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Mexico is a really colorful country with exciting mountains, lonely desert, classical sand beaches and a fascinating history. And: Within the country America’s largest city is found – Mexico City. An estimated 22 million human beings live here. But even in this huge, smog burdened metropolis there are quiet and green corners with baroque churches, small back yards and colonial palaces.
Surrounding Mexico-City there extend wide highland with mountains, some volcanoes und many well preserved colonial towns. One can indulge in old Indio-cultures along the Golf coast, for example at the ruins of El Tajín. One does best to start bike tours leaving from the seaport Veracruz, which seems surrounded by a Caribbean flair.
In the north of Mexico one finds mostly deserts and prairies. One may recall old Western movies when riding through this vastness of the countryside. Yucatán is well known for its bathing resort Cancún. However it is for the Mayas and their culture which have formed the peninsula. Today one can visit the pyramids, palaces and the ruins of long gone Maya-towns. An archaeological paradise.
Rides crossing through the southern Sierra Madre are burdensome. Out of the way of the few towns in the states Chiapas and Oaxaca the people live indeed needy, but the country side is breath-robbing. Within this region two of Mexico’s liveliest colonial towns are located - Oaxaca and San Cristóbal de las Casas. Further one is able to observe authentic Indio-culture here.
The US-American citizens have “entered” the famous bathing resorts located on the peninsula Baja California (Acapulco, Ixtapa or Puerto Vallarta). Along the national road number 1, which leads across the peninsula, one still finds plenty of real Mexico: Small villages, cactus woods, volcanoes and absolutely beautiful Pacific beaches.
Every region has its own culinary specialties. Famous is Guacamole (turkey, chicken or Tortillas with a dip made from avocado, red paprika, onions and tomatoes). On every corner one can buy Enchiladas and Tacos (crisp cornmeal bags with different fillings, e.g. pork, chicken, vegetables or cheese and pepperoni). The choice of beers is large; the tequila is universally known. There are also good wines.
Some geography:
The United Mexican States stretch over an area of close to 2 million square kilometers and have 101 million inhabitants. 10 % of the population is South American Indians a combination of 62 different tribes, approx. 5% are white and the majority is mestizo. Official language of the country is Spanish. Beside this there are spoke but approx. 80 Indio-languages. Close to 90% of the Mexican are Roman-Catholics. The Mexican national holiday is celebrated on September 16th. |
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