Chicago, where I have lived for the past 35 years, is not the safest city, but it seems like a paradise of safety compared to Mexico City, where I recently spent a few days. On arrival, I was told that because robbery and kidnapping are so rampant, it is not safe to go for walks even in the best neighborhoods. I spent three otherwise delightful days at various meetings and did not walk more than a few feet along the streets of this enormous, highly attractive city.
As an illustration, we were on our way by car to a luncheon meeting in the middle of the city with an important government official and were caught in extremely heavy traffic because of a political demonstration. As the time of the trip increased from an expected 20 minutes to over an hour, I suggested we walk the remaining distance, less than half a mile. The driver and my host, a native of this city now teaching in the United States, both said it was too dangerous—although some people were walking the streets in the neighborhood of small shops selling simple, cheap goods. My companions said we would stick out because we were wearing suits and spoke English, and argued that we had a good chance of being held up or kidnapped.
