Mexico 🇲🇽

Mexico City

Mexico City is absolutely worth visiting because it is full of history (umpteen number of UNESCO sites in and around the city), is home to several wonderful museums and art galleries, is a haven for architecture lovers, and is the best place to dig into tacos and listen to some traditional Mariachi music.

Museo Nacional De Arte- art museum devoted to the long history of Mexican art and housed in a striking neoclassical historic building.

Palacio de Bellas Artes. Italian Adamo Boari began construction on the Palacio de Bellas Artes in 1904, but it was halted both before and during the period of the Mexican Revolution. Originally due to take four years to complete, it actually took 30! However, Porfirio Diaz managed to lay the inaugural stone before construction was interrupted. The project was restarted again under the watchful eye of Mexican architect Federico Mariscal in 1932, and the Palacio as we know and love today was completed by 1934. Sinking continued to be an issue (as with most of Mexico City) and reports suggest that the theatre has sunk around four meters since 1904.

Ready for my Limpia!

A limpia is a Mexican Spiritual Cleansing ritual: It cleanses body, emotions, mind and soul from negative energies or thoughts. Traditionally it is used to get rid of blockages. Some people believe that it removes witchcraft, curses and hexes. After a limpia we may feel light, peaceful and happy.

The Concheros dance, also known as the dance of the Chichimecas, Aztecas, and Mexicas, is an important traditional dance and ceremony.

In Mexico City's main plaza, called the zocalo, you will often find small groups of indigenous dancers. Before they start dancing, one of the dancers will sound the drum and conch shell trumpet. Copal is usually burned. Copal is a tree resin from the Protium Copal Tree and is an aromatic resin used by the cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica as ceremonially as incense. The dances represent the forces of nature, the universal four corners of the earth, human existence and the struggle for power among the elements.

Teotihuacan is a vast Mexican archaeological complex northeast of Mexico City. Running down the middle of the site, which was once a flourishing pre-Columbian city, is the Avenue of the Dead. It links the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Pyramid of the Sun, the latter two with panoramic views from their summits. Very little is known about the site; its exact origins are still a mystery.

The Pyramid of the Moon is the second-largest pyramid in Mesoamerica, after the Pyramid of the Sun, and located in modern-day San Martín de las Pirámides, Mexico. It is found in the western part of the ancient city of Teotihuacan and mimics the contours of the mountain Cerro Gordo, just north of the site.

The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, and one of the largest in Mesoamerica. It is believed to have been constructed about 200 AD.

Souvenirs at Teotihuacán

Agave tequilana. Tequila is made from the agave plant, which although has the appearance of a cactus, is in fact, related to the lily family. The cultivation of agave is certainly a labour of love with many years invested before the first drop of liquid is poured. Tequila can only be made from blue agave, but other agave species, like Caribbean agave (A. angustifolia) and maguey (A. americana), are used to make the drink mezcal. The name agave comes from the Ancient Greek word 'agauos', meaning 'noble'.

Life & Death. (Mexican Souvenirs)

Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass, produced from felsic lava, rich in the lighter elements such as silicon, oxygen, aluminium, sodium, and potassium. A quarter inch or so of obsidian might be transparent enough to view the sun

Calaca

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the chief religious center of Mexico, located in Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo, a northern neighborhood of Mexico City. It is the most visited place in the Catholic world, annually receiving more than 20 million pilgrims.

New and old Basilicas. The new Basilica was constructed as the old one is sinking. The original image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is now housed in the New Basilica.

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Modern Basilica)

Old Basilica

Old Basilica

Clock monument at Basilica of Guadalupe square with the mayan calendar embedded on one side

View from the top of Juan Diego's hill

The view from the top of Juan Diego's hill shows both the historic and new basilicas.

Xochimilco is located 17 miles (28 km) south of Mexico City, a waterway network of floating gardens of flowers. An ecological reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site, this valley was a lake during Aztec times. To get around the scarcity of arable soil back then, the people developed chinampas, islands with floating reed mats with soil.

Drifting peacefully along the canals on a colorful, flat-bottomed boat called a trajinera and listening to Mariachi band.

Savoring yummy micheladas (Mexican beer-based cocktail)

The Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as the Blue House for the structure's cobalt-blue walls, is a historic house museum and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. It is located in the Colonia del Carmen neighborhood of Coyoacán in Mexico City.

Casa Azul - Frida Kahlo was born in this house in 1907, which remained in her family home throughout her life.

Ciudad Universitaria is the best place for appreciating Juan O’gorman & Diego Rivera murals on the UNAM central library, these murals are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Aztec temple pyramids were destroyed to build Cathedrals. You can still see remnants of the original Aztec city at the sites of Templo Mayor and Tlatelolco.

Tlatelolco

Templo de Santiago apóstol

The Templo Mayor was the main temple of the Mexica people in their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City.

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

Coyoacán is one of the better neighborhoods in all of Mexico City.

Fuente de los Coyotes-Fountain with bronze statues of a pair of coyotes surrounded by jets of water, in a small park.

Parroquia San Juan Bautista (Parroquia San Juan Bautista Coyoacán)- La Iglesia de Coyoacán, a striking example of Spanish colonial history and one of the oldest surviving houses of worship in Mexico City.

Parroquia San Juan Bautista (Parroquia San Juan Bautista Coyoacán)

Mexican food

Coyoacán market

YUM!

Mexican Cuisine

Mexican Salsa

The BEST meal ever!

Street coffee to go

Café El Jarocho is a coffee shop created in 1953 in Coyoacán.

Streets of Mexico City

Streets of Mexico City

The Angel of Independence, most commonly known by the shortened name El Ángel and officially known as Monumento a la Independencia ("Monument to Independence"), is a victory column on a roundabout on the major thoroughfare of Paseo de la Reforma in downtown Mexico City.

El Monumento a la Independencia, or the Angel of independence, is a tribute to Mexico's victory over Spain in its War of Independence.

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Cancun Honeymoon

Cancun is a popular destination for honeymooners, offering a combination of beautiful beaches, luxurious resorts, and a range of activities and attractions. My brother gave me this wonderful experience as my wedding present.

Here are some suggestions for a honeymoon in Cancun:

• Relax on the Beaches: Cancun is known for its stunning beaches with turquoise waters and soft white sand. Spend quality time together sunbathing, swimming, and enjoying the breathtaking coastal views.
  

• Stay at a Romantic Resort: Cancun offers a variety of romantic resorts and hotels that cater specifically to honeymooners. Look for all-inclusive resorts that provide luxurious accommodations, private balconies or terraces, couples' spa treatments, romantic dining options, and other amenities designed for couples.
  

• Enjoy Water Activities: Cancun offers a wide range of water activities for adventurous honeymooners. You can go sailing, jet skiing, parasailing, or take a romantic sunset cruise along the coast. Many resorts also offer kayaking, paddle boarding, and other water sports for couples to enjoy.

Cancun Aerial View

Royal Uno All-Inclusive Resort & Spa

Royal Resorts is a well-known hotel chain in Cancun, Mexico, offering a range of luxury accommodations and amenities. Cancun Uno is one of their properties, located in the Hotel It is known for its beautiful beachfront location, stunning ocean views, and well-maintained facilities.

Cancun, with its swaying palm trees, warm Caribbean breezes, white sand beaches and turquoise blue waters, is one of the most romantic cities in the world.

The resort offers various dining options, including on-site restaurants and bars, where guests can enjoy a variety of cuisines and drinks.

Farfalle Alfredo Pasta at Os

In terms of recreational activities, Cancun Uno offers several swimming pools, fitness centres, and spa facilities for guests to relax and unwind. They may also organize water sports and other activities to keep guests entertained.

One highlight of Royal Resorts Cancun Uno is its private beach area, where guests can enjoy the crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches that Cancun is famous for. The resort also provides beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels for guests' convenience.

Cancun, like many other coastal areas in the Caribbean, has experienced periods of increased seaweed, particularly in recent years. The seaweed, known as sargassum, can wash up on the beaches and affect the visual appeal of the shoreline. The presence and severity of seaweed on Cancun's beaches can vary depending on factors such as weather conditions, ocean currents, and seasonal variations. Seaweed influx is a natural occurrence and not something that can be controlled by hotels or authorities.