Downtowns at Night in Monterrey

Thanks to highly publicized violence, Mexico has a terrible reputation for safety. Even though the United States has yet to go a week without a mass shooting, the US public has to think Mexico is dangerous because that preserves the image of “best country in the world.” What do most Mexican people think? Well, most of them are busy living their lives, regardless of whether there is a threat of violence looming over their heads. However, downtown areas can truly be dangerous because of the popularity of compartmentalizing work, home, and social lives.

Very few people remain downtown during the night hours unless they are in specific locations and are not interested in moving around. There are still several commercial spaces based on the real estate boom, but most people evacuate the downtown area after their shift. Because there are no eyes on the street, that creates a perfect opportunity for crime since there are few witnesses and even fewer places to hide. Even Uber drivers tell people not to go out at night in Monterrey, and those are the people who would stand to make a lot of money, especially with people who try to avoid drunk driving.

Away from the downtown? That is where the people live, so of course things are vastly different. People go out when they need to go out, and can be out much later due to there being more people moving on a regular basis. Stores and restaurants are open later, so the residents of the neighborhoods have somewhere to be, rather than having to search for something to do. Most college campuses are not downtown, and Tecnológico de Monterrey has a lit-up boulevard to amp up student life, not to mention bus service that extends into the late hours.

Imperially speaking, this is the result of people who ran away from the city where “dangerous people” lived and created suburban experiences. When other countries imitate the United States, they follow the same propaganda models, and they ensure that their own citizens have similar experiences. Meanwhile, if given the opportunity, other cities and countries can create their own opportunities, and when people move or visit, people will have much more boring experiences–otherwise known as living life.