It is our hearts’ fondest desire to truly get to know a place when we travel. It’s one thing to wander around blindly, to take the well-worn tourist’s path, to get a glimpse at a new and interesting place. It’s quite another to see it through the eyes of someone who lives there, and loves this place like family.

This is part of our 100 Things in 2017 challenge. Click on the photos for a closer look!

As part of our planning process for our visit to Mexico City, we cast a wide net on Google looking for ideas. One that came up was a private tour, provided by a local. We found a very strong recommendation for a woman named Rocio, and her personalized tour was just the thing we wanted, so we booked her.

Some highlights of the evening that followed: four local coffees that definitely hold their own against Portland’s best; special Mezcal and crickets in a family-owned hole-in-the-wall restaurant in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city; gorgeous bars and lounges in La Condesa; a charming men’s store; the worst murals of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerburg; two more bars; lots of wandering around and learning about local architecture, and the best churros it’s possible to eat.

We cannot recommend this enough. Rocio is an absolute treasure, and if you’re ever in Mexico City, look her up. You won’t regret it.