Mexico Things to Do

One of the great cities of New Spain, Zacatecas for a long time stood as a Mexican center for silver mining, colonization, evangelization, and cultural expansion. Numerous (15) religious structures dot the Historic Center of Zacatecas, including a grand cathedral decorated in the Baroque style. Today, the Historic Center of Zacatecas acts as a sort of living museum, each corner seemingly borne of colonial grandeur, rich with history and a great place to walk, eat, and shop in.

I think almost everyone would agree that a trip to Mexico is not complete unless you get in some shopping and tequila drinking. After all it is Mexico. There are certain expectations to uphold, and thankfully there is a tour to help you do that.

The brilliant orange of marigolds, in Mexico still called by their Nahuatl name, “cempasuchil”, seems to brighten the evenings that come ever earlier as autumn wears on. All of Mexico is preparing for a truly ancient festival, one with roots far deeper than the Spanish, or even the Aztec, Empires. This is Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, when the veil grows thin between the worlds and all manners of art, poetry, and emotion are released.

Bathed in an oft-remarked-upon exquisite quality of light, Mexico‘s Oaxaca (wa-HAH-ka) is a melting pot of colorful cultures, known for their brightly hued textiles and rugs, clothing, and dance. The scene is a swirl of fine art and traditional artesanias, where some 17 languages, including Spanish, are spoken in the lively marketplaces and city plazas.

The state of Oaxaca (pronounce wah-HAH-ka), found in southern Mexico, is well known for serving up some of the nation’s finest cuisine. Often called the “Land of Seven Moles” for its elaborate mole (MOE-lay) sauces, concocted with dozens of ingredients that are combined over days of preparation, this is a spectacular foodie destination.

With its beautiful beaches, quaint colonial towns, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and pre-Columbian ruins, it’s no wonder that Mexico’s gorgeous shores attract thousands of cruise ships. As of January 2012, that annual number had increased by 7.1%, with more than 800,000 cruise ships bringing over 5 million passengers to the nation’s epic coastlines. While few cruise ships allow passengers to overnight in Mexico, they’ve still added an estimated US$500 million to the Mexican economy.