Mexico is a country with a rich history, a great geographic diversity, lively streets and culture, as well as distinctive crafts and food. The history is well preserved in archeological sites that bear witness to the great native empires, and even more so, in Spanish colonial towns whose cathedrals, public edifices, and narrow streets rival that of Europe. The geography includes deserts, jungles, tropical beaches, and permanently snow-capped volcanoes. The animation in the streets, friendliness of the people, as well as the richness of the crafts, is reminiscent of Asia. Top that with a colorful local culture, and you get an inexhaustible travel destination.
In January 2005, together with my family, I traveled for two weeks by car in a loop through Guadalajara (reputedly the most Mexican of the large cities), encompassing a stop in the tropical beach town of Puerto Vallarta, and a visit to the highland colonial silver towns of Guanajuato and Zacatecas. In subsequent years, we also visited Ensenada and Cozumel during cruises.
