Mexico: The exotic American dream

Mexico was aptly named the surrealist country par excellence by French poet Andre Breton, and the world’s third largest urban area (according to some estimates) lives up to that moniker to the hilt!

Barranca Del Cobre: The Copper Canyon (English for ‘Barranca Del Cobre’) is the most awe-inspiring sights, comprising of more than 20 mammoth canyons put together to result in a region that is 4 times the Grand Canyon in Australia. Also, it is deeper than the latter at many places. The region is extremely accessible via the Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacifico (also known as the Copper canyon Railway), which goes across 655 kms of rails, giving delightful vies to one and all! Travelling between Los Mochis at the western terminus and Chihuahua towards the Midwest, the train is the most appropriate and preferred way to see the canyon. The Copper Canyon was named misleadingly by the Spanish, who thought the greenish-glow of lichen was copper. Nevertheless, the name refers to the Barranca de Urique, which stands at an altitude of 500 metres, and is 1879 metres deep, making it the Canyon’s deepest point. It has subtropical climate, and the peaks are 2300 metres above sea level, with confers and evergreens growing practically everywhere. The region is also home to the Raramuri, Mexico’s largest group of indigenous people. Generally, people ride the train through the entire trail and stop overnight before the return journey; however, it is recommended that one should also indulge in a bit of hiking!

Mazaltan: Mazaltan has stepped out of its clichéd image of a mid-20^th century resort town, to become one of the most sought after beach destinations in Mexico. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Pacific’, the town’s historic centre has been renovated, with other parts also following suit as part of the renewal programme. It is conspicuously close to the 20 kms long beach, and has a dazzling colonial district. For an interesting visit, it’s best to avoid Zona Dorada, the traditional tourist hangout joint, where one will find the regular shops, restaurants and hotels stacked one against the other. It’s much better to go for the pueblo viejo, where the cobbled streets, tattered edifices and many impressive restoration works now lying in shambles, surprisingly fuse together to form the ideal backdrop of a cultural renaissance of sorts. Watching a performance at the refurbished Teatro Angela Peralta, followed by a meal at the Plazuela Machado; exploring one of the many splendidly small museums; and browsing through the miniature boutiques is an experience of a lifetime in every sense of the word. Of course, there’s always an exclusive experience one can avail free of cost – that of the silhouette of the rocky islands silhouetted against the sunset.

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Mexico: The exotic paradise

Gazing at the ruins of a millennium old Mayan palace at Palenque, with the sights and sounds of the jungle in the background might not seem like the most pleasant experience, but once a person has been there and done that, there is hardly anything that matches the feeling of awe and amazement. Going inwards from the sandy beaches which are only the tip of the iceberg, one will explore a whole new world of dining and fine living, with salmon enchiladas and chrysanthemum salad at the fusion restaurants, followed by energy pumping dancing nights at the Guadalajara nightclub; for those who like water sports, there's kayaking near a colony of Baja California sea lions. In short, everyone visiting Mexico has his/her own unique experiences. The country has a mammoth coastal area spanning 10,000 kms, and a sprawling multi billion dollar tourism industry which grows every year. There are diverse formats of activities one can indulge in – canyoneering near Monterrey, hiking the Oxaca cloud forests, taking cooking lessons in the Veracruz countryside and snorkelling the coral reefs of the Yucatán. However, a word of caution here for those looking for a peaceful vacation – Mexico is not it! There's going to be noise, crowd, excitement and virtually every other possible trait one can think of, except tranquillity! It is also advisable to learn a bit of Spanish for a better experience.

Teotihuacán: This is an intriguing complex of pyramids that was once the greatest city of Mesoamerica. Located 50 kms from Mexico city, Teotihuacán comprises of the ruins of the Yucatán and Chiapas. Among the vast complex, two pyramids - Pirámide del Sol and Pirámide de la Luna – are most famous, and also dominate what remains of the metropolis. The city was also the capital of arguably the largest pre-Hispanic empire in the history of Mexico. Even after its fall from glory, Teotihuacán was still a pilgrimage site for the nobles of the Aztec empire. Even today, thousands of devotees convene to celebrate the vernal equinox.

Oaxaca: One of the most beautiful and vibrant places in Mexico, Oaxaca is a colonial city featuring El Zócalo, a tree shaded central square, making its presence felt as the centre-point of this marvellous destination. Oaxaca is a region where the country's finest crafts and contemporary art is produced by the local population. The indigenous traditions prevalent here are a source of inspiration for artists. There are also fantastic museums, breathtaking architecture, plenty of decent hotels and inns to choose from, and of course, the ever delightful Mexican cuisine, in all its fervour. This otherwise easy going city suddenly transcends all boundaries of docility to party like there's no tomorrow, much to the delight of residents as well as tourists!

While in Mexico, one would certainly want to share the interesting experiences with friends and family, and the best way to do it is to subscribe to Matrix international SIM cards, which over fantastic network coverage and close to 80% savings on every international call.

Travel Mexico for an unforgettable experience

There are many facets of Mexico that are still unknown to tourists who visit the country, only to face problems in one or the other domains. Following is a brief look at some of the key points to be taken care of while travelling to Mexico.

· Irrespective of how long one plans to stay in Mexico, it's best to try and get a Mexico tourist card, or FMT, as it is popularly referred to, validated for 180 days. This card is just a small document, alike a customs declaration form, and is given to the tourist on the plane as the flight is about to land. It is filled with details like name and purpose of visit, and handed over to the immigration officer. Generally, the officer writes 180 days as default, but just to be sure, one must always ask for the same. With a 180 days FMT, a person can extend his stay in case of any emergency.

· Taxi: Barring the scenario when one gets a taxi from the airport or bus station kiosk, there are many unmetered taxis that can easily charge exorbitant amounts. Most of these would be outside tourist zones and certain major cities. In this case, there are two choices. One can either pay the overcharged amount (which is actually pretty cheap by American and European standards), or try to take advantage of the fact that Mexicans are very friendly people. Once a person gets talking to the driver and opens up, there are significant chances that the latter would not overcharge. Further, catching a street side taxi is perfectly safe.

· Driving: If one is driving in Mexico, it's best to be adept at remaining alert at all times for obstacles that can pop in from any nook and cranny, and be an expert at squeezing the car through minuscule spaces, since the traffic situation in Mexico demands precisely this. On federal 4 highways, one should use the right lane until and unless he is passing a slow semi trailer or tractor. If one takes the left the, it's important to run the left turn signal and keep it on until the vehicle remerges onto the right lane. This allows the person behind (who is driving at 150km) that the vehicle in front of him is just passing by, and will soon be out of his way.

· Communication: Talking to one's friends and family is always important, particularly when one is in a foreign country, and more so if the person is staying alone, or has come on a vacation, since the memories are best shared as and when they happen. However, the only problem, so to speak, that hinders a person and stops him from talking as much as he would like is the high international tariff. Matrix sim cards for Mexico address this issue very effectively by giving as much as 80% savings upon calling to destinations around the world from Mexico, making it an ideal travel companion.

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