Mexico City, Mexico – By the time we got to Mexico City, three and a half weeks after arriving in Mexico, we agreed one on thing (there is a first for everything): we LOVE Mexico. We originally thought we would spend about a month, 6 weeks tops, in Mexico – but we kept amending our timline and decided to stay 10 weeks – and that barely seemed like enough time to do all we wanted.

Monumento a Los Niños Héros

It really is a shame that more Americans don’t travel to Mexico. The stories about violence and crime are all we hear in the States, so I don’t really blame people for not visiting, but it really is a shame.

Mexico has a great mix of culture, art, architecture and beaches. In many ways (OK maybe in all ways) it is SO much easier to travel here than it is in Asia. It’s cleaner, the language is way easier, no one tries to rip you off or lies to you to get business. Mexicans are friendly and helpfull and there is music everywhere. Of course, it’s way more expensive than Asia, so I guess you get what you pay for.

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Central Highlands, Mexico – After our beach adventures we headed to the cooler weather and colonial towns in the Western and Central Highlands. Our first stop was Guadalajara. We spent a couple days exploring the town’s squares, museums and colonial architecture.

Mural by Jose Clemente Orozco in the Palacio de Gobierno, Guadalajara.

But the highlight of Guadalajara was definitely the Luche Libre (Mexican wrestling). We tore ourselves away from the computer where we were anxiously watching the election news and headed to the Arena Colisio for the match. We had no idea what tickets to buy – a guy in line who was actually from Oakland tried to help, suggesting we sit with the “rudes”, but somehow we ended up getting second row seats. We weren’t sure what he meant by “rudes” but we soon found out.

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Mazatlán and Sayulita, Mexico – “Don’t go to Mazatlán.” My dad’s parting advice as he drove us to the airport. “We’re going to Mazatlán,” we responded.

We heard good things about Mazatlán, granted not the resort area that my dad visited ten years ago that was all high rises and American tourists. No, we were headed to historic Old Mazatlán. Apparently it was something in the 50’s. Now it’s all faded, worn out hotels and mostly Mexican tourists. But the prices are cheaper, the beach is quieter and the charm can’t be beat.

Lety’s, Isla de Pierda

Before arriving at our “charming” hotel in Old Mazatlán, we took a seven hour bus ride from Los Mochis, which was the terminus point for El Chepe. Man, buses in Mexico are nothing like Asia. Most busses are first class: A/C; comfortable, assigned seats; free snacks; bathrooms; and my favorite, headphone jacks for the TV. No loud blaring music or movie tracks, no fighting for seats or sitting on plastic stools in the aisles, and no chickens. There are a few lower class busses you can take, but they usually go on the backroads and have a much higher chance of getting robbed.

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