Visiting Mexico Essay, Research Paper

Visiting Mexico

Spanish is Mexico s predominant language, but Mexican Spanish differs from Castilian Spanish, which is the literary and official language of Spain. In two respects in Mexico, the Castilian lisp has more or less disappeared and numerous Indian words have been adopted. About 5 million people in Mexico speak around 50 Indian languages, and 15% of these Indians speak no Spanish.

Although the Mexican government since the revolution has been unsupportive of religion, more than 90% of the population professes to believe in Catholicism. While most of the indigenous people are Christian, their Christianity is usually fused with more ancient beliefs. Whole hierarchies of Pagan gods coexist with the Christian trinity and Saints.

Mexican cuisine is centered on tortillas, fried beans and chili peppers. Tortillas are thin round patties of pressed corn or wheat dough cooked on griddles. Beans are eaten boiled, fried or refried, in soups, on tortillas, or with just about anything.

Apart from an astonishing array of freshly squeezed fruit juices, which are readily available from street stalls, Mexico is also famous for its alcoholic beverages. Mescal and Tequila are the most popular drinks.

The currency is a peso. It has an exchange rate of US$1 = 8.35 peso.

Mexico s climate varies according to the country s topography. It is hot and humid on the coastal plains on both side of the country. Inland, at higher elevations (such as Guadalagara or Mexico City) the climate is much drier and more temperate. The months from October to May is the most pleasant time to visit since it is fairly dry and still comfortably warm. December to February is generally the coldest months.

My journey to Mexico will begin in the beautiful Mexico City where I will stay for six days. Mexico City is a place to love and loathe. It has everything you might expect from one of the world s largest metropolitan areas

The historic center of Mexico City is the Plaza de la Constitucion, more commonly known as the Zocalo. The plaza was fist paved in the 1520 s by Cortes with stones from the ruins of the temples and palaces of the Aztec city of Tenochititlan, the site on which Mexico City was built.

Filling the entire eastern side of the Zocalo is the Palacio Nacional (National Palace) built on the site of an Aztec palace and formerly used to house the viceroys of New Spain. It is now the home to the offices of the president, a museum and to the dramatic revolutionary murals of Diego Rivera, which chronicle Mexico s history.

The Spaniards built the Cathedral Metropolitana, on the northern side of the Zocalo, in the 1520 s on the site of the Aztecs Tzompanti or Wall of Skulls. This was a sort of alter on which the skulls of the sacrificed were placed. Just east of the cathedral are remains of the Templo Mayor, the Aztecs principle temple and the stunning museum which houses the artifacts discovered at the site.

The Alameda was once an Aztec marketplace and is now a pleasant and verdant park. The streets around Alameda are lined with colonial mansions, skyscrapers, lively cafes, restaurants, shops and markets.

Other must sees include the Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City s largest park, which is the home to a handful of museums, amusement parks and the official residence of the president. The Basilica de Guadalupe is the church that was built on the spot where Mexico s patron saint was seen in a vision

While in Mexico City you must take the opportunity to see a live bullfight. This sporting event takes place at the Plaza de Toros Monumental Mexico Bullring.

The moon Pyramid is located at the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead, which was the main axis of the city. The pyramid facing the south was built as the principal monument of the Moon Pyramid complex. The five-tiered platform was attached to the front of the Moon Pyramid.

The consolidated structure around the Moon Plaza demonstrates that the city was highly planned symmetrically and was integrated into the local geography. This may be realized by standing on the centerline of the Avenue of the Dead. The top of the mountain Cerro Gordo dominating the background of the Moon Pyramid exactly coincides at a certain point of the avenue with the top of the pyramid. The Avenue of the Dead begins at the Moon Plaza, which was surrounded by 15 pyramidal structures.

There are three glaciated Mexican volcanoes. The Pico de Orizaba, which is located about 100 miles out of Mexico City, is 18,700 feet high. This is an adventure no one could pass up.

The last leg of my great vacation is in Yucatan Peninsula. When you cross the Rio Usunacinta into Yucatan, you are crossing into the realm of the Maya. Heirs to a glorious and often violent history, the Maya live today where their ancestor lived a millennium ago.

Yucatan has a surprisingly diversified archeological sites, colonial cities, seaside resorts, and quiet coastlines populated mostly by tropical birds. The beaches along the Yucatan coast between Cancun and Tulum are some of the most beautiful in the world. Making this a great place to end your vacation by doing some snorkeling and viewing the underwater paradise.