Most cities in Latin America and Spain, small and large, are based on the concept
of the plaza as being the center of the city. This may be a large, pedestrian-only
area with historical buildings in it, or it may be a simple gazebo where one
can go to hear live music outdoors, similar to the zócalo that is found
in Mexico. The most important streets in a city branch out from the central
plaza
like the rays of the sun. In the surrounding areas there are less important,
or more residential, streets. Like all big cities in the world, Mexico City,
Madrid, Buenos Aires, Lima, Quito, Bogotá, Caracas and others, all have
many neighborhoods, each one famous for something or other: its history, shopping,
antiques, restaurants, theaters, its university, the financial district and
the like. To get from one neighborhood to the next, buses and trains are common
in the Spanish-speaking world.
Big cities and even rural towns have extensive public transportation. Some cities
have two trains: a suburban and a local one. People probably drive far less
in Spanish-speaking cities than in your cities, but unlike in many European
countries, bicycles are also not very popular as a means to get around. Most
people take the bus or train to work. Kids usually live close enough to their
schools to walk, or they take a bus instead. Some parents do drop their kids
off at school, but this is not common. In smaller villages and towns, children
ride bikes to get around, more so than they do in cities. If people need to
get from one town to the next, they again take longer-distance buses or trains.
Gasoline is quite expensive abroad and many families find it more economical
to travel by public transportation.
How do you get around?