in case you're wondering about something like drugs you can easily get drugs
here, I've just been offered cocaine - $500 pesos. the bit with the dogs right,
where the puppies were in the thing - two guys approached me basically
following me down an alleyway - and it's really important that you have some basic
knowledge of Spanish so that if you are in those situations you can get out of
it without having any issues
yes that's right everyone I'm back in Mexico City it's
good to be back and that's right you did just hear right I am in Tepito, this
is an area that is also known as a "Barrio Bravo" - fierce neighborhood in
other words and the reason for this name is that this area has a great history
with Mexican boxing and Mexican boxers. additionally this area is considered to
be one of the most dangerous areas in Mexico City
not only for foreigners but also for residents of Mexico City .
many of you have warned me about coming here however one of the things I like to
do on this channel is show a different side of cities I go to it's not just
about the tourist sites staying in your comfortable airbnb in Condesa - we come
to the more gritty real authentic areas of Mexico City on this channel so let's
take a look around
Tepito is essentially a huge market it's quite central it's close to centro
historico - reasonably - and it's in between the barrios of Peralvillo and
Morelos and you'll notice that I'm being quite selective about how I'm
filming I'm not in the market filming if you know what I mean I'm on the street
and the reason for that is is that this market is well-known it has a bit of a
reputation for counterfeit goods illegal activities drug dealing the sale of
weapons it also has an issue with crime in terms of kidnapping murders that kind
of thing so obviously I don't want to get into any trouble walking around here . in that
place just over there has cigarettes clearly from other countries I think
they're from India basically you can get them for like ten pesos nine pesos
normally a pack of 20 would normally be about forty five fifty pesos so clearly
you know they've got them from other countries and they're just selling them
cheap yeah that's just an example of some of the stuff you can get here
you'll just get clothing fake nikes and adidas things like that
bags jewelry perfume that sort of stuff it is very much like a market in
Asia with knockoff counterfeit goods. well I have to stopped off for food
I've come out of the market I've stopped at that place there I've got pasty
basically frijoles con chorizo, 15 pesos, fantastic I love these
these are awesome and I just want to say you know I was stopped in
there while filming basically the bit with the dogs right where the puppies
were in the thing and two guys approached me and got basically followed
me down an alleyway and they were quite adamant I wasn't allowed to film obviously
my understanding wasn't fantastic but I got the gist basically and you know
what it was probably the first time I've actually felt slightly unsafe
because you know it's big guy we're walking down like an alleyway I probably
should have gone the other way which I did but in the end you know I just had a
bit of a chat with him and said you know I'm gonna buy some clothes and food and
whatever and when I said filmando no bien
he understood no filming so it's really important that you have some basic
knowledge of Spanish so that if you're in those situations you can get out of
it without having any issues let's eat this. that was beautiful
you know what I'll just we'll say something as well you know I've you're
probably gonna write in the comments I shouldn't put myself at risk coming
somewhere like this and you're probably right but I'm quite a badass I think I
am quite streetwise and even though I feel I am quite streetwise come into
somewhere like this you really really have to have a wits about you and
regarding the guys that stop me you know I don't feel like scared or anything
about that I totally understand why they're doing that because if I was
selling illegal goods maybe I was a drug dealer dealing coke or you know I was
involved in illegal activities selling guns or whatever I wouldn't want people
filming cuz you know they could get caught you know there's that topic of
respect you know am I being respectful by filming here today I don't know but
the point of this is to show you this side of Mexico so I will take that risk
let's get going
okay I found this food place there's kind of renewed my faith in Tepito
because then people over there are absolute legends. you know get
involved with the locals when you're in a place like this even though you might
feel slightly I'm really pleased actually with the conversation we had in
Spanish believe it and you know knowing some basic basic verbs it really helps
let's tuck into this taco with Pechuga chicken and Papas chicken potato with
salsa Roja of course you know what this didn't look particularly appetizing when
she was cooking it actually it's awesome so chicken potato, salsa.. Hola! this is funny
everyone's really curious about me filming eating
beautiful first food moment of 2019 is done spicy
right I've headed out of Tepito now the market area I'm essentially in Morelos
now which is the barrio next door and just on the food I've read a lot about
the food in Tepito in that it's prepared in unsanitary conditions and it's
awful but actually it's no different from anywhere else I've eaten in terms of
street food in Mexico it was great brilliant great to mix with the locals
and just because I've come out of Tepito doesn't mean I have to be less
wary and just go back to normal Mexico City David because they're still you
know people around they're slightly unsavory it is an area that is has a
higher level of poverty and crime so you know you have to be wary all the time be
streetwise the patron saint of Morelos and the Tepito area I believe is Santa
Muerte death saint of death so you have these effigies is that the right word
all around this area and the flowers things like that and from what I
understand at times of the year like dia de Muertos people give offerings so
you've got a little thing down there that you can put money into I believe but also
people will put things like alcoholic drinks and cigarettes at least that's
what I've read so yeah very pretty. just down the road from where I was is
another area with Santa Muerte so this lots of flowers outside as you can see
there's people queuing up outside and just next to that you can see that there
absolutely is poverty in Mexico City there's kids calling out of you know a
wall as you can see washing hanging outside I think it's important that that
thing is highlighted as well you know we talked a lot about the tourist aspects
of Mexico see you know condesa the central historical area but you know no
one shows you this sort of thing I think it's important that that happens next to
the Santa Muerte there is a little shop where you can buy things like incense
sticks spirit of the patron saint of death and lots of other little things
like that which is very nice so clearly and you know Santa Muerte is a big part
of the culture around here let's go back to the market where I will give you a
bit of a summary of my thoughts of this area
right I've taken a walk through the market in case you're wondering about
something like drugs you can't easily get drugs here I've just been offered
cocaine 500 pesos obviously I'm not gonna get it but you know it's very
apparent that that kind of thing is abundant here which is no surprise
you're gonna do it I'm now just down the road in Lagunilla which is just next to the
Tepito basically it's a big market as well however it's slightly less intimidating
than Tepito you know it's a Mexican city I know and love colorful buildings
that kind of thing and on the subject of safety and intimidation you know I'm
conscious that many of you watching this might be thinking about coming to Mexico
City for maybe a week or a two-week holiday whatever and you might be
thinking well should I go to Tepito because this guy on YouTube has gone
there and you know what I've got a yes-or-no answer to that I'm the biggest
advocate for coming to places like this where you can really experience the real
Mexico City that isn't necessarily advertised in tourist brochures and in
that respect it's great I've had an interesting day however on the flip side
you know if you're someone that maybe doesn't feel so streetwise or you feel
slightly worried or concerned in this kind of situation I would say no don't
do it stick to the typical tourist base places
like Coyoacan, Condesa, whatever you know everyone travels differently everyone
wants to see different things and the biggest point of this from today is that
do not put yourself at risk even though I probably have done in this video but I
am quite happy to do that and my last point for today is the fact that in many
other videos I've talked about the fact that I believe mainstream media really
misrepresents Mexico in so many ways however at the same time I'm not going
to sugarcoat things you know this city does have a problem with crime this city
does have a problem with poverty and this city does have undesirable areas
but let's be honest for a second I'm from London does London have the same
issues of course it does where you're from probably has the same
issues Mexico City should not be singled out as
crime-filled hellhole because it just has the same amount of issues as every
other city does in the world if you've enjoyed having a look around to Peter
today and watching me risk my life the hen make sure you hit that like button
leave a comment as well what do you think about this area and don't forget
to subscribe as well there's a massive playlist of Mexico videos I think it's
about 70 videos now so if you're new to this channel welcome I hope you all take
a look at that playlist that I've just mentioned and enjoy what Mexico has to
offer thanks for watching and I'll catch you later