What we got up to in Mexico

Mexico, the land from John Wayne films and the bad guys from American TV cop shows.
I personally think Australians know very little about Mexico and that they probably feel it is an unsafe place to visit due to news reports of violence, drug issues, illegal immigration etc. Australians probably think of Mexico as all desert and that everybody sleeps in the afternoon. Not my experience at all.  

Having just spent two weeks in Mexico, I can say I found it a diverse, interesting and friendly place to visit. The history, landscape and diversity of people and backgrounds was eye-opening. Each section of the trip had a very different feel. From the hustle and bustle of Mexico City to the ancient ruins at Teotihuacan & Chitzen Itza to the party town of Cancun & Gualadajara, you get very different visions of Mexico. Each state has a different dress, traditions etc but overall makes Mexico an exciting place to visit. I personally never felt unsafe and would happily visit again (provided I don't have to go through LAX again!). If you've ever wondered about Mexico, come and visit. You won't be disappointed.

Our activities during our stay ranged from visiting old churches, ancient ruins and climbing temples & pyramids, to Xcaret, a Cultural & Nature Reserve on the Yucatan Peninsula as well as shows (Mexico Folkforica Ballet, History of Mexico etc), driving through Mayan villages, markets, getting up close and personal with the wildlife, visiting a Tequilla factory, tortilla factory etc. We went from major cities, to small towns, to mountains and jungles, from 3000 mtrs above sea level to the Caribbean Sea. Some areas were quite cold (Mexico city) to very hot (Chitzen Itza). All was absolutely wonderful. 

A word about the food - beans and tortilla are the staple diet in Mexico. Nearly every meal will include them. Think about Australians denied vegemite and you probably have an idea of what a Mexican would feel it denied beans and tortillas. Not all the food is spicy, but it was all very tasty. I found that I loved the Habanero Sauce (in small doses). This sauce is made from the hottest chillies (Habanero). Each waiter told us it was "dynamite" or "very spicy". I believe I was the only one of our group to try I and keep eating it!! I became the official tester of sauces as most of my companions didn't like spicy food at all. (It was such a difficult chore being the taster - ha ha).

Drinks - Mexico has a love affair with beer. If you ask for a cervesa (beer), they will then rattle of a list of about 20 for you to choose from. Poor Jan, the only beer drinker of our group, took on the task of trying as many as possible. I think she got up to about 7 different brands before we left Mexico. I know she was keeping a list! So, if you like beer, you'll love the variety in Mexico. If you are a wine drinker - don't bother, especially if a red wine drinker. White wines may have been a little more palatable but I believe the quality is much the same as the reds.

On the other hand, they really enjoy cocktails and have a wonderful variety of these as well. And of course, Tequilla is the drink of choice for many Mexicans. I took up the challenge of trying the cocktails in absence of decent reds to drink. As you'll know from my previous blog, I've decided I love Mojitos. Hmmmm, very tasty.