Tag Archives: culture

Guadalajara’s Historic Landmarks, Mexico

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Templo Expiatorio

The Templo Expiatorio

 

 

Guadalajara is Mexico’s second largest city and the cultural center of Western Mexico. Its status as a city was granted by the Spanish King Charles the sixth in 1550 along with a coat of arms that the city has today. The Central Historic district is the oldest section of the city where it was founded and where the oldest buildings are located. They include a combination of religious and civil colonial buildings which are noted for their architectural and historic significance. While the colonial buildings are the most common style of architecture found in the historic district, one can also find examples of Gothic, Baroque, Neo-Classical, Viceregal and Art Deco designs. One of the buildings,  the Instituto de  Cultural Cabana, is a world  heritage site.

From an architectural standpoint, the Templo Expiatory is perhaps the most interesting building in the  historic district and its neoclassical style was designed by Manuel Tolsa. Although the cornerstone was laid in 1897, the church is made of stone, carved as it was done in the middle ages.The three tympana on the church’s facade are accented with Italian mosaic’s created in the Vaticans mosaic factory. Also seen on the facade is a church clock imported from Germany and installed by German technicians along with a carillon of 25 bells which play 25 religious pieces such as Ave Maria. Whenever a musical piece is played, minature statutes of the 12 apostle’s rotate in and out of the campanile.  Of course a church would not be the same without stained glass and this one has huge stained glass windows created by Jacques and Gerard Degussecau of France. In addition to  the musuems and galleries in the historic area, the sites shown in this gallery are the most popular attractions for cultural tourism in Guadalajara.

Interior architecture of the Templo Expiatorio
A Bronze sculpture of Guadalaja’s Coat of Arms which symbolizes a fighting spirit and perseverance.
The Sanctuario de Guadalajara was built in 1781. The exterior architecture is Churrigueresque while the interior is Neoclassical
This is the Teatro Dellgado named after the state’s govenor when construction of the neoclassical building was completed in 1866.
Fuente de la Inmolacion de Quetzalcoatl who was a diety in the Meso American culture. The name means feathered serpent or flying reptile.
This is the facade of the Catedral Metropolitana which is now a mixture of Gothic, Baroque, Moorish and Neoclaassical architectural styles. Construction of the original building started in 1558 but 2 earthquakes have since destroyed most of the original building. In the most recent past, new twin towers were built to replace the originals that were destroyed by one of the earthquakes in the 19th century.
Entrance to the Palacio de Gobierno (state government headquarters) is an example of the colonial style architecture which is most prevalent in the city. It was completed in 1774 and has many columns, arches and murals inside.
One of Jose Orozco’s mural’s painted on a dome ceiling inside of the state government builing which covers an area equal to 1,312 sq. ft
Rotunda de los Jaliscienses Ilusttres was designed in 1952 to honor the contributions of Jalisco’s most notable people represented by the statutes surrounding it.
Institute de Cultural Cabana built in the 19th century is a neoclassical designed building. Originally this building was a shelter for orphans and homeless people. It has 23 courtyards and 106 rooms. It has been a world heritage site since 1997 and is now a museum.

Lake Chapala Promenade, Jalisco, MX

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At sunset, a boat returns to the pier with its passengers.

 

Lake Chapalpa is the largest freshwater lake in Mexico and the village of Chapala has been a  popular weekend and holiday destination for both Guadalajara residents  and international tourist since the 1920’s. The lakefront promenade or malecon has 2 scenic piers, boat rides, restaurants, hotels, playgrounds, skateboard park, mariachi’s, retail vendors and yacht club. One of  the malecon’s landmarks, seen below,  is the old Victorian style mansion built in 1906. It is now a restaurant called Cazadores but was  formerly  owned by the Braniff family of airline fame and fortune, In addition to tourist, ,many local people come to the malecon on a regular basis for picnic’s, see the sunsets or watch the birds who migrate here in the fall.

 

Cazadores Restaurant, formerly the Braniff family home
Birds start migrating to the shores of Lake Chapala in the falll
The main pier and lighthouse
An old boat is used as a planter in the garden on the malcon.
The Lake Chapala Inn on the malecon
There is a skateboard park on the malecon
On Sunday’s many families bring the kids to the playground on the malecon
Here’s a few of the restaurants at the east end of the malecon along with some strolling musicians
another pier is found at the east end of the malecon
Here’s the ever present Mariachi’s entertaining some visitors
The malecon is also the location for annual events such as Day of the Dead and Carnival

Day of the Dead, Lake Chapala, Mexico

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A tribute to revolutionary hero’s Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata

The day of the dead is a long standing tradition in Mexico similar to Halloween or all saints day in other parts of the world  and was inscribed into the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO  in 2008. In Mexico, it is also a national holiday celebrated on November 2nd. On this day Mexicans pay homage to deceased family members, friends, national hero’s, luminaries and even world leaders with  personalized altars that offer gifts to the departed. These offerings usually include flowers, favorite foods, beverages and possessions of the dead. Alternately, family members will visit the grave site of departed souls and leave similar offerings.

Today , Katrina’s are the most highly recognized symbol associated with the Day of the Dead. Years ago, however, a Katrina referred to an elegant and well dressed woman of class and privilege  until a mexican artist  created an illustration of a well dressed skeleton during  revolutionary times that was supposed to symbolized the death of mexico’s ruling  class of privileged  aristocrats. Eventually,  the Katrina figure came to represent the joy of life in the face of its end.

The entrance to the street of altars
A tribute to Nelson Mandela
Tribute to Frida Kahlo, one of mexico’s most famous artist
a smiling katrina looking to the heavens
a grinning katrina on the malecon
an elegant looking katrina
a well dressed katrina in front of lake chapala
a katrina in front of city hall
city hall decorations
this altar offers insight into the departed persons favorite foods, beverages and possessions

Taxco, the Worlds Silver Capital

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The Santa Prisca Cathedral was built in the 18th century with funds provided by the by the silver tycoon Jose de la Borda

The Santa Prisca Cathedral was built in the 18th century with funds provided by the silver tycoon J0se de la Borda

Founded in 1529 by one of Hernan Cortes captains, Taxco remained an unkown village outside of Mexico until the discovery of a silver mother lode in the 18th century fueled the cities development. Sometime in the 1920’s as the silver mines were being played out, an American silversmith by the name of William Spratling came along and began teaching local people the art and science of  silversmithing in his own workshop. The result was that the crafting of silver started a creative and economic boom that still exists today. Taxco now has over 300 silver shops including open air markets, metal workshops, and high end boutiques where buyers from around the world come to stock their retail stores with a variety of earrings, necklaces, rings and other creations .of silver finery. Besides the silver shops Taxco has other tourist attractions such as that old world ambiance of Spain with its winding cobblestone streets and small plazas, an  aerial tram, good restaurants, some impressive architecture, Los Pozas Azules and several silver museums including the William Spratling museum dedicated to his contributions. For additional details, see the photo gallery below.

 

The village of Taxco was built on a hillside and is also one of Mexico’s pueblo magico’s
The main plaza is in front ot the Santa Prisca Cathedral. There is outdorr entertainment here most every night
The Santa Prisca Hotel is conviently located only a block away from the main plaza. It is also a clean, quiet and economical place to stay in the centro area where most room rates are very pricey.
There are a many street vendors in town that sell a variety of merchandise besides silver jewlery
Los Pozas Azules is a natural spa on the outskirts of town. Several pools such as this are created by a cascading stream of water which is a crystalline blue color during the dry season but becomes muddy during the rainy season.
A side view of the Santa Prisca cathedral and surrounding buildings
a high end silver jewelry boutique

The Lake Chapala Society, Ajijic, Mexico

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Located in the heart of Ajijic, the Lake Chapala Society was founded in 1955 by a group of 21 expatriates and today has over 3,000 members.The mission of LCS is to contribute to the social enrichment of its members and the Lakeside community through a variety of services and programs designed to facilitate the integration of  expatriates into the Lakeside community and foster interchange between ex pats and mexicans to name a few. More details about LCS are available at http://www.lakechapalasociety.org and in the photo gallery there are images of the LCS facilities, garden and the recent Woodstock 45th anniversary party.

 

LCS Garden pond has a variety of Lily pad flowers
A Garden Pathway
Another part of the Garden Pathways
The entrance to the Lake Chapala Society facilities
The LCS cafe
Another type of lily pad in the LCS garden pond
a bird of paradise in the LCS gardens
The LCS Woodstock 45th anniversary celebration on August 16th.
Contestants for the best hippie costumes at the Woodstock anniversary celebration featuring wavy gravy with the microphone
a ceramic frog placed along the LCS garden pathway
More examples of LCS garden flowers
The LCS garden pond and lily pads

Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

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An historic Chapel across form the Ajijic plaza

An historic Chapel across from the Ajijic plaza

Ajijic is located on the north shore of Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest freshwater lake,  less than an hour’s drive away from Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco. It’s a small village with a population of approximately 10,000  and over half of these people are either retired Americans or Canadians who relocate here for a variety of reasons including attractive scenery, tempered climate, lower cost of living, english is spoken,  and a variety of recreational activities tailor made for the cultural background of North Americans to name a few. So relocating to this part of Mexico also means less cultural shock then would be experienced in many other parts of Mexico or Central America and  this is why Ajijic and Lake Chapala has  been the top choice for most expatriates seeking retirement outside of the states since the 1940’s.  The photo gallery below focuses on the plaza in the heart of Ajijic.

there is a unique sculpture at each corner of the plaza and this is probably the most unusual of the four
an abstract sculpture at another one of the 4 corners in the plaza
a stone sculpture at another corner of the plaza
This sculpture is a wood carving at one of the 4 corners of the plaza
here’s the gazebo in the center of the plaza with a metal sculpture of a deer in the foreground
the cultural center of Ajijic and a good restaurant next door are also in the plaza
Black and Whites cafe in the plaza is a popular place to meet friends
a mural on the front wall of the city hall across from the plaza

Lake Atitlan National Park, Guatemala

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Lake Atitlan, volcano's and botanical garden

Lake Atitlan, volcano’s and botanical garden

If you happen to be planning a trip to San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico don’t miss the chance to visit Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.  Tour companies offer daily shuttle bus rides to and from Atitlan for a cost of only $50 dollars  round trip from San Cristobal.  This lake is considered to be one of the ten most beautiful in the world  and has been has been a national park since 1955. Besides the lake; the main outdoor attractions include the 3 volcanes that surround the lake and a nature reserve featuring a botanical garden, butterfly sanctuary, hiking trails and cascading waterfalls. Other recreational activities in the park include trails to the top of the volcano’s, rappelling, zip lines, hang gliding, canoeing and bass fishing. The lake also has several indigenous maya communities where it is possible to gain insight into the their culture and purchase traditional hand made arts and crafts at very reasonable prices.

 

Botanical garden flora
The botanical garden ferns, airplants and sculptured hedges
more botanical garden flora
botanical garden trees and flora
gardden hibiscus
nature reserve trail and obstacle course
butterfly sanctuary monarch
cascading waterfalls in the nature reserve
botanical garden flora
ferns and flora
lake atitlan and volcano’s in the distance
butterfly sanctuary

 

The magic village of Comitan, Chiapas, Mexico

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Here's the flat top trees in Comitan's main plaza

Comitan’s main plaza is the heart of the city and is noted for these flat top trees.

 

A Pueblo Magico since 2012, this artsy colonial village is located about 60 miles southeast of San Cristobal de Las Casas and is close to the border of Guatemala. It has some good restaurants and hotels, a few interesting musuems and is less than an hours drive away from El Chiflon Waterfalls, the lakes of Montebello, and El Chintuchek archeological site. Comitan also has one of the most impressive zocola’s in Mexico. These town plaza’s are an important part of the Mexican culture and the heart of almost every city both large and small. They serve as a place for people to socialize, find taco stands or restaurants, see special events and hear Mariachi music.  More often than not, most zocola’s  are centrally located across from the cities main cathedral, they usually have a large gazebo where local musician’s perform, lots of park benches and beautiful landscaping. With it’s distinctive flat topped trees, fountain and unique metal scupltures,  Comitan’s zocola is one of the most impressive in Mexico. There are a few photos with additional information in the gallery below.

One of several metal sculptures around the main plaza
The plaza’s gazebo
Most resort area’s in Mexico have tourist police who offer a variety of services to visitors . Here is one of Comitan’s finest, Senor Lopez, standing in front of a metal sculpture in the plaza.
There are several sidewalk cafe’s and restaurants surrounding the plaza.
Comitan was founded in 1556 by Domincan Friars and the cathedral Santo Domingo was built between the 16th and 17th centuries with a facade of neoclassical style.
This is the front entrance to the cultural center next door to the church. It is used for piano concerts, plays, and workshops such as textile designing.
Inside the cultural center, a women demonstrates how to use an antique spinning wheel. A foot powered loom is in the background.
This is Comitans city hall
The Comitan theater is also directly across from the plaza
One of the waterfalls at El Chiflon ecotourist center 45 kilometers from Comitan
Lake Tzisco is one of the 5 Montebello Lakes less than an hours drive from Comitan
Lake Pojoj is another one of the five Montebello Lakes. All of the Lakes are easily accessible from the same road.v

House of the Deer, Valladolid, Mexico

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House of the Dear

House of the Deer and one of 2 wet bars on the first floor of this house

Translated, the house of the deer is Casa de los Venados in Spanish. This is a privately owned  collection of mexican folk and contemporary art in a home which is over 18,000 square feet and has more than  3000 pieces of museum quality art on display. Most of this art work  has been acquired directly from the original artists over a 35 year period. The owners,  John and Dorianne Venator, are originally from the United States where they  have lived in both Chicago and Portland as well as  their new museum/home in Valladolid.The Venators generously open their musuem/home to the public for tours at 10 a.m. everyday and it is free of charge.  So, if you  are ever visiting the maya riviera don’t miss the chance to tour this impressive, one of a kind display of art. The photo gallery below is just a small sample of the Venator’s art collection.

At the top of this photo is a small portrait of the Venators
Diego Riveria, Frida Kahlo and family Schnauzer that likes to sleep on this bench

Valladolid, A Mexican Magic Town

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The Cathedral of San Servacio

In August of 2012, Valladolid became part of Mexico’s “Pueblo Magico” program which recognizes traditional villages that meet their specific requirements of natural beauty, cultural riches, or historic relevance to the country. It is a well preserved colonial city of Spanish arcades and 16th century spires located between  the beaches of Tulum and  the archeological site of Chichen Itza. A few of the main attractions include the cathedral of San Servacio, Rosado Park, Cenote Zaci, the colonial homes with great architecture on Calzdada de Los Frailes and the Siskal neighborhood temple and ex-convent of San Bernadino de Siena. Additional activities include a variety of tours such as the chocolate factory tour, the mexican folk art tour of Casa de Venado and the Tequila tours of local agave plantations and distilleries. Photos and additional information is included in the photo gallery.

Siskal neighborhood and ex-convent of San Bernadino de Siena
Interior architecture of the temple
Siskal Barrio and La Taberna Restaurant which serves contemporary cusine with maya herbs and spices
This Mayan Home was preserved and restored because it is representative of the maya culture and building materials used in this area.
The chocolate factory in Valladolid is the only one in the state of Yucatan that still makes 100 percent chocolate candy using traditional production techniques
Friendly Manager of the chocolate factory
Take a tour of the Mayapan Agave distillery and learn about the traditional techniques used to make tequila and then taste the difference.
This tequileria features tastings of high quality boutique made tequila along with detailed information about how the local tequila is made
Parque Rosado is the main park in central Valladolid directly across from the cathedral in the center of town
San Servacio Cathedral
A sidewalk cafe next to the cathedral
Horse with bonnet and buggy offering rides around centro

A Taste of Playa

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Baked Bread samples

Playa del Carmen just finished celebrating an annual event known as a “Taste of Playa” on Sunday the 24th of November. It is a culinary event that highlights the best and most creative restaurants as well as retail food outlets that define the culture of this area.which is renowned for its diversity, international influences and culinary expertise. At the event which is open to the general public from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.  guest have a chance to sample a variety of food and beverages served at the many restaurants around town  for a few pesos. This is a very convenient way to discover who’s serving your favorite foods at the right price without the hassle of shopping around town for days on end.

V.I.P. Zone
Chef and Roast
Main Plaza forsampling food and beverages
Fruit Stand and other snacks

Day of the Dead, Xcaret Park

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a headstone made of seashells

a headstone made of seashells

In 2003 the Day of the Dead was declared a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage by U.N.E.S.C.O. and every year the Xcaret Park near Cancun, Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead with a 5 day event known as the ” Festival de Tradiciones de Vida y Muerta”. During this celebration visitors can enjoy traditional cuisine of the region, workshops, handcrafts, visual art exhibtions, music, dances,  rituals, altars, and offerings. One of the highlights of this event is the tour of their cemetery which is both a tribute to the deeply rooted attitudes of mexicans towards death and a replica of cemeteries found throughout Mexico. This cemetery is located inside the maya village on a hill with winding spiral paths that lead to the top.The path is lined with unique and imaginative headstones, plaques and ornamental structures that display  a variety of spiritually oriented designs and attitudes about the dead.The photo gallery below is a sample of what to expect in the cemetery and in other locations around the park during this event.

the festival logo and display near the entrance
traditional yucatan altar and offerings
traditional maya dress and mask
day of the dead altar and offerings
a stone carved headstone with religious oriented design elements
a surreal headstone with spiritual design elements
a tiled headstone with religious design elementstwin towers, bells and crosses
a stone carved headstone with cross and a sculted religious figureeligous scuplture
stone carved headstone designed like a temple to and decorated with flowers in the shape of a cross
tiled headstone with a spiriual motif
a tiled headstone with other religious design elements
headstone with a religious theme and statue of the virgin de guadalupe
a religious theme for a headstone made with beer bottle caps and quart of corona beer
stone carved headstone with a spiritual theme

Mexico and Monuments

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a tribute to the maya people and civilization

a tribute to the maya people and culture

Mexico loves it monuments and that’s why one of its most important  cities, Oueretaro, was inscribed as a historic monument  U.N.E.S.C.O. world heritage zone in 1996. A  tourist in Mexico can learn much about the history of this country  by simply visiting these monuments which can be found in most every large city and resort area. There are several kinds of monuments such as statutes  built as a lasting tribute to a person, a group of people or an event. Other kinds of monuments that are most common can be either a place, building site or structure that is preserved because of its historic culture and/or aesthetic importance. In addition to Queretaro;  most of the national monuments are found in Mexico city, Gaunajuato, and Guadalajara but there are many other significant monuments to be found in a variety of locations nationwide.The photo essay below shows a variety of these monuments including some of the most important and popular in Mexico.

A monument in Puerto Vallarta dedicated to mexican culture
El Caballito a monument in Puerto Vallarta dedicated to the sea
monument to Father Hildago, the spiritual leader of Mexico’s revolutionary war
the fishermans monument is dedicated to the importance of commercial and recreational fishing in Mazatlan
Monument to Mazatlan which translated means land of deer
a monument to Danzante and the Otomi indian culture in that existed in Queretaro before the Spanish conquest
Ruins of La Pintura building which housed works of art in the ancient city of Tulum
a monument about the Mayan people in playa del carmen on the caribbean sea
mermaid and dolphin monument in La Paz
The ninos hero’s monument dedicated to 6 cadets age 13 to 20 who lost their lives after they volunteered to defend a fortress against overwhelming odds.
a monument to the Pacifico brewery founded in Mazatland
a monument statute of aesthetic beauty in Puerto Vallarta
A chapel monument located on the hill in Queretaro where the Mexican army defeated Maximillian to win freedom from Austria.

Architecture of Mexico

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Office building in Cancun, Mx

Modern  Office building in Cancun, Mexico 

The architecture of Mexico is known for its variety that developed in several phases from different cultures. During the pre-hispanic period from  300 A.D. through the year 1581 A.D. most architecture was the product of Maya and Aztec civilizations which can be seen today at such archeological sites as Palanque, Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza.  After Cortez and the Spanish armies conquered mexico in the year 1581, European architecture  replaced Maya and Aztec building techniques with  baroque, renaissance, gothic,  and neoclassical architectural styles during what is known as the colonial period of Mexican history.  Existing examples of this transition can be seen in several Mexican  cities like  Guanajuato, Morelia and San Miguel de Allende that have all been declared UNESCO  world heritage sites due  to the well-preserved colonial buildings in these area’s.   In the year  1821, Mexico  finally gained it’s independence but there where very few new developments in the field of architecture for several decades until the emperor Maximilian and the dictator Porfirio Diaz started to import French architectural designs around 1860.  Perhaps, the most famous example of French influenced architecture of the day is the Palacio de Belles Artes in Mexico City commissioned by Diaz.. The next and most recent evolution in Mexican architecture came along just after  the Mexican  civil war  ended in 1910 when modern and contemporary architecture started to replace obsolete  building techniques. During this time frame  architects started  blending Mexican stylistic  elements with expressionist and functionalist design concepts  to create innovative works of modern architecture that continues to this day. A few representative examples of Mexican architecture from past to present are included in  the photo essay below.

Tulum ruins, maya architecture, circa 800-1000 A.D.
Tulum Ruins, maya architecture, the castle, circa 800-1000 A.D.
Franciscan Mission, mestizo baroque architecture, circa 1750’s, jalpa, mx
La Parroquia, renovated with Gothic Facade architecture in 1880.
Former Monastery Morelia, Circa 1619, restored 1977
Canada de la Virgin, archeological site, circa 600-900 A.D. Guanajuato
Coba archeological site, Nohoch Mul Pyramid, Circa 300-900 A.D.
Main Cathdral of Guanauato, combination of Baroque and Churrigueresque Architecture, circa 1671-1695
University of Guanajuato, established 1732, this addition completed in 1940 in neo-classical style
Moorish influenced architecture, Guanajuato, now a restaurant, tavern and inn
Baroque interior architecture, Mazatland main catherdral, circa 1899
Teatro Juarez, neo-classical architecture, circa 1870- 1903, guanajuato
French Quarter Style of architecture , circa 1870’s, restored, centro historic district of mazatland
surreal architecture, edward james,garden, Sierra Gordo, Circa 1950’s
Live Agua Hotel, Cancun, modern, contemporary architecture
modern architecture, valentino’s entertainment center, mazatland
modern expressionist architecture, museum, puerto morales
modern, contemporary architecture, cancun

Eco-Sur Botanical Garden, Puerto Morales, MX

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Eco-Sur, Tropical Forest

This 150 acre botanical garden also know as Ya’ax Che is the last patch of conserved forest between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Established in 1982, the main objectives of the park are to preserve and propagate endangered plant species as well as inform and educate visitors about how the mayans used the natural resources of this area. To this end, there is an interpretive trail of about 4 km with a variety of exhibits set in a natural forest environment representative of the complete eco-system existing in the Yucatan Peninsula. The distinct exhibits consist of cactus, orchids, ferns, ornamentals, palms and medicinal plants, Additionally, there are maya ruins, a recreated traditional mayan home and “chicle camp” where sap from chicle trees was used to make the chewing gum which bears its name. Wild fauna such as spider monkeys, lizards and a variety of birds can also be seen along the trails. For more information and images about this park, see the photo essay below.

A guide to the exhibits found on the 4km interpretive trail
This is a Tradescania Pallida plant native to the Yucatan used for ornamental purposes
There are 20 different kinds of palmae in the yucatan peninsula and 15 of them are part of this parks collecton that includes this Corozo palm
The palmae exhibit includes this Kuka which is native to the yucatan and now considered an endangered species
dedicated to Dr. Ingrid Olmsted who was a pioneer in promoting biodiversity around the yucatan peninsula
The palms on the right are the sabel mexicana native to the yucatan and used in the construction of palpa thatched roofs
This solar home is part of a Ethnographic Exhibition which also includes an apiary, vegetable garden and medicinal plants that were used to supplement the family economy.
part of the maya ethnography exhibit, this Liliaceae plant was used as a traditional medicine for resporatory ailments
a variety of ferns and a reading center are found in this exhibit
a fern native to the yucatan and florida considered to be a threatened species
Maya ruins in the park called the Altar
recreation of a chiclero camp production facility where sap from the chicle tree was boiled down and cast into blocks that formed a base for chewing gum later called chiclets
on the way to the swing bridge, this trail is an representative of a medium height deciduous forest
This bridge crosses a valley which floods in the raining season and leads to an observation tower with a birds eye view
the ever present Iguana turns up almost everywhere in the maya riviera

Isla Cozumel, Mexico

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Tiki Bar

Cozumel is the largest of Mexico’s islands measuring 53 km by 14km and is found in the Caribbean Sea about 1 hour away from  Playa del Carmen on the passenger ferries which make frequent trips on a daily basis.  Although, there are a variety of things to do once you get to Cozumel the main attraction has always been snorkeling and scuba diving to experience the great meso american reef system. One travel guide book has a list of 86 attractions around Cozumel but 43 of them involve different scuba diving or snorkeling locations. Other things to do while on the island  are  related to either cultural activities,  parks or  beach clubs.

Three types of beaches can be found around this island and they will be either rocky,  smooth white sand or  hybrids. According to people in the know, rocky beaches are a indication of good snorkeling opportunities off shore and they are plentiful. The smooth white sand beaches are not as common as the rocky type but they can be found at the northern or  southern tips of the island’s  western shores such as Playa San Francisco near Punta Sur. Finally, there is the hybrid variety where sand has been brought in to build a beach on top of the limestone croppings that are the norm around Cozumel.. One such man made beach is found at the Chankannab National Park to the south of town.

At the end of the day, most people head for  San Miguel to enjoy happy hour, dinner or other cultural activites. This is the only city on the island and it has a population of over 75,000 people according to the last count. One of the main attractions here is the pedestrian only Plaza Centro where you can find restaurants, shops, street artist, cafe’s and nightlife. In the photo gallery below you will find images and more information about Plaza Centro, a few of the beaches  as well as some other highlights.

Carlos and Charlie’s
People gathering in the pedestrian only district for happy hour and live entertainment at Woody’s Bar and Grill
Office of Tourism and the clock tower are found here in the pedestrian only area
the beach and a few amenities at this beach club
Just across the road from Chankanaab National Park
a flea market in Centro San Miguel just off Avienda Rafael Melgar the main beach road through town
a view of the beachfront in San Miguel on Avienda Rafael Melgar
also found north of San Miguel only a few miles from the momument.on Avienda Rafael Melgar
this monument is a tribute to the maya civilization that once occupied this island. It is found on the beach road going north from town.
There are quite a few of these but this one is a little north of Plaza Centro on Avienda Rafeal Melgar
One of the locations where cruise ships drop anchor near Plaza Central and Avienda Rafael Melgar
an alternate mode of transportation around town
Jimmy Buffets margaritaville in Central San Miguel between the beach and Avienda Rafael Melgar

Playa del Carmen, La Quinta Street Highlights #2

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Mexican Cuisine, no doors, no walls and no windows. The traditional style of building on La Quinta.

Restaurant/Bar with Mexican Cuisine, notice the absence of doors, walls and windows. This traditional style of building is the norm
on La Quinta Ave.,

The pedestrian promenade of La Qunita or Fifth Avenue attracts an international mix of travelers and is the place to see and be seen while in Playa. A party  atmosphere,  created by the nightclubs, bars and restaurants on La Qunita;  keeps  the grown up good time crowd around until the wee hours of the morning. On another level, La Qunita attracts people for it’s down to earth lifestyles and egalitarian spirit characterized  by the very casual style of dress seen everywhere, the variety of businesses that offer both low end and high end merchandise or services and the friendly attitudes of most people around town. The photo gallery of this edition and the prior edition illustrates what has made La Qunita Ave one of Playa’s main attractions.

One of several starbuck’s in Playa, looks like if you drink to much coffee the police will give you a ticket for being under the influence of caffeine.
If it has doors and windows you cannot negotiate prices
Be careful of what you put in these pipes
CD’s and miscellaneous items for sale
leather, bags, mask and miscellaneous items for sale, has no doors so the prices are negotiable
specializes in mexican cusine, has no doors, walls or windows
This plaza currently marks the north end of La Quinta, It offers restaurants, cafes, music and bars
At the north end of La Quinta across from Plaza Luna
Right in front of Plaza Luna. Makes fresh juices for your health
A pavilion hotel lobby with bar and front desk around 34th street and la quinta
Offers speciality merchandise, cuban cigars, a restaurant with cuban food and music
100 percent natural fruit juices freshly squeezed
japanese cuisine and sushi
hats, bags, souvenir’s and local color
The south end of La Qunita during semana santa week (easter)
This is the steepest hill to climb on La Qunita

Cancun Highlights, Pt 2

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El ReyIn this second post with more Cancun highlights, there are photos of the El Rey archeological site, the new Maya museum, the Forum Mall, and the Fiesta Americana Luxury Hotel which are all located within the hotel zone.  The above photo shows the remains of an ancient observatory at the El Rey site which dates back to 1200 a.d. The architectural style found here is similar to that of other structures built in the southeastern region of mexico during the time period from 1200 a.d. to 1500 a.d. San Miguelito, another archeological site in the Cancun Hotel Zone, can be found within the grounds of the newmuseo maya Maya museum which opened last December. Inside the museum there is a lot of  information about Mayan history along with exhibits and artifacts. The archeological site at this location features an interpretative trial through Maya ruins that are surrounded by a jungle ecosystem much like the one that existed when these structures were built.

Other photos featured in this post include the Fiesta Americana Resort and the Forum Mall both found in the heart of the hotel zone. The Fiesta is a family resort that has won the Fiesta Americanapresitigous 5 diamond award numerous times and is considered to be located on the finest stretch of private beach in Cancun, It also features a 40,000 square foot spa and an awesome swimming pool that spans the length of the 602 room hotel. Only a short walk from here  brings us to the Forum Mall which offers a unique blend of retail shops, restaurants, and nightclubs. The anchor tenants here are not walmart or costco, however, but super clubs such as the Hard Rock Cafe and Coco Bongo which ranks as one of trip advisor’s top attractions in Cancun.Hard Rock Cafe

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

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Mamita’s Beach

Playa del Carmen is located on the Maya Riviera and has the ambiance of a small beach playaresort  but at the same time it is sophisticated  in many ways. Here you will find vistors and shop owners from all over the world, special events such as the Maya Jazz Festival that features music from a variety of cultures,  restaurants that serve many different kinds of cuisine

Argentina Restaurant, 5th avenuefrom  different countries around the world, specialty retail shops with  merchandise  from all over mexico and small boutique lodging’s with distinct European styles. Most of the restaurants, cafes, shops, nightlife and other tourist activity are located on a 15 block section of fifth avenue which is limited to pedestrian foot traffic.

5th avenue retail shopThere are many other attractions in and around Playa del Carmen. Some  of the best beaches in the world can be found in this area along with miles of offshore coral reefs that offer what are just about  the most spectacular snorkeling and scuba diving sites anywhere in the world. If the beach or scuba diving are not your cup of tea, than there are several major theme parks near by such as Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor and Xaman-Ha Avairy.  Each offers its own unique blend of outdoor recreational activities. These are just a few of the reasons why Playa del Carmen was selected as  the second best destination resort in Mexico for 2012 by travelers choice.IMG_1722

Sculpture Park, Isla Mujeres, MX

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The Sculpture Park opened in 2001 on the same grounds where remnants of the Chac-MoolTemplo Maya Diosa Ixchel can also be seen by interested visitors. It is an open air musuem with a mayan related  theme. All together, there are 23 original pieces which were donated by local and foreign artists. The most well known of this group are Jose Luis Cuevas and Sebastian.The Timber Man

One of the sculpture’s, created by Sebastian, is called Chac-Mool; a name given to a type of pre-columbian, meso- american stone statute which depicts a human figure in a reclining position with the head up and turned to one side as seen in this abstract rendering. The original meaning of Chac-Mool, however, is unknown. The other piece featured in this post is the work of Jose Luis Cuevas and is named “El Tamborilero” which is almost like saying  Mr. Tambourine Man. If the tambourine man could sing a song today, it  would be about the rust and corrosion that will eventually destroy these sculptures if repairs are not made in the near future..Temple of Ixchel

Guadalajara, Mexico

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The main attraction to Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city, is the well preserved central historic district. The centerpiece of this downtown area is the landmark Main Catedral MetropolitanaCathedral with its twin 200 foot towers erected in 1848. It is surrounded by 4 distinct plaza’s named Plaza de Armas, Plaza  Tapatia, Plaza de Liberacion and Plaza Guadalajara. All together they offer visitors  a variety of shops, restaurants,  cultural activities and  events hard to find elsewhere in the country with the exception of Mexico city.  One of the highlights  located in the Plaza Tapatia is the Cabanas Cultural Institute Instituto Cultural Cabanaswhich houses art exhibitions,  a movie theater,  a performing arts theater and an  outdoor patio where  ballet and musical events take place.

The Central Historic area of Gaudalajara is also a convenient base for exploring other surrounding attractions such as the suburb of Tlaquepaque and  Tequila, a Unesco World Heritage sight where much of the countries national drink is produced. tlaquapaqueOnly a few minutes away from Gaudalajara’s downtown  visitors can also experience  the  artisan community of Tlaquepaque, that produces the greatest variety of handicrafts in Mexico. Here, in a large pedestrian tourist area there are over 200 stores, restaurants, galleries and other attractions. Another unique experience not to be missed while in Guadalajara, is the tequila express, a 90 minute train ride from  the station in  Central Guadalajara that passes through vast fields of blue agave,  the village of Tequila and finally arrives at the Casa Herradura Distillery. This train ride features plush coaches, live Mariachi music on board, tequila tastings and dinner at the Casa Herradura, one of the oldest tequila making facilities in the country which is still 100% Hacienda made.

Canada de la Virgin, Archaeological Site

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Located about 18 miles from San Miguel de Allende is the archaeological site of Canada de la Virgin. It represents an important part of pre-hispanic mexican culture where many historical relics have been found.  There are 7 pyramid structures of different sizes and styles that were built around 540 A.D.  by Toltec and Chichimeca architects.  According to experts,  the site was designed and configured in such a way  that all structures would  be symmetrically aligned with cosmic cycles. Hence, this pattern of construction allowed the pyramids to serve as sky observatories among other things. In addition,  Canada de la Vrigin is also part of a nature preserve offering a variety of recreational activities such as camping, hiking, horseback riding and astronomy tours,  as well as  a venue for special events.pyramid 2

The Art Institute of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

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San Miguel de Allende may be a tourist town but what attracts visitors to this area is the atmosphere created by the art institute and all its related activities. Although the art institute was created around 1950 by Enrique Martinez, a former governor of Guanajuato, his wife Nell Harris,  a retired Naval Officer named Sterling Dickinson and Peruvian artist and diplomat Cossio del Pomar, everyone seems to agree,  that Sterling Dickinson is most responsible for San Miguel becoming an international art center.

Initially,  the art institute  offered a master´s in fine art accredited by the University of Guanajuato but  over the years the institute has grown in size and scope and now offers  BA and AA degrees  in the visual arts along with workshops in painting, drawing, jewelry, weaving, photography and more. Additionally,  there are many spanish language learning

programs and an art school for children.

La Pena de Bernal, Mexico

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worlds 2nd tallest monolith in the shrubland environment of Queretaro

worlds 2nd tallest monolith in the shrubland environment of Queretaro

 

At 350 meters, Pena de Bernal is the third tallest monolith in the world. It is located near Queretaro, Mexico in the small village of Bernal. Also known as one of Mexico’s “Pueblo Magico’s” or magic towns because of its historic charms, closeness to a major city and peaceful atmosphere.

Hill of Bells, Queretaro, Mexico

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A chapel monument located on the hill in Queretaro where the Mexican army defeated Maximillian to win freedom from Austria.

A chapel monument located on the hill in Queretaro where the Mexican army defeated Maximillian to win freedom from Austria.

This chapel sits on a hill which was the scene of a defining moment for the republic of Mexico. Here, on June 19, 1867; the verdict of the war tribunal was carried out when Maximillan of Hapsburg together with his generals Miguel Miramon and Tomas Mejia  were executed by a firing squad. This act sealed the triumph of the Republic and returned sovereignty to Mexico. In 1900 the government of Austria asked permission to build a chapel on the spot. Today this hill is a national park called Cerro de las Campanas and is located in the city of Queretaro. It also includes a large statute of former President Benito Juarez, a museum, the University of Queretaro, and a recreation area.