Ciudad de México (CDMX)
Ciudad de México (CDMX) Day 1: Landing on an Ancient Lake Thursday, January 22, 2026 As our Aeroméxico flight began its descent, the city simply refused to end. Houses stretched as far as the eye could see, spilling up the steep slopes of the surrounding mountains in tight, colorful clusters. Welcome to Mexico City: a megalopolis of more than 20 million people and the largest metro area in North America. The day had started gently. After leaving home early, we relaxed at the Capital One lounge with a drink and breakfast, then walked next door to our gate. About three hours after a slightly delayed takeoff, and with a wonderfully friendly crew, our pilot announced our approach. Landing on a Lake What I hadn't fully appreciated until I looked out the window is that we were landing on a lake, or what's left of one. The Valley of Mexico once held a system of five lakes, and at its heart was Lake Texcoco, home to the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. Over centuries the lakes were dra...