The Armchair Traveller

If you have seen films like Frida and The Mexican then you will be slightly familiar with what the country of Mexico may look like. And we all know about Sombreros and Tequila and all that yummy Mexican food (think Flying Burrito Brothers and you are pretty close to the real thing) but what else do you really know about Mexico?

For example, we all know that Mexico is in North America, but do you know how big it is? It measures almost 2,000,000 square kilometres, and its coasts are almost 12,000 kilometres long. Mexico also includes islands such as Guadalupe and the Revillagigedo islands, which are located in the Pacific Ocean. If you made a line of friends, with all of them lying down, it would take about eight million children to go around the Mexican Republic! That’s a big place!

There is a lot of fun things to do in Mexico: lovely beaches to lounge about on, amazing ancient structures to see, festivals and parties to attend, food to eat, art to see… I could go on all day!

Now for a few specific sites:

Ever wanted to go to Acapulco? This is a seaside city where you apparently go to have a good time – party central! It is located down the bottom of Mexico on the Pacific side. The parties and festivals in Acapulco are ceremonies that bring together the goodwill and customs of a fun-loving coastal town: in February, the Acapulco carnival is celebrated; on March 19 (Kirsty’s Birthday!), San Jose day is commemorated; during November, you can visit the state fair. The biggest party of the year falls on December 12 and it celebrates the Virgin of Guadalupe. On that eventful day, you’ll see long processions and many flowers full of colour and tradition.

How about a visit to Cancun and the Caribbean? Mexican beaches, all good! Look at the list on this link, do any of these places sound familiar from Pirates of the Caribbean? They did to me.

Now for ancient sites I recommend CHICHEN ITZA, the ancient Mayan capital. Chichen Itza is an archaeological zone in the eastern region of the state of Yucatan. It lies 120 km east of Merida on Highway 180, in the direction of Cancun. The climate is hot and dry, with an average temperature of 34º C.

This place, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, will take you back in time to the pre-Hispanic era as you discover the secrets awaiting you in the most important structures. At El Castillo (also known as the of Pyramid of Kukulcan), a natural phenomenon occurs each year during the spring equinox: the sunlight creates a shadow image of a plumed serpent descending down the pyramid’s stairs. This unique experience draws hundreds of tourists from all over the world. Another important structure is the Juego de Pelota, the largest ball court in Mesoamerica. It measures 168 meters in length and 70 meters in width. There’s also the Observatorio (Observatory), or Caracol (Snail), called that because of the interior’s round spiral shape.

At Chichen Itza you can also visit the spectacular Cenote Sagrado, a large sinkhole that measures 60 meters in diameter. Many fantastic treasures have been found at the sinkhole: rings, necklaces, gold and jade objects, as well as the bones of young women that were thrown into the water as an offering to Chaac, the Mayan rain god!

Chichen Itza is an ideal destination, not only for those who enjoy archaeology, but also for those who like history and the charming allure of ancient civilizations. VERY COOL!

As for Mexico City, well that is like most big cities, full of the hustle and bustle of city life

This city is where you will find the National Art gallery, among other National treasures and sites to see.

Here is some travel advice:

• When in major cities – especially Mexico City – play it safe with taxis. Never pick up a cab in the street unless the locals have told you they can be trusted; always request that your hotel or restaurant call a taxi for you.
• The Mexican legal system is under Napoleonic code, meaning suspects can be considered guilty until proven innocent (the reverse of everywhere else!). Keep that in mind before contemplating flouting the law!!
• If you’re a female traveller, be mindful that the country still experiences a high rate of machismo. In particular, wearing shorts outside of large, metropolitan areas and beach resorts is a bad idea, and may lead to uncomfortable attention.
• Respect Mexico’s laws. Some foreigners feel that Mexico is a place where laws can be broken and the police bribed. While corruption may be common amongst Mexican police, it is extremely disrespectful for foreign nationals to behave in such a manner, and in some cases offering a bribe to an official could get you into even more trouble! – It is not as simple as it seems in the movies!!

I also found this interesting and useful document: click on the link, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on the words “Useful Information”.

So what can you do in Mexico?

Well there is all the Mexican culture to soak up – food, drink and all the festivals. Dancing and singing are a must! No matter what kind of music is being played, like cumbia, salsa, merengue or the more Mexican banda. Dancing is a strong part of the culture, and visitors will find that even people who were thought to be unlikely to dance, do so. Singing enjoys the same popularity and Mexicans will sing when they are depressed, in a cantina to a mariachi song, or when they are very happy

And then there is a sport that has grown in strength in America and around the globe thanks to roots it had in Mexico – that’s right Lucha Libre (or Mexican wrestling)

This is El Hijo del Santo, apparently one of Lucha Libre’s biggest attractions. However if you are a WWE fan then you will be more familiar with the names Rey Mysterio Jr and Juventud, to name a couple of them. This sport is high flying, acrobatic and full of action – very cool to see live!

Well here are a few more links if you want to know anything further about Mexico…
The fun way to learn – this is aimed at children so is full of activities
The Mexico Tourism Board Website – lots of lovely images of the country
Wikitravel – Useful information about visiting

Adiós.

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