Plan B after Guanajuato was to head south to Morelia (another "wonderful Colonial city"). But after reading the paper and deciphering the words that went with a disturbing picture, it seems that the bodies of 16 Federal police (we saw quite of lot of recruitment posters for Federal police) were found there after a moment of retaliation by drug lords .... even though Morelia is clearly not a border (US) town.
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Mexico City seemed relatively safe. The city is, as you might expect, big and an interesting mix of old and new sprawling out across previously individual towns.
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A double decker tourist bus showed us a great deal of the city and gave us our bearings for independent excursions as well as dropping us off at various museums and galleries including the very lovely house where Frida Kahlo (a favourite with (especially) Mexican women and me) was born and lived for many years +/- Diego (don't like him).
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We saw lots and lots of police (at once comforting and disturbing) of various specialisations. One morning we were in the company of several bus loads of riot police (guns, shields, helmets and flack jackets .....) keeping the peace during a little demonstration. Then there were truckloads of army personnel cruising by (they seem a friendly lot) and ubiquitous transit police (looking rather smart) standing at or in intersections blowing whistles and waving frantically to speed traffic through, occasionally against the lights (little green "walk" men are of little value). The also carry guns. Not sure what the penalty is for a breach of traffic laws but it might be significant.
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From within the city doesn't appear very polluted. Quite the clean-up apparently. Odd and even number plates (and their cars) are banned from entering the city (centre?) on alternate days.
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Oh, plan A had been a trip up north to the Copper Canyon for my B'day but it's been put on hold. The canyon, not my B'day. That forced it's way in.
