Looking out my hotel window

There is a vibrancy to Mexico City that instantly brought back in my mind the H1N1 (justified) fears that gripped this city just two months ago.

Save for having to fill out a medical form at the airport indicating that I was not suffering from H1N1, there was no discussion about the flu anywhere. I did see four people wearing those surgical masks that were so prominent when the initial wave of flu hit this city, but otherwise there appears to be no fear here.

And that's the way it should be: be cautious, but don't stop your life.

In the customs and immigration line at the airport there was a robust mix of ethnic backgrounds -- Americans, Latin Americans, and Asians were the dominant groups. Interestingly, my flight from Dallas to Mexico City was almost entirely full, and there were more Americans on that plane than you might otherwise think.

The traffic in this city is a maze; I grew up in southern California, but one cab ride here from the airport to my hotel has me thinking that Mexico City's traffic is worse than in Los Angeles. But that maze of traffic suggests a city that is alive and brimming with enthusiasm.

I mentioned in an earlier post that my hotel is on the historic Zocalo Square. I'm heading there later to take pictures (which I'll post on this blog).

More later.