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Travel & Experiences

Mexico street signs

All the streets in this neighborhood on the outskirts of Mexico City are named after different reforms, as the intersection of Reforma Politica and Reforma Terrestre (Political Reform and Land Reform) illustrates. Some streets bear the names of infamous political figures, leading to calls to change them. “Proper names that have to do with geography have less political baggage,” said Jesus Velazquez Angulo, who directs a 27-member staff that dreams up street names and installs the signs. Lakes and mountain ranges are popular.

All the streets in this neighborhood on the outskirts of Mexico City are named after different reforms, as the intersection of Reforma Politica and Reforma Terrestre (Political Reform and Land Reform) illustrates. Some streets bear the names of infamous political figures, leading to calls to change them. “Proper names that have to do with geography have less political baggage,” said Jesus Velazquez Angulo, who directs a 27-member staff that dreams up street names and installs the signs. Lakes and mountain ranges are popular.  (Sarah Meghan Lee / For The Times)

STREET SIGNS MEXICO CITY

A pet food store sits at the corner of 5 de Mayo and Benito Juarez streets on the outskirts of Mexico City. The megalopolis has 632 streets named after Juarez, a 19th century Mexican president, and more than 100 called 5 de Mayo -- you know, Cinco de Mayo.  (Sarah Meghan Lee / For The Times)

STREET SIGNS MEXICO CITY

Revolutionary meets president at the intersection of Miguel Hidalgo and Benito Juarez. The rebel leader of the early 1800s has nearly as many streets named after him as the president does, with 624 in the Mexico City metropolitan area.  (Sarah Meghan Lee / For The Times)

STREET SIGNS MEXICO CITY

A member of the Flores family serves seafood to a customer at a stand on one of the many Miguel Hidalgo streets in the Mexico City metropolitan area.  (Sarah Meghan Lee / For The Times)

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Benito Juarez streets

Nearly every neighborhood in Mexico City has a Benito Juarez street. Another popular street name: Emiliano Zapata. The city has at least 500 streets named after the peasant leader from Mexico’s revolution.  (Sarah Meghan Lee / For The Times)

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