I am well aware that for a myriad of tourists, Mexico is just another Latin American country to have fun and party. Indeed, Mexico is famous for its nightclubs, fiestas, and Spring Break events, as well as for its millions of beach resorts (approximate number). Both coasts of the country are always filled with (mostly) middle-class foreigners in search of a good tan. While I absolutely do not deny that Cancun, Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas are cool places to go to, Mexico is a country far more complex, culturally rich and interesting than that. Because, once you move to the center of the country, you discover its history, its people, its food, its problems, its art, and its wonder.
Mexico is a beautiful, big country, filled with vibrant colours and strong people. There are around 130 million inhabitants over there, excluding the huge amount of tourists and migrants who are always somewhere in the country. Although many parts of Mexico are extremely problematic, although the country has a very high crime rate (street gangs, murders, misogynistic crimes…), it is still (ironically) quite safe to visit. You just have to know where to go, but mostly where not to go! The places you have to visit include Mexico City, Tulum, Xcaret, Guadalajara, and many more. Some are more focused on art (it is the land of Frida Kahlo after all!), others on archaeology & history… you choose! I would simply advise you (especially women) not to go to towns like Ciudad Juarez, famously and sadly known for its high number of homicides against women. But hey! Don’t worry! Mexico is still a must-visit country. Actually, one of the most magical days of my modest life was spent there. Here’s how it (approximately) went down:
In March 2008, I was somewhere in the Yucatan Peninsula with my mother, having a nice time sunbathing and swimming in the magnificent Caribbean Sea. We were there to relax, sure, but also because I wanted to show her some Mayan ruins. I had spent the weeks before that in Guatemala and was very much still curious and eager to learn more about that great civilization. That is why, on a veeeeeery hot March day, my mother and I embarked on a little expedition to go visit the breathtaking world wonder that is Chichen Itza.
We left our hotel in the morning and traveled to our first stop: Valladolid. I was in total awe of this wonderful town. The city in itself is interesting with its cathedrals and old colonial buildings, but the main attraction there, and for a reason!, is nature, more specifically, the glorious cenotes. I unfortunately lost all of my pictures, but just Google them! Those cenotes were some of the most beautifully pure sights I ever saw in my life. They are natural deep sinkholes containing groundwater. It’s funny to witness because, at ground level, you can’t realize the beauty underneath. I remember walking, seeing people looking at a huge hole, completely surrounding it, photographing it. I approached the brown rocks around the hole, looked down, and suddenly everything was blue! Water, trees, lianas! It had it all! I even had the chance to go down and swim a little in the pure, blue water. What an unforgettable experience.
After that amazing stop in Valladolid, we continued our little expedition to our main and final destination: Chichen Itza. And, how it was worth it! The sun was unbearably hot that day, but I didn’t care about dehydration or insolation, I simply could not believe the fact that I was really there, looking at one of the seven new wonders of the world. I must admit that, in my stupid head, I thought Chichen Itza was just the pyramid, but no! It is a whole site with countless ruins, artifacts, monuments, scriptures… It truly is an open-air museum. While there, I could feel the centuries and centuries of rich history. So many people had been sacrificed there, so many rituals had been held, in this ancient pre-Columbian Mayan city. I spent so much time looking at the carvings, and at the great pyramid, El Castillo. I did not want to leave.
When I left at the end of the day, I was feeling eerily happy and zen. Admiring those ruins was such a peaceful experience that I recommend to everyone without any hesitation. The world truly is a beautiful place!
Bittersweet Travel Memories 