Mexico City
Mexico City is changing. Ten years ago people were on edge. If you were walking behind someone too close they'd step aside and let you pass. At ATMs people put their money away secretly before exiting the booth. Now people in Mexico City act like people in any other major city of the world and appear completely unconcerned about theft. The difference between 2014 and last year is even noticeable.
The city is cleaner than it was last year too and much much cleaner than it was in previous years. I believe a lot of this is due to increased money in the area and increased attention by local officials. Mexico City still has a crime problem and it still has a pollution problem. It also has a massive poverty problem but I can say that it's going in the right direction on all fronts.
We usually stay in the historic district near the Zocolo but we decided to check out an apartment in Colonia Roma to see what that's like. We finished this portion of the trip at the Gran Hotel on the Zocolo because it's always wonderful.