“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
-Anonymous
MEXICO
DESTINATIONS TO ROOT FOR !
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is the archaeological site is located in Tinúm Municipality, Yucatán State, Mexico. Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the second-most visited of Mexico's archaeological sites. Archaeologists have identified thirteen ballcourts for playing the Mesoamerican ballgame in Chichen Itza. The Tzompantli, or Skull Platform (Plataforma de los Cráneos), shows the clear cultural influence of the central Mexican Plateau. Unlike the tzompantli of the highlands, however, the skulls were impaled vertically rather than horizontally as at Tenochtitlan. The Casa Colorada (Spanish for "Red House") is one of the best preserved buildings at Chichen Itza.
Mexico City
Mexico City, or the City of Mexico is the capital and most populous city of Mexico. . The Historic center of Mexico City (Centro Histórico) and the "floating gardens" of Xochimilco in the southern borough have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Famous landmarks in the Historic Center include the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo), the main central square with its epoch-contrasting Spanish-era Metropolitan Cathedral and National Palace, ancient Aztec temple ruins Templo Mayor ("Major Temple") and modern structures, all within a few steps of one another. The most recognizable icon of Mexico City is the golden Angel of Independence on the wide, elegant avenue Paseo de la Reforma. Another piece of architecture is the Fine Arts Palace, a white marble theatre/museum whose weight is such that it has gradually been sinking into the soft ground below.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a city located along the Caribbean Sea in the municipality of Solidaridad, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is a popular tourist area in eastern Mexico. Playa del Carmen features a wide array of tourist activities due to its geographical location in the Riviera Maya. It has also been the destination of PGA Tour golf tournaments. Originally a small fishing town, tourism to Playa del Carmen began with the passenger ferry service to Cozumel, an island across the Cozumel Channel and a world-famous scuba diving destination. Playa del Carmen is host to several major annual events the largest being The BPM Festival, a world-famous electronic dance music festival which takes place in January each year.
Uxmal
Uxmal is an ancient Maya city of the classical period in present-day Mexico. It is located in the Puuc region and is considered one of the Maya cities most representative of the region's dominant architectural style. The Adivino (a.k.a. the Pyramid of the Magician or the Pyramid of the Dwarf), is a stepped pyramid structure, unusual among Maya structures in that its layers' outlines are oval or elliptical in shape, instead of the more common rectilinear plan. The Nunnery Quadrangle is the finest of Uxmal's several fine quadrangles of long buildings. It has elaborately carved façades on both the inside and outside faces. A number of other temple-pyramids, quadrangles, and other monuments, some of significant size, and in varying states of preservation, are also at Uxmal. These include North Long Building, House of the Birds, House of the Turtles, Grand Pyramid, House of the Doves, and South Temple.
MUST TRY DISHES !
Black Bean and Chicken Tacos
The best known of Mexico's street foods is the taco, whose origin is based on the pre-Hispanic custom of picking up other foods with tortillas as utensils were not used. Tacos are not eaten as the main meal; they are generally eaten before midday or late in the evening. Just about any other foodstuff can be wrapped in a tortilla, and in Mexico, it varies from rice, to meat (plain or in sauce), to cream, to vegetables, to cheese, or simply with plain chile peppers or fresh salsa. Preferred fillings vary from region to region with pork generally found more often in the center and south, beef in the north, seafood along the coasts, and chicken and lamb in most of the country.
Steak Tortillas
Tortillas are unleavened flat breads made with corn or wheat flour, water, and salt. A beef mixture is placed on the totillas and on the top as desired with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and additional salsa.
Turkey Burrito
A burrito is a type of Mexican and Tex-Mex food consisting of a large wheat flour tortilla with a filling, wrapped into a closed-ended cylinder, in contrast to a taco, where the tortilla is simply folded around the filling. The flour tortilla is sometimes lightly grilled or steamed to soften it, make it more pliable and allow it to adhere to itself when wrapped. In Mexico, meat and refried beans are sometimes the only fillings. In the United States, burrito fillings may include a combination of ingredients such as Mexican-style rice or plain rice, beans or refried beans, lettuce, salsa, meat, guacamole, cheese, sour cream and various vegetables. Burrito sizes vary.