today I wanted to buy a moped for easier getting around Mexico City and its surroundings

Today I wanted to buy a moped to get around Mexico City and its surroundings more easily. I decided to buy a used one, not too expensive, so I wouldn't feel bad about ditching it later.

I came across a seller – an honest and decent guy named Luis, who surprisingly spoke English. Mexico City is a huge place, and it so happens that Luis lives not far from where I'm staying now. Luis gave me several tips, not just about owning a bike in this country, but also about being a foreigner in general.

Luis's advice helped me avoid problems I'd obviously have run into, since I mostly learn the important stuff here directly from locals – I'm not used to Googling in Spanish yet. And if he hadn't told me, well... I would've bought a moped like his, and probably tomorrow I'd be dealing with the police.

What's the problem, exactly? The thing is, his bike has papers but no plates – you can only ride that within the city limits.

"If you go outside the city, you'll run into trouble with the police," Luis told me. "You need to get plates, even if the bike is under 50cc, like mine."

"How much does it cost and how long does it take?"

"It costs around 200 pesos, takes three days."

As for my driver's license, he said it would work – in Mexico, nobody really checks whether you have an "A" category or not. Back home, I have "B," "C," and "M" open. And that's enough for Mexico – I can buy a proper motorcycle and not bother with small fry.

He also confirmed the fears of those who think it's dangerous for a foreigner to walk around in Mexico after dark.

"Do you have Uber? Use Uber if you're heading home in the evening, and steer clear of dark, empty alleyways," Luis advised me. I asked him why I shouldn't walk around at night, and he replied: "You're a foreigner."

#ArthurOHarra