Essay about Tourism in Mexico

Historical Places

Mexico is filled with history in everything you see and everywhere you step foot into, from monuments to pyramids. The Plaza de la Constitution, more known as the Zocalo, is Mexico City’s main square. It is one of the largest public squares in the world at 830 x 500 feet (Barbezat, 2019). The big square space is decorated with a single standing Mexican flag right in the middle, which means the heart of the city. The flag is usually raised up at 8 every morning by the Mexican army soldiers and brought down at 6 in the night, so if you want to catch it with time one must take note of the time.

This plaza is located on top of what many known as the Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlan. Here is where events, festivals and protests happen to make a more powerful statement of what they are trying to accomplish. The Catedral Metropolitana, which is located on the north side of the Zocalo was built over a period of 250 years and has a mixture of architectural styles (Barbezat, 2019). It is the largest and oldest cathedral in Mexico and therefore is very precious and cared for from Mexicans.

As seen in many ‘Novelas’ or soap operas this is the cathedral where everyone desires to get married in. As well as to many believe that if you come and desire something really bad and talk to God and the Virgin Mary about it they will grant it for you. The cathedral is one of many buildings in Mexico that has started to sink into the ground because of where its build upon. Teotihuacan is about 25 miles outside of Mexico City and is known to be called the “city of the gods” (Barbezat, 2019). Here is where the Aztec pyramids are located and are seen by millions of people throughout the year. The pyramids are very significant to Mexico and its history for it is said that the Aztecs build the pyramids with their own hands, which to may seem impossible. The most famous would be el Templo Mayor, which is basically two twin temples dedicated to the war god Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlacloc. This temple to many was considered the center of Aztec religion as well as the center of the Aztec world. Here was the place where many Aztecs were crowned as well as to where many human sacrifices happened. The blood of the sacrifices that Aztecs believed fed and appease the two gods that twin temples were made and named after (Cartwright, 2016).

Museums/Monuments

Palacio Nacional is the government building that takes up the east of the Zocalo. In this building, the federal treasury and national archives are kept. Most people that come to this historical building is to see Diego Rivera’s murals depicting thousands of years of Mexican history. This is a very famous place to visit because you are able to see the roots of Mexican culture as well all the hardships that people went through. In many cases that I know of parents like to take their children to teach them that nothing comes easy if you want something. Palacio de Bellas Artes is a concert hall and arts center that contains murals by some of the most famous artists in Mexico history. Artists like Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo. Art pieces that are very significant to Mexico and Mexican culture are found in this very building. Art pieces like the symbolic depictions showing the creation of ‘mestizos’ called Nacimiento de la Nacionalidad or Birth of Nationality. Or like the depiction called La Katharsis (Catharsis), which depicts the conflict between humankind’s social and natural aspects (‘Palacio de Bellas Artes’, 2019). Not to mention that in Palacio de Bellas Artes there is also a theatre that includes seasonal opera, symphony performances, and the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. El Museo Nacional de Antropologia located in Chapultepec Park and here one is able to admire collections of Mesoamerican artifacts.

There is a hall dedicated to each of the cultural regions of Mesoamerica as well as rooms that have ethnological exhibits (Barbezat, 2019). The most seen exhibit would be the Aztec exhibit in which the Sun Stone or the “Aztec Calendar” is found. What sounds the most interesting for me would be Museo Frida Kahlo. It is known as Casa Azul and it was the family home of Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera. Frida and Diego lived here during the last 14 years of her life. People that come and visit can admire Mexican arts and crafts and there are able to see how these important Mexican artists lived their life. This is the most unique place for me because Frida Kahlo is known and remembered for her work she did in Mexico. Lastly, we have Mexico City’s Angel of Independence. This monument is a symbol of Mexico’s capital, many claims that being able to understand the angel is being able to understand the city. This statue was finished being built in 1910 in time to celebrate the 100 years of independence from Spain. The figure of the statue is Victoria, known as the ancient Roman goddess of victory. In one hand she is holding a crown, which she would place on the heads of victorious revolutionaries, and in the other hand, she is holding a broken three-link chain, which symbolizes the rule of Spain over Mexico for three centuries (Carey, 2017).

Popular Vacation Spots

Most people that decide to vacation in Mexico prefer a location where beaches are nearby to enjoy the view and a few swims. Cancun is the most famous vacation destination that Mexico acquires. It’s said that it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country as to the world; not to mention that it is also one of the most affordable vacation destinations. Even though it is affordable it does not take away from the number of things you are able to enjoy and do while staying there. Although Cancun is mostly known for their jet skiing and parasailing, this beach takes possession of beautiful coral reefs which make it perfect for tourists to scuba dive and snorkel. Cancun Beach can be compared to the Las Vegas because of all the entertainment options, resorts and high-end hotels (‘15 Best Beaches in…’, 2019). So, one might say that if you like going to Las Vegas you will certainly like vacationing here. Acapulco is a very popular vacation spot in Mexico for it has been mention a lot in movies, shows, and ‘novelas’ or soap operas. Although Acapulco is a lot more than what is shown on television, for it is a place where families come to relax and enjoy more than just lying on the beach.

One is able to go and stand in the Quebrada, which is a huge rock of about 114 feet over the shore. And from there you can admire cliff divers’ performances and a city night filled with lights, very romantic if you ask me. The nightlife there is incredible since most people want to go to visit and see for themselves their amazing shopping malls and restaurants. Lastly, we have Puerto Vallarta that in the 1960’s it was barely being seen by the rest of the world. Puerto Vallarta is the perfect place to vacation in if what you want to do is to zip-line, sail or just simply have a relaxing day fishing. Many that want to enjoy a romantic day out this is the perfect vacation spot for you can take a stroll along the Malecon (beachfront promenade) and in the same time enjoy the amazing and memorizing sunset (Barbezat, 2019). Puerto Vallarta is also known for their great atmosphere and after the sun has gone down for that a lot of parties and events for people to interact happen after sunset. Most people when here decide to explore their amazing shops, restaurants and tequila markets. After you are done shopping for authentic Mexican clothes or taking a shot of tequila you can simply walk a few feet to the right (depending on where you’re standing) and walk from the streets to the sand and the beach.

Popular Restaurants

No vacation is complete until you have been able to eat at the most visited and popular restaurants from the country you have been touring, in this case, I am talking about the most popular restaurants in Mexico. Starting off by the most known restaurant in Mexico and one can say also around the world called Pujol. The head chef in this restaurant is Enrique Olvera, the first chef to ever include food that you would normally find in the streets into his refine menu. In 2013, Restaurant magazine named Pujol the 17th best restaurant in the world (Bronner, 2018). Having said this being able to eat in this restaurant will take you to make a reservation month in advance of when you are venturing in your vacation to Mexico. When it comes to wanting to eat authentic Mexican food that your abuelita and mom would make, La Casa De Tono is the restaurant for you. Here you able to enjoy homemade pozole made with pork or made with vegetables, you take your pick. This restaurant also serves tacos, quesadillas, and enchiladas that will remind you of your roots. People visiting cannot leave without trying their famous ‘flan de la abuela’ which is known to be the best in the city.

When I think of Mexico I can’t help myself from thinking of tacos and mole. That brings me to the next restaurant called Yuban which is located in Oaxaca, Mexico (the king of mole). Here you are able to try all types of mole sauces that at one point you will question you ever knew so many existed. But this restaurant is also known for its chapulin tacos which is Spanish for cricket tacos. Just as mole, crickets are a specialty from the Oaxaca region and one cannot leave Mexico without trying their saucy and crunchy delicacies. Lastly, we have a restaurant called Nico’s. A restaurant that is on the list of San Pellegrino top 50 restaurants in Latin America (Bronner, 2018). This restaurant is very popular because their dishes are not serving traditional for one person but instead, they are served family style. This is because this restaurant wants families to reconnect and enjoys meals as what they are families. All the dishes they serve come with rich sauces and you cannot forget about the hot and homemade tortillas.

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