MEXICO CITY “COSMOPOLITAN AND CULTURED”

By Clay Larroy

Traveling is the kind of activity, which almost all the people love. For someone it is an opportunity to relax and abstract from everyday busy life. For others it is interesting to observe the way people of other cultures and mentality live. Some people consider it to be the best way to have fun and always try to visit as many clubs, pubs, restaurants and cafes as possible for their wallets and time limits. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Attractions in Mexico City, Mexico

  

The culturally colorful and historically fascinating Mexico City has plenty to see and do for visitors from all walks of life, making it well worth exploring in route to the resorts, a great place for a lively weekend away, or even a

holiday destination in its own right. Mexico City is also reputed to be the city with the most museums in the world and is sure to appeal to history buffs and art lovers. With ancient ruins just a stone's throw from the city, tourists will want to visit the Templo Mayor, the principal temple of the Aztecs and part of Tenochtitlán, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Teotihuacan, the site of Mexico's largest ancient city, which dates back to around 300 to 600 BC. For a more colonial flavor, visit the beautiful nearby town of Guanajuato, discovered by the Spanish in 1558 for its silver deposits.

  

Downtown Mexico City is a great place to soak up the architecture and atmosphere of the stately buildings. The Zócalo is the main gathering point in the city and is surrounded by historic buildings. The Plaza Garibaldi-Mariachi is surrounded by cafés and restaurants and is also a favorite spot for tourists. To see the city at its most picturesque, stroll along the cobbled streets of San Angel where ancient mansions and colonial houses make for

wonderful photographic opportunities. Art lovers will enjoy the Palacio de Bellas Artes which features the works of Diego Rivera and David Alfaro
Siqueiros, as well as 6,000 other works of art, while one of Mexico City's most popular attractions is undoubtedly the Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City's largest park, covering an enormous area containing lakes, a zoo, and
several museums, including the Museo Nacional de Antropología.

 

El Zocalo

In the middle of the Mexico City's historic center is the enormous paved Plaza de la Constitucion, or Zocalo, the second largest city square in the world, and Mexico City's center of government and religion. The Presidential

Palace dominates one side of the square, a magnificent colonial building that was built on the site of the former Aztec Palace, with remarkable interior murals narrating the story of Mexico's history. Dominating an adjacent side

of the square is the great Metropolitan Cathedral, displaying a wealth of architectural styles and occupying the site of the once sacred grounds of the Aztec. The ornate interior contains its chief treasure, the King's Chapel and

gilded altar. The Cathedral is one of the buildings subsiding into the soft ground on which the city is built and builders are continuously at work to prevent its uneven descent.

  

The square itself is always filled with activity, with vendors and buskers, informal traditional Aztec dance performances, family groups, workers on lunch break and passing tourists. It is also the main site for demonstrations, government rallies and protest marches (which tourists are advised to avoid), as well as festivals and public holiday events. Every evening the presidential guards, in a show of great ceremony, lower the national

flag from the central flagpole. The square is constantly encircled by the city's ubiquitous green Volkswagen taxis, and is a good starting point for those wanting to explore the city.

 

Templo Mayor

Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm.

Admission: MXN 64

Templo Mayor (Great Temple) was the principal temple of the Aztecs, believed to mark the center of the universe. It was part of the sacred complex of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan, and today it has been excavated to show the multiple layers of construction, viewed from a raised walkway with extra explanatory material available in the form of audio guides and tour guides. The temple was first built in 1375, and enlarged several times, each rebuilding accompanied by a frenzied bloody sacrifice of captured warriors to rededicate the sacred area. At the center is a platform on which stands a sacrificial stone in front of the shrine to the tribal god, Huizilopochtli. Within the site is the excellent Museo del Templo Mayor, a museum displaying artefacts from the original site and providing an overview of Aztec civilization. The most important display is the first artefact to be discovered on the site, the great wheel-like stone carving of the Aztec goddess of the moon, Coyilxauhqui. The entrance fee covers admission to both the museum and the archaeological site. Photography is permitted, but there is an additional charge for those wanting to take video footage. There is a book store and museum shop for those wanting to buy souvenirs.

Getting there: Take metro to Zocalo. Templo Mayor is off Zocalo, to the right of the city cathedral if you face it.

Address: Seminario 8, Historical District

Telephone: +52 55 4040 5600

Website: www.templomayor.inah.gob.mx/english

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

 

Travel to experience memories that will last a lifetime!

 

MEXICO CITY “COSMOPOLITAN AND CULTURED”

By Clay Larroy

 

Regardless of whether you are traveling to a nearby location for the weekend or taking a week-long destination vacation, you are always going to benefit from some tips and ideas on how to make the whole process, more fun and less stressful. Take time each day to alleviate stress while traveling or vacationing and you will thank yourself for it when you get back home. With all the chaos, jet-lag, partying and other excitement of travel comes a whole lot of stress on your mind and body. By the time most vacations are over, another one is needed to recover so taking a few minutes each day to rejuvenate will make it easier for you to resume your normal life when it's all over. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

 

Overview of Mexico City

Mexico City is North America's highest city, and one of the world's most densely populated. It sprawls across a valley encircled by ice-capped volcanoes and mountains, atop an ancient Aztec civilization. With a long and

fascinating history that runs from ancient native civilizations through to the invasion of the Conquistadors and subsequent colonial rule, Mexico City has a vast number of fascinating sights and attractions. In the city center, constructed out of the stones of the ancient palaces and temples, is the vast open space of the Zocalo - the main city square - said to be the second largest in the world after Moscow's Red Square. At La Merced you'll discover the city's biggest and most vibrant market, with a vast array of bizarre and exciting stalls. The huge expanse of the Bosque de Chapultepec park houses the National Museum of Anthropology, with a fascinating collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts. At Teotihuac visitors will discover one of the most impressive and mysterious archaeological sites in Mexico, constructed by an ancient, and long forgotten culture.

The sprawling capital of Mexico has some world-class museums and galleries, and a remarkable architectural legacy with elegant buildings, palaces and cathedrals, colonial suburbs, historical ruins and modern skyscrapers. It also has poverty, overcrowding and slums, pollution, traffic congestion, crime, unemployment, and a constant cacophony of people and noise. It is exhilarating, frenetic and fascinating, overflowing with all that is good and bad about urban life. Despite its problems and somewhat bewildering energy Mexico City is a magnet for Mexicans and tourists alike: a modern, cosmopolitan and ever growing city that is attractive in many ways. Despite its renown for the appalling, throat-rasping levels of pollution, Mexico City's skies often remain remarkably clear, and the smog does make for incredible sunsets.

 

Nightlife in Mexico City, Mexico

Nightlife options in Mexico City are vast and varied, ranging from piano bars, music lounges and traditional Mexican bars to salsa and jazz clubs or trendy nightclubs. San Angel, Polanco, Condesa and La Zona Rosa are popular

nightlife areas in the city, and there are many late-night venues that are open till the early hours. There is a weekend entertainment guide in The News, available at local newsagents, which can be useful.

Popular nightlife areas in Mexico City include the Condesa district, as well as Polanco. Here you can find anything from English and Irish pubs, to sophisticated clubs with great jazz music and authentic Mariachi venues scattered everywhere in between. Some of the best nightclubs in Mexico City are all located in the Roma district, while many of the top hotels in Mexico City offer live entertainment at their in-house discos and lobby bars. It is safest not to walk around alone at night in the city and only official, pre-ordered taxi cabs should be used

 

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

Travel to experience life and create amazing memories!

 

YUCATAN PENINSULA, “LEGACY OF TRANQUILITY”

By Clay Larroy

Traveling can be an important part of your life, whether for business or for pleasure. Take time each day to alleviate stress while traveling or vacationing and you will thank yourself for it when you get back home. With all the chaos, jet-lag, partying and other excitement of travel comes a whole lot of stress on your mind and body. By the time most vacations are over, another one is needed to recover so taking a few minutes each day to rejuvenate will make it easier for you to resume your normal life when it's all over. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Puerto Costa Maya

Overview

Mexico's newest port, Puerto Costa Maya, is the first port on Mexico's Caribbean Coast to have been built exclusively for cruise ships and cruise holiday visitors. Situated on the Yucatan Peninsula, near the fishing village

of Majahual, Puerto Costa Maya is the fastest growing cruise port in the Caribbean and consists of three grand pavilions in the ancient Mayan style. The grand pavilions are a commercial, cultural and entertainment hub offering dining, shopping and recreational facilities, a swimming pool and swim-up bar, local performances in the amphitheater, and art and craft galleries showcasing the region's local artists and their art. In short, it has been custom-made to provide all the things cruise passengers could want on holiday and the carefully designed infrastructure is tailored particularly to holidaymakers. Beyond the pavilions, Costa Maya provides access to undeveloped areas of coastline,
colorful reefs and shipwrecks for diving and snorkeling, and some ancient Mayan sites to explore. Puerto Costa Maya tour operators offer dune buggy tours, Mayan sites like Kohunlich and Dzibanche, and kayak adventures.
Free shuttles transport passengers regularly between the pier complex and their ships.

 

Shopping in Puerto Costa Maya

Passengers alighting from cruise ships in Puerto Costa Maya are carried by shuttle to the Mayan-inspired port complex, which boasts 70,000 square feet (6,503sq m) of shops and a bazaar. On offer are a wide variety of typical

Mexican holiday souvenirs, especially local crafts, as well as designer perfumes, leather goods, and jewelry. The bazaar stallholders expect bartering to take place.

 

Dining in Puerto Costa Maya

The Puerto Costa Maya port complex contains some fast food outlets and eateries, but visitors docking here who want to enjoy a leisurely local meal can take a stroll into the fishing village of Majahual, where there are several

small, rustic restaurants along the beach serving up Mexican favorites, as well as delicious lobster and fresh fish. For something a little upmarket, try Leaky Palapa Restaurant. The Krazy Lobster offers cheap and delicious
seafood right on the beach.

Activities in Puerto Costa Maya

As it is mainly a cruise destination, visitors to Puerto Costa Maya tend to be day-trippers who do not spend evenings at the port. Those who find themselves overnighting will no doubt be staying in a beach cabana in

Majahual, where the only entertainment is to sip margaritas in an unsophisticated open-air beach bar under the stars. This lack of a nightlife scene is considered an advantage by some holidaymakers.

Things to be aware of in Puerto Costa Maya

Puerto Costa Maya can sometimes experience hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane season runs from June to November and visitors to the region during this time should take care to check weather and storm forecasts.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

 

Travel to experience life and create spectacular memories!

 

YUCATAN PENINSULA, “LEGACY OF TRANQUILITY”

By Clay Larroy

  

Leisure travel is a wonderful experience that everyone should have in their lifetime. Even business travel can be made enjoyable. There are some aspects of travel that can detract from your enjoyment.  When planning to fly for a trip, don't forget any frequent flier miles you might have racked up. It does you no good to hang onto those once you've already gone on your big vacation. Even if you don't have enough miles to cover the whole trip, many airlines will allow you to discount your rate using your miles. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

 

Cancun

Overview

Once a small, unremarkable fishing village, these days Cancun the reason most people visit Mexico. It is made up of two parts: the glitzy hotel zone dedicated to tourism, and the downtown area inhabited by the permanent

residents. A different atmosphere prevails in each, with a dramatic contrast between the air-conditioned shopping malls, chic restaurant dining, spring break vacationers and wealthy pleasure-seeking tourists in one; and bustling
market street stalls, noisy vendors, and the daily grind of people at work in the other. The hotel zone, situated on a thin strip of land (Isla Cancun) in the shape of a figure '7', is what people imagine when they talk about Cancun. It is a vision of Caribbean paradise with soft white sand beaches and clear blue-green waters. There is plenty of high quality holiday accommodation available, a wide choice of restaurants and shops, a notoriously energetic nightlife, and an array of activities, including both land and water sports. Cancun is also a good base from which to explore some of the nearby attractions, particularly the ancient Mayan site of Chichén Itzá on the mainland, which is the best restored and most famous of the archaeological sites on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Shopping in Cancun

Shoppers can rejoice in Cancun, with a choice of seemingly endless shopping facilities, from ultra-modern malls with chic boutiques to street vendors, open-air markets and department stores. The Plaza la Fiesta is a favorite

shopping venue in the Hotel Zone, and there is also a popular handicraft bazaar, called El Zocalo, opposite the Convention Centre. Numerous malls line the main drag of Paseo Kukulkan that runs down the eight-mile (13km)
hotel strip. Prices, however, are better in Cancun City itself, also known as Centro, on the mainland. There are some good shops along Yaxchilan Avenue, and the market on Tulum Avenue is recommended for buying
silverware and Mexican handcrafts. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere in Cancun. If you use cash you may have the 15 percent sales tax deducted if the shopkeeper is willing. Expect to bargain in the markets. If offered black coral, refuse, because it is an endangered species and you could run into problems taking it back home. Shops in Cancun are generally open between 10am and 2pm, and 4pm and 7pm on week days. Many stores choose to stay open during the 'siesta' hours from 2pm to 4pm, but some may close. On Saturdays most shops only open for the morning. A few open on Sunday until 1pm. Shops in malls tend to open weekdays only from 10am to 8pm.

 

Dining in Cancun

Cancun's wide variety restaurants will be able satisfy every palate, with high-class eateries and familiar franchises, to taco stands and fast-food joints. Those who wish to eat like the locals can be assured that Yucatan cuisine is regarded as the finest in all Mexico, combining Mayan and Spanish influences. Local dishes worth sampling include cochinita pibil (suckling pig baked in banana leaves with annatto sauce) and panuchos (tortillas with fried black beans, chicken and pickled onions). Seafood is also plentiful. A popular romantic option is to book for one of the numerous dinner cruises offered. For a true taste of Mexico visitors can pay a visit to one of the many cantinas, traditional bar-restaurants, which are situated mainly around the downtown bullring. The atmosphere at the cantinas is particularly lively on Wednesday afternoons after the weekly bullfights, but the food and drink is good quality and good value for money every day of the week. Popular restaurants in Cancun include La Palapa Belga, hidden behind the Hotel Imperial Laguna; and Puerto Madero, situated on the shores of the lagoon.

Activities in Cancun

Cancun's nightlife is legendary, with its huge choice of nightclubs, discos and bars to suit every mood, from romantic to raunchy, funky to frenetic, rock to reggae and salsa to techno. After dark the city, particularly the Hotel

Zone, comes alive, with most clubs opening around 10pm and pumping out the music until sunrise, or later, the next morning. Most clubs and pubs offer a continual variety of promotional or theme evenings, with foam parties, mini-skirt and bikini contests being hot favorites. Most offer ladies nights with free drinks for women. Hip and happening parties can be found at Dady Rock, Bulldog, The City, Dady O and Coco Bongo's nightclubs, all offering massive dance floors and pumping beats. The Party Hopper tour is a popular way to enjoy a number of Cancun's top nightlife venues; visitors pay about US$75 for free drinks and entry into three of Cancun's top clubs and bars.
Those seeking some more cultural entertainment should not miss the internationally renowned Ballet Folklorico, which holds performances in various venues around Cancun, featuring lavish costumes and traditional dances.

Things to be aware of in Cancun

Cancun is a fantastic vacation destination, even during peak season, and perhaps it has been justifiably called 'vacation utopia'. The resort is expensive, but most hotels offer all-inclusive rates which are generally good value. Petty crime is common, but sensible precautions should ensure there are no problems. Some visitors are afflicted by cases of diarrhea and fever, known colloquially as 'Montezuma's revenge', caused by unfamiliar bacteria in water and food. This can be avoided by drinking bottled water and taking care about over-indulgence in spicy Mexican foods, margaritas or Mexican beer. Cancun's beaches are extensive and spread out enough to never become too overcrowded even in peak season. The resort is exceptionally busy during America's Spring Break in March, when it is the favored destination of thousands of college students from North America; those wanting a more relaxing and less frenetic holiday should visit Cancun outside this season.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

 

Travel to experience life!

 

YUCATAN PENINSULA, “LEGACY OF TRANQUILITY”

By Clay Larroy

 

It doesn't matter if you take a trip across the state line or the border, being far from home can be exciting and also a bit stressful. When considering traveling, it is important to think of the best mode of travel. Traveling by car can offer many more sights and opportunities for side trips. Traveling by train can offer a chance to relax and get some work done if they wanted. Planes can cover ground fast but don't allow much movement and one cannot get off the plane in flight. Each mode of travel has its own advantages and disadvantages to be considered. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

 

 

Playa del Carmen

Overview

Playa del Carmen has one of the prettiest beaches on the coast and, despite its growing popularity, it has a small-town, laid-back feel to it which is part of the appeal. The offshore reef offers some spectacular diving, and

less than an hour away by boat is the island of Cozumel, with some of the best diving in Mexico. There are numerous dive centers offering reef and cave diving in the limestone caverns along the coast. The small commercial town center
is packed with souvenir shops, trendy bars and cafes, restaurants, designer clothes shops and hotels, and has a vibrant nightlife that caters for the smaller beach settlements nearby so holidaymakers can enjoy the best of both worlds. It can get very overcrowded with day-trippers from Cancun, as well as cruise ship passengers. South of town, the expanding Playacar
development caters mainly for package tourists, its beach packed with sunbathers and deckchairs, and lined with hotel complexes. There is also an 18-hole golf course.

Shopping in Playa del Carmen

Comfortable footwear is vital for holidaymaker’s intent on a shopping spree in Playa del Carmen, where everything you need in the dozens of enticing shops can be easily accessed on foot. The place to tog yourself out in

designer-wear, from head to toe, is 5th Avenue, and to complement the look there are plenty of specialty stores to browse around for jewelry, Mayan-inspired arts and crafts, handbags and the like. Souvenirs range from tacky

ashtrays to bright and beautiful sarongs, Mexican blankets and sombreros, and even genuine Cuban cigars from La Casa del Habano (US citizens may not purchase these). Playa del Carmen boasts a Wal-Mart on 30th Avenue,

and several American style supermarkets like Chedraui on the corner of Juarez and Highway 307, and Super San Francisco on 30th Avenue. There are also numerous mini-marts selling essentials for holidaymakers, and plenty of pharmacies. The resort's main shopping malls are Plaza Pelicano on 10th Avenue and the Paseo del Carmen close to the ferry pier.

Dining in Playa del Carmen

No one need go hungry in Playa del Carmen because wherever you are in this holiday resort, there will be a great restaurant a stone's throw away. Cuisine ranges from traditional Mexican through all the international favorites, including sushi and vegetarian establishments. For a top Mexican taste treat steer a little off the beaten track behind 5th Avenue and look out for a small taqueria where it is possible to pick up a tempting taco or two for a pittance. Street vendors in the main square (Zocalo) are also a good budget option, especially for fresh fruit and tasty tamales. When it comes to restaurant dining it is difficult to make recommendations from the dozens of good establishments available, but some of the more popular eateries are The Blue Lobster, its specialty obviously the eponymous crustacean; and Season Bistro, which serves upscale Mexican with an international twist.

 

Activities in Playa del Carmen

Whether it is dancing cheek-to-cheek under the stars, sipping margaritas on a rooftop, soaking up some live jazz, people-watching from a street side bar, learning to salsa, or downing shots and raving it up on a flashing

dance-floor, holiday visitors will find that Playa del Carmen after dark has something to fit the bill. One of the most popular hotspots is the huge Palazzo. You can find live music at Kitxen if the club scene is not your style.

Numerous open-air bars are in operation until the early hours. Some offer live music or DJs and dancing as the night wears on; others serve up drinks under the stars or palapa (woven palm frond) roofs.

Things to be aware of in Playa del Carmen

There are plenty of topless and nude beaches around Playa del Carmen and families travelling with young children should take this into account.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

 

Live Well, Laugh Often and Travel Much!

 

 

YUCATAN PENINSULA, “LEGACY OF TRANQUILITY”

By Clay Larroy

  

A vacation can soothe the soul and leave you renewed, refreshed, and invigorated. Whether you are just now starting to plan your next vacation, or are merely looking for travel ideas and suggestions, read all the articles about travel. So take away some of the stress of making travel plans, and get started thinking about the fun and relaxing times you will soon be having on your next trip! When you are ready to plan an exciting vacation contact me!

 

Cozumel

Overview

The island of Cozumel is Mexico's largest island and a very popular destination with holidaymakers. It's located 12miles (19km) off the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, opposite the resort Playa del Carmen. Cozumel has exceptional coral gardens and spectacular reef drop-offs offering legendary snorkeling and the best diving in Mexico; in fact, it frequently ranks as one of the top five dive destinations in the world. The west coast of the island is where the majority of development has taken place and where the town of San Miguel is situated. Due to the island's popularity with wealthy day visitors from the passing cruise ships, the town is packed with pricey shops, restaurants and bars, as well as dozens of dive shops. Cozumel is a favorite holiday destination for divers and non-divers alike, offering some great beaches, crystal clear water and plenty of sunshine. Its ease of access to the mainland also

makes day excursions to some of the popular Mayan sites, like Chichén Itzá, possible.

Shopping in Cozumel

San Miguel is a duty-free zone, and there are hundreds of stores selling most things imaginable and certainly anything tourists might desire. The cruise ship passenger terminal at Punta Langosta Pier has a variety of shops, but these are among the island's most expensive, catering to day-visitors with little time and lots of money. Prices decrease the further away from the docks one ventures. The waterfront shopping zone stretches to La Plaza behind which there is a craft market. For groceries, there are a few food stores, as well as the Cozumel Market on Adolfo Rosado Salas where holidaymakers can buy fresh seafood, spices and fruit and vegetables. In the markets travelers should be prepared to bargain, but some wonderful arts and crafts can be found.

Dining in Cozumel

Cozumel offers food of every kind from authentic Mexican, to international and fast food franchises like Burger King. Holidaymakers will not be disappointed. Casa Denis is one of the oldest and most popular restaurants in town, featuring a variety of traditional Mexican cuisine, and La Choza Restaurant and Casa Mission are other authentic Mexican food favorites. For seafood try La Conchita del Caribe, or Guido's for Italian. Fresh and tasty

fusion food can be had at New Especias Restaurant. For an unassuming local experience try Del Sur Argentina Empanadas, which offers a delectable range of sweet and savory empanadas including a bacon and plum option

which is surprisingly wonderful.

 

Activities in Cozumel

Although there is a wide variety of night time entertainment for holidaymakers to enjoy, things tend to begin and end earlier in Cozumel compared to the rest of the famous Mexican beach resorts, and those expecting a night scene comparable to Cancun or Acapulco may be disappointed. The most popular disco venue is Neptuno, while Carlos´n Charlie's is also very popular.

No Name Cigar Bar is also a popular night spot and is located close to Hotel Barracuda. Those who prefer a resort which doesn't host hordes of young party animals will prefer Cozumel's slightly more sedate and stylish nightlife,
although this is not the case over Spring Break (March) when US teenagers descend on the island.

Things to be aware of in Cozumel

Cozumel is a cruise ship destination, and is popular with wealthy day visitors, which has driven the prices of shops, restaurants and bars to among the highest on the Yucatan Peninsula. The island becomes swamped daily by

cruise visitors from passing ships and San Miguel can be quite crowded.

 

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

 

Live a Better Life Travel Often!

 

 

YUCATAN PENINSULA, “LEGACY OF TRANQUILITY”

 

By Clay Larroy

There is nothing more exciting than traveling. Whether you are going for a road trip to see something new in your own state, or heading off to somewhere for the very first time to visit a city you have always dreamed of, there are some travel basics that you should know. Travel in the off seasons from November to April, to avoid crowds, save money and enjoy temperate weather. In those months, many families with children cannot travel due to school commitments, making many tourist attractions much less crowded. This may also result in lower costs for airfare and hotels.  When you are ready to plan a vacation contact me!

Events in Yucatan Peninsula

Spring Equinox

 

Where: El Castillo, Chichen Itza

Equinoccio de la Primavera, the Spring Equinox, draws thousands of people from around the world to witness the shadow that seems to crawl down the El Castillo pyramid in the Chichén Itzá temple complex. The shadow represents the snake god, Kukulkan, and takes the form of a giant, slithering snake that slowly descends the stairs of the largest Mayan pyramid in the country. Sunlit triangles appear to work their way down the stairs, finally illuminating the snakehead at the bottom and forming the giant sunlit serpent.

  

The spring equinox is celebrated by many cultures in many countries, but the Mayan ritual is one of the oldest and most famous (particularly as the pyramid is associated with brutal human sacrifices). The archaeological site of Teotihuacan, near Mexico City, is also a favorite spot to celebrate the arrival of spring and thousands of travelers visit the site for the equinox, traditionally dressed all in white. The Mayans were famous for their advanced use of calendars, making this celebration an apt memorial for them. Festivals de Primavera, spring festivals, are still celebrated all over Mexico, commonly with children's parades, where participants dress up as flowers or animals, to welcome the season of fertility and rebirth.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

 

Live Life, Have Fun and Travel Often!

 

YUCATAN PENINSULA, “LEGACY OF TRANQUILITY”

By Clay Larroy

 

Do you feel like it is time for a short vacation? Once you decide to travel, how good you plan the trip will help you feel comfortable and be comfortable at your destination. Not only will you feel less anxiety before the trip, but you can rest assured that once you arrive where you're going you will have a good understanding of what's going on there.  When you need to plan a vacation contact me!

 

The Yucatan Peninsula is quite different from the rest of Mexico. A distinct change is noticeable in the landscape, people and architecture as one crosses into the remoteness of the Mayan realm. The atmosphere is more relaxed and tranquil and the legacy of an ancient people is evident in the scattering of ruins within the encroaching jungle. It is an area famed for its white sand beaches, magnificent off-shore coral reefs and diving opportunities on the Caribbean coast, as well as for the region's splendid ruins: the extraordinary Mayan temples and ceremonial centers of an ancient kingdom.

The peninsula is an area of great diversity, from tropical jungle and rainforest, flat and hot countryside dotted with Mayan villages, a superb coastline with popular resorts and islands, numerous archaeological sites, and colonial towns. Once distant and inaccessible, tourism has made determined advances into the Yucatan Peninsula, especially around the major places of interest, like the Mayan sites of Chichen Itza and Uxmal, and along the most visited stretch of the coast incorporating the 'party resort' of Cancun and the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. These resorts and islands have become highly sought-after package tour destinations with renowned vacation facilities. The traditions, religious beliefs and ancient customs of today's Mayan culture are still a natural part of the Yucatan's character and appeal, although the culture has become somewhat commercialized in certain areas.

The Yucatan Peninsula is serviced by regular first and second-class bus services that connect Merida to Cancun and the Caribbean coast along Highway 180, via Chichen Itza. Frequent buses also travel along the coast between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Taxis are the preferred way to get around most of the resort areas, and can also be hired to visit nearby sites, although several tours are offered to the main sites of interest on the peninsula or the islands. There are also frequent ferry services to the islands of Cozumel and Mujeres.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

Live Life and Travel Often!