after reading your message.

There's another PM in your In Box.

LW

^^^^^ come on, that's just weird

Be careful about which taxis you take, that is, take a secure taxi with standardized marking and driver´s licence displayed, or better yet, ask your hotel manager to arrange the pickup.

Good advice. There are still problems with some (mostly pirate) taxi's detailed in newspaper and TV news programs. Many taxi's now have an 81\2 x 11" page taped to one of the rear passenger windows ... that includes driver photo and license information ... which has been reassuring to many passengers. I won't use Uber (not because of safety concerns, though)... but many people in the city do.

LW