Travel

Ask people where they would most like to vacation in Mexico and many will tell you Cancun. No surprise there. Ask people traveling to Cancun which resort they would most like to stay at? Many will tell you the beautiful Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort. No surprise there, either! In Mexico's premier playground, people want to stay at the premier resort. And that's exactly what Moon Palace is.

The spectacular Moon Palace is the standard for all-inclusive luxury resorts in Cancun (or anywhere else for that matter). As the flagship resort of the Palace Resort family in Cancun, the Moon Palace features a list of services and amenities that would make any sibling a little envious: 123 acres of tropical greenery, nearly 2,000 feet of silky white beach, 2,103 air-conditioned rooms with double Jacuzzi, ten buffet and a la carte restaurants, seven bars including swim up bars, two oversized free style pools, one indoor pool, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, two fitness centers, miniature golf, a kids club, a discotheque, and a daily activities program with theme nights. And as if the Moon Palace weren't enough, there are three sister resorts nearby (Sun Palace, Beach Palace, and Cancun Palace) with which Moon Palace guests can share certain privileges. The stay-at-one, play-at-all Palace Resorts experience truly is like staying at several resorts for the price of one. Each Palace Resort offers a la carte restaurants, buffets and snack bars, all-inclusive unlimited meals and beverages, live music and entertainment, nightly theme parties and shows, many types of non-motorized water sports, and unlimited selected tours and other activities.

A short 10 minutes from Cancun International Airport and 15 minutes from Cancun Island, the Moon Palace is ideally located on Cancun's tranquil south shore, far enough away from other resorts that you can enjoy a measure of privacy, yet close enough to all the action you desire.

The Moon Palace is such a versatile resort, and has the ability to cater to so many types of vacations and events. Couples, families, and business groups are all well accommodated. Golfers will be appreciative of the Moon Spa and Golf Club, home to the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Cancun. Thoughtful course layouts, stunning scenery, and three 9-hole courses offer challenge and enjoyment at every skill level, whether or not you're staying at the resort. Additional services include rental clubs, practice range, putting and chipping greens, lockers, showers, clubs storage, lessons and merchandise. Inquire about the golf packages at the resort. The Moon Spa consists of the finest facilities and programs in health, fitness, hydrotherapy, beauty, and stress management. Some spa time is a must!

All-inclusive dining is exquisite at the Moon Palace. Several excellent restaurants feature a la carte and buffet dining. Delicious Mexican, Mediterranean, American, Asian, Italian, and other international and local dishes fill the menu; resort lounges and bars serve light meals, appetizers, and refreshing drinks throughout the day and evening.

The Moon Palace resort offers an all-inclusive services and amenities package, which includes:

Hotel taxes and gratuities
All meals and snacks
Unlimited premium alcoholic beverages
Unlimited natural juices and soft drinks
Access to all Palace Resorts
24-hour room service
Fitness center
Wireless Internet access
Daily activities program and entertainment
Theme parties and nightly entertainment
Non-motorized water sports
Scuba diving demonstration
Towel service and beach and pool chairs
Scheduled transportation to the Cancun shopping area.
Unlimited Selected Tours [ details ]

The Moon Palace also offers a concierge level package, which includes:

Everything from the all inclusive package
Ocean front room with a king bed
Two 25 minute massages (per stay)
Private candlelight dinner
Private beach lounge chair area with waiter service
Private check-in / check-out
Late check out / Early check-in (subject to availability)
Exclusive concierge phone service
Upgraded brand of liquors in room dispensers
Guaranteed nightly turn down service
Nightly petit-fours
Espresso machine
DVD/CD player
iPod dock
Pillow menu
Aromatherapy
L'Occitane En Provence body care products

The Moon Palace also offers an all-inclusive golf package, which includes *:

Everything from the all inclusive package
One round of golf per person, per day
Roundtrip transfers to the golf course
Snacks and beverages
Shared golf carts

* Tee times are subject to availability. Rounds of golf only apply to adults in the rooms. If a child wishes to play, golf must be purchased separately.

Planning a Cancun wedding? Engage the wedding planners at the Moon Palace to help you with all your special details. Organizing a conference or meeting? The resort has a complete offering of space and seating plans (indoor and outdoor), audio-visual technologies, business equipment, and configurations to host literally any event you need.

People love the Moon Palace, and it shows in their positive comments and repeat trips to the resort. But don't just take someone else's word on it. See and experience it for yourself! Any time is a good time to enjoy the luxury, superb cuisine, comfortable suites and facilities, and friendly service that define the Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort. See you soon in sunny Cancun!

cancun all inclusive

2008-09-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

CANCUN ALL INCLUSIVE

What "exactly" does All Inclusive mean?

All Inclusive refers to the hotel-plan that is presently in use by the majority of large Cancun 4-5 star hotels and resorts. It is based on the early Club-Med concept but taken to new heights.

In essence an All Inclusive plan covers all your food, beverages and towel needs.

The following is what is generally included in the All Inclusive plan:

all you can eat at the buffet(s) [breakfast, lunch, dinner]

all you can eat at any and all snack-bars

meals at the specialty restaurants

all beverages* at the buffets, hotel bars and entertainment facilities

beach towels

free use of snorkel gear

free use of kayak

free use of training gym

free use of beach chairs

access to children's clubs

scuba lesson

activities**

tips/gratuities

*pop, juice, milk, slushies, water, beer, mixed drinks, coffee, espresso, tea, wine **dance lessons, Spanish lessons, volleyball, soccer, bingo, games

The following is sometimes included in the All Inclusive plan:

room safe

mini-bar

dinner companion

free day tour to local attraction

free pub-crawl bus transfer

"top-shelf" spirits

free use of bicycle [usually one hour per day]

The following is not generally included in the All Inclusive plan and must be paid for as an extra:

room safe

airport transfer

vintage wine and "top-shelf" spirits

scuba diving

baby sitting*

sail boats

motorized sea-crafts

*Kids Clubs are free while they are open.

Most hotels have more than one specialty restaurant for you to dine in as part of your All Inclusive plan; however some hotels also have a "special" specialty restaurant which costs extra if you wish to eat there.

Most specialty restaurants also sell expensive wines if you are not satisfied with the house brands. You can also take your own bottle in with you if you desire.

Some hotels do stock top-shelf spirits but may keep them under the counter and only disperse a specific brand if you ask for it. Quite often a good bartender will order a brand you request if they do not have it.

We do not know why room safes are not a standard include. Our experience has been that hotels that use "key" safes charge for the use of the room safe while hotels that use the "key-pad" safe offer them at no-charge.

MINI-BAR

Most 4-5 star hotels have small fridges in the room. These are called the mini-bar. Some hotels stock the min-bar with pop, beer, potato chips and chocolate bars. These items are usually complimentary under the All Inclusive plan and you can have the fridge restocked every day and even ask for specific items.

BEACH TOWELS

The way the beach towel system works is that you are given a towel-card [at check-in] which you take to the towel-stand [usually located near the main swimming pool] and hand it in for a towel. You may exchange your towel as many times as you wish. When you no longer require a towel you trade your towel in for a towel-card. At check-out you hand in your towel-card. If you loose your towel-card you must pay [usually $20.00 USD].

ROOM SAFES

We think it is ridiculous to charge extra for hotel room safes, but most hotels do. You pay up-front for X number of days. So when you check in you pay for your room safe then. If you are checking in with a busload of people you may want to skip that procedure until you get to your room. You can get a room safe at any time during your stay.

There are all kinds of room safe models. Some use a key, some have a key and lock. Some safes use a key-pad and some use the room access card. If you loose a safe key, lock or card you must pay an additional penalty [$20-$25.00].

All the safes we have every encountered were easy to operate and we have never heard of a person being ripped off from a safe being cracked.

CANCUN ALL INCLUSIVE HOTELS

Generally it is 4 and 5 star hotels [and Grand Tourism] that offer All Inclusive plans.

Most hotels that offer All Inclusive also offer regular accommodations [European Plan - Room Only].

Many of the smaller hotels offer Continental Breakfast [coffee/tea/pastries/fruit] while other plans such as Half Pension [Breakfast & Lunch or Dinner], Breakfast Buffet [Breakfast only] are less popular.

Hotels with golf courses offer Golf Packages.

CANCUN HOTELS

For current Cancun hotel and resort information including rates, availability and secure on-line reservations please see: Cancun Hotels & Resorts

Cancun Airport to Hotel Shuttle see: Transfer Information

Answers for many of your questions may possibly be found here:

Cancun Vacations Info & Tips Cancun All Inclusive

If you are planning a trip to Cancun, the following articles written by Jules Seigel are recommended reading. Jules has lived in the area for over 20 years.

A Quick Guide To Beach Hotels Corruption Isn't What It Used To Be Medical Restaurants Shopping in a Mexican Market Supermarkets Transportation

HOTEL LOCATOR

ENGLISH SPANISH

hello	hola
please	por favor
beer	cerveza
thanks	gracias
bathroom	baño
travelers	de viajero
cash	efectivo
credit	credito
bank	el banco
open	abierto

Travel Green Learn How!

Cancun is a world-class tourist resort destination and a thriving community of 450,000 full-time residents who lead normal, often very traditional lives.

The greatest asset Cancun has is its natural marine playground which sparkles with a warm sun more than 200 days of the year.

Cancun beaches are 14 miles of white-talc sand.

Don't forget that sunlight in the Yucatan is more direct than most are accustomed to. Limit you initial exposure then increase exposure as your vacation progresses.

Cancun resorts have long been a honeymoon destination but have now become a very hot place for weddings.

In Cancun partying takes precedence over just about everything.

There are more than 350 restaurants.

Cancun hotels are excellent, ranging from four and five star to Grand Tourism.

CANCUN

HOTEL INFO

TRANSPORTATION

Cancun Airport Transfers

Mark every piece of luggage inside and outside with your last name and first initial only. Do not use a title [Mz.] Do not put your home address or destination address on the luggage unless your destination is a hotel or resort.

Tale of the Little Seamstress

Once upon a time, there was a little seamstress who sewed mightily on his sewing machine. The other machines in his neighborhood laughed at him, and shouted: "Fairy! Only old women are streamstresses!" So the little seamstress sewed shut the mouths of everyone who made fun of him. That is why, to this day, we do not know how the story ended, because no one could tell it.

customer_service@travelyucatan.com

mexico all inclusive adults only

2008-09-10T07:25:00.002-07:00

Mexico Adults Only Resorts

Resort Name	Age+	Plan Type	Location	Rating
Villa Vera Hotel Spa & Racquet Club	21	European	Acapulco
Golden Parnassus Resort & Spa	18	All-Inclusive	Cancun
Le Blanc Spa	18	All-Inclusive	Cancun
Paraiso de la Bonita	15	European	Cancun
Temptation Resort & Spa	18	All-Inclusive	Cancun
The Royal In Cancun	16	All-Inclusive	Cancun
El Dorado Seaside Suites	18	All-Inclusive	Kantenah
Punta Serena Villas & Spa	18	European	Manzanillo
Tides Zihuatanejo	21	European	Zihuatanejo
Hidden Beach Resort Au Naturel Club-Cloths Optional	18	European	Playa Del Carmen
Royal Hideaway Playacar	15	All-Inclusive	Playa Del Carmen
Aventura Spa Palace	18	All-Inclusive	Puerto Aventuras
Ceiba Del Mar Hotel & Spa	15	European	Puerto Morelos
Paraiso De La Bonita	21	European	Puerto Morelos
Desire Resort & Spa-Clothing Optional	21	All-Inclusive	Puerto Morelos
Excellence Riviera Cancun	18	All-Inclusive	Puerto Morelos
Getaway Adult-only Resort	18	All-Inclusive	Puerto Vallarta
Golden Crown Paradise Resort & Spa	18	All-Inclusive	Puerto Vallarta
Casa Dona Susana	16	All-Inclusive	Puerto Vallarta
Villa Premiere Hotel Gran Turismo	16	All-Inclusive	Puerto Vallarta
Secrets Capri Riviera	18	All-Inclusive	Punta Bete
El Dorado Royale	18	All-Inclusive	Punta Maroma
Maroma Resort and Spa-Adults Only	21	European	Punta Maroma
Desire Resort & Spa-Clothing Optional	21	All-Inclusive	San Jose Del Cabo

mexico all inclusive

2008-09-10T07:25:00.001-07:00

Mexico All Inclusive Resorts

There is absolutely nothing better than taking a vacation and being able to totally relax. You know those times when you don't have to worry about anything other than what number sunscreen to apply! With the hectic and fast-paced schedules many of us have, the idea of finding a place where you can completely and thoroughly relax sounds exhilarating. Sound good? Well let's face it oftentimes a vacation can be all but relaxing. In fact, in some cases it can be downright stressful. However, with a Mexico All Inclusive Resort vacation you can take that idea of relaxation and push it even further. To start, just take a few minutes to consider the beautiful relaxing beaches of Mexico and add to it knowing that everything has been paid for and you have nothing to worry about except relaxing. The reality is that many of the details that concern us all are removed at All Inclusive Resorts. The same details that can sometimes ruin a perfectly great vacation.

Details about how much money you should bring for meals and activities. Let's face it, these details get even tougher if you're trying to fit your trip into your budget. While many people just put all the incidental expenses on their credit card, this can sometimes lead to frustration upon returning home and seeing how quickly all those little charges add up. The beauty of an all inclusive resort is that it gives you the chance to completely relax and forget all of the thousand little details that go into a trip.

Historically, the idea of an all-inclusive resort can bring up images of wild, drunken parties among young singles. While it is true this is the stereotype it is seldom the reality. However, while there are some resorts that do cater to a more "lively", younger audience it is oftentimes the exception rather than the rule. In fact, in Mexico, many hotels and resorts offer all inclusive packages as an extension to your standard hotel reservation. This means the person in the room alongside of yours very well may be enjoying an all-inclusive vacation while your concerned about your vacation budget. There are also as many different types of all inclusive resorts as their are guests. For example, if you are looking for a quiet, peaceful resort--then there are all-inclusive's designed just for you. Also if you are looking for a resort that caters to families there are resorts you may wish to consider. The same goes for honeymooners and couples. The key is finding the best fit for you.

Mexico is unique in that there are so many amazing All Inclusive Resort properties therefore the location of your trip is every bit as important as the resort you select. We've also tried to provide some insights into the distinctiveness of each location including the following:

Cancun
Cozumel
Los Cabos - Cabos San Lucas / San Jose Del Cabo
Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo
Playa del Carmen
and of course, Acapulco

We fully recognize that finding the perfect place to stay can be a very difficult task. Besides checking the travel authority websites, we'd also suggest that you consider using our Mexico All Inclusive Resort Matchmaker Profile. This simple and easy to use tool allows you to identify specifically what you want out of your vacation, what you ideally want to spend and then finally what activities are important to you. We'd suggest using this profile as a guide to finding the right property. Also this profile might reveal that you may wish to consider other travel alternative such as villa rentals or even a chartered yacht. The key is helping you formulate what you want out of your vacation. You may also wish to share this profile with your travel agent and use this as a guide to their recommendations for your trip. To receive a copy of the Mexico All Inclusive Resort Matchmaker Profile please e-mail us and we'll be sure to send you the updated PDF version of the file (click here)

The Mexico All Inclusive Resort

Since all inclusive deals continually change subscribe to our all inclusive resort newsletter and we'll make sure you are informed of the some of the hottest last minute travel deals and all inclusive resort specials.

Cancun Travel Agencies

2008-09-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

As tourism is one of the most promising industries in Cancun, there has been a growing demand for travel agencies over the past few years. There are a number of family-run and private travel agencies throughout the coastal city.

Cancun travel agencies are solely committed to provide you the most enjoyable vacation experience. They compile information from different sources and organize travel itineraries. Based on your budget and preferences, the travel agencies suggest the best tour and related activities.

Both inbound and outbound tours are organized. They make necessary arrangements for your hotel accommodation, transportation, car rental, and recreation. All necessary international travel information such as your entry requirement, custom regulation, and currency exchange rates are provided. Most travel agencies offer travel insurance for their customers. Travel protection is also ensured, that is, they provide reimbursement if you are dissatisfied with their services.

Travel agencies offer their services using telemarketing, direct mail, and the Internet. They provide exciting discounts, when a reservation is placed online. Tailor-made tour packages are also offered, which suit both budget and luxury travelers. Apart from these, many hotels, cruise lines, and travel companies use Cancun travel agencies to promote their travel packages.

A number of sources are available for finding Cancun travel agencies. The best way is to search them online. You can go through message boards, which will have information about the local travel agencies in your area. You can also read reviews. Another consideration is to ask around to your friends and family members.

Before depending on any travel agency, you must make sure that it is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). Such travel agents can work with other society members and find the best deals for the travelers. Some travel agencies in Cancun are accredited by the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) also.

Always choose experienced travel agencies, which maintain a good relationship with other recognizable companies in the travel industry. Such agencies will be capable of getting special deals on hotels, airfare, and other ticket reservations.

Cancun Vacations provides detailed information on Cancun Vacations, Cancun Package Vacations, Cancun Inclusive Vacations, Cancun Discount Vacations and more. Cancun Vacations is affiliated with Family Adventure Vacations.

cancun travel packages

2008-09-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

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Cancun Vacation Packages and Hotel Deals *

Featured specials - September 10, 2008

Cancun Hotels

www.Cancun.BookIt.com $133 and Up Plus Amex Card All Inclusive Resort. Book it Today

Cancun Luxury Hotel

www.PreferredHotels.com $100 flight credit when you book with Preferred Hotels. Book online!

Paradisus Riviera Cancun

www.solmelia.com Luxury all-inclusive resorts. Dream locations in stunning environments.

Cancun: Save on over 70,000 properties Worldwide!

Hotels.com China Official Site. Trust the Hotel Experts.

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SolMelia.com Book now on the official site or call 1-888-95-MELIA

Cancun: Official Hotel Site

www.nh-hotels.com Book now with NH Hotels and get the best rates, guaranteed!

Cancun: Holiday Inn Hotels

HolidayInn.com Official Site. Kids Eat Free. Free Internet. Click or Call 877-270-6397

Cancun: The Club Med 7-day weekend.

ClubMed.us Enjoy 7 all-inclusive nights for the price of 3, from $793.

Cancun: ALL INCLUSIVE beach resorts

Riu.com Best rates at luxury Riu Hotels

Hotels (106)

B&Bs / Inns (0)

Other lodging (13)

Ritz-Carlton Cancun, Cancun
Popularity index: #1 in Cancun based on 366 sources

Ritz-Carlton Cancun: Great Deals Available Now! Hotels.com China Trust the Hotels Experts. 24 hour Customer Care. Ritz-Carlton Cancun: Exclusive Online Rates TabletHotels.com Unique Hotels for Global Nomads - Superb Photos & Independent Reviews Ritz-Carlton Cancun: Great rooms from $270 Expedia.com Get the lowest price on hotels with our Best Price Guarantee Ritz-Carlton Cancun: Complete Air + Hotel Vacations Funjet Vacations Combine this Hotel, Air & Activities for a Complete Vacation & Save!

Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancun
Popularity index: #2 in Cancun based on 479 sources

Le Blanc Spa Resort: 一流酒店！超级优惠！ HotelClub.com 找一间您的理想酒店每次订酒店都可赚得奖金！ Le Blanc Spa Resort: Great Deals Available Now! Hotels.com China Trust the Hotels Experts. 24 hour Customer Care. Le Blanc Spa Resort: Save on your next beach vacation! BeachDestinations.com Save on hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii & Costa Rica. Le Blanc Spa Resort: Great Deals on Luxury Hotels PerfectEscapes.com Five-star luxury for less. Our experts review each and every hotel Le Blanc Spa Resort: Save on Hotel + Flight Packages Expedia Book with Best Price Guarantee. Click or call now: 1-800-240-3403 Le Blanc Spa Resort: Great rooms from $503 Expedia.com Get the lowest price on hotels with our Best Price Guarantee Le Blanc Spa Resort: Complete Air + Hotel Vacations Funjet Vacations Combine this Hotel, Air & Activities for a Complete Vacation & Save!

Sun Palace, Cancun
Popularity index: #3 in Cancun based on 444 sources

Sun Palace: 一流酒店！超级优惠！ HotelClub.com 找一间您的理想酒店每次订酒店都可赚得奖金！ Sun Palace: Great Deals Available Now! Hotels.com China Trust the Hotels Experts. 24 hour Customer Care. Sun Palace: Save on your next beach vacation! BeachDestinations.com Save on hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii & Costa Rica. Sun Palace: We deliver savings, not hype! BeachDestinations.com Vacations Book a vacation in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii & Costa Rica. Sun Palace: Save on Hotel + Flight Packages Expedia Book with Best Price Guarantee. Click or call now: 1-800-240-3403 Sun Palace: Great rooms from $350 Expedia.com Get the lowest price on hotels with our Best Price Guarantee Sun Palace: Complete Air + Hotel Vacations Funjet Vacations Combine this Hotel, Air & Activities for a Complete Vacation & Save!

Excellence Playa Mujeres, Cancun
Popularity index: #4 in Cancun based on 303 sources

Excellence Playa Mujeres: 一流酒店！超级优惠！ HotelClub.com 找一间您的理想酒店每次订酒店都可赚得奖金！ Excellence Playa Mujeres: Great Deals Available Now! Hotels.com China Trust the Hotels Experts. 24 hour Customer Care. Excellence Playa Mujeres: Ideal stay. Fantastic rates. Otel.com Don't waste time searching the best deal. What you’re looking for is here. Excellence Playa Mujeres: Great rooms from $371 Expedia.com Get the lowest price on hotels with our Best Price Guarantee Excellence Playa Mujeres: Complete Air + Hotel Vacations Funjet Vacations Combine this Hotel, Air & Activities for a Complete Vacation & Save!

Royal Sands, Cancun
Popularity index: #5 in Cancun based on 243 sources

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JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa, Cancun
Popularity index: #6 in Cancun based on 635 sources

JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa: Great Deals Available Now! Hotels.com China Trust the Hotels Experts. 24 hour Customer Care. JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa: Save on your next beach vacation! BeachDestinations.com Save on hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii & Costa Rica. JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa: Book at Official Site Marriott.com Get Marriott's Best Rate Guarantee & Earn Rewards JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa: Ideal stay. Fantastic rates. Otel.com Don't waste time searching the best deal. What you’re looking for is here. JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa: Great Deals on Luxury Hotels PerfectEscapes.com Five-star luxury for less. Our experts review each and every hotel JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa: Save on Hotel + Flight Packages Expedia Book with Best Price Guarantee. Click or call now: 1-800-240-3403 JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa: Great rooms, Great rates Expedia.com Get the lowest price on hotels with our Best Price Guarantee JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa: Complete Air + Hotel Vacations Funjet Vacations Combine this Hotel, Air & Activities for a Complete Vacation & Save!

Royal Islander, Cancun
Popularity index: #7 in Cancun based on 77 sources

Royal Islander: Save on Hotel + Flight Packages Expedia Book with Best Price Guarantee. Click or call now: 1-800-240-3403 Royal Islander: Great rooms, Great rates Expedia.com Don't just travel. Travel right!

Riu Palace Las Americas, Cancun
Popularity index: #8 in Cancun based on 1,256 sources

Riu Palace Las Americas: Great Deals Available Now! Hotels.com China Trust the Hotels Experts. 24 hour Customer Care. Riu Palace Las Americas: OFFICIAL SITE: best rates Riu.com All Inclusive luxury resort Riu Palace Las Americas: Save on your next beach vacation! BeachDestinations.com Save on hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii & Costa Rica. Riu Palace Las Americas: Great Deals on Luxury Hotels PerfectEscapes.com Five-star luxury for less. Our experts review each and every hotel Riu Palace Las Americas: We deliver savings, not hype! BeachDestinations.com Vacations Book a vacation in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii & Costa Rica. Riu Palace Las Americas: Save on Hotel + Flight Packages Expedia Book with Best Price Guarantee. Click or call now: 1-800-240-3403 Riu Palace Las Americas: Great rooms from $318 Expedia.com Get the lowest price on hotels with our Best Price Guarantee Riu Palace Las Americas: Complete Air + Hotel Vacations Funjet Vacations Combine this Hotel, Air & Activities for a Complete Vacation & Save!

The Royal Cancun, Cancun
Popularity index: #9 in Cancun based on 663 sources

The Royal Cancun: Great Deals Available Now! Hotels.com China Trust the Hotels Experts. 24 hour Customer Care. The Royal Cancun: Ideal stay. Fantastic rates. Otel.com Don't waste time searching the best deal. What you’re looking for is here. The Royal Cancun: Great rooms from $400 Expedia.com Get the lowest price on hotels with our Best Price Guarantee The Royal Cancun: Complete Air + Hotel Vacations Funjet Vacations Combine this Hotel, Air & Activities for a Complete Vacation & Save!

Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort, Cancun
Popularity index: #10 in Cancun based on 476 sources

Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort: 一流酒店！超级优惠！ HotelClub.com 找一间您的理想酒店每次订酒店都可赚得奖金！ Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort: Great Deals Available Now! Hotels.com China Trust the Hotels Experts. 24 hour Customer Care. Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort: Save on your next beach vacation! BeachDestinations.com Save on hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii & Costa Rica. Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort: Book at Official Site Marriott.com Get Marriott's Best Rate Guarantee & Earn Rewards Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort: Great Deals on Luxury Hotels PerfectEscapes.com Five-star luxury for less. Our experts review each and every hotel Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort: Save on Hotel + Flight Packages Expedia Book with Best Price Guarantee. Click or call now: 1-800-240-3403 Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort: Great rooms, Great rates Expedia.com Get the lowest price on hotels with our Best Price Guarantee Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort: Complete Air + Hotel Vacations Funjet Vacations Combine this Hotel, Air & Activities for a Complete Vacation & Save!

cancun travel

2008-09-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to your Cancun Vacation

This is the official travel information website for Cancun. On this site there is a comprehensive list of all the best Cancun hotels; information about Cancun restaurants and nightlife; where to go for watersports, eco-parks and Mayan archaeological sites. You will find everything you need right here to plan your fun-filled Caribbean vacation of a lifetime. Cancun is situated on the south-east coast of Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula. Warm white powdery sand beaches and turquoise crystal clear waters together with the famous Mexican hospitality make this a place like no other!

Things to do in Cancun

There are a thousand and one things to do in Cancun. There are many world-class luxury hotels dotted all along the edge of the beautiful Caribbean Sea, and on the other side you have the Nichupte Lagoon with many romantic waterside restaurants and trendy bars. Add a full range of watersports, including some of the world’s most exquisite snorkeling and scuba diving, plus championship golf courses and you have a location that will delight even the most discerning traveler.

Cancun Watersports

For watersports enthusiasts, Cancun offers some of the best scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing in the world, owing to the Great Mesoamerican Reef just off the coast of Cancun. This is the second largest reef in the world – second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Cancun Restaurants and nightlife

In Cancun you have such a varied choice of cuisine, with everything from downtown traditional Mexican restaurants to ultra-chic bistros. You will find something to suit all tastes and budgets and will get fantastic service with a smile wherever you go. Cancun’s Hotel Zone is renowned for its nightlife, boasting some of the best nightclubs in the world playing everything from salsa to disco to R & B and live music venues. You will find something to suit all ages and tastes.

Downtown Cancun

Downtown Cancun offers a captivating mixture of tradition and modernity. If you like to enjoy a real local atmosphere in a safe and friendly environment then this is the place to come! In downtown Cancun you will find hotels for all budgets- many small local restaurants offering regional and speciality cuisines and some really cool bars and live music venues. There is a wide choice of shopping venues from the Mercado 28 – a handicrafts market – to the super modern shopping mall Plaza Las Americas.

Mayan culture

Cancun’s Mayan Culture is its crowning glory. The aura of mystery and majesty still lingers around the Mayan ruins and archaeological sites such as Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba to mention but a few. These are all within easy reach of Cancun.

In Cancun, Mexico there really is something for everyone!

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mexico embassy

2008-09-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

General Information - US Embassy Mexico City

For after-hour emergencies, please call the Embassy number and ask the switchboard operator to connect you to the duty officer. Also, among the links on the ...

mexico travel visa

2008-09-10T07:16:00.002-07:00

Mexico Visa Information Learn4good provides general information on study, travel, work visa and business visa requirements and the addresses of embassies worldwide. You should contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information or visa forms. For Hotels, Hostels, Car Hire, Jobs and Schools in this country, see the menu options above. See our Travel Forum to create a travel topic and ask questions to fellow travelers. Who requires a Visa? What documents will be required? Time required to issue a Visa What is the cost of a Visa? How long is the Visa valid for? Other information Embassy contact information Travel Guide TEFL Course Mexico Teach English in Mexico

Who requires a visa? A tourist visa may be used for studies of up to 6 months, depending on nationality. A student visa may be required for studies of over 6 months, depending on nationality. Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Island, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay or Venezuela, don抰 need a visa to enter Mexico, although you must present a valid passport and fill out an immigration form for tourists and business trips, which can be obtained in travel agencies, airlines or at the point where you enter Mexico. The immigration officer at your point of entry into Mexico can also request that you demonstrate that you have sufficient funds and a return ticket to your country. If you are a citizen of any other country, you need to go to a Mexican consulate to request a visa. If you have a family member, friend or acquaintance in Mexico, he or she can do this at the INM. Go to any of the INM delegations throughout Mexico for detailed information about requesting a visa. What documents will be required? In all cases the following will be required: Valid passport Round trip ticket Depending on nationality and/or visa requirements, the following may also be required: Completed application form 3 passport size photos Transcript of grades Tourist Cards: (a) Passport with a minimum of 6 months' validity. (b) If applying by post, a covering letter giving dates of entry and departure. Postal applications must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope for recorded or registered delivery. (c) Return or onward ticket. (d) Proof of sufficient funds if staying for up to 6 months. Tourist Visa: (a) Passport with minimum of 6 months' validity. (b) Application form. (c) 1 passport-size photo. (d) Original return ticket. (e) Fee (payable in cash only). (f) Proof of sufficient funds (US$50 per day) to cover length of stay. (g) Postal applications must be accompanied by a covering letter specifying the purpose of the trip and the dates of entry and departure. Applications should be made in a stamped, self-addressed envelope with recorded or registered delivery. Business Visitors Card: (a)-(b) and, (c) 2 passport-size photos. (d) Letter from applicant's employer accepting financial responsibility to cover the applicant's stay, which also states the nature of business to be undertaken and the name and address of the business contact(s) in Mexico. For visits of more than 30 days, a multiple-entry card is needed, as well as a letter from the local Chamber of Commerce (or Department of Trade and Industry) confirming the sponsoring company is a member of either body. (e) Fee (payable in cash, postal order or company cheque). (f) Postal applications must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope with recorded delivery. Time required to issue visa: Average 2 days; up to 3 weeks, depending on nationality. What is the cost of a visa? Varies, depending on nationality: Approx. US$17 - $30 How long is the visa valid for? Student visas are valid for one year. Tourist visas and cards are valid for up to 6 months (180 days). Other information: Note: Minors under the age of 18 and traveling alone or with only one parent or with someone other than the parents must have a notarized letter of permission signed by the parent/parents who is/are not traveling. In the case of divorced parents, the parents custody document is permissible in lieu of a notarized letter. This rule does not apply to all citizens of all countries. You must get permission from the INM to reside in Mexico and authorization to do paid work. You must demonstrate that you have a job offer from a Mexican business or institute. Embassy contact information: Please contact the nearest Mexican embassy for information on what documentation you may require to enter Mexico.

Pinnacle Travel

2008-09-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

Travel

At Pinnacle Travel, we are here to serve your travel needs. We believe that if you find the perfect place to stay and something fun to do that is unique to the area, you'll go home with some great memories.

Whether you travel to Alaska, British Columbia, Costa Rica, Hawaii, or the Yukon and others, we have accommodations and things to do for each of your destinations.

	Alaska: Go "North to the Future"

	British Columbia: Super, Natural British Columbia

	Costa Rica : Pura Vida!

	Hawaii: Visit the Aloha State

	Yukon: Visit the "Home of the Klondike"

	Whale Watching: Most Popular Places to Whale Watch

	Whitewater Rafting: Raging Rivers

Mexico: An emerging country of stark contrasts

Puerto Vallarta , Mexico

2008-09-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

Official and Religious Holidays

January 1: Año Nuevo (New Year's Day), is an official Mexican holiday. January 6: Día de los Santos Reyes is the day when Mexicans exchange Christmas presents in accordance with the arrival of the three gift-bearing wisemen to Jesus Christ. This day culminates the Christmastime festivities. January 17: Feast Day of de San Antonio de Abad is a religious holiday during which the Catholic Church allows animals to enter the church for blessing.

February 2: Día de la Candelaria or Candlemas, is a religious holiday that is celebrated with processions, dancing, bullfights in certain cities, and the blessing of the seeds and candles. The festivities are best seen in: San Juan de los Lagos, Jalapa; Talpa de Allende, Jalisco; and Santa Maria del Tuxla, Oaxaca. February 3-8 (2005): Carnaval is an official Mexican holiday that kicks off a five-day celebration of the libido before the Catholic lent. Beginning the weekend before Lent, Carnaval is celebrated exhubrantly with parades, floats and dancing in the streets. Port towns such as Ensenada, La Paz, Mazatlán and Veracruz are excellent places to watch Carnaval festivities. Dates change slightly as follows: 2006: Feb 23-28; 2007: Feb 15-20; 2008: Jan 31 - Feb 5; 2009: Feb 19-24; 2010: Feb 11-16. February 5: Día de la Constitución an official holiday that commemorates Mexico's Constitution. February 24: Flag Day, This Mexican national holiday honors the Mexican flag.

March 19: St. Joseph's Day, Día de San José, a religious holiday best seen in Tamulin, San Luis Potosi. March 21: The Birthday of Benito Juárez, a famous Mexican president and national hero, this is an official Mexican holiday.

Semana Santa: Semana Santa is the holy week that ends the 40-day Lent period. This week includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is Mexican custom to break confetti-filled eggs over the heads of friends and family.

May 1: Primero de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that is equivalent to the U.S. Labor Day. May 3: Holy Cross Day Día de la Santa Cruz, when construction workers decorate and mount crosses on unfinished buildings, followed by fireworks and picnics at the construction site. May 5: Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that honors the Mexican victory over the French army at Puebla de los Angeles in 1862. May 10: Mother's Day, Due to the importance of the mother in Mexican culture, Mother's Day is an especially significant holiday.

June 1: Navy Day is an official Mexican holiday. June 24: Saint John the Baptist Day is celebrated with religious festivities, fairs, and popular jokes connected to getting dunked in water. June 29: Fiesta of Saint Peter and Saint Paul notable celebrations in Mexcaltitán, Nayarit and Zaachila, Oaxaca.

September 1: Annual State of the Union, Though this date is an approximation, the President delivers the address in the autumn. September 16: Mexican Independence Day celebrates the day that Miguel Hidalgo delivered El Grito de Dolores, and announced the Mexican revolt against Spanish rule.

October 12: Día de la Raza, This day celebrates Columbus' arrival to the Americas, and the historical origins of the Mexican race.

November 1&2: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is an important Mexican holiday that merges Pre-Columbian beliefs and modern Catholocism. Europe's All Saints' Day and the Aztec worship of the dead contribute to these two days that honor Mexico's dead. November 20: Mexican Revolution Day, This official Mexican holiday celebrates the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

December 12: Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, or the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated with a feast honoring Mexico's patron saint. December 16: Las Posadas celebrates Joseph and Mary's search for shelter in Bethlehem with candlelight processions that end at various nativity scenes. Las Posadas continues through January 6. December 25: Navidad, the Christmas holiday.

Carnaval

The festival of Carnaval is celebrated as a last indulgence of carnal pleasures that Catholics must give up for 40 days of fasting during Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. The word Carnaval is derived from Latin, meaning take away or goodbye to flesh, and strict Catholics will give up meat eating during Lent.

Carnaval is officially celebrated for 5 days, leading up to Ash Wednesday, with the most vigorous celebration taking place over the one weekend. The wearing of masks during Carnaval is said to be a pagan practice as protection from evil spirits, but most likely evolved as a way to participate fully in the celebration with some anonymity.

Many cities have Carnaval celebration of various sizes, but the biggest events take place in the port cities, with the largest of all in Mazatlan. Mazatlan's Carnaval is said to attract well over 300,000 people, making it the third largest such event behind Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans. Port towns such as Ensenada, La Paz and Veracruz are also excellent places to watch Carnaval festivities.

This is one of the few times that hotel reservations are both necessary and more expensive. If you plan to attend, make sure you have arrangements in place several months in advance.

During Carnaval, everyone participates in the many events and activities that make up the celebration. People of all ages throw and break cascarones, confetti filled eggshells, over each other. There are many booths that offer food, drinks, snacks and games and crafts of every type. Music of all sorts is played non-stop, by live bands, DJs or the boom box.

Some Carnavals also have a collection of rides like those found at an amusement park. Depending on the town, there may be many organized parties, outdoor festivals and masquerade balls. Many of these types of events charge an entrance fee, or may be entirely private. Mazatlan hosts a public street fair and dance for a small admission, as well as on offshore fireworks display that commemorates an old naval battle.

During the final days, many different events present awards, one for the Flower Queen, and literary awards to those who have written the best Flowery Poem. In Mazatlán, a prestigious national award is presented for the best unpublished literary work from anywhere in Mexico, called the Clemencia Isaura Poetry award.

In the evenings there are fireworks displays including the traditional castillo, or castle, a large fireworks platform unique to Mexico. On Saturday evening, there is the coronation of the Carnaval Queen and the humorous El Rey Feo, or Ugly King. There will also be the burning of an effigy, usually someone unpopular at the time, known as the Quema de Mal Humor or Burning of Bad Humor.

Sunday is the biggest organized celebration of the weekend, and typically includes the big float parade, and lots of musicians playing on stages and dancing in the streets. When Monday arrives, there is El Día del Marido Oprimido, or the Day of the Oppressed Husband. On this one day, for 23.5 hours, husbands have the freedom to do as they wish ... within the law and religious faith of course.

By the time Fat Tuesday rolls around, many people have to get back to work, and just about everyone has had their fill of revelry and indulgence, ready to accept the restrictions of Lent.

The dates for the celebration change slightly from year to year, according to the following schedule (provided by the Mazatlan Carnaval promotions department): 2006: Feb 23-28; 2007: Feb 15-20; 2008: Jan 31 - Feb 5; 2009: Feb 19-24; 2010: Feb 11-16.

If you're looking for a festival of dancing, costumes, music, fireworks, food, drink and just being wild and crazy ... then Carnaval is the holiday for you.

Semana Santa

Semana Santa is Mexico's second most important holiday season of the year, behind only Christmas, and runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. In addition to attending Mass on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, many Mexicans will also take advantage of the holiday to go on vacation. If you're planning to visit Mexico during Semana Santa, make sure you checked on availability in advance.

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, celebrates the Christian holiday of Easter. Mexico is nearly 90 percent Catholic, so this religious holiday takes on a special meaning that the entire community shares and participates in.

All of Mexico celebrates Semana Santa, but certain cities and villages are better known for celebrating the holiday, and often provide reenactments of the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion on the cross. The best known cities are Ixtapalapa (in Mexico City), Pátzcuaro, San Cristobal de las Casas (Chiapas), and Taxco. Smaller and silent torch lit processions, Processión del Silencio, also take place in Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosí. Each community celebrates the holiday with it's own regional flavor, however, popular with the whole country is the breaking of cascarones, colored egg shells filled with confetti, over friends and family. Churches will be filled with those attending Mass on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and families will take this opportunity to be together.

The most moving event of Semana Santa is the reenactment of the Passion of Christ, or the Passion Play. The event's in the mentioned cities are sponsored by religious or community groups, and can include large processions of penitents, sometimes on their knees, a portrayal of the last supper and the crucifixion itself.

Something to be prepared for are the penitent ones or penitentes - the men and women who show their faith and penitence by inflicting pain on themselves during this most holy week - an ancient tradition dating to the middle ages and introduced to Mexico from Spain almost 500 years ago. Self flagellation in the streets is included as are the Animas, women dressed in black with hoods and chained together carry crucifixes.

In many cities, important religious images from the church will be displayed, traditional altars are decorated at home and in the streets, and flower decorations and palm crosses will be found everywhere. The central colonial cities seem to celebrate this holiday with the most reverence and tradition, and if you wish to see the beauty of traditional Mexico, Semana Santa would be well worth seeing for yourself.

Cinco de Mayo

History:

The battle at Puebla in 1862 happened at a violent and chaotic time in Mexico's history. Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain in 1821 after a difficult and bloody struggle, and a number of internal political takeovers and wars, including the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the Mexican Civil War of 1858, had mostly wiped out the national economy.

During this period of struggle Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to several nations, including Spain, England and France, who were demanding payment. Similar debt to the U.S. was previously settled after the Mexican-American War. France was eager to add to its empire at that time, and used the debt issue to move forward with goals of establishing its own leadership in Mexico. Realizing France's intent of empire expansion, Spain and England withdrew their support. When Mexico finally stopped making any loan payments, France took action on it's own to install Napoleon's relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico. France invaded at the gulf coast of Mexico along the state of Veracruz (see map) and began to march toward Mexico City, a distance today of less than 600 miles. Although American President Abraham Lincoln was sympathetic to Mexico's cause, and for which he is honored in Mexico, the U.S. was involved in its own Civil War at the time and was unable to provide any direct assistance.

Marching on toward Mexico City, the French army encountered strong resistance at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. Lead by Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, a small, poorly armed militia estimated at 4,500 men were able to stop and defeat a well outfitted French army of 6,500 soldiers, which stopped the invasion of the country. The victory was a glorious moment for Mexican patriots, which at the time helped to develop a needed sense of national unity, and is the cause for the historical date's celebration.

Unfortunately, the victory was short lived. Upon hearing the bad news, Napoleon had found an excuse to send more troops overseas to try and invade Mexico again, even against the wishes of the French populace. 30,000 more troops and a full year later, the French were eventually able to depose the Mexican army, take over Mexico City and install Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico.

Maximilian's rule of Mexico was also short lived, from 1864 to 1867. With the American Civil War now over, the U.S. began to provide more political and military assistance to Mexico to expel the French, after which Maximilian was executed by the Mexicans - today his bullet riddled shirt is on display in the museum at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. So despite the eventual French invasion of Mexico City, Cinco de Mayo honors the bravery and victory of General Zaragoza's small, outnumbered militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Today the holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional holiday in Mexico, celebrated most vigorously in the state of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday throughout the country with different levels of enthusiasm, but it's nothing like that found in Puebla.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo has become increasingly popular along the U.S.-Mexico border and in parts of the U.S. that have a high population of people with a Mexican heritage. In these areas the holiday is a celebration of Mexican culture, of food, music, beverage and customs unique to Mexico.

Commercial interests in the United States and Mexico have also been successful in promoting the holiday, with products and services focused on Mexican food, beverages and festivities, with music playing a more visible role as well. Several cities throughout the U.S. hold parades and concerts during the week following up to May 5th, so that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday north of the border than to the south, and adopted into the holiday calendar of more and more people every year.

[Sources: Encyclopedia Encarta, Encyclopedia Britanica, Prescott's Mexico:1900, HistoryChannel.com, other sources.]

Mexico's Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead holiday)

Día de los Muertos is an important Mexican holiday that merges Pre-Columbian beliefs and modern Catholocism. Europe's All Saints' Day and the Aztec worship of the dead contribute to these two days that honor Mexico's dead. Dead relatives, both young and old, are allowed to return to the mortal world for two days to visit loved ones.

Mexicans welcome the spirits of their families with delicious food, tasty candies decorated like skulls, and lighted candles to guide them home. Gravestones are decorated, and the whole family will gather in the graveyard to await and pay respects to the deceased.

Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe - December 12 The Celebration

On this day people from all parts of Mexico make their way to Mexico's chief religious center at the Basilica of the Virgen of Guadalupe, located in Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo, a northern neighbourhood of Mexico City. There, they will celebrate the Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) with a mass ceremony and a traditional fair in her honor. The Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe became an national holiday in 1859.

Today, tens of thousands of people travel to Mexico City to visit the place where the Virgin appeared to the Mexican People. The holiday is a national fiesta that includes traditional music and fun attractions. Pilgrims bring presents to the virgin, usually bouquets of flowers while other visitors will perform dances and song for her. Some pilgirms walk on their knees on the stone street leading to the Basilica, asking for miracles or giving thanks to the virgin for a petition granted.

At the plaza the fiesta starts after the mass ceremony with delicious food, vendors selling crafts and clothes, along with many performences of music and dance. In other parts of Mexico, similar festivities are organized with some unique variations of the celebration. In some places, altars of flowers are built in her honor. Other parts have traditional food prepared like buñuelos, raspados and tortas as well as activities like parades, rodeos, and bullfights.

History of the Celebration

The Story behind this celebration demonstrates how the Catholic faith gained importance in the hearts of the Mexican people. It is a story of miracles and faith which mark a change in the history of Mexico.

The Spaniards, after they conquered Mexico, had in mind the goal of converting the indigenous indians into catholicism. But the spaniards encountered many difficulties because the Mexican people had existing strong beliefs in their many gods. It wasn't until the story of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Juan Diego that this started to change.

Juan Diego was a young indigenous Indian walking toward the Hill of Tepeyac on December 12, 1531 when he was stopped by the appearence of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary appearing to Juan Diego was a young woman with black hair and dark skin which looked more like an indigenous person. She ordered Juan Diego to go to the Bishop and ask him to build a church at the Hill of Tepeyac. Juan Diego then ran to the Bishop to tell him what the Virgin Mary had told him. The Bishop didn't believe what this young men was telling him and decided to ignore the petition.

The Virgin Mary appeared again in front of Juan Diego and told him to collect flowers from the top of the hill, but because it was December Juan Diego knew that there was not going to be any flowers at the rocky hill. Upon reaching the top of the hill, Juan Diego was surprised to see that it was covered with colorful and beautiful flowers. Juan Diego, as he was asked to, collected the flowers using his overcoat and ran again to see the Bishop.

Juan Diego gave the coat full of flowers to the bishop, and here the bishop discovered the image of Virgin Mary's picture was miraculously traced on the coat. Seeing both the unseasonal flowers and the image of the Virgin, the Bishop realized Juan Diego had told him the truth and The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe was built on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico City.

Celebrating Christmas in Mexico - Posadas y Navidad

Almost everyone in Mexico takes the last two weeks in December off. One of the biggest fiestas of the year - in small towns, big cities, the beach resorts, everywhere - Christmas in Mexico is celebrated in a variety of ways. A common denominator is the posada, a recreation of Mary (on donkey) and Joseph searching for a "room at the inn." Accompanying them is a choir of small children who knock on doors asking for lodging for the weary couple. By previous arrangement, there are no takers.

The procession, which takes place during the 12 days before Christmas, moves along, growing in numbers until it reaches the church, where mass is held. After the service, the children get to enjoy a festive piñata party.

You can expect to find some regional differences, which makes a Mexican Christmas not only a cross cultural mix, but a varied and interesting experience.

For example, in the Ajijic area, a "riviera resort community" suburb of Guadalajara, in the little village of San Antonio, the posada is a most moving and spiritual experience. Same for Taxco and Querétaro. Catch the event in these areas if you can. Also in Querétaro, there's a huge parade on December 23.

In the town of Cajititlán (near Guadalajara), as in many other places in the Hispanic world, they celebrate the holidays on Three Kings Day (Epiphany), which falls on January 6th. In fact, this was the traditional time to celebrate the gift-giving aspect of Christmas throughout Mexico. But in most parts of the country, the holiday now coincides with the day of celebration north-of-the-border: December 25. Many children now expect gifts on both days.

The ritual often begins in the afternoon or at dinner time when the family shares a rosca or two (a rosca is a sweet, ring-shaped loaf with a ceramic muñeca (doll) representing the Christ child baked inside). Unlike a cracker-jack box where the winner takes all, whoever is unlucky enough to get the doll has to throw a party on February 2 (Día de Candelaría) for all the others present. In this case, the "winner", who has to foot the time and expense, is often the loser. (Note: on the afternoon of Día de Candelaría, dancers gather for a performance in the churchyard. Sometimes as many as six different dance groups perform at the same time. The dancers are divided among those portraying Christians and Moors, each competing for the most attention. Other groups are represented as well. In small towns where this festival is held, there's also a special market on that day.) The party itself usually includes some favorite dish spiced with a zesty regional molé sauce.

The fiesta for the Virgin de la Soledad, the patron saint of Oaxaca, December 16-18, signals the beginning of the navidád festivities. The highlight, again, is the posada, held at a different church each night from December 18-24. On December 23, the annual Noche de los Rábanos takes place. This is a very festive time when booths are set up along the length and breadth of the zócalo. The focal point of each booth is an exhibit of hand-carved, giant radishes. Most often, these sculptures carry a religious theme. But this is not necessarily so. The subject could be comical, a scene from a bullfight or anything that strikes the fancy of the sculptor. On Nochebuena, processions from various churches fan out to the zócalo. There are also colorfully-decorated floats, music, traditional dancing, and piñata prizes. The crowning glory of this fiesta is a mammoth fireworks display.

On Christmas Eve, in Santiago Tuxtla (Veracruz), everybody assembles in the zócalo for an evening of dancing the huapango to the accompaniment of a jarocho band.

In Quiroga (Michoacán), villagers present Nativity plays (Pastorelas) at churches on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day.

México City, takes on a festive air with the famed zócalo (or sometimes called the Plaza de la Constitución) ablaze with a sea of colorful lights festooning this ancient square. The festival of lights goes on throughout the Christmas/New Year's period. In addition, there's a colorful flag-raising/lowering ceremony every morning and afternoon during the holidays. The rest of the city is similarly decorated. And, of course, traditional services are held in the city's many churches.

mexican culture

2008-09-10T07:03:00.000-07:00

Official and Religious Holidays January 1: Año Nuevo (New Year's Day), is an official Mexican holiday. January 6: Día de los Santos Reyes is the day when Mexicans exchange Christmas presents in accordance with the arrival of the three gift-bearing wisemen to Jesus Christ. This day culminates the Christmastime festivities. January 17: Feast Day of de San Antonio de Abadis a religious holiday during which the Catholic Church allows animals to enter the church for blessing. February 2: Día de la Candelaria or Candlemas, is a religious holiday that is celebrated with processions, dancing, bullfights in certain cities, and the blessing of the seeds and candles. The festivities are best seen in: San Juan de los Lagos, Jalapa; Talpa de Allende, Jalisco; and Santa Maria del Tuxla, Oaxaca. February 3-8 (2005): Carnaval is an official Mexican holiday that kicks off a five-day celebration of the libido before the Catholic lent. Beginning the weekend before Lent, Carnaval is celebrated exhubrantly with parades, floats and dancing in the streets. Port towns such as Ensenada, La Paz, Mazatlán and Veracruz are excellent places to watch Carnaval festivities. Dates change slightly as follows: 2006: Feb 23-28; 2007: Feb 15-20; 2008: Jan 31 - Feb 5; 2009: Feb 19-24; 2010: Feb 11-16. February 5: Día de la Constitución an official holiday that commemorates Mexico's Constitution. February 24: Flag Day, This Mexican national holiday honors the Mexican flag. March 19: St. Joseph's Day, Día de San José, a religious holiday best seen in Tamulin, San Luis Potosi. March 21: The Birthday of Benito Juárez, a famous Mexican president and national hero, this is an official Mexican holiday. Semana Santa: Semana Santa is the holy week that ends the 40-day Lent period. This week includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is Mexican custom to break confetti-filled eggs over the heads of friends and family. May 1: Primero de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that is equivalent to the U.S. Labor Day. May 3: Holy Cross Day Día de la Santa Cruz, when construction workers decorate and mount crosses on unfinished buildings, followed by fireworks and picnics at the construction site. May 5: Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that honors the Mexican victory over the French army at Puebla de los Angeles in 1862. May 10: Mother's Day, Due to the importance of the mother in Mexican culture, Mother's Day is an especially significant holiday. June 1: Navy Day is an official Mexican holiday. June 24: Saint John the Baptist Day is celebrated with religious festivities, fairs, and popular jokes connected to getting dunked in water. June 29: Fiesta of Saint Peter and Saint Paulnotable celebrations in Mexcaltitán, Nayarit and Zaachila, Oaxaca. September 1: Annual State of the Union, Though this date is an approximation, the President delivers the address in the autumn. September 16: Mexican Independence Daycelebrates the day that Miguel Hidalgo delivered El Grito de Dolores, and announced the Mexican revolt against Spanish rule. October 12: Día de la Raza, This day celebrates Columbus' arrival to the Americas, and the historical origins of the Mexican race. November 1&2: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is an important Mexican holiday that merges Pre-Columbian beliefs and modern Catholocism. Europe's All Saints' Day and the Aztec worship of the dead contribute to these two days that honor Mexico's dead. November 20: Mexican Revolution Day, This official Mexican holiday celebrates the Mexican Revolution of 1910. December 12: Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, or the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated with a feast honoring Mexico's patron saint. December 16: Las Posadas celebrates Joseph and Mary's search for shelter in Bethlehem with candlelight processions that end at various nativity scenes. Las Posadas continues through January 6. December 25: Navidad, the Christmas holiday. Carnaval The festival of Carnaval is celebrated as a last indulgence of carnal pleasures that Catholics must give up for 40 days of fasting during Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. The word Carnaval is derived from Latin, meaning take away or goodbye to flesh, and strict Catholics will give up meat eating during Lent. Carnaval is officially celebrated for 5 days, leading up to Ash Wednesday, with the most vigorous celebration taking place over the one weekend. The wearing of masks during Carnaval is said to be a pagan practice as protection from evil spirits, but most likely evolved as a way to participate fully in the celebration with some anonymity. Many cities have Carnaval celebration of various sizes, but the biggest events take place in the port cities, with the largest of all in Mazatlan. Mazatlan's Carnaval is said to attract well over 300,000 people, making it the third largest such event behind Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans. Port towns such as Ensenada, La Paz and Veracruz are also excellent places to watch Carnaval festivities. This is one of the few times that hotel reservations are both necessary and more expensive. If you plan to attend, make sure you have arrangements in place several months in advance. During Carnaval, everyone participates in the many events and activities that make up the celebration. People of all ages throw and break cascarones, confetti filled eggshells, over each other. There are many booths that offer food, drinks, snacks and games and crafts of every type. Music of all sorts is played non-stop, by live bands, DJs or the boom box. Some Carnavals also have a collection of rides like those found at an amusement park. Depending on the town, there may be many organized parties, outdoor festivals and masquerade balls. Many of these types of events charge an entrance fee, or may be entirely private. Mazatlan hosts a public street fair and dance for a small admission, as well as on offshore fireworks display that commemorates an old naval battle. During the final days, many different events present awards, one for the Flower Queen, and literary awards to those who have written the best Flowery Poem. In Mazatlán, a prestigious national award is presented for the best unpublished literary work from anywhere in Mexico, called the Clemencia Isaura Poetry award. In the evenings there are fireworks displays including the traditional castillo, or castle, a large fireworks platform unique to Mexico. On Saturday evening, there is the coronation of the Carnaval Queen and the humorous El Rey Feo, or Ugly King. There will also be the burning of an effigy, usually someone unpopular at the time, known as the Quema de Mal Humor or Burning of Bad Humor. Sunday is the biggest organized celebration of the weekend, and typically includes the big float parade, and lots of musicians playing on stages and dancing in the streets. When Monday arrives, there is El Día del Marido Oprimido, or the Day of the Oppressed Husband. On this one day, for 23.5 hours, husbands have the freedom to do as they wish ... within the law and religious faith of course. By the time Fat Tuesday rolls around, many people have to get back to work, and just about everyone has had their fill of revelry and indulgence, ready to accept the restrictions of Lent. The dates for the celebration change slightly from year to year, according to the following schedule (provided by the Mazatlan Carnaval promotions department): 2006: Feb 23-28; 2007: Feb 15-20; 2008: Jan 31 - Feb 5; 2009: Feb 19-24; 2010: Feb 11-16. If you're looking for a festival of dancing, costumes, music, fireworks, food, drink and just being wild and crazy ... then Carnaval is the holiday for you. Semana Santa Semana Santa is Mexico's second most important holiday season of the year, behind only Christmas, and runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. In addition to attending Mass on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, many Mexicans will also take advantage of the holiday to go on vacation. If you're planning to visit Mexico during Semana Santa, make sure you checked on availability in advance. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, celebrates the Christian holiday of Easter. Mexico is nearly 90 percent Catholic, so this religious holiday takes on a special meaning that the entire community shares and participates in. All of Mexico celebrates Semana Santa, but certain cities and villages are better known for celebrating the holiday, and often provide reenactments of the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion on the cross. The best known cities are Ixtapalapa (in Mexico City), Pátzcuaro, San Cristobal de las Casas (Chiapas), and Taxco. Smaller and silent torch lit processions, Processión del Silencio, also take place in Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosí.Each community celebrates the holiday with it's own regional flavor, however, popular with the whole country is the breaking of cascarones, colored egg shells filled with confetti, over friends and family. Churches will be filled with those attending Mass on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and families will take this opportunity to be together. The most moving event of Semana Santa is the reenactment of the Passion of Christ, or the Passion Play. The event's in the mentioned cities are sponsored by religious or community groups, and can include large processions of penitents, sometimes on their knees, a portrayal of the last supper and the crucifixion itself. Something to be prepared for are the penitent ones or penitentes - the men and women who show their faith and penitence by inflicting pain on themselves during this most holy week - an ancient tradition dating to the middle ages and introduced to Mexico from Spain almost 500 years ago. Self flagellation in the streets is included as are the Animas, women dressed in black with hoods and chained together carry crucifixes. In many cities, important religious images from the church will be displayed, traditional altars are decorated at home and in the streets, and flower decorations and palm crosses will be found everywhere. The central colonial cities seem to celebrate this holiday with the most reverence and tradition, and if you wish to see the beauty of traditional Mexico, Semana Santa would be well worth seeing for yourself. Cinco de Mayo History: The battle at Puebla in 1862 happened at a violent and chaotic time in Mexico's history. Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain in 1821 after a difficult and bloody struggle, and a number of internal political takeovers and wars, including the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the Mexican Civil War of 1858, had mostly wiped out the national economy. During this period of struggle Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to several nations, including Spain, England and France, who were demanding payment. Similar debt to the U.S. was previously settled after the Mexican-American War. France was eager to add to its empire at that time, and used the debt issue to move forward with goals of establishing its own leadership in Mexico. Realizing France's intent of empire expansion, Spain and England withdrew their support. When Mexico finally stopped making any loan payments, France took action on it's own to install Napoleon's relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico.France invaded at the gulf coast of Mexico along the state of Veracruz (see map) and began to march toward Mexico City, a distance today of less than 600 miles. Although American President Abraham Lincoln was sympathetic to Mexico's cause, and for which he is honored in Mexico, the U.S. was involved in its own Civil War at the time and was unable to provide any direct assistance. Marching on toward Mexico City, the French army encountered strong resistance at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. Lead by Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, a small, poorly armed militia estimated at 4,500 men were able to stop and defeat a well outfitted French army of 6,500 soldiers, which stopped the invasion of the country. The victory was a glorious moment for Mexican patriots, which at the time helped to develop a needed sense of national unity, and is the cause for the historical date's celebration. Unfortunately, the victory was short lived. Upon hearing the bad news, Napoleon had found an excuse to send more troops overseas to try and invade Mexico again, even against the wishes of the French populace. 30,000 more troops and a full year later, the French were eventually able to depose the Mexican army, take over Mexico City and install Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico. Maximilian's rule of Mexico was also short lived, from 1864 to 1867. With the American Civil War now over, the U.S. began to provide more political and military assistance to Mexico to expel the French, after which Maximilian was executed by the Mexicans - today his bullet riddled shirt is on display in the museum at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. So despite the eventual French invasion of Mexico City, Cinco de Mayo honors the bravery and victory of General Zaragoza's small, outnumbered militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Today the holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional holiday in Mexico, celebrated most vigorously in the state of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday throughout the country with different levels of enthusiasm, but it's nothing like that found in Puebla. Celebrating Cinco de Mayo has become increasingly popular along the U.S.-Mexico border and in parts of the U.S. that have a high population of people with a Mexican heritage. In these areas the holiday is a celebration of Mexican culture, of food, music, beverage and customs unique to Mexico. Commercial interests in the United States and Mexico have also been successful in promoting the holiday, with products and services focused on Mexican food, beverages and festivities, with music playing a more visible role as well. Several cities throughout the U.S. hold parades and concerts during the week following up to May 5th, so that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday north of the border than to the south, and adopted into the holiday calendar of more and more people every year. [Sources: Encyclopedia Encarta, Encyclopedia Britanica, Prescott's Mexico:1900, HistoryChannel.com, other sources.] Mexico's Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead holiday) Día de los Muertos is an important Mexican holiday that merges Pre-Columbian beliefs and modern Catholocism. Europe's All Saints' Day and the Aztec worship of the dead contribute to these two days that honor Mexico's dead. Dead relatives, both young and old, are allowed to return to the mortal world for two days to visit loved ones. Mexicans welcome the spirits of their families with delicious food, tasty candies decorated like skulls, and lighted candles to guide them home. Gravestones are decorated, and the whole family will gather in the graveyard to await and pay respects to the deceased. Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe - December 12The Celebration On this day people from all parts of Mexico make their way to Mexico's chief religious center at the Basilica of the Virgen of Guadalupe, located in Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo, a northern neighbourhood of Mexico City. There, they will celebrate the Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) with a mass ceremony and a traditional fair in her honor. The Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe became an national holiday in 1859. Today, tens of thousands of people travel to Mexico City to visit the place where the Virgin appeared to the Mexican People. The holiday is a national fiesta that includes traditional music and fun attractions. Pilgrims bring presents to the virgin, usually bouquets of flowers while other visitors will perform dances and song for her. Some pilgirms walk on their knees on the stone street leading to the Basilica, asking for miracles or giving thanks to the virgin for a petition granted. At the plaza the fiesta starts after the mass ceremony with delicious food, vendors selling crafts and clothes, along with many performences of music and dance. In other parts of Mexico, similar festivities are organized with some unique variations of the celebration. In some places, altars of flowers are built in her honor. Other parts have traditional food prepared like buñuelos, raspados and tortas as well as activities like parades, rodeos, and bullfights. History of the Celebration The Story behind this celebration demonstrates how the Catholic faith gained importance in the hearts of the Mexican people. It is a story of miracles and faith which mark a change in the history of Mexico. The Spaniards, after they conquered Mexico, had in mind the goal of converting the indigenous indians into catholicism. But the spaniards encountered many difficulties because the Mexican people had existing strong beliefs in their many gods. It wasn't until the story of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Juan Diego that this started to change. Juan Diego was a young indigenous Indian walking toward the Hill of Tepeyac on December 12, 1531 when he was stopped by the appearence of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary appearing to Juan Diego was a young woman with black hair and dark skin which looked more like an indigenous person. She ordered Juan Diego to go to the Bishop and ask him to build a church at the Hill of Tepeyac. Juan Diego then ran to the Bishop to tell him what the Virgin Mary had told him. The Bishop didn't believe what this young men was telling him and decided to ignore the petition. The Virgin Mary appeared again in front of Juan Diego and told him to collect flowers from the top of the hill, but because it was December Juan Diego knew that there was not going to be any flowers at the rocky hill. Upon reaching the top of the hill, Juan Diego was surprised to see that it was covered with colorful and beautiful flowers. Juan Diego, as he was asked to, collected the flowers using his overcoat and ran again to see the Bishop. Juan Diego gave the coat full of flowers to the bishop, and here the bishop discovered the image of Virgin Mary's picture was miraculously traced on the coat. Seeing both the unseasonal flowers and the image of the Virgin, the Bishop realized Juan Diego had told him the truth and The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe was built on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico City. Celebrating Christmas in Mexico - Posadas y Navidad Almost everyone in Mexico takes the last two weeks in December off. One of the biggest fiestas of the year - in small towns, big cities, the beach resorts, everywhere - Christmas in Mexico is celebrated in a variety of ways. A common denominator is the posada, a recreation of Mary (on donkey) and Joseph searching for a "room at the inn." Accompanying them is a choir of small children who knock on doors asking for lodging for the weary couple. By previous arrangement, there are no takers. The procession, which takes place during the 12 days before Christmas, moves along, growing in numbers until it reaches the church, where mass is held. After the service, the children get to enjoy a festive piñata party. You can expect to find some regional differences, which makes a Mexican Christmas not only a cross cultural mix, but a varied and interesting experience. For example, in the Ajijic area, a "riviera resort community" suburb of Guadalajara, in the little village of San Antonio, the posada is a most moving and spiritual experience. Same for Taxco and Querétaro. Catch the event in these areas if you can. Also in Querétaro, there's a huge parade on December 23. In the town of Cajititlán (near Guadalajara), as in many other places in the Hispanic world, they celebrate the holidays on Three Kings Day (Epiphany), which falls on January 6th. In fact, this was the traditional time to celebrate the gift-giving aspect of Christmas throughout Mexico. But in most parts of the country, the holiday now coincides with the day of celebration north-of-the-border: December 25. Many children now expect gifts on both days. The ritual often begins in the afternoon or at dinner time when the family shares a rosca or two (a rosca is a sweet, ring-shaped loaf with a ceramic muñeca (doll) representing the Christ child baked inside). Unlike a cracker-jack box where the winner takes all, whoever is unlucky enough to get the doll has to throw a party on February 2 (Día de Candelaría) for all the others present. In this case, the "winner", who has to foot the time and expense, is often the loser. (Note: on the afternoon of Día de Candelaría, dancers gather for a performance in the churchyard. Sometimes as many as six different dance groups perform at the same time. The dancers are divided among those portraying Christians and Moors, each competing for the most attention. Other groups are represented as well. In small towns where this festival is held, there's also a special market on that day.) The party itself usually includes some favorite dish spiced with a zesty regional molé sauce. The fiesta for the Virgin de la Soledad, the patron saint of Oaxaca, December 16-18, signals the beginning of the navidád festivities. The highlight, again, is the posada, held at a different church each night from December 18-24. On December 23, the annual Noche de los Rábanos takes place. This is a very festive time when booths are set up along the length and breadth of the zócalo. The focal point of each booth is an exhibit of hand-carved, giant radishes. Most often, these sculptures carry a religious theme. But this is not necessarily so. The subject could be comical, a scene from a bullfight or anything that strikes the fancy of the sculptor. On Nochebuena, processions from various churches fan out to the zócalo. There are also colorfully-decorated floats, music, traditional dancing, and piñata prizes. The crowning glory of this fiesta is a mammoth fireworks display. On Christmas Eve, in Santiago Tuxtla (Veracruz), everybody assembles in the zócalo for an evening of dancing the huapango to the accompaniment of a jarocho band. In Quiroga (Michoacán), villagers present Nativity plays (Pastorelas) at churches on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. México City, takes on a festive air with the famed zócalo (or sometimes called the Plaza de la Constitución) ablaze with a sea of colorful lights festooning this ancient square. The festival of lights goes on throughout the Christmas/New Year's period. In addition, there's a colorful flag-raising/lowering ceremony every morning and afternoon during the holidays. The rest of the city is similarly decorated. And, of course, traditional services are held in the city's many churches.

cancun mexico

2008-09-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

Cancun is an open gate to your dream vacation. It boasts state-of-the-art hotel facilities among the coolest clubs, bars, and malls only a few feet away from the most beautiful beaches in the world. Description The city of Cancun is young, as are most of its permanent and temporary inhabitants. It was just a small sand barrier some 35 years ago when the plan began to develop it into the vacation haven of the 21st century. Today, Cancun consists of a medium-sized coastal city and a long, thin island connected to the mainland through bridges at its north and south ends. It features world-class resorts, hotels, clubs, and malls. It offers something for everyone, from an all-day fun party beach to an isolated, tranquil island. Here you'll find everything, from ultra chic to funky laidback, from R&B to techno, from tacos and cheeseburgers to fancy, mainstream standards. All tastes are welcomed and catered to in this paradise. No wonder this is Mexico's most popular resort. Cancun's beaches The new, great, and gorgeous beaches of white sand caressed by warm, turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea stand out as the hottest spots in town, both literally and figuratively.It's impossible not to enjoy them so don't even try. Put on your bikini or swimsuit, it's time for fun under the sun! Topless bathing is an activity that is quietly accepted in Cancun and many of the surrounding areas along the Mayan Rivera. Total nudity is rare (as well as illegal), especially on the major beaches. Start planning your next vacation trip to the best and most beautiful tourist destination in Mexico. Hotel Zone Most resorts, hotels, and condominiums are located in the Hotel Zone, as this long strip of island is known.It is the area where it all comes together for most visitors.Kukulcan Boulevard is the main and only thoroughfare. On the west side of the island is Laguna Nichupte, a vast lagoon home to hundreds of marinas, waterfront restaurants, shopping malls, a couple of golf courses, a few islands and inlets, and the fantastic sunsets you'll see during your Cancun vacation. The island's energized atmosphere emanates from the middle, its heartbeat, an area known as the Party Zone featuring the best nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and shopping malls. Downtown Cancun Cancun Centro (downtown) offers an alternative to all the glitz and hype of the Hotel Zone with some great restaurants, bars, and shopping arcades. The atmosphere becomes more family-friendly as all the people who make this paradise work live here.They are the target market and the ambience not only becomes Latin, but prices go down significantly. Your wallet will appreciate very much your visit to downtown, as the money it contains will certainly go farther there during your Cancun vacation.

facts about mexico

2008-09-10T06:56:00.000-07:00

Area: 1,958,200 sq kmPopulation: 101,000,000 Official Name: Estados Unidos MéxicanosCapital City: Mexico City (337,000)People: MexicanOfficial Language: SpanishLanguages Spoken: Spanish, Latin American Spanish, 62 indigenous languages, and EnglishGovernment: Federal RepublicReligion: 90% Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant, 4% otherIndependence: 16 September 1810 (From Spain)National Holidays:-Mexican Independence Day, September 16: the day that Miguel Hidalgo delivered El Grito de Dolores, and announced the Mexican revolt against Spanish rule.-Flag Day, February 24: honouring the Mexican Flag-Primero de Mayo: May 1: equivalent to the U.S. Labor Day-Cinco de Mayo: May 5: honoring the Mexican victory over the French army at Puebla de los Angeles in 1862.-For more holidays, click hereOfficial Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN)Land Area: 1,958,200 sq kmLatitude/Longitude: 19.2ºN, 99.1ºWHighest Point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 MBordering Body of Water - lies between the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of MexicoTime Zone: GMT/UTCElectricity: 127V 60HzHz Country Dialing Code: 52Major Industries: Food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism National Flag Consists of three vertical bands Coat of Arms Land of the Eagle and the Snake Nashional Flower Dahlia(Dahlia spp.) National Bird Crested Caracara(Caracara plancus) National Sport Soccer National Tree The cypress, known in Spanish as ahuehuete(Taxodium mucronatum)

history of mexico

2008-09-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

MEXICO'S LINCOLN: THE ECSTASY AND AGONY OF BENITO JUAREZ(1806 - 1872) Since it is the near unanimous verdict of authorities on American history that Abraham Lincoln was our greatest president, it has become a facile formula among historians of other nations to describe their greatest leaders as "Lincolns." Was Clemenceau a French Lincoln? Was Churchill a British Lincoln? In a way, yes. Both leaders presided over their nations in time of war and both showed the steadfastness and courage to survive periods of crisis and early defeat. But there the resemblance ends. Clemenceau, a fiery journalist-politician known as "the Tiger," passionately defended Dreyfus but at the same time broke strikes and was tainted by the Panama financial scandal. Churchill, implacable foe of Nazism, was still sufficiently imbued with prejudices of race and class that he could call Mohandas Gandhi a "half-naked fakir." If we're looking for a true "Lincoln," one who resembled the Emancipator in spirit as well as in his political role, it is instructive to look at the life and career of Benito Ju醨ez. Outwardly, they were a quintessential "odd couple," as dissimilar in appearance and ethnic background as two people can be. Lincoln was tall and angular; Ju醨ez short and stocky. Lincoln was of old American stock; Ju醨ez a full-blooded Indian. The similarities were in chronology and background. Lincoln lived between 1809-1865 and Ju醨ez between 1806-1872. Both were born poor, both cared more for political power than riches, and both believed law was the best preparation for a political career. Though neither was conventionally handsome, both compensated for a lack of matinee idol looks by radiating an impressive charisma and commanding presence. Though they never met personally, they formed a lifetime mutual admiration society and helped each other whenever they could. Instances of their interaction will be recorded as this narrative develops. Ju醨ez was born on March 21, 1806, in the Oaxaca village of San Pablo Gueletao. His parents, members of the Zapotec tribe prevalent in Oaxaca, were small farmers. When he came to Oaxaca City at the age of thirteen, he could neither read, write nor speak Spanish. His destination was the house of the Maza family, where his sister worked as a servant. Sr. Maza, head of the household, not only took in the boy but showed an interest in his development. A friend of Maza was Antonio Salanueva, a devout Catholic and lay member of the Franciscan order. Salanueva taught the boy reading, writing, arithmetic, Spanish grammar and bookbinding. Both older men were so impressed with Benito's aptitude that they sent him to the Franciscan seminary in Oaxaca with the idea of turning him into a priest. Though young Ju醨ez immersed himself in the study of Aquinas and other great Catholic philosophers, he decided in the end that his career lay in law rather than religion. Graduating from the seminary in 1827, he entered the Institute of Science and Art, emerging with a law degree in 1834. During this period he was reading works by the rationalist philosophers of the Enlightenment. In the end, he became completely imbued with their secular doctrines and abandoned the Catholic faith of his early days. All this time Ju醨ez was interested in politics. Between 1831-33, even before receiving his law degree, he served as a city councilman in Oaxaca and was a strong defender of Indian rights. In 1841 he became a civil judge and two years later married Margarita Maza, the daughter of his patron. After a stint as a federal deputy, he served as governor of Oaxaca between 1847-52. Though he took no part in the war with the United States, he did support a controversial measure in the legislature calling for the confiscation of church lands. Finishing his term as governor, he became director of his alma mater, the Institute of Science and Art. The dictator Antonio L髉ez de Santa Anna returned to power in 1853 and Ju醨ez was one of a group of liberals expelled from the country. Arriving in New Orleans in October 1853, he joined forces with such kindred spirits as Melchor Ocampo and Jos?Guadalupe Montenegro to organize a Revolutionary Junta aimed at the overthrow of Santa Anna. During this period of exile, Ju醨ez supported himself by working in a cigarette factory. In March 1854 the liberal General Juan Alvarez and other activists proclaimed the Plan de Ayutla, a manifesto calling for the overthrow of Santa Anna. Returning from New Orleans, Ju醨ez joined the widespread liberation movement that drove Santa Anna into exile in the fall of 1854. Alvarez's troops marched into Mexico City November 14 and the general took over as president, with Ju醨ez serving as his minister of justice. In that post, he produced the "Ju醨ez Law," one abolishing clerical immunity by limiting jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts to ecclesiastical cases. In December 1855 Alvarez stepped down in favor of Ignacio Comonfort, a moderate who had been a collector of customs in Acapulco. 1856 saw Ju醨ez serving again as governor of Oaxaca. There he re-established the Institute of Science and Art, suppressed under Santa Anna. On February 5, 1857, a new constitution was adopted which further restricted the privileges of the Church. In November of that year Ju醨ez was named minister of the interior and the following month he was elevated to chief justice of the Supreme Court. The new constitution greatly displeased the conservatives and clericals. In December 1857 a right-wing general named F閘ix Zuloaga led a coup in which Congress was dissolved and Ju醨ez arrested. Comonfort, more a centrist than a liberal, was intimidated into approving Zuloaga's action. Then Zuloaga deposed him and assumed the presidency himself. An angry Comonfort released Ju醨ez, who escaped to Quer閠aro January 11. Eight days later, in Guanajuato, he proclaimed himself president. Under the Mexican constitution, the chief justice of the Supreme Court is next in line for the presidency if the chief executive dies or is unlawfully removed from office. Thus began the bloody, fratricidal Reform War of 1858-61, pitting liberals against conservatives and so named because of the Reform Laws that had curbed the power of the Church. The Liberals almost lost their leader two months after the conflict began. In March Zuloaga's forces entered Guadalajara and captured Ju醨ez near the Palace of Justice. He was saved from a firing squad only through intervention of the poet Guillermo Prieto, who courageously thrust himself in front of Ju醨ez, crying: "Brave men do not assassinate." The soldiers lowered their rifles and Ju醨ez was able to escape to Manzanillo, where he re-kindled resistance. In the beginning, the rightists completely had their own way. They commanded most of the army and had by far the better generals. In fact, it wasn't until 1860 that the Liberals first defeated the Conservatives in a pitched battle at Silao. Three main factors led to the Liberals' eventual victory: popular support; control throughout the war of the port of Veracruz, from where customs fees gave them money to finance their war effort; the iron will and dogged, unwavering determination of Ju醨ez. Like Lincoln, he suffered crushing early defeats but never lost hope. While it is not known exactly when Ju醨ez came to Lincoln's attention, we know that Lincoln was his strong supporter as early as 1857, eve of the Reform War. When Ju醨ez had to flee Mexico City in 1858, Lincoln sent him a message expressing hope "for the liberty of .. your government and its people." The bond between the two leaders was strengthened in 1861, the year the Civil War began. Ju醨ez, then president of Mexico, had been forced by the financial toll of the Reform War to suspend debt payments to Mexico's chief European creditors, France, Britain and Spain. These powers organized a punitive expedition, seizing Veracruz, but Britain and Spain pulled out when they learned of Napoleon III's desire to install a puppet regime in Mexico City. The French, defeated at Puebla in 1862, poured in reinforcements and captured Mexico City in 1863. Evacuating the capital, Ju醨ez organized resistance in the north. Though Lincoln obviously had his hands full with the Civil War, he did what he could to help Ju醨ez. Union General Phil Sheridan wrote in his journal that "we continued supplying arms and munitions to the liberals, sending as many as 30,000 muskets from Baton Rouge alone." To Sheridan came this order from General Grant, which of course originated with Lincoln: "Concentrate in all available points in the States an army strong enough to move against the invaders of Mexico." How Ju醨ez reciprocated Lincoln's friendly attitude is shown by his response to an ill-advised overture he received from the Confederate government. The South had sent a delegation, under John T. Pickett, to try and win over the juaristas. Ju醨ez, to put it mildly, sent the Confederates a message -- throwing Pickett into a Mexico City jail for thirty days and then expelling him from the country. Though Lincoln was dead by 1867, the year Ju醨ez vanquished Maximilian, the initiatives he had put in place inexorably worked their way in ensuring victory for the juaristas. Louis Napoleon had sympathized with the South, but growing Union power made him stop short of granting recognition to the Confederacy. In 1867, with the Civil War over and the Union-backed juaristas growing in strength, Napoleon III pulled his troops out of Mexico and left Maximilian to his fate. Perhaps the greatest dividend attained by the informal but highly effective alliance between Abraham Lincoln and Benito Ju醨ez was the way it served to ease the bitterness felt by Mexicans thanks to the disastrous consequences of the U.S.-Mexican War. The ecstasy of Ju醨ez's career came in the heroic years when he remained steadfast during the Reform War and the war against Maximilian; the agony came in the anticlimactic five years between 1867, when Maximilian was executed, and 1872, the year of his death. It is virtually axiomatic in history that a period of glory is followed by one of letdown and leaders who acquire an almost godlike status during the glory years are subject to a sharp and sudden downward revision of their image. Winston Churchill was an inspirational figure as he defied Hitler in the darkest days of the Second World War -- yet he was turned out of office within weeks of victory over Nazism. In the flush of victory over Maximilian and his European sponsors, Ju醨ez won the 1867 election by a wide margin. But he faced serious problems. Two devastating wars had left the treasury empty. There was an oversized army and resentment among the European powers over Maximilian's execution had shrunk investment capital and dried up markets. Attempting to cope with the situation, Ju醨ez adopted a policy of centralization. To weaken Congress, he used all his prestige to ram through a constitutional amendment that would add a Senate to the Chamber of Deputies. Another amendment, designed to further strengthen the executive branch, gave him the right to veto any bill, with a two-thirds majority required to override the veto. To raise money for his bankrupt treasury, Ju醨ez sold off lands that had been expropriated from the Church to hacendados (big landowners) who had supported the Liberal cause. There were more of those than one might think. Land stripped from the Church, instead of being distributed to the campesinos (peasant farmers), was sold to the highest bidder. So in many areas a peculiar situation prevailed where landowners supported the Liberals and campesinos -- religious by nature anyway -- the Conservatives. It should never be ignored that the juarista movement was far more directed against the Church and the Conservative-dominated army than against the landowners. And now, under Ju醨ez, there was a new class consisting of Liberal hacendados and a Liberal-dominated officer corps. As for dispossessed peasants and former soldiers who had fought against Ju醨ez, they were increasingly being driven into banditry. In 1868 it was estimated that over a thousand bandits were operating in the outskirts of Guadalajara. In this chaotic situation, Ju醨ez was increasingly plagued by uprisings. Some were mounted by peasants, some by Indians, and some by Liberal military chiefs who had become dissatisfied with the president. In 1868 there were insurrections in central Mexico under the peasant leaders Plotino Rhodakanati and Julio L髉ez. The former claimed that Jesus Christ was "the divine socialist of humanity" and the latter advocated a socialist system "to destroy the present vicious state of exploitation." So Ju醨ez, whose enemy had long been the Christian right, now faced a challenge from the Christian left. Though liberal and anticlerical, Ju醨ez had never sympathized with socialism. So he had no compunction about sending federal troops against the rebels. The most troublesome Indian insurgents were the Maya in the south and the Apache in the north. Following the caste wars of 1847-55, the Maya set up an independent state in southern Yucatan that endured until 1901. Their position was strengthened by their ability to buy arms in neighboring British Honduras. Apache attacks were triggered by westward movement of American settlers. As the U.S. pioneers acquired lands in the Southwest, the volume of Apache incursions into sparsely populated northern Mexico increased exponentially, Bands led by the famous Cochise, and his successors Victorio and Ju, caused the death of over 15,000 Mexicans in the northern territories. Within Mexico, Ju醨ez's main rival was his former ally Porfirio D韆z. Like Ju醨ez, D韆z was an Indian from Oaxaca, but a Mixtec rather than a Zapotec. A military leader, he had distinguished himself in the wars against the Conservatives and Imperialists. He challenged Ju醨ez at the polls in 1867 but did poorly against a statesman who was at the height of his popularity. He tried again in 1871, this time claiming that he lost through electoral fraud. Rising in revolt, D韆z's ideological standard was the principle of "no reelection." In seeking another term, D韆z claimed, Ju醨ez was attempting to perpetuate himself in office. Bringing his rebel forces to the gates of Mexico City, D韆z called for a general uprising. It was not forthcoming and his forces were routed by troops loyal to Ju醨ez. As is well-known, D韆z not only lived to fight another day but this "crusader" against reelection would also live to impose a 35-year dictatorship over Mexico. Worn out from five years of frustration and disappointment, Ju醨ez succumbed to a heart attack on July 17, 1872. Working at his desk in the National Palace, he truly died in harness. That last unfruitful segment of Ju醨ez's life does nothing to detract from his stature as Mexico's Lincoln. Faced with an almost impossible situation, his courage and perseverance never flagged. An interesting speculation: what if Lincoln had lived to serve out his second term? Thanks to an assassin's bullet, he had the "luck" to die a martyr. But what if he had been faced, as was Ju醨ez, with the challenge of rebuilding a war-torn nation? Would he not have suffered some of the frustrations and disillusionments that plagued his Mexican counterpart?

mexico food

2008-09-10T06:54:00.000-07:00

Real Mexican food is quite unlike the dishes found in most Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in other countries. In tourist areas you’ll find restaurants with familiar names and gringo menus, though the offerings will often be over-priced and not of a high standard. If you have a taste for adventure you’ll be well rewarded in Mexico; if not stick to a few simple and traditional dishes that are almost always excellent and not too spicy. You’ll find standards much higher than if you search the menus for something familiar. Mexican cuisine has some superb rich or spicy dishes, but we recommend that you take it easy for the first few days until your stomach has grown accustomed to its new environment. Upset stomachs are commonly associated with unpurified water used in ice or used to wash salads and fruit, stressful traveling, or simply bacteria different to those at home. Mexicans also suffer when they travel abroad, and if you stay in Mexico for more than a few weeks you may even experience the same acclimatization disorders when you reach home. Once you’ve settled down, however, do try some of the regional specialties. It’s all part of the experience, and for many people Mexican food is one of the great attractions of a vacation. The Basics You’ll encounter all of these in your first few days in Mexico: TortillasThe staple food of generations of ordinary Mexicans, tortillas can be made of flour (more common in the north) or maize (the traditional method and still the most common in the south). Often served alongside a meal as bread would be, tortillas are also used in many typical dishes – rolled and baked for enchiladas, fried for tacos or grilled for quesadillas. Frijoles (beans)A good source of protein, beans of different varieties are most commonly boiled and then fried. They can be a main ingredient in a meal or served almost as a garnish. ChiliesIn general, the bigger the chili, the milder the flavor. Large Poblano chilies are stuffed and served as a main course, the small habañero is ferociously hot. To ask if a dish is spicy, say "es picante?" – though hotel menus will often specify dishes that might offend tourist palates. GuacamoleAvocado mashed with onions, chilies and cilantro (coriander). Served as a dip or as a garnish. SalsaA salsa is actually just a sauce, although it is most commonly associated with the red or green mix of tomatoes, onion, chili and cilantro (coriander) served on your table as a relish or a dip. Beware of ‘salsa habañero’ in innocuous bottles like small jars of ketchup, and always try just a little salsa first as a precaution. TequilaThis infamous spirit is most commonly served to tourists in the form of a margarita – mixed with lime juice in salt-rimmed glasses. It is actually derived from the maguey plant – a spiky bush often seen growing in fields. Mezcal is a cruder form of Tequila traditionally served with a worm in the bottle – the worm should be eaten when the bottle is finished! CervezaMexican beers are now known all over the world. Corona, Sol and Dos Equis are common brands, usually served cold and a very refreshing alternative to iced drinks. Typical dishesFor more examples, take a look at the sample menus shown in many of our hotel features. CevicheRaw fish marinated in lime juice, often in a chopped salad. Chiles RenellosLarge Poblano chilies stuffed with cheese or spicy meat (picadillo). The chilies are mild, though the sauce may not be. EnchiladasTortillas coated in a tomato and chili sauce, stuffed with vegetables, chicken or pork then folded and baked. Despite the chili content, enchiladas are often fairly mild. Enchiladas suizas are topped with sour cream. HuachinangoRed Snapper, a common feature on the menus at coastal resorts. Often available ‘al gusto’, cooked in a choice of methods. QuesadillasTortillas stuffed with cheese, folded and grilled. A simple dish often served with beans or a little salad and suitable for those avoiding anything spicy. Mole sauceA wonderful rich sauce made with the unlikely combination of chocolate, chilies and many spices. It can be red or green depending on the ingredients and the moles of Puebla and Oaxaca are particularly famous, hence ‘mole poblano’ or ‘mole oaxaqeño’. The sauce is often served over chicken, though turkey is more traditional. Pipían sauceAnother of Oaxaca’s specialties, pipían sauce is green and made from pumpkin seeds. It is often served over chicken. Poc ChucAnother Yucatecan specialty, where pork fillet is cooked with tomatoes, onions and spices. Pollo PibilA Yucatecan specialty, not often found outside this region. It traditionally consists of chicken marinated in orange and spices then barbecued in banana leaves. TacosTortillas fried until they are crispy and served with various fillings. TamalesCornmeal paste wrapped in corn or banana husks and often stuffed with chicken, pork or turkey and/or vegetables, then steamed. TortasMexican sandwiches, often large rolls with generous fillings. TostadasThin and crisp tortillas served loaded with guacamole, sour cream, chilies, chicken etc. At BreakfastContinental breakfast or ‘American’ bacon or ham and eggs are often available. Mexicans often have just coffee and sweet rolls first thing in the morning with a more substantial meal around 11am, but many of the options below could feature on your breakfast menu. Egg dishes are popular and very tasty, often served with beans. Plato de FrutasMixed fruit plate, perhaps including banana, mangoes, melon, or papaya. ChilaquilesTortillas stir fried with onions, spices and maybe chicken, topped with cheese and served with a sort of gravy. Huevos RancherosScrambled eggs, often served with bacon (con tocino) or ham (con jamón). Huevos MotuleñosFried eggs on tortillas, covered with a sauce of tomatoes, chilies, peas and ham. Topped with cheese and served with refried beans. Safe OptionsWe’d recommend the following as introductions to Mexican food that aren’t too spicy: Quesadillas Enchiladas (usually) Plain fish dishes Tostadas (check the ingredients) Beans and rice Tortas (check the fillings)

mexico vacations

2008-09-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

FISHING AT SAN CARLOS GUAYMAS, SONORA September 9 Category: Beaches In Mexico, Family Travel, Natural Waters, Scuba Diving, Shopping, Snorkeling, Tourist Attractions by kiwy49 1 comment Located on the Sea of Cortez, the lovely Mexican resort community of San Carlos Sonora Mexico, offers something for every one. For water sports enthusiasts, there are beautiful sand beaches, spectacular diving and snorkeling, kayaking, and offshore fishing. San Carlos is only a 250 mile, 4 hour drive from Nogales on Mexico highway 15, a four-lane divided highway. The community hosts an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis courts, a bowling alley and numerous gift shops and galleries for shopping and browsing. For the boater, two marinas are available with paved launch ramps, dry stores facilities, complete marine repair and maintenance services, fuel docks and reasonable rates for ship rental. In this place you also will find numerous restaurants featuring seafood, Sonora beef, Mexican dishes and American cuisine are located throughout the town. During the winter and spring, gray whales come up coast and can be viewed closely, the presence of these mammals arouses much interest throughout the world, since this is a natural event of great significance for the study of certain biological behavior, on which the preservation of various species depend. So if you’ve not experienced the ambiance and relaxing Life style of a Mexican seaside Resort, you owe it to yourself to visit San Carlos. You may never want to leave. View More Pictures… National Museum of Anthropology and History September 9 Category: Family Travel, Tourist Attractions by Kori Ellis 0 comments The National Museum of Anthropology and History (Museo Nacional de Antropología) is considered to be on of the top museums in the world. It is located within Chapultepec Park in Mexico City. When you are traveling to the area, this museum is a destination you certainly shouldn’t miss. The museum has a spectacular design and architecture with exhibition halls that are surrounded by a patio with a huge pond and square concrete umbrella supported by a slender pillar around which forms an artificial cascade. The National Museum of Anthropology houses some of the rarest artifacts and paraphernalia of the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica. The National Museum houses a vast number of carvings, stone designs, murals and other pieces of the cultures of the Aztecs and Mayans. Some artifacts include several Aztec Sun stone calendars, statues of Aztec and Mayan Gods and Goddesses, and miniature models of major cities and temples. The National Museum of Anthropology and History is a great place to examine and observe the culture of the great mesa American first hand. Visiting this museum will be a great way to expand your knowledge of these cultures and you will be awed by all the pieces of work. If you are traveling on a family vacation or on business to Mexico City, be sure to take a few hours or a full day to explore this fabulous museum. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons View More Pictures… GREAT SNORKELING AT LA ROQUETA ISLAND, ACAPULCO September 8 Category: Beaches In Mexico, Family Travel, Natural Waters, Snorkeling, Tourist Attractions by kiwy49 1 comment This small island is located directly in from of Acapulco Bay, is a 10 minute boat ride from Caleta beach. The area is known as one of the best places to hike and snorkeling in Acapulco. I recommend you to take a boat with glass bottom, so you can admire the under-water life. La Roqueta Island is considered a national reserve for its flora and fauna, and you’ll find such marine plants and wildlife as sea fans, small coral formations, barnacles, gorgonians, sea stars, trumpet fishes, jacks, sea horses, turtles, whale sharks and manta rays, but these depending on the season, in a pristine aquatic environment. The island’s only two beaches are favorite spots of Mexican snorkelers and swimmers. Because the locals like to bring their whole family along and spend the whole day here, these beaches tend to be quite crowded. The surf at La Roqueta is soft and peaceful, with fine sand. You could spend the day around the beach swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying the seafood in the tree small restaurants here in the island, but it’s worth taking a hike up the hill to the lighthouse to see the amazing view from the top. In the Island you can rent snorkeling gear, kayaks and other water-sports equipment on the beach. Besides the excellent beach you will also find a unique Zoo with lions, alligators, leopards, giraffes, zebras, an aviary exhibit, and a serpentarium. View More Pictures… GREAT SNORKELING AT IXTAPA ISLAND, GUERRERO September 8 Category: Beaches In Mexico, Family Travel, Natural Waters, Snorkeling, Tourist Attractions by kiwy49 0 comments Ixtapa Island is one of the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo area’s most popular attractions. The island’s beaches are well known for water sports such as snorkeling, para-sailing, jet skiing, wave runner and banana boat rides, as well as the excellent seafood Restaurants. Ixtapa Island is home to exotic fishes and tropical birds. Isla Ixtapa is accessible by small boats that currently carry ferry passengers between it and the pier at Playa Quieta in Ixtapa. Boats are also available from Zihuatanejo Municipal pier. The Island which lies very close offshore, affords 4 separate beaches from which to choose:Playa Cuachalalate, Varadero, Coral, and Playa Carey also called sacrificio. Snorkeling is one of the main attractions of this gem, and the clear waters are home of numerous colorful tropical species. Playa Coral is the most popular for snorkeling, being protected from motor craft by those same reefs. The waters are crystalline and inviting. Playa Carey is the most undeveloped of all of the beaches and the smallest. There is a small lighthouse here where you will enjoy a nice view of the main land. Carey in Spanish means “Species of Turtle”, which is interesting because there is a fenced area on this beach for hatching sea turtles. View More Pictures… RELAXING AT RINCON DE GUAYABITOS, NAYARIT September 7 Category: Beaches In Mexico, Family Travel, Natural Waters, Shopping, Snorkeling, Tourist Attractions, Uncategorized by kiwy49 0 comments This small town is situated approximately one hour and a half from the airport of Puerto Vallarta, Rincon de Guayabitos forms a part of what is known as the “Tourist Corridor” which was developed at the beginning of the sixties with the main purpose to offer a tourist space for families. This destination is located in a small bay forming a space where the sea rests and seems like a huge pool. Thanks to its geographic characteristics and thanks to the protection of the coral island found in front of its beaches. As a matter of fact Guayabitos has gained the title of “The biggest natural pool of the world”. the calmest of its surf along the major part of its beach invites to relax completely while sunbathing. This very attractive little fishing community offers North American and Mexican tourists miles of golden sandy beach, meals and accommodation at great prices. Early in the morning you will find fisherman selling fresh fish on the beach and on most days there are vendors on the beach serving refreshing pineapple and coconut drinks. Vendors here are pleasant and mild mannered and there is no sign of the high pressure time share sales people associated with many of the larger tourist destinations. If you are looking for a pleasant winter climate in a small laid back community offering whale watching, jet skiing, wind surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, live entertainment, great food, and very affordable accommodation, you will enjoy Guayabitos. View More Pictures… Playa Azul Golf and Beach Hotel September 6 Category: Beaches In Mexico, Resort Cities, Resorts, Snorkeling, Spa Travel by Kori Ellis 0 comments The Playa Azul Golf and Beach Hotel is located in Cozumel, Mexico. Playa Azul is approximately eight minutes from Cozumel’s airport and ten minutes from the downtown area. The accommodations at Playa Azul are very affordable. The rooms with a view of the ocean are $180 per night. They include a balcony, free wireless internet and satellite television. The ocean room suites cost $225 per night. They include a living room with two sofas. For a little more luxury, the master suites cost $305 per night. Each is equipped with a Jacuzzi, a small living room and a private bathroom (with bath robes/slippers). Playa Azul also offers a garden house for $305 per night. Each garden house has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a dining room, a small kitchen, a porch, room service, and outdoor chairs. Guests at Playa Azul can choose from multiple places to eat and drink. The Palma Azul restaurant offers breakfast and lunch, while Chan Ka’an serves an elegant dinner. The adults can enjoy cocktails at La Palapa Bar and Palma Azul Bar. La Palapa sits out at the beach and offers refreshing drinks. The Palma Azul Bar is inside and has numerous flat-screen TVs for guests interested in catching up on sports and news. When staying at Playa Azul, your stay allows you to enjoy unlimited green fees at the Cozumel Country Club golf course designed by Nicklaus Group. This beautiful golf course is just five minutes from the hotel. Additionally, the hotel offers an amazing spa where you can enjoy days of relaxation and pampering. If you are looking for more adventure, diving, snorkeling and scuba diving are just moments away. Visit play-azul.com for more information about this resort hotel. View More Pictures… NEVADO DE COLIMA NATIONAL PARK September 6 Category: Family Travel, Forests, Lakes, Natural Waters by kiwy49 1 comment On the border between the state of Colima and the state of Jalisco is the Colima volcano complex, which has two main volcanic peaks: One is the Nevado de Colima, 4220 meters high, which is inactive and covered with snow most of the year. It is the 7Th highest peak in Mexico. The other is the Volcan de Fuego (fire volcano), 3960 meters high which is very active and constantly smoking. Recently, there have been a large number of both lava and ash eruptions, some of which needed evacuation of nearby villages. The live volcano can be climbed as long as its not showing any signs of volcano activity. While the lower levels of this park have been deforested, toward the top the lush coniferous forests are home to endemic birds such as the Aztec thrush, long-tailed wood partridge, highland guan, thick-billed parrot, and Stygian owl. The volcanoes provide a cool oasis of subtropical mountain and temperate forest rising up from the hot and dusty lowlands. The Nevado de Colima is and ideal place for mountaineering and camping. Inside the park carrizalillo lake attracts visitors for kayaking and picnics, particularly on weekends. There is a fine camping area with a spring at the 11550 level. The spring is in the bottom of the canyon just north of the camping area, and is surrounded by mortared local stone, making a pool. The Nevado de Colima national park is a really fascinating place to enjoy nature and spend a very relaxing time with family or friends. If you are a nature lover, you will really like visiting this amzing park. View More Pictures… SANTIAGO, COLIMA September 5 Category: Beaches In Mexico, Family Travel, Lagoons, Natural Waters, Shopping, Snorkeling, Surfing, Tourist Attractions by kiwy49 1 comment Bahia de Santiago, is located to the west zone on Manzanillo, is the newer and more upscale area. Santiago Colima has the flavor and feel of a small Mexican town complete with a Market and a Bull ring. About eight blocks into the town is the Mercado and adjoining craft and Flower markets. Santiago is great for walking either back into the town by the Plaza de Toros or walking in the bridge that crosses the river. On the beach you will find fisherman, surfers, families and lots of walkers. And also a number of Restaurants throughout town, along the highway and on the beach to the north and south. The beaches of Santiago Bay stretch for 5 miles. At the northernmost point, where the lagoon empties into the sea is a popular locals beach, which is busy on weekends. Mild surf is its main attraction. Various activities are available for the young and young of heart from horseback riding, boogie boarding, banana boat rides, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. It’s great for shopping too. Bargain with the vendors for hammocks, toys, jewelry, t-shirts and more. View More Pictures… PUNTA DE MITA GETAWAY September 4 Category: Beaches In Mexico, Family Travel, Natural Waters, Resort Cities, Scuba Diving, Shopping, Snorkeling, Tourist Attractions by kiwy49 0 comments Punta de Mita is one of Mexico’s ultra-exclusive Resort areas. Punta de Mita is a relatively new area just north of Puerto Vallarta. So, visitors here enjoy easy access to the vibrant and colorful colonial Port town of Puerto Vallarta whenever they want to. In addition to being an exclusive vacation area, Punta de Mita is also evolving to become of Mexico’s most sought-after beach locations for real state investment. It’s no wonder that this area was chosen for development. luxury homes are being built in the area and alongside them so are golf courses, shopping malls, medical centers, and other local amenities. So for that reason, Punta de Mita is an ideal location to consider if you are looking for a very especial getaway, or if you are looking for an attractive location for ocean front property in Mexico. Punta de Mita is also a water lover’s paradise. Sailing and scuba diving are big pastimes here, whatever your level of experience good diving is available. Water skiing off the bays, para-sailing, jet skiing, windsurfing, and kayaking are all the water sports you Will want to try and are right here waiting for you at this location. And you know what the best part is? that from November through March each year, you can take an organized eco-boat tour to watch the humpback whales as they arrive to reproduce and bear their calves. So why not considering coming to this place on your next vacations. View More Pictures… VISITING BARRA DE NAVIDAD, JALISCO September 4 Category: Beaches In Mexico, Family Travel, Lagoons, Natural Waters, Scuba Diving, Shopping, Snorkeling, Surfing, Tourist Attractions by kiwy49 0 comments The town of Barra de Navidad is a small farming and fishing community located on the east end of the Bahia de Navidad, 60 Km. north of manzanillo, in the state of Jalisco. In recent years the state government of Jalisco has promoted this town as a tourist attraction of the Costa Alegre. There is a large lagoon behind Barra de Navidad which is criss-crossed by small fishing boats gathering scallops and transporting visitors and locals from Barra to Isla Navidad and the grand Bay Hotel, recently voted the number one hotel-resort in Mexico by the travel channel. These boats also carry passengers to and from the small Colima community of Colimilla where restaurants line the shore. Since this place is still a pretty relaxing and quiet getaway, many visitors from the northern states come here to spend their weekend. They really enjoy the peaceful atmosphere that the place offers without the large hotels and hectic activity of the larger Mexican beach resorts. Among the activities that visitors can enjoy when coming to this place are: birdwatching, whale watching, surfing and boogie boarding, snorkeling and diving, and of course, fishing. Tours for all of these activities can be arranged in the local tour shops. As in any other Mexican beach town, here you will also find plenty of accommodation, shopping outlets and restaurants. In addition to Mexican and American style dining, there is also french and Italian cuisine. Many restaurants specialize in locally caught seafood which is what I really recommend. Since fishermen go out to fish every morning , you are guaranteed to eat really fresh and delicious seafood, the catch of the day.

mexico city

2008-09-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México, D.F., México or simply Méjico[1]) is the capital city of Mexico. It is the most important economic, industrial and cultural center in the country, and the most populous city with 8,720,916 inhabitants in 2005. Greater Mexico City (Zona Metropolitana del Valle de México) incorporates 58 adjacent municipalities of Mexico State and 1 municipality of the state of Hidalgo, according to the most recent definition agreed upon by the federal and state governments.[2] In the last national census (2005) Greater Mexico City had a population of 19.2 million people, making it the largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere and the third[3] largest in the world by population. In 2005, it ranked the eighth in terms of GDP (PPP) among urban agglomerations in the world.[4] Along with São Paulo it is the only Beta global city with 8 points in Latin America. Mexico City is also the Federal District (Distrito Federal in Spanish, and hence the abbreviation D.F.). The Federal District is coextensive with Mexico City: both are governed by a single institution and are constitutionally considered to be the same entity. This has not always been the case. The Federal District, created in 1824, was integrated by several municipalities, one of which was the municipality of Mexico City. As the city began to grow, it engulfed all other municipalities into one large urban area. In 1928, all municipalities within the Federal District were abolished, an action that left a vacuum in the legal status of Mexico City vis-à-vis the Federal District, even though for most practical purposes they were traditionally considered to be the same entity. In 1993, to end the sterile discussions about whether one concept had engulfed the other, or if any of the two entities had any existence in lieu of the other, the 44th Article of the Constitution of Mexico was reformed to clearly state that Mexico City is the Federal District, seat of the Powers of the Union and capital of the United Mexican States.[5] Mexico City is located in the Valley of Mexico, also called the Valley of Anáhuac, a large valley in the high plateaus at the center of Mexico, at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,349 ft). It was originally built by the Aztecs in 1325 on an island of Lake Texcoco. The city was almost completely destroyed in the siege of 1521, and was redesigned and rebuilt in the following years following the Spanish urban standards. In 1524 the municipality of Mexico City was established, known as México Tenustitlán,[6] and as of 1585 it is officially known as ciudad de México.[6]. As of 2008, Mexico City is the city with the highest population in the world.[citation needed] Contents[hide] 1 History 1.1 Prehispanic era and Spanish colonial period 1.2 Independence 1.3 Recent history 2 Geography 3 Politics 3.1 Federal District 3.2 Political structure 3.3 Elections and government 3.4 Boroughs 4 Economy 5 Demographics 6 Landmarks 7 Sports 8 Transportation 9 Culture 9.1 Education 9.2 Media 9.3 Art 9.4 Music, movies and entertainment 9.5 Cuisine 10 Other names 11 See also 12 References 13 External links // [edit] History For the Pre-Columbian detailed history of the city, see: Tenochtitlán and Tlatelolco. [edit] Prehispanic era and Spanish colonial period Mexico City in 1628. Mexico (in Spanish pronounced "Me-hee-co") City was founded as Mexico-Tenochtitlan on March 18, 1325 by the Nahua Aztec or Mexican tribe, which rapidly became the capital of a sophisticated growing empire.[7] Located on a small island on the middle of Lake Texcoco, the layout of the city forced the Aztecs to build an artificial island with a series of canals to allow the growth of the metropolis.[8][9] A number of causeways were also constructed from the shoreline to the central island.These causeways are the foundation of the various calzadas which are today principal avenues in Mexico City. In fact, although the lake was salty, dams built by the Aztecs kept the city surrounded by clear water from the rivers that fed the lake. Two double aqueducts provided the city with fresh water; this was intended mainly for cleaning and washing.[10] After centuries of pre-Columbian civilization, the Spanish conquistador (conqueror) Hernán Cortés first arrived in the area in 1519.[11] He did not succeed in conquering the city until August 13, 1521, after a 79-day siege that destroyed most of the old Aztec city.[12] In 1524 the rebuilt city served as the capital of the viceroyalty of New Spain and the political and cultural center of Mexico.[13] The importance of the city was such that the Captaincy General of Guatemala, Yucatán, Cuba, Florida, and the Philippines were administered from it. This colonial period culminated with the construction of the baroque Metropolitan Cathedral and the Basilica of Guadalupe.[14] [edit] Independence Torre Latinoamericana, Mexico City's first skyscraper The outbreak of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810, and the eventual independence of the country in 1821 were unable to hamper the influence of the city even though it shook internal politics.[15] The capital became host of the first ruler of the Mexican Empire, Agustin de Iturbide, who abdicated a year later in 1823. The nation became a federal republic in October 1824.[16] In 1824, the Mexican Federal District was established by the new government and by the signing of their new constitution, where the concept of a federal district was adapted from the American constitution.[16] Before this designation, Mexico City had served as the seat of government for both the State of Mexico and the nation as a whole. Texcoco and then Toluca became the capital of the state of Mexico.[17] The war with the United States led to an invasion into Mexico City by U.S. General Winfield Scott on September 14, 1847, and obligated Mexico to cede the provinces of Santa Fe de Nuevo México and Alta California, what are today the States of California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and parts of Utah and Wyoming to the U.S. and recognize Texas as independent. This was formally recognized in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed in what is now the suburb of the city of the same name. The invasion culminated at Chapultepec Castle, the military center of the country where, according to the legend, 13 young Mexican cadets (see Niños Héroes) fought helpless and outnumbered to keep the Americans from taking the symbolic castle. This event is remembered by a series of monolithic columns that bear their names at the base of the Castle. A short-lived monarchy in 1864-1867, under Emperor Maximilian I, left its mark on the reconstruction of Chapultepec Castle and other urban planning that was said to have been modeled after the Champs-Élysées to help his consort Empress Carlota adjust to the city. A three decade long dictatorship under Porfirio Díaz left a French influence upon Mexico City. The stunning, bronze Angel of Independence was built under his administration to celebrate the first centenary of the beginning of the War of Independence. Other urban highlights built at the time were the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the expansion of Paseo de la Reforma à la Champs-Élysées. Following the initial phase of the Mexican Revolution, whereby president Díaz was forced to resign and a new president was elected, Mexico City suffered from what has been called La decena trágica ("The Tragic Ten Days") in February 1913. La decena trágica was a coup d'état orchestrated by Victoriano Huerta in complicity with the United States Ambassador to Mexico Henry Lane Wilson. The post-revolutionary government of Mexico following the Mexican Revolution of 1910 reinforced the importance of the city which saw an important influx of immigrants during the rest of the 20th century. Most of the growth of Mexico City in population occurred in the late 20th century. In 1950, the city had about 3 million inhabitants. By 2000, the estimated population for the metropolitan area was around 18 million. [edit] Recent history Column of Independence, from Torre Mayor, showing a winged victory at the top. Torre Mayor, the tallest skyscraper in Latin America The city hosted the 1968 Summer Olympic Games, an event marred by the massacre of hundreds of students in what came to be known as the Tlatelolco Massacre, which occurred only a couple of weeks before the inauguration ceremony. Two other sporting events hosted by the city were the 1970 FIFA World Cup and the 1986 FIFA World Cup, the final matches of which took place in the Estadio Azteca. At 07:19 on September 19, 1985, the city was struck by an earthquake of magnitude 8.1 on the Richter scale which resulted in the deaths of between 5,000 (government estimate) and 20,000 people and rendered 50,000-90,000 people homeless. One hundred thousand housing units were destroyed, together with many government buildings. Up to USD $4 billion of damage was caused in three minutes. There was an additional magnitude 7.5 aftershock 36 hours later.[18] When Mexico City hosted the FIFA World Cup again in 1986, the event was seen as an evidence of its rapid recovery. During the 1990s, Mexico City continued to grow as an economic and cultural center of international importance, which has spurred the construction of new skyscrapers such as Latin America's tallest building, the Torre Mayor (a literal translation of which is Greater Tower) and a remodelled World Trade Center México, originally the Hotel de México built during the 1960s and early 70's. Mexico City is ranked 8th among North America’s Top Ten Major Cities of the Future 2007-2008. It is ranked 4th in Economic Potential and 4th as Most Cost Effective. Mexico City was the one of the two Mexican cities that made the top ten, along with Guadalajara, which ranked 5th place.[19] [edit] Geography Climate chart forMexico City J F M A M J J A S O N D 13 19 6 5 21 6 10 24 8 20 25 10 53 26 12 119 24 13 170 23 12 152 23 12 130 23 12 51 21 10 18 20 8 8 19 6 temperatures in °Cprecipitation totals in mmsource: [2] Imperial conversion[show] J F M A M J J A S O N D 0.5 66 43 0.2 70 43 0.4 75 46 0.8 77 50 2.1 79 54 4.7 75 55 6.7 73 54 6 73 54 5.1 73 54 2 70 50 0.7 68 46 0.3 66 43 temperatures in °Fprecipitation totals in inches Iztaccíhuatl volcano to the east of the city. The Federal District is located in central-South Mexico. It is bounded by the state of Mexico on the west, north and east, and by the state of Morelos on the south. Mexico City and its metropolitan area, which extends over the state of Mexico, are located in the Valley of Mexico or Anáhuac, a 9,560 km2 (3,691 sq mi) valley that lies at an average of 2,240 m (7,349 ft) above sea level. This valley is a basin surrounded by mountains on all four sides, with only one small opening at the north. At the southern part of the basin, the mountain range reaches an altitude of 3,952 m (12,966 ft) above sea level; and to the east the volcanoes reach an altitude of more than 5,000 m (16,000 ft). The region receives anti-cyclonic systems, whose weak winds do not allow for the dispersion, outside the basin, of the air pollutants which are produced by the 50,000 industries and 4 million vehicles operating in the metropolitan area.[20] The federal and local governments have implemented numerous plans to alleviate the problem of air pollution, including the constant monitoring and reporting of environmental conditions, such as ozone and nitrogen oxides. If the levels of these two pollutants reach critical levels, contingency actions are implemented which may include closing factories, changing school hours, and extending the A day without a car program to two days of the week. To control air pollution, the government has instituted industrial technology improvements, a strict biannual vehicle emission inspection and the reformulation of gasoline and diesel fuels). In 1986, the non-urban forest areas of the southern boroughs were declared National Ecological Reserves by president de la Madrid. Other areas of the Federal District became protected in the following years. Mexico City has a temperate highland climate (Koppen Cwb), due to its tropical location and high elevation. The lower region of the valley receives less rainfall than the upper regions of the south; the lower boroughs of Iztapalapa, Iztacalco, Venustiano Carranza and the west portion of Gustavo A. Madero are usually drier and warmer than the upper southern boroughs of Tlalpan and Milpa Alta, a mountainous region of pine and oak trees known as the range of Ajusco. The average annual temperature varies from 12 to 16°C (53 to 60°F), depending on the altitude of the borough. Lowest temperatures, usually registered during January and February, may reach -2 to -5°C (28 to 23°F), usually accompanied by snow showers on the southern regions of Ajusco, and the maximum temperatures of late spring and summer may reach up to 32°C (90°F). Overall precipitation is heavily concentrated in the summer months. The central valley of Mexico rarely gets precipitation in the form of snow during winter; the two last recorded instances of such an event were on January 12, 1967, and March 5, 1940. Originally much of the valley lay beneath the waters of Lake of Texcoco, a system of interconnected saline and freshwater lakes. The Aztecs built dikes to separate the fresh water used to raise crops in chinampas and to prevent recurrent floods. These dikes were destroyed during the siege of Tenochtitlan, and during colonial times the Spanish regularly drained the lake to prevent floods. Only a small section of the original lake remains, located outside the Federal District, in the State of Mexico, in the municipality of Atenco. Geophysical maps of the Federal District Topography Hydrology Climate patterns [edit] Politics [edit] Federal District In 1824, when the United Mexican States were born as a federation, the Congress of the Union decided to create a Federal District containing the capital of the federation, Mexico City. Mexico City and the surrounding territories that became the Federal District originally belonged to the state of Mexico, and the city was also the capital of the state. Being now the capital of the federation, and not of a single state, the city had to be administered directly by all the states through the power vested upon the powers of the Union. The Federal District was thus created on November 18, 1824, as a perfect circle with its center at the Central Square (Plaza de la Constitución, popularly known as "el Zócalo") and a radius of 8.38 km (5.21 mi). The Federal District was constituted by the municipality of Mexico City, and six additional municipalities: Tacuba, Tacubaya, Azcapotzalco, Mixcoac, Iztacalco, and Villa de Guadalupe. In 1854, president Antonio López de Santa Anna, enlarged the area of the Federal District almost eightfold from the original 220 km2 (80 sq mi) to 1,700 km2 (660 sq mi), annexing the rural and mountainous areas in order to secure the strategic mountain passes to the south and southwest to protect the city should a foreign invasion occur again. (The Mexican-American War had just been fought). The last changes to the limits of the Federal District were made between 1898 and 1902, reducing the area to the current 1,499 km² (579 sq mi) by adjusting the southern border with the state of Morelos. By that time, the total number of municipalities within the Federal District was twenty-two. While the Federal District was ruled by the federal government through an appointed governor, the municipalities within it were autonomous, and this duality of powers created constant tensions between the municipalities and the federal government for more than a century. In 1903 already, Porfirio Díaz largely reduced the powers of the municipalities within the Federal District. Eventually, in December 1928, the federal government decided to abolish all the municipalities of the Federal District. In place of the municipalities, the Federal District was divided into one "Central Department" and 13 delegaciones (boroughs) administered directly by the government of the Federal District. The Central Department was integrated by the former municipalities of Mexico City, Tacuba, Tacubaya and Mixcoac. In 1941, the General Anaya borough was merged to the Central Department, which was then renamed "Mexico City" (thus reviving the name, but not the autonomous municipality). From 1941 to 1970, the Federal District was comprised by 12 delegaciones and Mexico City. In 1970 Mexico City was split into four different delegaciones: Cuauhtémoc, Miguel Hidalgo, Venustiano Carranza and Benito Juárez, thus increasing the number of delegaciones to sixteen. Since then, in a de facto manner, the whole Federal District, whose delegaciones had by then almost formed a single urban area, began to be considered a synonym of Mexico City. However, the lack of a de jure stipulation left a legal vacuum that led to a number of sterile discussions about whether one concept had engulfed the other or if the latter had ceased to exist altogether. In 1993 this situation was solved by an amendment to the 44th article of the Constitution whereby Mexico City and the Federal District were set to be the same entity. This amendment was later introduced into the second article of the Statute of Government of the Federal District.[21] [edit] Political structure National Palace, former seat of the Executive power of the Union. Mexico City, being the seat of the powers of the Union, did not belong to any particular state but to all. Therefore, it was the president, representing the federation, who used to designate the head of government of the Federal District, a position which is sometimes presented outside Mexico as the "Mayor" of Mexico City. In the 1980s, given the dramatic increase in population of the previous decades, the inherent political inconsistencies of the system—like in 1988, when the opposition candidate had received the majority of votes in the Federal District, but the president, however designated a governor form the party in power at the federal level—as well as the dissatisfaction with the inadequate response of the federal government to assist the city after the 1985 earthquake, the residents began to request political and administrative autonomy in order to manage their own local affairs. Some political groups even proposed that the Federal District be converted into the 32nd state of the federation. Legislative Assembly of the Federal District. In response to the demands, in 1987 the Federal District received a greater degree of autonomy, with the elaboration the first Statute of Government (Estatuto de Gobierno), and the creation of an Assembly of Representatives. In the 1990s this autonomy was further expanded and, starting from 1997, residents can directly elect the head of government of the Federal District and the representatives of a unicameral Legislative Assembly (which succeeded the previous Assembly) by popular vote. The first elected head of government was Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas. Cárdenas resigned in 1999 in order to run in the 2000 presidential elections and designated Rosario Robles to succeed him, who became the first woman (elected or otherwise) to govern Mexico City. In 2000 Andrés Manuel López Obrador was elected, and resigned in 2005 to run in the 2006 presidential elections, Alejandro Encinas Rodríguez being designated by the Legislative Assembly to finish the term. In 2006, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon was elected for the 2006–2012 period. The Federal District does not have a constitution, like the states of the Union, but rather a Statute of Government, and as part of its recent changes in autonomy, the budget is administered locally: it is proposed by the head of government and approved by the Legislative Assembly. Nonetheless, it is the Congress of the Union that sets the ceiling to internal and external public debt issued by the Federal District.[22] According to the 44th article of the Mexican Constitution, in case the powers of the Union move to another city, the Federal District will be transformed into a new state, which will be called "State of the Valley of Mexico", with the new limits set by the Congress of the Union. [edit] Elections and government In 2006, elections were held for the post of head of government and the representatives of the Legislative Assembly. The elected and incumbent head of government is now Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, candidate of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). Heads of government are elected for a 6-year period without the possibility of reelection. Traditionally, this position has been considered as the second most important executive office in the country.[23] The Legislative Assembly of the Federal District is formed, as it is the case in all legislatures in Mexico, by both single-seat and proportional seats, making it a system of parallel voting. The Federal District is divided into 40 electoral constituencies of similar population which elect one representative by first-past-the-post plurality (FPP), locally called "uninominal deputies". The Federal District as a whole constitutes a single constituency for the parallel election of 26 representatives by proportionality (PR) with open-party lists, locally called "plurinominal deputies." Even though proportionality is only confined to the proportional seats, to prevent a part from being overrepresented, several restrictions apply in the assignation of the seats; namely, that no party can have more than 63% of all seats, both uninominal and plurinominal. In the 2006 elections leftist PRD got the absolute majority in the direct uninominal elections, securing 34 of the 40 FPP seats. As such, PRD was not assigned any plurinominal seat to comply with the law that prevents overrepresentation. The overall composition of the Legislative Assembly is: PRD (left): 34 FPP representatives PAN (right): 17 representatives (4 FFP, 13 PR) PRI (center): 4 PR representatives PNA: 4 PR representatives PVEM (ecologist-right): 3 PR representatives PSD (center-left): 2 PR representatives PT (left): 1 FFP representative CON: 1 FFP representative The politics pursued by the administrations of heads of government in Mexico City since the second half of the 20th century have usually been more liberal than those of the rest of the country, whether with the support of the federal government —as was the case with the approval of several comprehensive environmental laws in the 1980s— or through laws recently approved by the Legislative Assembly. In 2007, the Federal District became the second federal entity in the country, after the state of Coahuila, to approve same-sex unions, and the first to allow conjugal visits for homosexual prisoners[24] In April of the same year, the Legislative Assembly expanded provisions on abortions, becoming the first federal entity to expand abortion in Mexico beyond cases of rape and economic reasons, to permit it regardless of the reason should the mother request it before the twelfth week of pregnancy.[25] [edit] Boroughs See also: Boroughs of the Mexican Federal District and Colonias of Mexico City The 16 boroughs of Mexico City. The Colonia Roma For administrative purposes, the Federal District is divided into 16 "delegaciones" or boroughs. While not fully equivalent to a municipality, the 16 boroughs have gained significant autonomy, and since 2000 their heads of government are elected directly by plurality (they were previously appointed by the head of government of the Federal District). Given that Mexico City is organized entirely as a Federal District, most of the city services are provided or organized by the Government of the Federal District and not by the boroughs themselves, while in the constituent states these services would be provided by the municipalities. The 16 boroughs of the Federal District are: 1. Álvaro Obregón2. Azcapotzalco3. Benito Juárez4. Coyoacán5. Cuajimalpa6. Cuauhtémoc7. Gustavo A. Madero8. Iztacalco 9. Iztapalapa10. Magdalena Contreras11. Miguel Hidalgo12. Milpa Alta13. Tláhuac14. Tlalpan15. Venustiano Carranza16. Xochimilco The boroughs are composed by hundreds of colonias or neighborhoods, which have no jurisdictional autonomy or representation. It is plausible that the name, which literally means colony, arose in the late 19th, early 20th centuries, when one of the first urban developments outside the city's core was inhabited by a French colony in the city. Some colonias have identifiable attributes: Historic Center is the oldest quarter in the city, some of the buildings dating back to the 16th century; la Condesa is known for its Art Deco architecture, and for being the newest artistic center of the city; Santa Fe is a growing business and financial district (built over old landfills); Roma is a beaux arts neighborhood and probably one of the oldest in the city; Polanco is an important commercial and economic center known for its large Jewish community, and Tepito and La Lagunilla are known for its impressively large flea market. [edit] Economy World Trade Center México "Columna de la Independencia" in Reforma financial district Mexico City is one of the most important economic hubs of Latin America. The city proper (Federal District) produces 21.8% of the country's Gross domestic product.[26] According to a study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Greater Mexico City (with a population of 19.2 million) had a GDP of $315 billion in 2005 (at purchasing power parity), ranking as the eighth-richest urban agglomeration in the world after the greater areas of Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, London and Osaka/Kobe, and the richest in Latin America; in 2020 it is expected to rank seventh with a $608 billion GDP, displacing Osaka/Kobe.[4][27] Mexico City alone would be the 30th largest economy in the world[28] with a higher GDP than countries like Sweden or Switzerland. Mexico City is also one of the largest financial and commercial hubs in Latin America (it should be remembered that Carlos Slim, who has been ranked, in the last few months, as either the richest or the second richest person in the world, was born and has always lived in Mexico City). The Mexican stock exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores) and the country's largest banks and insurers, as well as many international financial services conglomerates for Latin America, are headquartered in the city. Santa Fe business district In terms of GDP per sector, the Federal District is the greatest contributor to the country's industrial GDP (15.8%) and also the greatest contributor to the country's GDP in the service sector (25.3%). Due to the limited non-urbanized space at the south—most of which is protected through environmental laws—the contribution of the Federal District in agriculture is the smallest of all federal entities in the country.[26] The city proper's nominal GDP per capita is $22,696, the highest of any city in Latin America.[29] Mexico City's Human Development Index (HDI) is the highest in the country at 0.8830, higher than the national average. Amongst other welfare indicators, 50% of the habitants of Mexico City have access to the Internet, 58% own a cell phone, with virtually each household having a phone line. While 36% of Mexicans nationwide live in poverty, about 15% of the residents of Mexico City live in poverty. [30] Over the last two decades the economic base has shifted strongly, as the manufacturing activities move to the state of Mexico (Mexico city suburbs) and even to other states, partly due to an environmental program of tax incentives offered by the government to manufacturers: existing companies could be eligible to tax-certificates if they installed pollution control equipment. New plants, on the other hand, were only eligible to the same benefits if they were to be located outside Mexico City.[31] [edit] Demographics Greater Mexico City, extending to the states of Mexico and Hidalgo. Historically, and since pre-Hispanic times, the valley of Anáhuac has been one of the most densely populated areas in Mexico. When the Federal District was created in 1824, the urban area of Mexico City extended approximately to the area of today's Cuauhtémoc borough. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the elites began migrating to the south and west and soon the small towns of Mixcoac and San Ángel were incorporated by the growing conurbation. Today the city could be clearly divided into a middle and high-class area (south and west, including Polanco, Chapultepec and Santa Fe), and a lower class area to the east (Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Pantitlán, Chalco and Moctezuma). Up to the 1980s, the Federal District was the most populated federal entity in Mexico, but since then its population has remained stable at around 8.7 million. The growth of the city has extended beyond the limits of the Federal District to 58 municipalities of the state of Mexico and to the state of Hidalgo and, with a population of approx. 28.5 million inhabitants, it is one of the most populated conurbations in the world. Nonetheless, the annual rate of growth of the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City is much lower than that of other large urban agglomerations in Mexico,[3] a phenomenon most likely attributable to the environmental policy of decentralization. The net migration rate of the Federal District from 1995 to 2000 was negative.[32] While they represent around 1.3% of the city's population, indigenous peoples from different regions of Mexico have immigrated to the capital in search of better economic opportunities. Náhuatl, Otomí, Mixteco, Zapoteco, and Mazahua are the indigenous languages with the greatest number of speakers in Mexico City.[33] On the other hand, Mexico City is home to large communities of expatriates, most notably from South America (mainly from Argentina, but also from Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela), from Europe (mainly from Spain but also Germany, Italy, France and Poland),[34][35] the Middle East (mainly from Lebanon, Turkey, and Syria),[36] and recently from Asia (mainly from China and South Korea).[37] While no official figures have been reported, population estimates of each of these communities are quite significant. Mexico City is home to the largest population of Americans living outside the United States. Some estimates are as high as 600,000 Americans living in Mexico City, while in 1999 the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs estimates over 440,000 Americans lived in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area.[38][39] The majority (90.5%) of the residents in Mexico City are Roman Catholic, higher than the national percentage, even though it has been decreasing over the last decades.[40] However, many other religions and philosophies are also practiced in the city: many different types of Protestant groups, different types of Jewish communities, Buddhist and other philosophical groups, as well as atheism. [edit] Landmarks Historic Center of Mexico City and Xochimilco* UNESCO World Heritage Site Type Cultural Criteria ii, iii, iv, v Reference 412 Region** Latin America and the Caribbean Inscription history Inscription 1987 (11th Session) * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.** Region as classified by UNESCO. Xochimilco Floating Gardens The Historic Center (Centro Histórico) and the "floating gardens" of Xochimilco in the southern borough have been declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. Famous landmarks in the Historic Center include the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo), the main central square with its time clashing Spanish-era Metropolitan Cathedral and Palacio Nacional, and ancient Aztec temple ruins Templo Mayor ("Major Temple") are all within a few steps of one another. (The Templo Mayor was discovered in 1978 while workers were digging to place underground electric cables.) Paris building, neoclassic style Museum of Estanquillo (cartoons & magazines) The most recognizable icon of Mexico City is the golden Angel of Independence, found on the wide, elegant avenue Paseo de la Reforma, modeled by the order of the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico after the Champs-Élysées in Paris. This avenue was designed in the XIX Century to connect the National Palace (seat of government) with the Castle of Chapultepec, the imperial residence. Today, this avenue is an important financial district in which the Mexican Stock Market is located. Another important avenue is the Avenida de los Insurgentes, which extends 28.8 km (18 miles) and is one of the longest single avenues in the world. The Chapultepec park houses the Castle of Chapultepec, now a museum on a hill that overlooks the park and its numerous museums, monuments and the national zoo and the National Museum of Anthropology (which houses the Aztec Calendar Stone). Another magnificent piece of architecture is the Fine Arts Palace, a stunning white marble theatre/museum whose weight is such that it has gradually been sinking into the soft ground below. Its construction began during the presidency of Porfirio Díaz and ended, after being interrupted by the Mexican Revolution in the 1920s. The Plaza of the Three Cultures in the Tlatelolco neighbourhood, and the shrine and Basilicas of Our Lady of Guadalupe are also important sites. There is a double decker bus, known as the "Turibus", that circles most of these sites, and has timed audio describing the sites in multiple languages as they are passed. Palace of Fine Arts In addition, the city has around 160 museums, over 100 art galleries, and some 30 concert halls, all of which maintain a constant cultural activity during the whole year. It has the fourth highest number of theatres in the world after New York, London and Toronto, and it is the city with the highest number of museums in the world. In many locales (Palacio Nacional and the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, to name a few), there are murals painted by Diego Rivera. He and his wife Frida Kahlo lived in the southern suburb of Coyoacán, where several of their homes, studios, and art collections are open to the public. The house where Leon Trotsky was initially granted asylum and finally murdered in 1940 is also in Coyoacán. In addition, there are several restored haciendas that are now restaurants, such as the San Ángel Inn, the Hacienda de Tlalpan and the Hacienda de los Morales, all of which are stunning remnants of Mexican history and house some of the best food in the world. [edit] Sports Estadio Azteca, fifth largest stadium in the world. Lucha Libre Soccer is Mexico's most televised sport and most popular. Several first division teams, including América, Cruz Azul and U.N.A.M., are based in Mexico City and play in the La Primera Division. The Aztec Stadium has capacity to seat 105,000 fans. Mexico City also has an Olympic Stadium in Ciudad Universitaria, which is home of the U.N.A.M. football club. Cruz Azul plays in the Estadio Azul, which is located in Xoxhimilco. América, Cruz Azul and U.N.A.M. are part of the Big Four of Mexico which are the four most popular sports clubs, Guadlajara being the rivals of América are the most popular, following are América, Cruz Azul and U.N.A.M. in that order. The country hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1970 and 1986 and the Aztec Stadium is the only stadium in World Cup history to host the final match twice. Mexico City also hosted the Summer Olympics in 1968, winning bids against Buenos Aires, Lyon and Detroit, and being the only Latin American city to host such an event. Mexico City hosted the 1955 Pan American Games and then the 1975 Pan American Games after Santiago and São Paulo withdrew. Foro Sol Ballpark. Baseball is also another popular sport with a growing fan base. Mexico City is home to the México Red Devils of the MBL, with the team playing their home games at the Foro Sol Park. Also in Mexico City are located around 10 little leagues for young baseball players. Adjacent to Foro Sol is Mexico City's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. From 1962 to 1970 and again from 1986 to 1992, the track hosted the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix. From 1980-1981 and again from 2002 to 2007, it hosted the Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México. Since 2005, the NASCAR Nationwide Series has run the Telcel-Motorola México 200. 2005 also marked the first running of the Mexico City 250 by the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. In 2005, Mexico City became the first city to host a NFL regular season game outside of the United States, and has also hosted several NBA pre-season exhibition games along with exhibition matches among MLB teams at the Foro Sol. Other sports facilities in Mexico City are the Palacio de los Deportes indoor arena, Francisco Márquez Olympic Swimming Pool, the Hipódromo de Las Américas, and venues for horse-races, ice hockey, American football, and basketball. Bullfighting takes place every Sunday during bullfighting season at the 50,000-seat Plaza de Toros, the largest bullring in the world. [edit] Transportation Main article: Transportation in Mexico City Mexico City's Metro Mexico City is served by the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metro, an extensive metro system (207 km), which is the largest in Latin America. The first portions were opened in 1969 and now the system has 11 lines with 175 stations. In 2008 it was announced that a twelfth line will be constructed along with a suburban rail system similar to the French RER system. The metro is one of the busiest in the world transporting approximately 4.5 million people every day, surpassed only by Moscow's (7.5 million), Tokyo's (5.9 million), and New York City's (5.1 million)[41]. It is heavily subsidized, and has the lowest fares in the world, each trip costing Mex$ 2 (around € 0.13 or US$ 0.19) and taking each passenger to almost any place in this enormous city from 05:00 am to 00:00 h.). Several stations display Pre-Columbian artifacts and architecture that were discovered during the metro's construction. However, the Metro does not extend outside the limits of the Federal District and, therefore, an extensive network of bus routes has been implemented. These are mostly managed by private companies which are allowed to operate buses as long as they adhere to certain minimal service quality standards. Metrobús at Avenida Insurgentes. The city government also operates a network of large buses, in contrast with the privately operated microbuses, with fares barely exceeding that of the metro. Electric transport other than the metro also exists, in the form of trolleybuses and the Xochimilco Light Rail line. The city's first bus rapid transit line, the Metrobús, began operations on June 2005 in Avenida Insurgentes (a second line is under construction on Eje 4 Sur). As the microbuses were removed from its route, it was hoped that the Metrobús could reduce pollution and decrease transit time for passengers. Also, since late 2002, the white and green taxis have been joined by red and white ones as part of a program to replace older vehicles with new ones. Mexico City is served by Mexico City International Airport (IATA Airport Code: MEX). This airport is the largest in Latin America in traffic, transporting nearly 25 million passengers per year.[42] This traffic exceeds the capacity of the airport, which had historically centralized the majority of air traffic. The government has recently engaged in an extensive restructuring that includes the building of a second adjacent terminal and the enlargement of four other airports (at the nearby cities of Toluca, Querétaro, Puebla and Cuernavaca) that, along with Mexico City's airport, comprise the Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México, distributing traffic to different regions in Mexico. Mexico City's airport is the main hub for 10 of the 12 national airline companies. The city has four major bus stations (North, South, Observatorio, TAPO), with bus service to many cities across the country, and one train station, used for commercial and industrial purposes (interstate passenger trains are now virtually non-existent in Mexico). It was recently announced that a Tren Suburbano (suburban rail) will be built to serve the metropolitan area. There are also several toll expressways which connect Mexico City with several other major cities. Elevated section of Periférico ring road In the late 70's many arterial roads were redesigned as ejes viales; high-volume one-way roads that cross, in theory, Mexico City proper from side to side. The eje vial network is based on a quasi-Cartesian grid, with the ejes themselves being called Eje 1 Poniente, Eje Central, and Eje 1 Oriente, for example, for the north-south roads, and Eje 2 Sur and Eje 3 Norte, for example, for east-west roads. Two freeway ring-roads serve to connect points within the city and the metropolitan area: Circuito Interior (the inner ring) and Periférico, which connect to one straight freeway: the Viaducto (Viaduct) (connecting west with east, from Observatorio to the Airport). Traffic in this system is so dense that an elevated highway that runs on top and parallel to a part of the Periférico, had to be constructed and finished in 2007. This elevated highway is colloquially called segundo piso ("second level") of the Periférico. There is an environmental program, called Hoy No Circula ("Not To Run Today," or "One Day without a Car"), whereby only vehicles with certain ending numbers on their license plates are allowed to circulate on certain days, in an attempt to cut down on pollution and traffic congestion. The program groups vehicles by their ending license plate digits, and every weekday vehicles having any of the day's two "Hoy No Circula" digits are banned from circulating. For instance, on Fridays, vehicles with plates ending in 9 or 0 may not drive. This program is controversial, since it has resulted in many better-off households buying extra cars, reducing the program's benefits; also, newer vehicles are exempt from complying with the program, a move said to have been pushed by automakers to boost sales of new vehicles. [edit] Culture The main library of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. [edit] Education Mexico City is the location of National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). UNAM is the second-oldest (established in 1551) and the largest (with 269,000 students) university in the Americas. Three Nobel laureates and most of Mexico's modern-day presidents are among its former students. UNAM conducts 50% of Mexico's scientific research and has presence all across the country with satellite campuses and research centers. The National Autonomous University of Mexico ranks 74th in the Top 200 World University Ranking published by The Times Higher Education Supplement in 2006,[43] making it the highest ranked Spanish-speaking university in the world. The sprawling main campus of the university, known as Ciudad Universitaria, was named a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2007, during the period of Juan Ramón de la Fuente as the President of UNAM. The second largest higher-education institution is the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) (which includes, among many other relevant centers, the Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (Cinvestav), where high-level research is performed about very different scientific and technological disciplines such as physics, mathematics, neurosciences, and many others). Other major higher-education institutions in the city include the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), the ITAM, the ITESM (3 campuses), the Universidad Panamericana (UP), the Universidad La Salle, the Universidad del Valle de Mexico (UVM), the Universidad Anáhuac, the Alliant International University, the Universidad Iberoamericana, El Colegio de México (Colmex), and the Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económica (CIDE). Contrary to what occurs in the constituent states of the Mexican federation, the curriculum of Mexico City's public schools is managed by the federal level Secretary of Public Education. The whole funding is allocated by the government of Mexico City (in some specific cases, such as El Colegio de México, funding comes from both the city's government and other public and private national and international entities). A very special case is that of El Colegio Nacional, created during the governmental period of Miguel Alemán Valdés to have, in Mexico, an institution very similar to the College of France. The very selected and privileged group of Mexican scientists and artists belonging this institution (the membership is lifelong; some of the current members are Mario Lavista, Ruy Pérez Tamayo, José Emilio Pacheco, Marcos Moshinsky, Guillermo Soberón Acevedo, and many others) have the obligation of disclosing their works among the general population, through conferences and public events such as concerts and recitals. [edit] Media Mexico City is the country's most important center for the television, advertising, music, newspaper and book publishing industries. Two national newspapers are published here, El Universal and Excélsior, as well as important regional newspapers such as Reforma and La Jornada. Other major papers include Milenio, Crónica, El Economista and El Financiero. The two largest media companies in the Spanish-speaking world, Televisa and TV Azteca, are headquartered in Mexico City. Other local television networks include Canal 11, Canal 22, Cadena Tres, Teveunam and 11 free-access channels. There are 60 radio stations operating in the city and a huge number of local community radio stations. [edit] Art Aztec sculpture of Coatlicue. Mexico City is one of the most important cultural centers in the world boasting more museums than any other city. It is also the fourth city in number of theaters after New York City, London and Toronto.[44] Having been capital of a vast pre-Hispanic empire, the richest viceroyalty within the Spanish Empire, and capital of the Mexican federation, Mexico City has a rich history of artistic expressions. Since the Mesoamerican pre-Classical period the inhabitants of the settlements around Lake Texcoco produced many works of arts, some of which are today displayed at the world-renown National Museum of Anthropology and the Templo Mayor Museum. While many pieces of pottery and stone-engraving have survived, the great majority of the Amerindian iconography was destroyed during the Conquest of Mexico. El Caballito, equestrian sculpture of King Charles IV of Spain by Manuel Tolsá. During colonial times the first art produced was that of the codices generated to preserve or recuperate Amerindian iconography and history. From then, artistic expressions in Mexico were mostly religious in theme. The Metropolitan Cathedral still displays works by Juan de Rojas, Juan Correa and an oil painting whose authorship has been attributed to Murillo. Secular works of art of this period include the equestrian sculpture of Charles IV of Spain, locally known as El Caballito ("The little horse"). This piece, in bronze, was the work of Manuel Tolsá and it has been placed at the Plaza Tolsá, in front of the Palacio de Minería (Mining Palace). Directly in front of this building is the beautiful Museo Nacional de Arte (Munal) (the National Museum of Art). During the 19th century, an important producer of art was the Academia de San Carlos (San Carlos Art Academy), founded during colonial times, and which later became the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas (the National School of Visual Arts), which is currently one of the art schools of UNAM. Many of the works produced by the students and faculty of that time are now displayed in the Museo Nacional de San Carlos (National Museum of San Carlos). One of the students, José María Velasco, is considered one of the greatest Mexican landscape painters of the 19th century. It was during Porfirio Diaz's regime that the government sponsored arts, especially those that followed the French school. In spite of that, popular arts in the form of cartoons and illustrations flourished like those of José Guadalupe Posada and Manuel Manilla. The permanent collection of the San Carlos Museum also includes paintings by European masters such as Rembrandt, Velázquez, Murillo, and Rubens. Diego Rivera's mural depicting Mexico's history at the National Palace in Mexico City. After the Mexican Revolution, an avant-garde artistic movement originated in Mexico City: muralism. Many of the works of muralists José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera are displayed in numerous buildings in the city, most notably at the National Palace and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Frida Kahlo, wife of Rivera, with a strong nationalist expression, was also one of the most renowned of Mexican painters. Her house has become a museum that displays many of her works. The former home of Rivera muse Dolores Olmedo house the namesake museum. The facility lies in the Xochimilco precinct in the southern part of the city and includes several buildings surrounded by sprawling manicured lawns. It houses a large collection of Rivera and Kahlo paintings and drawings, as well as living Xoloizcuintles (the Prehispanic dogs). It also regularly hosts small but important temporary exhibits of classical and modern art (e.g. Venetian Masters and Contemporary New York artists). During the 20th century, many artists immigrated to Mexico City from different regions of Mexico, like Leopoldo Méndez, an engraver from Veracruz, who supported the creation of the socialist Taller de la Gráfica Popular (Popular Graphics Workshop), designed to help blue-collar workers find a venue to express their art. Other painters came from abroad, like Catalan painter Remedios Varo and other Spanish and Jewish exiles. It was in the second half of the 20th century that the artistic movement began to drift apart from the Revolutionary theme. José Luis Cuevas opted for a modernist style in contrast to the muralist movement associated with social politics. Mexico City has numerous museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The Museo Tamayo was opened in the mid-1980s to house the collection of international contemporary art donated by famed Mexican (born in the state of Oaxaca) painter Rufino Tamayo. The Museo de Arte Moderno (Museum of Modern Art) is a repository of Mexican artists from the 20th century, and also regularly hosts temporary exhibits of international modern art. In southern Mexico City, the Museo Carrillo Gil (Carrillo Gil Museum) showcases avant-garde artists. The Museo Soumaya (Soumaya Museum), named after the wife of Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, has the largest private collection of original Rodin sculptures outside Paris. La Colección Jumex (The Jumex Collection) is a museum housed on the grounds of the Jumex juice company in the northern industrial suburb of Ecatepec (within the State of Mexico). It shows pieces from its permanent collection and hosts traveling exhibits by leading contemporary artists. Jack Kerouac, the noted American author, spent extended periods of time in the city, and wrote his masterpiece volume of poetry Mexico City Blues here. [edit] Music, movies and entertainment Arcos Tower Santa Fe Financial District José Vasconcelos Library in Mexico City. Mexico City is a mecca of classical music, with a number of orchestras offering season programming. These include the Mexico City Philharmonic,[45] which performs at the Sala Ollin Yoliztli; the National Symphony Orchestra, whose home base is the Palacio de Bellas Artes (The Fine Arts Palace), a masterpiece of art nouveau and art decó styles; the Philharmonic Orchestra of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (OFUNAM),[46] and the Minería Symphony Orchestra,[47] both of which perform at the acoustically renown Sala Nezahualcóyotl, which was the first wrap-around concert hall in the Western Hemisphere when inaugurated in 1976. There are also many smaller ensembles that enrich the city's musical scene, including the Carlos Chávez Youth Symphony, the New World Orchestra (Orquesta del Nuevo Mundo), the National Polytechnical Symphony and the Bellas Artes Chamber Orchestra (Orquesta de Cámara de Bellas Artes). The city is also a leading center of popular culture and music. There are a multitude of venues hosting the top Spanish and English-language performers. These include the 10,000-seat National Auditorium that regularly schedules the top Spanish and English-language pop and rock artists, as well as many of the world's leading performing arts ensembles. Other popular sites for pop-artist performances include the Teatro Metropolitan, the 15,000-seat Palacio de los Deportes, and the larger Foro Sol Stadium, where top-name international artists perform on a regular basis. The Cirque du Soleil has held several seasons at the Carpa Santa Fe, in the Santa Fe district in the western part of the city. It is said that Mexico City has more theaters than any other city in the Spanish-speaking world. At any given time, plays being staged run the gamut from Spanish versions of Broadway shows, such as Beauty and the Beast and Chicago to mainstream Spanish-language originals and alternative theatre. The Centro Nacional de las Artes (National Center for the Arts), in southern Mexico City, has several venues for music, theatre, dance. UNAM's main campus, also in the southern part of the city, is home to the Centro Cultural Universitario (the University Culture Center) (CCU), which includes the Sala Nezahualcóyotl (Nezahualcóyotl Concert Hall) (music), the Sala Juan Ruiz de Alarcón (theatre), Sala Miguel Covarrubias (dance), Sala Carlos Chávez (chamber music), as well as the Salas Julio Bracho and José Revueltas, that regularly show a very interesting mix of non-commercial films from all over the world. The CCU also houses the National Library, the interactive Universum, Museo de las Ciencias [48] and slated to open in 2008, the new University Museum of Contemporary Art (MUAC).[49] A branch of the National University's CCU cultural center was inaugurated in 2007 in the facilities of the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known as Tlatelolco, in north-central Mexico City. The (José Vasconcelos Library), a national library, is located on the grounds of the former Buenavista railroad station in the northern part of the city. The Papalote children's museum is located in Chapultepec Park (within Chapultepec woods), near the Museo Tecnológico, and the La Feria amusement park. The Six Flags México (the largest amusement park in Latin America) amusement park is located in the Ajusco neighborhood, in the south of the city. The Cineteca Nacional (the Mexican Film Library), near the Coyoacán suburb, shows a wide variety of films, and stages many film festivals, including the annual International Showcase, and many smaller ones ranging from Scandinavian and Uruguayan cinema, to Jewish and GLBT-themed films. Cinemex, one of the biggest film business chain, also has more than one film festivals during the year, with both national and international movies. [edit] Cuisine Mexico City offers a huge array of culinary experiences. Restaurants specializing in the regional cuisines of Mexico's 32 states are available in the city. Also available are restaurants representing a broad spectrum of international cuisines, including French, Italian, Polish, Hungarian, Portuguese, Spanish (including Spanish regional variations such as Castilian, Asturian, Galician, and Basque), Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Lebanese, Moroccan, as well as Peruvian, Argentine, and Brazilian.

Rome

2008-09-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

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italy hotels

2008-09-10T06:32:00.002-07:00

ITALY HOTELS Alghero hotels Ancona hotels Assisi hotels Bari hotelsBologna hotelsBrescia hotelsBrindisi hotelsCagliari hotelsCatania hotelsFlorence hotelsGenoa hotelsLamezia hotels L'Aquila hotelsMilan hotelsNaples hotelsPalermo hotelsParma hotelsPerugia hotels Pescara hotels Pisa hotelsRimini hotelsRome hotels Siena hotels Sulmona hotelsTrieste hotelsTurin hotelsVenice hotelsVerona hotels

italy flights

2008-09-10T06:32:00.001-07:00

Find cheap flights to Italy Select your preferred destination from the cities listed below. Search all Flights to Italy Or select from these cities/airports below Alghero Fertilia (AHO) Ancona Ancona (AOI) Bari Palese Macchie (BRI) Bergamo Bergamo (BGY) Bologna Giuseppe Marconi (Borgo Panigale) (BLQ) Bolzano Bolzano (BZO) Brindisi Casale (BDS) Cagliari Elmas (CAG) Catania Fontanarossa (CTA) Crotone Crotone (CRV) Florence Peretola (FLR) Genoa Genoa (GOA) Lamezia Terme Lamezia Terme (SUF) Milan Malpensa (MXP) Linate (LIN) Naples Capodichino (NAP) Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB) Palermo Punta Raisi (PMO) Perugia S. Egidio (PEG) Pescara Pescara (PSR) Pisa Galilei (San Giusto) (PSA) Reggio Calabria Reggio Calabria (REG) Rimini Rimini (RMI) Rome Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino (FCO) Taormina Trapani Birgi (TPS) Treviso S. Angelo (TSF) Trieste Ronchi dei Legionari (TRS) Turin Caselle (TRN) Udine Venice Marco Polo (Tessera) (VCE) Verona Verona (VRN)

tuscany travel

2008-09-10T06:28:00.000-07:00

movie todaysmenu 揂 bed and breakfast in Tuscany that will make you relaxed the moment you enter their cypress tree-lined driveway - and one of the happy memories to take home along with all the Tuscan treasures you have seen?nbsp; ...comment from our Visitor's Book Casa Portagioia is a small estate near Castiglion Fiorentino and Cortona in Tuscany. We offer 5 independent guest bedrooms for luxury Tuscany bed and breakfast ?all with en-suite bathrooms - and also 2 suite apartments each accommodating 2? guests and offering complete privacy, a heated swimming pool and the most gorgeous scenery. Casa Portagioia is both perfect for a peaceful break in the countryside or to explore the delights of Tuscany and Umbria including Florence, Siena, Montepulciano, Assisi, Pienza, Arezzo and the Chianti region - to name but a few. Casa Portagioia - Tuscany Bed and Breakfast at its finest! More important is the fact that we know how much planning goes into your vacation and there is too long a space between them. Here, at Casa Portagioia, relaxation is our keyword: we look after our guests every need; from very comfortable beds; a leisurely breakfast overlooking our olive groves and the glorious valley basin and our gardens; to helping arrange day trips to the fabulous sites of Tuscany and Umbria. When just a lazy day is required our solar-heated pool with its gorgeous panoramic views across the Valle di Chio will get you ready for the various restaurants of Cortona, Arezzo and Castiglion Fiorentino. You may even be staying with us when we offer our guests dinner (twice weekly); a freshly prepared 5 course meal, served in a very relaxed manner and perhaps accompanied by some very interesting Tuscan wines, if you choose. Casa Portagioia is the perfect base for exploring the history, towns, museums, galleries and festivals of Tuscany and Umbria. "A Bed and Breakfast in Tuscany that is simply perfect - .." for your special vacation in Tuscany, Wedding in Tuscany or even your Honeymoon in Tuscany - but only if you are looking for that something special During August, Cortona hosts the famous Tuscan Sun Festival. The 2007 festival was opened by Italian legion Sophia Loren. This beautiful Tuscan hill town is usually a quiet place, but during the first weeks of August Cortona is transformed into an international venue for music, wine tasting, cooking and more. The 2008 Tuscan Sun festival is bound to be every bit as wonderful. The Festival lasts for about 10 days. A truly stunning setting for a magical event. (For ticket information contact International Festivals Bureau from Spring 2008) November is usually the time of the olive harvest. Italian olive oil is regarded as one of the best in the world, however Tuscan olive oil is accepted as 'the' best olive oil in the world. Many farms in Val di Chio will allow you to watch - and even join in the harvesting of the precious crop (in the traditional way of course) and then on to the mill to witness the small olives being transformed into the beautiful Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil. and here in the Val di Chio, our organic Tuscan Olive Oil - could be the best in the world! Please use the dropdown menus at the top of the page for more information about our bed and breakfast, apartments in Tuscany and other facilities for your enjoyment and relaxation in Tuscany.

rome travel

2008-09-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

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