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Over the last 8 years I have had the privilege to travel to over 80 cities, 30 countries, and 5 continents. I have made new friends, ate incredible foods, had some crazy nights out, navigated sketchy situations, and much much more ! With this in mind, I decided it would be a good idea to really sit down and put my thoughts to paper deciding what cities stand tall beyond the rest. This week #9: Siem Reap, Cambodia THE GRADING CRITERIA -Category 1, "Food" 10 PTS -Category 2, "Safety" 10 PTS -Category 3, "Activities / Things to do" 10 PTS -Category 4, "Cost" 10 PTS -Category 5, "Energy / Excitement / Good Vibes" 10 PTSd -Category 6, "My experience (I.e. How much fun did I have)" 50 PTS  Subjective ? Yes ! However, I am not ranking these cities by how comfortable I think they are or what would be the best city to live in. Rather, the main factor really just is: Did I have fun and make some life-long memories while here ? No. 9 SIEM REAP - CAMBODIA // Total Score: 91 out of 100 A monk standing outside the main gate of Angkor Wat -Food: 5 / 10: Road side noodles and beer with our tuk tuk driver. Not the worst cuisine I have had by any means, the Cambodian food I had need Siem Reap was decent, but largely unremarkable. Unlike most of my other favorite cities the culinary culture didn't qualify as one of the highlights here. However, I did manage to have some memorable meals in Siem Reap. Being a city of locals that feels far more akin to a large village than what truly constitutes a city in most people's eyes. Many nights were spent sitting on tiny plastic chairs on the side of the road, eating fried noodles and drinking Beer Cambodia with inquisitive and tremendously friendly locals. Even when stepping away from the street food and focusing on the restaurant scene, there are virtually zero western or asian chains operating in Siem Reap. During my time stay all the restaurants I visited were small family owned affairs. Often with a small dining room and kitchen in the back with the husband or kids taking orders and then helping the wife with the cooking once the orders were placed. For the most part the food in Siem Reap consisted of fairly simple rice or noodle dishes. Yet, the care it was made with unquestionable. About 50 cents worth of Beer Cambodia In particular, I highly recommend paying a visit to Taprohm 189 for an excellent home cooked traditional Cambodian meal. Highlight dishes included Amok and Lok Lak which were bursting with flavor and crafted to perfection. Moreover, if you want to try something authentic, but certainly unfamiliar to the western pallet you can go for the Cambodian fermented fish dish known as 'Prahok'. Not that it cracked my list of all time favorite dishes, but it was certainly a cultural experience. One final note, Taprohm 189 honors the '1 free beer' pull tabs found in cans of Beer Cambodia... if you know, you know ! -Safety: 7 / 10: Before traveling to Siem Reap I heard mixed reviews regarding safety in Cambodia. After traveling to Siem Reap myself I am happy to report that it felt quite safe. While in town I went for runs, walked by myself, and was out late at night after ingesting a few (or more than a few) adult beverages, through all of this I never felt sketched or in danger. The city center and surrounding streets stay moderately lively throughout the day and late into the night. Day time safety felt completely safe and at night as long as you are with a friend and aware of your surroundings I would image nothing bad would happen as well. Pagodas just outside of the Siem Reap city center. Buddhist paintings in a shrine near the city center. However, I would recommend is to picking an accommodation close to the city center. You will notice on the drive into town from the airport that the areas surrounding Siem Reap are quite underdeveloped. While I still think your chances of being a victim of violent crime are still low, many of these areas do not have street lighting. This, combined with the fact that there is virtually no public transport in Siem Reap and many dangerous wild animals living around the city like king cobras, vipers, and venomous scorpions you don't want to be wandering around the outskirts of Siem Reap after dark. Staying in the town center will certainly give you peace of mind and make your time in Siem Reap easier. - Activies & Things to do: 10 / 10: Despite being the smallest city on this list with a population of just under 140,000 people and feeling far more akin to a frontier town rather than a sprawling metropolis there is still so much to do here. Siem Reap truly punches above it's weight as my days here were action packed. In many cases even more so than compared to much larger cities. Many people (myself included) come to Siem Reap to visit the world famous ancient ruins of Angkor Wat, which should not be missed. Originally when planning my trip to South East Asia Siem Reap was not included on my itinerary at all, but the day before flying to Bangkok a random instagram reel showcasing Angkor Wat popped up which led me to book a last second flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap for the day after I arrived in Thailand. Upon arriving, I really had know idea of the true scale of the site. I've been to other famous landmarks like the Roman Colosseum and the Taj Mahal, I anticipated Angkor Wat would be a similar experience. I was mistaken. While the main and most famous / most photographed area of the Angkor Wat temple complex was a similar experience to visiting other famous landmarks. What I did not know was that this area was only the tip of the iceburg and that the entire Angkor Wat complex is roughly fifty square kilometers with hundreds of temples, many of which were hidden in the jungle - adding to the undeniable tomb raider atmosphere of the place. Yet, while Angkor Wat was amazing, this is just scratching the surface of what you can do in Siem Reap. In fact, perhaps even more so than Angkor Wat, I really enjoyed visiting the 'floating' villages found in the Tonle Sap lake. These little fishing communities consisted of huts built on bamboo stilts out on the water, allowing travelers to visit their community, see their ways of life, and even stay overnight. Our visit was the village was capped by one of the most perfect orange and red south asian sunsets I have been able to witness. Immediately going down into the 'core memory bank' Crocodile farm located on the Tonle Sap lake. Other highlights including getting a traditional bamboo tattoo from a buddhist monk, riding a tuktuk to the top of a mountain to catch sunset, drinking endless 'free' Beer Cambodias, and late nights partying on Siem Reap's pub street (which I found to be one of the best in all of South East Asia). Preparing for a traditional bamboo and hammer tattoo. -Cost: 10 / 10: Siem Reap provides some of the best bang for your buck of any city in the world. Outside of India, Nepal, and Thailand, the city just might be the best budget city I have ever travelled to. In this category, Siem Reap truly shines with the options you have for accommodation. I found that most hostels in town were between 5usd to 7usd. While this is a good price point for hostels, in many cities across south east Asia you can find options at this price point. This difference here is the quality of accommodation you can find for such a low price. Many of the hostels in town here feel more like communal resorts rather than your standard hostel. In fact, the Lub D hostel I stayed at here for 5usd a night might be the nicest hostel I have visited across all of my travels. However, food here is not the cheapest. I think this is in part due to the fact that Cambodians use USD for many of their purchases rather than their own currency, driving up the price for a meal. On average I was spending about 7 or 8 dollars per meal, which is still very affordable, but about double of what I was spending for a meal in India, Nepal, and Thailand. On the other hand beer here is mind-blowingly cheap so like life itself, balance is achieved. -Energy, Excitement, and Vibes: 9 / 10: An A+ sunset from the tonle sap floating village. Siem Reap is action packed, wild, adventurous, calm, and serene all in one. The best way I can put it is that the city feels the south east Asian version of a wild west frontier town. I can't deny that there is an aura of lawless you feel in the city, but not necessarily in a dangerous way. It just feels like one of those towns Indiana Jones would find himself in before embarking off on some grand adventure. On the flip-side there is a sense of peacefulness and 'zen' which I felt here. A local artisan, creating carvings. While Siem Reap can feel like you're standing on the edge of the frontier, it also feels incredibly welcoming and I would be remised if I did not mention that the Cambodian people of Siem Reap are perhaps the friendliest people I have had the pleasure of meeting anywhere in the world. Sitting on a hill top and watching the sunset behind the shadow of distant rainstorm, or having a beer sitting on plastics stools, looking off at rice fields as far as the eye can see were truly cathartic experiences. In contrast, many of the nights were spent partying until the wee hours on Siem Reaps excellent pub street. Props here are due, as compared to the pub streets in Thailand the drugs and prostitutes were noticeably less in-your-face which made the experience all the more enjoyable. -My Experience: 50 / 50: River cruise to get to the floating village. My summer 2024 south east Asia & India trip started in Siem Reap and I really visited the city on a whim, making it a very last second addition to the itinerary. I can't say it enough how happy I am I decided to book that last second city hopper from Bangkok to Siem Reap the night before starting my trip. I came to the city with no expectations other than wanting to see Angkor Wat. Yet, by the end, my week spent in Siem Reap was some of the most fun I have had across all of my travels. When sitting down and putting thoughts into what my favorite cities are - the area I put the most credence into is 'where did I have the most fun'. Judged purely off this metric Siem Reap is one of the best of the best. Moreover, the people I met and made friends with here were amazing and at the core I believe is what tied the whole experience together. In fact one of friends I made here, an Irish lad named Ben, ended up traveling with me for about three months after we met in Sieam Reap and is now someone I would consider one of my best friends. All in all, my experience in this city was absolutely remarkable.

Over the last 8 years I have had the privilege to travel to over 80 cities, 30 countries, and 5 continents. I have made new friends, ate incredible foods, had some crazy nights out, navigated sketchy situations, and much much more ! With this in mind, I decided it would be a good idea to really sit down and put my thoughts to paper deciding what cities stand tall beyond the rest. This week #10: Seoul, South Korea THE GRADING CRITERIA -Category 1, "Food" 10 PTS -Category 2, "Safety" 10 PTS -Category 3, "Activities / Things to do" 10 PTS -Category 4, "Cost" 10 PTS -Category 5, "Energy / Excitement / Good Vibes" 10 PTSd -Category 6, "My experience (I.e. How much fun did I have)" 50 PTS  Subjective ? Yes ! However, I am not ranking these cities by how comfortable I think they are or what would be the best city to live in. Rather, the main factor really just is: Did I have fun and make some life-long memories while here ? No.10 SEOUL - SOUTH KOREA // Total Score: 89 out of 100 Women dressed in traditional Korean dresses at Gyeongbokgung Palace. -Food: 8 / 10: If you are a big fan of Korean food fan (as I am) you will love the food scene of Seoul. Being an ultra-modern mega-city you can find gastronomic options from all ends of the spectrum. From eating bindaetteok dumplings shoulder to shoulder with businessmen on their lunch break in Gwangjang covered market to enjoying gourmet Korean cuisine in a quaint traditional wooden hanok house in Bukchon Hanok village and everything else in between. The flavors of Korean cuisine are distinct, delicious, and over the past few decades have brought flocks of food lovers from around the world wishing to indulge to the city. With a diverse range of dishes at just about every price point Seoul is truly a paradise for Korean food lovers. I did find outside of Korean food Seoul lacked just a touch in regard to it's international food offerings at least when compared to cities of the same size and scale. That being said while I have been to Seoul three times, each time was not for very long. I might just need to spend more time in the city to experience the range of food on offer to a fuller extent. Some of my recommendations are: - Hanmechon , Located in Bukchon Hanok Village this quaint restaurant offers guests an array of excellent traditional korea food, primarily in the form of small dishes you can either order individually or as part of a set menu. The setting here is also a highlight as the restaurant is in a traditional hanok house, adding to the cozy feeling of eating a home cooked meal. -Okdongsik Seogyo, A seven time michelin recognized establishment. Located just outside of the Hongdae nightlife district you will find the welcoming, but busy Okodonsik Seogyo. This counter service only restaurant (albeit in a refined way) puts you right up and close to the action as you can watch the restaurants busy staff prepare soup, and cook dumplings. Famous for their delicious (and affordable) pork gomtang and kimchi dumplings, this is one you should not miss. Just a word of warning you should be prepared to wait in line regardless of if you are going for lunch or dinner. I would recommend a week day. -Gwangjang covered market, Arguably Seoul's most famous food market, at least once during your visit to Seoul you need to make a stop here for lunch. Featured as part of the Netflix program "Street Food: Asia", you can find everything from steaming Mandu dumplings, fresh gohyang kalgusku (knife cut noodles), hot stone bibimbap, and perhaps most importantly fried twisted cinnamon donuts. While all of the options here can feel daunting, rest assured that whatever you go with you can't go wrong. Various spices and soups for sale at Gwangjang market. A late afternoon lunch in the market. A couple enjoying afternoon tea in a cafe near bukchon hanok village -Safety: 10 / 10: There is not a ton to say here. It should be no surprise Seoul gets full marks in the safety category as it is one of the safest cities in the world. Violent crime is extremely rare and unless you're sticking your head where you shouldn't other forms of crime are very unlikely to find you as well. The public transport in Seoul is excellent, and the streets are clean and well maintained across neighborhoods of all economic backgrounds. Seoul is a city you can freely roam and explore with confidence and without stress. - Activies & Things to do: 9 / 10: Seoul is a sprawling modern mega city with no shortage a fun activities to get into. From the ultra-modern star field shopping mall, equipped with an aquarium and massive library that looks like it was taken straight from the set of a sci-fi movie to the historical grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Seoul offers travelers with a myriad of options for unique experiences. You can't miss the street markets which extend far beyond being only food markets. As you wander the streets you'll discover markets specializing in just about anything from shoes, books, and just about any random trinket you can think of. What is cool about these markets is that you can clearly see that the shops here are where Seoul's locals do much of their shopping. Unlike the bazars of Istanbul or the street markets of Bangkok, in Seoul you won't find a myriad of shops selling knock off tourist clothes. Instead you'll see shopping streets full of locals doing their shopping for the day. If it is your first visit to the city I would also recommend heading up to N-Seoul tower to get a panoramic view of the entire city. What makes this view unique is that the tower is situated at the top of large hill (small mountain) right in the middle of the city. Meaning, compared to other city view points N-Seoul tower is much higher. This allows for some incredible views, letting you properly take in the concrete ocean that is Seoul. After my visit to N-Seoul tower I had a new appreciation for the size and scale of the city. In regard to day trips from Seoul, the most famous tour on offer is the day trip from Seoul to the Korean DMZ (border with North Korea). While I have not done this myself I would imagine that this would be a very unique (& presumably somber) experience. A street vendor and his book stall. The side streets of Seoul are bustling and easy to get lost in. -Cost: 7 / 10: Seoul is another one of those cities which is certainly cheap when compared to American standards, but a bit more than what you would find in south east Asia. It is also a city that has gotten much more expensive in the last six years or so. Back in 2019 on my first visit to Seoul it was noticeably less expensive than Tokyo. However, since then I have visited Seoul more recently in 2023 and last year in 2024. From my observations the prices for just about everything are now pretty much on par with what you would find in Tokyo. (Aside from the taxis, which are still much cheaper in Seoul) . For a hostel your probably looking to spend about 20usd per night, fairly standard rates for hostels outside of Europe or North America. For food and drink you really do have the full range of options. Street food is cheap with most dishes going for around 2usd to 7usd. However, if you want to have a proper sit down meal in a restaurant you are probably looking at about 10usd to 15usd, and Korean BBQ or upscale dining options typically going for 30usd or more. What is really cheap is the alcohol, especially if you're sourcing most of your drinks from Seoul's many convenience stores. Moreover, unlike most countries the Korean drink of choice is not beer. Instead many Koreans opt for the infamous soju. Virtually every Korean convenience store carries soju where it is nearly always about one to three dollars for a bottle. With an ABV typically around 15% to 20% Koreans have mastered the art of getting plastered - economically. -Energy, Excitement, and Vibes: 9 / 10: Seoul is an extremely vibrant city that is constantly bustling with energy. Simply walking through the streets of the city or taking the metro and being swept away in the tide of commuters moving throughout the city allows you to immerse yourself in the organized chaos of Seoul's hustle and bustle. However, beyond the crash of thousands of bodies moving throughout the city there are also pockets of peacefulness. Seoul has many gardens and parks where you can find moments of calm. Moreover, with Seoul being quite a hilly city I really enjoyed that you can often find parks or quiet neighborhoods up high. Going here to see and hear the city go by below was quite relaxing. In particular, I really enjoyed Bukchon Hanok village. While this area is known for being touristy, it is actually quite a large area. If you can make it past the crowds and continue deeper into the neighborhood there are more than a few quaint cafes and restaurants to enjoy. It also must be said that Seoul's nightlife is absolutely wild. While I unfortunately missed the heyday of Seoul's Itaewon district, nights out in Hongdae certainly did not disappoint. On the topic of hongdae, while it is not the largest nightlife district I have been to. It is certainly one of the rowdiest, especially when compared to other cities in East-Asia. After partying in Hongdae. Shibuya and Ximending, the famous nightlife districts of Tokyo and Taipei feel noticeably tame. I highly recommend starting the night at the bar "Thursday Party" where it is quite easy to make friends before heading to one of Hongdae's many head banging basement nightclubs. -My Experience: 46 / 50: At the time of writing, I have been to Seoul on three occasions and on each of those visits I have had an excellent time. My first visit to Seoul was back in 2019 together with my mom. While I didn't get into any partying or other social activities on this initial visit. I did have a wonderful time site-seeing many of Seoul's famous sites. We spent our days visiting attractions such as N Seoul tower, star field mall, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Bukchon Hanok village. To this date, this is the only proper trip I have been able to take with just my mom and for this I have a great appreciation for this visit to Seoul. Since then my two subsequent visits to Seoul have been solo trips. On these trips I hit a excellent balance of site seeing by myself and socializing with other travelers. Destinations where I make good friends typically standout more so than others and Seoul is no exception to this. My days were spent wandering the streets of the city and its many shops and markets. While many of the nights were spent out until sunrise in one of Hongdae's many nightclubs with friends I had made at the hostel.

Over the last 8 years I have had the privilege to travel to over 80 cities, 30 countries, and 5 continents. I have made new friends, ate incredible foods, had some crazy nights out, navigated sketchy situations, and much much more ! With this in mind, I decided it would be a good idea to really sit down and put my thoughts to paper deciding what cities stand tall beyond the rest. This week #11: Mexico City, Mexico THE GRADING CRITERIA -Category 1, "Food" 10 PTS -Category 2, "Safety" 10 PTS -Category 3, "Activities / Things to do" 10 PTS -Category 4, "Cost" 10 PTS -Category 5, "Energy / Excitement / Good Vibes" 10 PTSd -Category 6, "My experience (I.e. How much fun did I have)" 50 PTS  Subjective ? Yes ! However, I am not ranking these cities by how comfortable I think they are or what would be the best city to live in. Rather, the main factor really just is: Did I have fun and make some life-long memories while here ? No. 11 MEXICO CITY - MEXICO // Total Score: 88 out of 100 Front row at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes for a Club America match. -Food: 10 / 10: Similar to Cusco I could not find myself leaving Mexico City off this list, again thanks in large part to the spectacular food scene found here. To start, if you think you've had good tacos just wait until you visit Mexico City. As I frequently do, I started my visit by looking through the Michelin guide page for the city. It was no surprise that there were no less than twenty different taquerias around the city listed. This information in mind, on our final day in Mexico City, I mapped out a ten mile route to eleven of these michelin rated taco spots. All told, we spent hours walking through the city and trying tacos across a vast array of neighborhoods. A highlight for me were the famous 'Al pastor' tacos which are a staple of taquerias across Mexico City. I tried these tacos at establishments across the city. From no frills roadside food-stalls to full service sit down restaurants, the frequently pineapple garnished, shawarma style tacos hit the perfect balance of savory with a touch of sweetness no matter the setting. In addition to the staples, many of Mexico City's taquerias also have their own 'house specialties'. With some standouts being 'La 89's' extra large carne asada tacos topped with their own house guacamole. As well as 'Gonzalitos' barbacoa de res tacos; slow cooked and marinated to perfection, the tenderness and flavors found here blew me away. In addition to these two , I also enjoyed, 'Castacan' for their pibil tacos, 'Tacos El Paisa' for their spicy Al pastor tacos, 'Tacos Atarantados' for a classic Al pastor topped with pineapple, and 'Tacos del Valle' for expertly garnished bistec tacos. Massive carne asada tacos served at LA89. Absolutely bursting with filling and flavor Now if you don't like tacos (are you crazy ?) thats okay too. Being the largest city in North America with a population of over twenty-million people you can find just about anything you'd like. In fact, as someone who grew up in Asia, I had some of the best Chinese steamed dumplings of my life in the Centro neighborhood of Mexico City at 'Du Te Chinese Dumplings'. Moreover, the neighborhoods of Roma and Condesa have an insane array of upscale dining options. Here you can find some excellent quality Mexican dishes as well as Italian, French, Japanese, and Korean. All of this along with metropolitan staples such as burger joints and pizzerias. This is to say, the food scene here is amazing and very eclectic. For those who have visited New York City it hits in a very similar way. Hand crafted dumplings, steamed to perfection. -Safety: 4 / 10: Mexico City is a city of contrasts when it comes to safety. Roma and Condesa feel perfectly safe to walk around, as does Bosque de Chapultepec park and most of the western side of the city close to Ave de. La Reforma. However, I found the vibe can turn quickly from neighborhood to neighborhood and even street to street. For example, directly neighboring the eastern side of the Roma neighborhood is Doctores, which is known in part for its higher rates of violent crime. We actually made a wrong turn on the way home from dinner one night and accidentally wandered into this neighborhood. While we were totally fine and I assume most of the time you would be okay. The contrast between the two neighboring neighborhoods was clear. In Roma there were carefully manicured gardens, lively restaurants, bars, cafes, and night clubs. Whereas in Doctores, many of the streets were not well lit and there were many derelict buildings lining the streets. Much like what you see in LA, NYC, or other cities in North America, I thought there was a clear contrast in the economic investment of many of the neighborhoods across Mexico City. Yet despite this, you should want to leave the more touristy and gentrified neighborhoods of Mexico City. Yes Roma and Condesa are nice, but you're also missing out on much of what Mexico City has to offer. As many of the city's best restaurants, markets, and other notable sites are situated outside of the safest zones of the city; you should not skip out on these experiences out of fear. However, it is good to know to really experience Mexico City to the fullest you're a bit less insulated from the rougher areas as compared to some other cities. -Activities & Things to do: 10 / 10: Mexico City is a city of endless possibilities. If you want to stay within the city there are tons of different activities to choose from. While we were there we went to a Club America football match which was an amazing experience. Tickets were cheap and easy to buy. The stadium is easily accessible via the metro system with it also feeling safe in and around the stadium. That said, if football isn't your thing there are ton of other live events frequently happening around the city, one famous example being the live nacho liebre wrestling series. However, just strolling the city will present you with a bounty of things to do. We strolled the streets, ate at the markets, picnicked in Bosque de Chapultepec park and I went for a few runs around the city. All of which were excellent ways to spend the mornings and afternoons. Pre-game at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes Moreover, just outside of the city are the pyramids of Teotihuacan. A highlight of my entire trip across Latin-America, I would highly recommend taking the trip out to see them. Located about fifty minutes outside of downtown Mexico City the pyramids can be easily accessed via a local bus from the North-Central bus station. However, as many people opt to see the pyramids via a hot air ballon ride, most ballon companies will offer hotel pick up from Mexico City directly to the pyramids. Just know that you will be paying a premium if you decide to get there this way. While we decided to save some money and took the bus, without a doubt the best way to see the pyramids was with a sunrise hot air balloon ride. Floating over the pyramids in a hot air balloon, surrounded by other balloons flying by as the sun rose is a morning I will never forget. Looking down at the pyramids of Teotihuacan from up above in a hot air ballon. -Cost: 8 / 10: Being a megacity Mexico City truly gives you a bounty of options at every price point for food, accommodation, transportation, and activities. I actually went for an air bnb during my stay so I spent a bit more than I normally do. However, if I had gone with a hostel the prices were pretty average for hostels across Latin America, roughly 10usd to 20usd per night. In other words cheap compared to Europe, but expensive compared to South-Asia. In terms of getting around the city, the metro system here is cheap and easy to use. If my memory doesn't fail me, it was roughly 50 cents per ride meaning you can have a very cost efficient way to move around the city. For longer journeys deeper into the city we did find ourselves frequently using uber, but that was still reasonably cheap and efficient as well. Moreover, food is where Mexico City really shines in the budget department as you can find endless street food and market food offerings. Many of these stalls were dishing out tacos for about 25 cents a piece and packed with locals. Truth be told Mexico City probably could score higher in this category if you commit to living like a local on your visit. However, most tourists - myself included won't be doing this. On one hand I ate street food, and rode local busses as well as the metro to get around. On the other hand, I also stayed in an air bnb in Roma, ate at a few fine dining restaurants, drank at trendy bars, and ubered when public transport was inconvenient. Again, Mexico City is a city of contrasts. It is a cheap city, but to properly experience everything it has to offer you shouldn't be surprised to pay a bit more in certain spots. -Energy, Excitement, and Vibes: 10 / 10: Man this city feels alive. What I really appreciated the most about Mexico City is that it feels like a city where people live and go about their business through and through. During many of my adventures around the city I felt like a fly on the wall watching a whirlwind of life in action around me. The city has that perfect blend of romance and grit that can only be found in a few other cities around the world. In fact this feeling of balance is something I hold in high regard when reflecting on which cities most resonate with me. If a city is too romantic or too perfect it can end up feeling artificial, akin to the feeling you get when you visit Disney World. On the other hand, if somewhere is too gritty it could end up entirely unenjoyable. Mexico City was just right, strolling through the streets of Roma and Condesa lush with gardens and lined with art deco style buildings took me back to the feeling of watching 'Before Sunrise' for the first time. On the other hand when visiting the Centro neighborhood and the many nearby markets you can get a slice of the grittier side of the city. -My Experience: 46 / 50:   Mexico City was my last stop of my Latin America trip this summer and it could not have worked out more perfectly ending on such a high note. A few moments really stand out to me. On our last day, during our taco hike around the city we stopped at a park in Condesa to watch a street musician perform. We were some the first to stop and listen right at the beginning of the set, but in a matter of minutes there was a crowd of 60 to 70 people listening along with us. Scanning the crowd of listeners people were dancing and singing along to each of the songs. Couples were dancing together, on-lookers were laughing and smiling, and the weather was perfect. In that moment there was such an atmosphere of happiness I found myself choked up for a second. Across Mexico City I found every corner of the city to have something of interest. Whether walking through a lively market, past street performers, or even by a group of protesters blocking a street the entire city feels utterly authentic and teeming with life.