There is no shortage of space in Mexico. With a population of just over 100 million, and with almost one quarter of that living in Mexico City, this is the largest Spanish speaking country in the world, but the over crowdedness does not extend far past the borders of the capital. Vast expanses of nearly untouched land that varies from sandy beige deserts to emerald green forest and the murkier green of the Atlantic, and back over to the sapphire blue of the Pacific, await you on your Mexican adventure.

Originally settled by several Mesoamerican tribes, the Aztecs, or Mexica, became the dominant culture through warfare and a fabled finding of Mexico City. This "settling down" was heralded by the image of an Eagle grasping a snake above a cactus, an image that remains to this day on the Mexican tri-colored flag.

With the arrival of the Spanish in the early part of the 16th century, the Aztec were forced from power, and a new era began for the region. For 300 years after the Spanish arrival the area was known as New Spain, a name that signified the presence of the Spanish Viceroyalty in the location of the current capital, Mexico City.

Independence was declared in 1810, and in 1821 it was recognized, symbolizing the beginning of the end of Spanish influence in the region, and in global politics in general. During the wars of the 1830's and 40's, the republic of Texas was declared and the US incorporated roughly one half of Mexico's total area into its fold, including states such as Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, California, Nevada and Arizona.

In the 1860's, Mexico held off an invasion by France, and it was a battle in this war, on May 5th 1862 in the town of Puebla, that start the Cinco de Mayo festival that is celebrated to this day. Forty years after the French invasion, the Mexican people had an extended Civil War that eventually led to the formation of the PRI, the political party that would govern for over seven decades until 2000's election of Vincente Fox, the member of an opposing party.

Mexico's Attractions

Mexico is such a diverse landmass that it would take books to truly explore the wonderful contrasts and vibrant landscapes that await the traveler. From the lush green rainforests of the South to the dustier sand and cacti of the North and West, traveling to Mexico is a little bit like visiting all your favorite scenery in one trip. Whether you decide to cruise down and visit the incredible beaches and colorful port towns of the Atlantic and Pacific sides, or you choose to make you way by plane to the bustling heart of Mexico City, this is one country that will not disappoint. When you book your travel with Carefree Travel and Cruises, you are guaranteeing yourself a great deal on a great trip.

From museums to pyramids, from lovely green parks to ancient churches sagging into the soft bedrock, Mexico City is a place that has something for everyone. One highlight of any trip to the capital is the museums, and no traveler will be disappointed by what's on offer here.

First stop on any museum itinerary has to be the Frida Kahlo Casa Museo, also know as the Blue House. This is where the famed artist and erstwhile wife of Diego Rivera grew up, and also where she moved after her famed marriage to the insatiable muralist. The house is known as the Blue House because of the lovely shade of cooling blue that Frida chose for the walls, and inside you will find some of her best art works, from her early childhood experiments in devotional paintings to some of her most famous later works. Outside is a pleasant cafe, and watching the many cats that are taken care of by the museum care takers while sipping a cafe con leche (coffee with milk), or a Mexican style hot chocolate is a piece of Mexico that is not to be missed.

Just around the corner from the Blue House you will find the house where Rivera and Kahlo set up Leon Trotsky and his wife once they moved to Mexico. For Trotsky, Mexico represented one of the last safe havens that was left for him in the world, as Rivera stepped in and asked the president personally to grant the exiled and persecuted Russian a visa to live and write in the University district. Unfortunately for Trotsky, there were enemies within his midst, and, acting on Stalin's direct order for his death, there were two attempts made on his life, the second one a tragic success.

Other museums include the Bellas Artes Fine Arts Palace, the Museo Mural Diego Rivera, and the Chapultepec Palace, which sits above a lovely park surrounded by the often-lively fashion district. It is possible to visit the mural that Diego Rivera painted in Rockefeller center that was eventually rejected because he included Lenin as one of the characters in the work. When Nelson Rockefeller objected to this and Rivera wouldn't budge-claiming that his style was know before he was contracted-Rockefeller had the mural destroyed, and Rivera returned home to paint a new one, exactly as it was.

Visiting museums may have you hungry for a taste of ancient Mexican civilization, which is referenced so heavily in the artwork of the last century. Luckily, in the center of the city just off of the main square, or Zocalo, you will find the unearthed remains of the Templo Mayor and its accompanying museum. This ancient temple is well laid out with English signs that point out the various layers of construction that took place on the site, and the museum will give you some good background on the history of the region, and of the people that lived there. One short but intriguing day trip is a bus ride (about 1 hour) to Teotihuacan, the largest set of pyramids that is easily accessible from the capital.

For cruise goers, some highlights of a scenic Pacific trip will be Ensenada, with its stunning array of delicious fresh fish cuisine, Acapulco, with its beautiful white beaches and crystal clear water, and Puerto Vallarta, a colonial town straight out of a Graham Greene novel. For those cruising down the Atlantic side, expect to be impressed with Veracruz's "a la veracruzana" cuisine, which is heavy on tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, and onions, and the resort paradise that is Cancún.

Whether you are cruising down or flying in, one safe bet is booking your travel with Carefree Travel and Cruises. They will ensure that your Mexico vacation is the trip of a lifetime.

Call your Mexico Vacation Specialists
(361) 994-8747 or 1-800-727-4874
or visit one of these links
Mexico Packages