Mexico

Mexico City

Mexico City soars above the earth at an elevation of almost 8,000 feet. The great basin of Anahuac, also known as the Valley of Mexico, is an ancient lakebed about 60 miles long and 30 miles wide. It is on this vast surface, surrounded by towering mountains on all sides, that the original settlement was established by nomadic, indigenous people in the 14th century. From that modest beginning, the city has grown in every direction to encompass 300 colonias or neighborhoods connected by everything from cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways to eight lane major thoroughfares.

Mexico City is a place of incomparable energy and excitement. It is sprawling and populous in the extreme, yet cosmopolitan and modern. It is the site of a wealth of historical attractions and museums, striking architecture, and world-class performing arts.

The heart of the city is the Zocalo, a large plaza flanked by the Cathedral and the National Palace. This 500-block virtual museum of colonial architecture, was built on ruins of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. The Templo Mayor, one block from the Zocalo, is the foremost relic of that period. Artifacts unearthed at the site are displayed next door in the Museo del Templo Mayor.

The park just west of the Zocalo, Alameda Central, is lined by museums, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a performing-arts venue and a must-see for its art-deco interior and elegant dome, is at its northeastern corner. Paseo de la Reforma, the city's stately, elegant boulevard, flanked by modern skyscrapers and hotels, runs along the western edge of the Alameda Central. From there, it travels southwest to Chapultepec Park, the site of several museums and the zoo.

There are many points of interest in other colonias (neighborhoods) southwest of the Historic Center. About halfway between the Historic Center and Chapultepec Park is La Zona Rosa, a commercial neighborhood of restaurants, shops and nightspots. Just south of La Zona Rosa is Condesa, an attractive residential neighborhood popular for shopping, dining and nightlife.

Chapultepec Park is not only the city's largest park, but it's also home to many fine museums, such as the world-renowned Museo Nacional de Antropologia. In the daytime, the park is patrolled by police on horseback who are dressed to resemble charros, traditional Mexican cowboys. North of Chapultepec Park is Polanco, an upscale neighborhood with many fine hotels, restaurants and shops.

Mexico City defines flavor for food and art lovers alike, and you'll find great places to eat everywhere, from taco vendors to upscale restaurants. You'll also find cuisine from every part of the world, especially in Condesa and Polanco.

Those traveling to Mexico City will find symphony orchestras, a national ballet company, a national opera company and numerous theaters offering performances in Spanish. Museums are plentiful and impressive, and most offer free admission on Sundays and are closed on Mondays. Ballet Folklorico's performances of traditional Mexican dance at the Palacio de Bellas Artes are particularly noteworthy. The most colorful attractions are the traditional religious festivals occurring throughout the year.

Mexico City is an exciting combination of Aztec, Spanish colonial and modern art and architecture. Between Alameda Central and the Zocalo are several impressive buildings and museums, including the Palacio de Iturbide, an Italianate baroque palace, Casa de Azulejos (the House of Tiles), the Correo Central (the main post office), the Museo Nacional de Arte, containing Mexican art exhibits, and Museo Franz Mayer which displays religious art and European antiquities.

About 6 miles south of the city center are Coyoacan and San Angel, both with lovely colonial buildings housing museums, galleries, cafes and shops.

The climate in Mexico City is delightful for outdoor recreation: walking, jogging, golf, tennis, paddleboating, when the air-pollution level is not too high. Check the weather section of the local newspapers for pollution levels. If the levels are high, plan to exercise before 8 am or after 6 pm, when the levels are a bit lower.

There are jogging trails in Chapultepec Park and bicycle rentals by the hour in the first section of the park. Most golf and tennis clubs are private, but some hotels offer guest privileges. Many hotels have swimming pools for their guests.

Shopping, sightseeing, culinary delights, sports and recreation, a vibrant nightlife, concerts, theater and fiestas year round: these are the highlights of a vacation in warm and welcoming Mexico City.

ACAPULCO

For thousands of annual visitors, Acapulco is the ideal holiday destination. This Pacific resort is a Mecca for those who love swimming, shopping, and an exciting nightlife. Acapulco Bay, one of the world's foremost natural harbors, is the city's centerpiece. The weather in Acapulco is without parallel, with warm waters, almost constant sunshine, and year-round temperatures in the 80s.

In recent years, Acapulco has undergone a remarkable renaissance. Classic hotels have been renovated and areas gentrified. Beautification efforts have transformed and renewed the entire area.

Acapulco is thriving in every regard. It often happens that development comes at a cost to the environment, so the city government has invested over $1 billion in public and private infrastructure improvements to counteract any damage that might have occurred during the growth spurt. An ongoing program instituted in the early 1990s has cleaned up the water and is preventing pollution or any destruction to the fragile eco-balance. With the return of clean beaches and pollution-free waters, the balance of nature has been restored and is being protected. Recently, whales have even been sighted offshore.

Visitors to this amazing resort town find a wide variety of beach and water activities. Snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, and fishing are all popular choices. The attractions on land are equally impressive, as each of the numerous resorts boasts world-class tennis and golf facilities.

Be sure to enjoy a performance by the world famous La Quebrada cliff divers. \ The show is repeated throughout the day. The last show at night is enhanced with the addition of torches, that are held by the divers.

At night Acapulco is transformed as the city springs to life. The nightlife is legendary, and with the constant opening of new and ever more spectacular dance clubs, Acapulco remains the disco capital of the world. The clubs are always crowded, so visitors usually go to several in one night. The restaurants are also well-known for their variety, and the menu choices range from simple lunch offerings to world-class cuisine.

The waters of Acapulco's famous Harbor are a crystal clear blue by day. At night, they reflect the lights of Acapulco’s dazzling skyline. The beaches are some of the most famous in the world; the variety of land, sea, and indoor activities lend excitement to each day spent in this enchanting place. People come to Acapulco to kick back, relax, and enjoy one of the best vacations they will ever experience.

CANCUN

Cancún has 200-plus days of sun a year and a temperature that averages 80F. With these statistics, it isn't hard to understand why it is Mexico's top tourist destination. Located on the tip of the Yucatan peninsula, its beaches are unparalleled, broad expanses of gleaming white sand stretched out beside the clear blue-green waters of the Caribbean.

Over 700 years ago, Cancún was home to the great Mayan civilization. Today, this exotic paradise joins the ancient past to the present as one of the world's most modern and exciting resort areas.

A wide range of restaurants, vivacious night life, a variety of shopping opportunities, and the overall tropical atmosphere draw over two million visitors a year.

The hotel zone, which is what most tourists think of as Cancún, is a fourteen mile long, thin island shaped like a "7." To the North is the Caribbean Sea with wide open beaches and strong waves. To the west the shore is buffeted by Isla Mujeres (Isle of Women), causing calmer waters. To the south, between the island and the mainland is the Nichupte Lagoon which is perfect for all water sports. It is this island that was created specifically for its present purpose, as the ideal vacation destination in a totally natural tropical setting accompanied by all the amenities of life in the 21st century.

Mainland Cancún has a much different ambience than the hotel zone, because it is an area of permanent residence for some 450,000 people. It offers markets instead of malls, and street vendors and outdoor cafes rather than air-conditioned restaurants. Downtown Cancún has little of the glamor of the hotel zone, but is a fast growing and interesting city to visit.

Visitors who are nostalgic for their home cities will be comforted to know that the developers of Cancún included businesses such as Outback Steakhouse, Dunkin' Donuts, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, McDonalds, WalMart and Blockbuster.

The whole family is welcome and appreciated in Cancún. Much thought and preparation has gone into developing attractions that will be of interest to family members of all ages. AquaWorld is one such facility. It offers wave runners, water skiing, windsurfing, catamarans, paddle boats, sailboats, kayaks, floats and boogie boards. There is even a sub sea explorer craft with large glass windows built into the sides for underwater viewing of fish, coral formations, turtles, and other marine life. There is no excuse not to have fun! Children will also enjoy time spent at Xcaret, the waterside theme park.

The Cancún Convention Center is the site of a variety of performing arts events, as well as displays of paintings and sculpture. Cancún has a wide choice of nighttime entertainment. Most of the hotels on the island have discos where dancing continues through the night into the early morning hours. Ballet Folklórico de Mexico performs nightly at the Continental Villas Plaza Hotel. Latin music is performed live at several clubs and attracts people of all ages. Rock 'n roll oldies bring crowds of dancers to Planet Hollywood and the Hard Rock Café. Comedy acts and romantic dinner cruises round out the nighttime offerings.

Holidays and fiestas provide additional reasons to celebrate the beauty and joy of time spent in Cancún. In the church plaza, intricate dances passed down from family to family since ancient times, continue for hours. Dancers dress in symbolic costumes of vivid colors. Some villages even offer a bullfight as part of the festivities. However, in the Yucatan, both the bull and the matador are required to end the contest unharmed. Live music accompanies the performance. In the end, the bull is untied and returns to his rural home.

There is never a season of the year that isn't just the right time to step back from life's hectic pace and visit Cancún. A world apart awaits the visitor to this majestic land of incomparable beauty.

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