Mexico

Briefly about Mexico. Mexico is located in North America, occupying almost the entire central part of it. It borders the United States to the north and east and Belize and Guatemala to the southeast. In the east it is washed by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, in the west by the Pacific Ocean (here the Gulf of California juts out far into the coast). Mexico owns a number of islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean. Most of the country is mountainous and occupied by the Mexican Highlands, the Sierra Madre and the Transverse Volcanic Sierra with many active volcanoes(about 350), incl. highest point countries - Orizaba (5700 m.), Popokatepetl - (5452 m.), etc. Volcanic activity is quite high, earthquakes are also frequent.

Territory :
1.95 million sq. km

Population :
116 million people. The main population is Mexicans. Indian peoples - the Aztecs, Mayans, Mixtecs, Mazatecs, Zapotecs, etc. - are the indigenous population.

Capital:
mexico city. (8,894,193 non-suburban residents)

Mexico City(Spanish) Ciudad de Mexico listen)) is the capital city of Mexico. Consists of 16 districts: Alvaro Obregon, Azcapotzalco, Benito Juarez, Coyoacán, Cuauhtemoc, Gustavo A. Madero, Istacalco, Iztapalapa, Magdalena Contreras, Miguel Hidalgo, Milpa Alta, Tlahuac, Tlalpan, Venustiano Carranza, Xochimilco.

metropolitan area brazuet federal district— Distrito Federal.

Population - 8.8 million people (2009 data without suburbs), the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. The Mexico City metropolitan area is home to 21.2 million people (2009), the third largest metropolitan area in the world. The city is located in an intermountain basin in the Mexican Highlands, at an altitude of 2240 meters above sea level. The climate is subtropical.

The main political, economic and cultural center of Mexico. Refers to the "alpha" global cities, the leading financial centers in North America.

Founded in 1521 on the site of the one destroyed by the Spanish conquerors ancient city Aztec Tenochtitlan (named after the Aztec god of war Mehitli) From here came the transformed name of the city. Since 1821 - the official capital of independent Mexico.

The largest cities in Mexico (according to 2009 data, excluding suburbs)
Ecatepec de Morelos (1,734,701 inhabitants)
Tijuana (1,590,420 inhabitants)
Puebla (1,590,256 inhabitants)
Guadalajara (1,564,514 inhabitants)
Ciudad Juarez (1,564,514 inhabitants)
León (1,397,446 inhabitants)
Zapopan (1,260,381 inhabitants)
Monterrey (1,138,711 inhabitants)
Nezahualcoyotl (1,086,720 inhabitants)
Mexicali (926,042 inhabitants)
Merida (825,328 inhabitants)
Culiacan (815,688 inhabitants)
Toluca (815,068 inhabitants)
Chihuahua (784,882 inhabitants)

Excursions in Mexico:
Mexico offers a rich selection of excursions for all vacationers.

Office hours of institutions:
Banks are open from 9.00 to 16.00, and some from 9.00 to 12.00 on Saturday. Sunday is a day off. Banco Azteca is open daily until 20.00, where you can receive Western Union transfers, the Elektra chain of stores has exchange offices and accepts / sends Western Union money transfers both in Cancun and in other cities of Mexico. Shops are open on all days of the week from 8.00-9.00 to 18.00-23.00. Supermarkets until 22.00 - 23.00, some (Walmart) - around the clock.

Cars for rent:
In order to rent a car, you need credit card and the availability of Mexican insurance. The main global Rent-a-car companies are represented in the country. The amount of rent is different in different companies (from 55 to 200 USD per day), while the declared payment usually does not include IVA=(16%). Many companies sell insurance for a fixed period, but if the car is returned before the expiration of the insurance period, a refund is paid for the unused time. !

Transport :
The network of domestic airlines is quite extensive, regular flights are made from international airport"Benito Juarez" (13 km south of Mexico City) to Guadalajara (about 50 minutes), Monterrey (75 minutes), Acapulco (35 minutes), Cancun (2 hours 15 minutes) and others. between Cancun and Mexico City is established by VivaAerobus, Volaris, AeroMexico, Interjet.

Railway network is also quite developed and connects all the main cities of the country. But for the most part, the trains are relatively old and slow and not very popular. Communication with the California Peninsula is carried out by ships and ferries.

city ​​buses (fare - 4-7 MX$, in Cancun 8 - 11 MX$) operate in all major settlements, and are a fairly convenient (albeit often crowded) mode of transport. Tickets can be purchased from the driver. In all tourist areas there are fixed-route taxis ("micro"). Minibuses run from the main bus stops (in the capital - and from metro stations), although you can stop the "micro" on the street, along a certain route. Payment depends on the duration of the trip (from 7 pesos).

Metro Mexico City is the cheapest in the world. There are 9 metro lines in the capital, covering the main areas of the city, as well as the airport and the Buenavista railway station. Opening hours on weekdays - from 5.00 to 0.30, on Saturdays - from 6.00 to 1.30, on Sundays and holidays - from 7.00 to 0.30 with an interval of about 1 minute, the fare is 2 MHR. During peak hours, only light luggage is allowed, and women must travel in a separate carriage from men.

There are several types of taxis in Mexico City. . You can stop a taxi on the street if the sign “libre” (“free”) is on the car, or you can hire it by phone. The fare is about 0.2 USD per km. during the day and 0.3 USD at night (after 22 pm). Some taxis do not have meters, so the price should be negotiated in advance. It is recommended that you call an authorized taxi from the hotel, or "turismo" taxis, whose drivers sometimes speak English. It is advisable not to use green-colored taxis for your safety.

Mains voltage:
110 Volts (requires an adapter - you can get it at the hotel reception or buy it at any supermarket), frequency 60 Hertz. You can use chargers designed for 220 volts.

Resorts of Mexico: (continuation of the description of the resorts in the near future!)
Acapulco - Youth holidays, Exotics, Beach holidays, Diving, Discos, Beach resorts.
Aquascalientes — Excursions, Churches, Therapeutic and thermal resorts.


Veracruz – Excursions, Attractions, Sea cruises.
Guadalajara
Guerrero
Guanajuato
Durango
Ixtapa
Isla Mujeres
Isla Holbox

Cancun
Querétaro
Coahuila
Colima
Cozumel
Los Cabos
Manzanillo

mexico city
Michoacán

Morelos
Nayarit
Baja California
Nuevo Leon
Oaxaca
Pachuca De Soto

Puerto Vallarta
Riviera Maya

San Luis Potosi
Celestune
Sinaloa
Tabasco
Tamaulipas
Tlaxcala
Jalisco
chihuahua
Chiapas
Baja California Sur

Friends! If you have any questions - !do not hesitate! - ask them in the comments below or write to me on social networks!

Mexico is a country about which few people know anything interesting. Most of the inhabitants of the planet know this state as the place where such masterpieces of cinema as "Wild Rose", "Just Maria", "The Rich Also Cry" and other soap operas that won the hearts of millions of inhabitants of the post-Soviet territories in the nineties were born. Meanwhile, Mexico is a beautiful land, with an ancient and magical history, amazing sights inherited from the Mayan prophets and unsurpassed nature that has been formed over the centuries.

The earliest civilizations

The area of ​​Mexico is 1,972,550 km2. In addition, its territories include approximately 6,000 km 2 of islands located in the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Mexican and Naturally, not all of these lands immediately belonged to the country. They were conquered, given away, returned back, and so it lasted until the state known to modern man was formed. The excavations of 1947, carried out in Tepespan and other possessions of the country, proved that no less than 22 thousand years ago, the first person appeared on the territory of this part of America. By the fifth or sixth century BC, the first settled civilizations were formed here. They cultivated legumes, pumpkins and maize.

Historians know several ancient cultures of Mexico. One of them is the Olmecs, who inhabited the modern area of ​​Mexico somewhere from the 12th to the 5th century BC. e. The centers of this civilization were mainly in Tres Zapotes, Cerro de las Mesas and La Venta. Today it is the states of Tabasco, Guerrero and Veracruz. The Olmecs had a fairly strong influence on civilizations that arose a little later. Their prosperity dates back to the 4th-9th centuries AD. Today these cultures are considered classical. These include the civilization of Teotihuacan, the Zapotecs, the Totonacs, and, of course, the Maya.

The arrival of the Spaniards

Mexican lands were famous for their extraordinary wealth. The Spanish conquistadors heard about their treasures. In 1511, a Spanish ship was wrecked near Eto and was the first meeting between the peoples who inhabited Central America and Europeans. Jeronimo de Aguilar is the man who managed to survive that catastrophe. He stayed with the Maya. Jeronimo mastered the language of this people, and eight years later he became an interpreter on an expedition led by Hernan Cortes.

Mexico is a country that in 1517 simultaneously accounts for both its exploration and conquest. Diego Velazquez, the governor of Cuba, sent several expeditions here. The first of these was led in 1517 by Francisco Hernandez de Córdoba, the second was led by Juan de Grijalva in 1518. The last one took place in 1519. Its head was Hernan Cortes. It was he who conquered the empire that belonged to the Aztecs, and became the governor of those territories that he managed to subordinate to his laws.

Landmarks of Mexico

Mexico is a state that has experienced much suffering in its lifetime. And the witnesses of all these tests are, of course, the sights of the country. There are very, very many of them here. visit all these Amazing places pretty hard. But there are some special exhibits that you just need to see with your own eyes. One of these is This giant reached a height of 5636 meters and is considered the highest Mexican peak. Orizaba is mostly referred to as a mountain, but in fact it is not. After all, this is a real volcano. On the border of the XVI-XVII centuries, the most a large number of eruptions. During this time, there were already seven powerful explosions. After one of them in 1687, Orizaba fell asleep. The Aztecs called it Zitlatepetl - a mountain that strives for the stars.

You should also visit Fort San Diego. It is a pentagonal building, shaped like a star. It is located in Acapulco. The fort was built to protect merchant ships and the city from pirates from Holland and England. San Diego was built in the 17th century. This is the only historical landmark in Acapulco that has survived to this day.

Formation of the Mexican capital

The capital of Mexico is called Mexico City. But the city did not always bear such a name. It used to be called Tenochtitlan. The city was founded in 1325 by the Aztecs. There is a legend according to which Huitzilopochtli - the god of the sun - ordered the Indians to come here. He told the Aztecs to settle in the place where they would meet with a proud eagle who would sit on a tall cactus and hold a snake in its beak. The Indians searched for such a territory for a long time, but nevertheless found it and founded a settlement there. Thus, Tenochtitlan appeared on the western shore of Lake Texcoco. Later it became the capital of the Aztec empire.

The capital of Mexico is an indescribable beauty. The first Europeans, who were struck by the magnificence of Tenochtitlan, called it the Venice of the Aztecs. This unsurpassed city existed for almost two hundred years. It was conquered by the Spaniards, so it was badly destroyed. In 1521, on the site of the ruins, a new town- Mexico City.

City of contrasts

The capital of Mexico is a city full of contrasts. He either likes at first sight, or causes irritation and a burning desire to leave him immediately and go somewhere a little quieter. Unparalleled museums and buildings border the neighborhoods of the poor, while ancient churches and fragrant parks, synonymous with the word "peace", border on noisy and busy streets. In short, Mexico City is multifaceted locality, it is special, unpredictable and bewitching, as, in principle, the country itself.

Museums in Mexico City

Metropolitan museums are one of the main attractions of the city. Mexico, the capital of Mexico City in particular, is simply oversaturated with them. The most beautiful and impressive institutions are located here. First of all, I would like to mention the City Museum of Mexico City. It is housed in a baroque palace. was built in the XVIII century and belonged to the county family of Santiago de Calimaya, who was a descendant of the famous conquistador Cortes. The museum in this house was opened only in 1964. There are 26 rooms here, showing the history of the development of the capital of Mexico from the time of the Aztecs to the present day.

No less famous is the house-museum of Leon Trotsky. In it, the great publicist lived the last few months of his existence, and here he was killed in 1940. The capital of Mexico is the city that provided political shelter to the famous revolutionary in 1937. On August 20, 1990, the house-museum was officially opened. Here is a public library, which carefully stores the works of Trotsky, some of his documents.

Palaces of Mexico City

Among all the attractions of this city, I would like to note the palaces, which are majestically located in their honorable territories. The capital of Mexico (photo can be seen in our article) boasts the Chapultepec Palace. This is the most famous castle in all of North America. Emperors, presidents and governors of the country once stayed here. The palace is located on the hill of the same name, the height of which reaches 2325 meters above sea level. King Bernard de Galvesa initiated the founding of the castle. Today, numerous excursions are held here, which are liked by all visitors without exception.

The Palace of Fine Arts is another attraction that has won the hearts of many travelers. This is an opera house, and it is located in the very center of Mexico City. The building is the largest building on the planet, for the construction of which Carrara marble was used. The domes of this masterpiece of architecture are finished with Italian marble. And the interior of the theater was created by Federico Mariscal.

latin american tower

As mentioned above, the country of Mexico (whose capital is Mexico City) is a state full of contrasts. But besides them, it is also filled with paradoxes. One of these is the Latin American tower - a 183-meter building located in the center of the capital. This building is located in a seismic zone, but this did not prevent it from successfully surviving several powerful earthquakes.

The tower has 44 floors. And the building was created not so long ago, in 1956. Today it is used as an office center. You can move from floor to floor on a high-speed elevator, of which, by the way, there are two: one takes you to the 37th tier in just half a minute, and the other already reaches the 42nd floor, where there is a cafe and an observation deck.

The day of the Dead

No, no, do not be afraid, this is traditional. Just if you are lucky enough to visit the country when it takes place, be sure to visit it. The country of Mexico (the capital in particular) celebrates this day on the first and second of November. These events are an occasion for the whole family and friends to gather to pray and remember those who are no longer around. Not a single bank operates in the country during the celebrations. So, people go to cemeteries, where they want to spend a little time with the souls of the dead. They build altars on the graves, on which they display photographs, favorite drinks and dishes, memorabilia of the one who rests in the earth.

The skull is the main symbol of this holiday. People who celebrate the Day of the Dead cover their faces with masks, wear skeleton costumes, make skulls out of chocolate or sugar, and write their names on the forehead of a kind of dessert. Perhaps for us it is somewhat wild, but there it is in the order of things. Sweet skulls are presented as a souvenir to both the living and the dead. The capital of Mexico is called Mexico City, and in the first two days of November it can be called a dead city.

You will be interested

Mexico - amazing country, and the capital of Mexico is generally something unique. And there are things that will surprise every person for whom this region is even the smallest interest. So, here are some fun facts about this state:

• Every year it is visited by 20 million people.
• Brazil - Mexico - a football match held between these states in the summer of 2014. The game ended with the score 0:0.
• The pyramid called Chichen Itza, which is one of the seven wonders of the world, is located in Mexico.
• uses 80 varieties of pepper.

Instead of a conclusion

It is Mexico that is the birthplace of everyone's favorite chocolate. It is also the only country in Latin America that has hosted the Olympic Games. So pack your bags, an exciting journey is waiting for you!

Television has shaped the image of Mexico as a very poor country where drug cartels are constantly at war with each other. But in fact, this is not at all the case. Every year, more than 20 million foreign tourists come to this country to see the unique monuments and pyramids of the Maya and Aztec Indians, ancient Spanish forts, colonial palaces, try unforgettable Mexican cuisine, and, of course, relax in Mexican beach resorts, among which "shine » Acapulco and Cancun.

Geography Mexico

Mexico is located in the south of North America. Mexico borders the United States to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast. In the southeast, the country is washed by the Caribbean Sea, in the east by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and in the south and west by the waters of Pacific Ocean.

Mexico consists of several islands in the Pacific Ocean, including the Revilla Gigedo group of islands and the island of Guadalupe. The total area of ​​this state, including the islands, is 1,972,550 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 4,353 km.

From north to south, the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Occidental mountain ranges stretch across Mexico, located between the Mexican Highlands. Dominated in the south mountain system Sierra Madre South. The highest local peak is Mount Orizaba, whose height reaches 5,700 meters.

Seismic activity is quite high in Mexico. In addition, there are many volcanoes, some of which are still active (for example, Colima and Paricutin).

The largest Mexican rivers are Usumacinta (560 km), Grijalva (480 km), Papaloapan (534 km), Coatzacoalcos (282 km).

Capital of Mexico

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico. More than 9 million people now live in this city. Historians claim that Mexico City was founded by the Aztec Indians in 1325.

Official language

In Mexico, one official language is Spanish.

Religion

More than 82% of the inhabitants are Catholics, about 9% are Protestants.

State structure

According to the current Constitution, Mexico is a presidential republic in which the head of state is the President (he is elected by popular vote for 6 years).

The bicameral Mexican parliament is called the Congress, it consists of the Senate (128 senators, elected for 6 years) and the Chamber of Deputies (500 deputies, elected for 3 years).

The main political parties are the Institutional Revolutionary Party, the National Action Party, the Democratic Revolution Party, the Green Party and the Labor Party.

Administratively, Mexico is divided into 31 states and one federal district, centered on Mexico City.

Climate and weather

The climate is tropical and temperate, depending on the region and altitude in relation to sea level. On the Yucatan Peninsula, the average annual air temperature is + 26-30C.

The rainy season lasts from May to October. During the rest of the year, it also rains, but much less frequently. In general, you can relax in Mexico all year round, but it depends on the destinations where tourists want to go (some destinations are better to choose in certain months).

Average air temperature in Cancun (Caribbean coast):

1. January – +23C
2. February - +23C
3. March - +25C
4. April - +26С
5. May - +27C
6. June - +28С
7. July - +28С
8. August – +28C
9. september - +28C
10. october - +27C
11. November - +25C
12. december - +24C

Seas and oceans of Mexico

In the southeast, the country is washed by the Caribbean Sea, and in the south and west by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. total length coastline– 9,330 km.

Average sea temperature off the coast of Cancun (Caribbean coast):

1. January – +26C
2. February - +26C
3. March - +26C
4. April - +27С
5. May - +28C
6. June - +29С
7. july - +29С
8. August – +29C
9. september - +29C
10. october - +29C
11. November - +28C
12. december - +27С

Rivers and lakes

Several fairly large rivers flow through Mexico - Usumacinta (560 km), Grijalva (480 km), Papaloapan (534 km), Coatzacoalcos (282 km). In the state of Guadalajara, at an altitude of 1524 meters above sea level, there is a freshwater lake Chapala, with an area of ​​1,100 square meters. km, the largest in this country.

History of Mexico

People settled on the territory of modern Mexico several thousand years ago. In the early centuries of our century, several Indian tribes lived there, including the famous Maya, who created hieroglyphic writing, a calendar and grandiose pyramids. Around the 12th century, the Aztecs arrived there.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico, led by Hernandez de Cordoba, Juan de Grijalva and Hernan Cortes. After some time, Mexico became part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and remained a Spanish colony until 1821.

In 1823, after a long war of independence, the Republic of Mexico was proclaimed. Throughout the 19th century, bloody wars took place on the territory of this country, as a result of which the Mexican states of Texas ceded to the United States, New Mexico, Upper California.

Not without wars for Mexico and the beginning of the XX century. From 1910 to 1917 there continued Civil War. As a result, the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz was overthrown, and a Constitution was adopted that guaranteed the separation of church and state, agrarian reform, the creation of trade unions, etc.

Since the 1950s, in Mexico, where there are very large oil reserves, an economic recovery begins. In the mid-1980s, oil prices fall and Mexico begins an economic and political crisis. Now this country is still experiencing economic problems, but the situation is quite stable.

culture

The culture of Mexico was formed on the basis of the traditions of the Indians, and then the Spaniards had a strong influence on it. Every Mexican city or town has its own festival in honor of a saint.

At the end of February, a grandiose Carnival takes place in Mexico City, which usually lasts 5 days. All these 5 days, colorful processions with music and dances pass through the streets of the Mexican capital.

December 12 in Mexico City and in some other Mexican cities celebrate the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, with a lot of different events. In the capital's Basilica de Guadalupe square, colorful performances take place on this day.

September 16 marks the most revered national Mexican holiday - Independence Day.

Kitchen

Mexican cuisine is famous all over the world. The staple foods are corn, beans, rice and vegetables. Important ingredients for preparing Mexican dishes are spices and hot chili peppers.

The diet of the Mayan Indians once upon a time consisted mainly of corn and some vegetables, spices, herbs and chili were used in the preparation of dishes. After the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, the diet of the Indians was replenished with animal meat and fish. Thanks to the fusion of the culinary traditions of the Indians and the Spaniards, modern Mexican cuisine was formed.

In the south of the country, dishes are spicier than in the north. By the way, in the south of meat dishes, tourists are usually offered chicken, and beef is more common in the north. In general, each region or city has its own special dish - "cochinita pibil" (Yucatan) and "huevos rancheros" (Sonora).

We recommend that tourists first ask what this or that dish is prepared from, because. some of them may seem very exotic to Europeans. For example, for lunch you can be served "Chapulines" (fried grasshoppers).

1. "Guacamole" - sauce with fried pieces of tortilla;
2. "Tacos Tortillas" - cakes with different fillings (most often meat filling);
3. "Pozole" - chicken or pork soup with corn and spices;
4. "Carnitas" - fried pork;
5. "Chilaquiles" - fried potatoes with tomatoes;
6. "Sopes" - cornmeal patty with chicken, cheese and spicy sauce;
7. "Tostados" - tortilla with chicken, beans, tomatoes, onions, cream, cheese and hot sauce;
8. "Huachinango" - perch;
9. "Ceviche" - raw fish with lime juice (it is added to the salad).
10. "Pollo Pibil" - grilled chicken marinated in spices and wrapped in banana leaves.

Traditional alcoholic drinks are beer, tequila, "tepache" (made from pineapple), "tuba" (fermented coconut palm juice) and "pulque" (fermented agave juice with a strength of 5-8 °).

Landmarks of Mexico

In Mexico, there are now several thousand archaeological, historical and architectural sites. The most famous of them are, of course, the Mayan and Aztec pyramids. But this country also has many medieval Spanish forts, churches and palaces. The top ten Mexican attractions, in our opinion, include the following:

• Pyramid of the Sun
• Pyramid of the Moon
• Pyramid in Cholula
• Pyramids of Mitle and Monte Alban
• Mayan city of Chichen Itza
• Cathedral in Mexico City
• Palace of the Cortes in Mexico City
• National Palace in Mexico City
• Mayan city of Uxmal
• Mayan city of Palenque

Cities and resorts

The largest cities are Tijuana, Puebla, Ecatepec de Morelos, León, Ciudad Juarez, Monterrey, Zapopan, and, of course, Mexico City.

Tourists come to Mexico mainly for a beach holiday, although there, of course, there are many historical sights left from the pre-Columbian era. Most Popular Mexican beach resorts- Acapulco, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Mazatlán, Costa Maya and Zihuatanejo. Acapulco and Cancun are very popular among foreigners.

Some of the best Mexican beaches are, in our opinion, the following:

1. Cancun
2. Playa del Carmen
3. Puerto Vallarta
4. Los Cabos
5. Tulum
6. Mazatlan
7. Cozumel
8. Huatulco

Souvenirs/Shopping

Souvenirs in Mexico ("reminder") are probably best bought at roadside stalls and rural markets. Tourists buy ceramics in this country, a Piñata toy (an ancient game of the Aztecs), dresses, blouses, handmade blankets and carpets, leather goods (purses, wallets, belts, sandals), silver and coral products, cigars, chocolate, vanilla, various Mexican sauces, and, of course, tequila.

Office Hours

Banks:
Mon-Fri: 09:00-17:00
Some banks are open on Sundays as well.

The shops:
Mon-Sat: 09:30-20:00
Supermarkets in Mexico City are open 7 days a week, with some of them open 24 hours a day.

Visa

Ukrainians need a visa to visit Mexico.

Currency

1. The Mexico City metro has special carriages for women and children. For these cars, a part of the platform is allocated at most stations. The entrance to this part of the platform is separated by special fences and is guarded by the police during rush hour. This was done in order to protect women from the harassment they are subjected to in the crowded cars of the metropolis.

Also, unofficially, the last car of a subway train is considered a gay car, and straight men prefer not to go there.

2. Another interesting fact about the metro of the Mexican capital is the icons for each station. In Mexico City, each metro station not only has a name, but is also marked with its own logo. They say that this was done so that the part of the population that cannot read could navigate public transport. But for me, this conceptual branding of each station is just a very cool idea. After a few days in the Mexico City subway, you stop reading the names of the stations and start orienting yourself by the pictures.

3. In addition, trains in the Mexico City metro ride on wheels with tires on special flat metal rails. The metro of the Mexican capital can hardly be called a subway - most of the stations are located on the surface, and if underground, it is very shallow. The metro here is not very crowded, but in the cars, as in Russia, they constantly sell all sorts of garbage: from music discs to chewing gum. The same goes for transitions. By the way, the transitions between the lines in the Mexico City metro are just very long: sometimes such a journey can take 20 minutes!

4. In Mexico, as in some other countries of Latin America, the girl's 15th birthday is celebrated on a grand scale. This holiday is equivalent in scale to a wedding: the girl dresses up in a huge magnificent dress, goes to the altar in front of the whole family, where the priest blesses her and declares that from now on she has ceased to be a child and has become a woman. On this day, a chic banquet is arranged, and the hero of the occasion with four men of her family or friends chosen by her moves in a huge limousine. An obligatory part of the holiday is a giant multi-tiered cake, dances and toasts. In general, everything is like at a big wedding, only without the groom.

This custom has existed for many centuries, and made sense in those days when girls were supposed to get married at the age of 15. Today, this holiday is just a tribute to traditions, so some advanced girls refuse to spend money insanely and prefer to buy something useful for them, such as a laptop. However, most Mexican girls dream of their 15th birthday since childhood.

5. Also in Mexico, another strange holiday for us is celebrated - the Day of the Dead. Day of the Dead is a holiday dedicated to the memory of the dead, which is celebrated annually on November 1 and 2, not only in Mexico, but also in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. According to legend, these days the souls of deceased relatives visit their homes. Therefore, on the Day of the Dead, cemeteries are decorated with ribbons and flowers, streets and houses are made with candles and hung with flags so that the dead can find their way home.

These days, a carnival is arranged, sweets are prepared in the form of skulls and figurines of dressed female skeletons, private altars are created in the houses in honor of the deceased, including sugar skulls, vervain, favorite foods and drinks of the deceased, with these gifts a visit to the grave is a must. Remarkably, in 2003, the holiday was included by UNESCO in the list of intangible cultural heritage of mankind.

6. The main university of the country - the National Autonomous University of Mexico is considered the largest university in terms of the number of students in Northern and South America. Each faculty of the university holds a variety of open classes every day for everyone. For example, at 7 am, if you wish, you can go to yoga for free.

The university makes a lasting impression. Students do what they want, even drink beer and smoke weed in the huge main square of the university, which is a cross between a park and a football field. Here everyone is having fun, everyone is relaxed, no one is more likely to run home or to work after classes, as it was at my university. There is a party here: someone practices dancing on canvases, someone sunbathes, someone eats, someone plays chess ...

7. Cooking stoves in Mexico are slightly different from the ones we use. In the middle of the stove, between two rows of burners, there is a special surface for making tortillas - national Mexican corn tortillas. Such plates are in almost all apartments in the country.

8. By the way, these same tortillas are a Mexican fetish. They are eaten with all dishes, it is something like our bread. Tortillas are absolutely tasteless, and for a foreigner unaccustomed to corn pastries, tortillas can seem like even more disgusting. However, in combination with meat and cheese, they are quite good, but for me, our pita bread, for example, is much tastier anyway. corn gives the cakes a very specific smell.

9. The most popular dish in Mexico is tacos. Tacos are tortillas with a variety of fillings: minced meat, chicken, chopped and fried sausages, and so on. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of fillings. As a rule, chopped onions, parsley are placed on top of tacos, you can add beans and, of course, many different spicy sauces that make you feel like a dragon. Tacos are sold in all cities and towns in Mexico 24 hours a day.

10. In general, Mexican cuisine is a separate story. Mexican cuisine is recognized as a world heritage. Mexico gave the world chocolate, chili and corn. Today, street food is very cheap, tasty, but at the same time fatty, spicy and very satisfying. Seafood is often sold on the streets in various forms: cocktails, tostados, ceviche.

Despite the popularity of national eateries, in Mexico, as elsewhere in Latin America, Chinese restaurants are very common.

11. Mexico is a country of delicious pastries. Supermarkets have huge departments with fresh buns, muffins, donuts and a variety of breads. There are often bakeries on the streets, which are impossible not to visit. Freshest cheesecakes, sweet and savory pies, cakes... Anything your heart desires! Also, bakeries often sell all kinds of delicious jellies, which are not even jellies, but works of art.

12. A gastronomic shock is caused by the habit of Mexicans to eat everything with chili. By "everything" I mean everything! Fruit is sprinkled with chili, candies are sprinkled with chili, coconut is sold in chili, and even fried grasshoppers are cooked with chili.

13. Yes, grasshoppers are eaten in Mexico, but only in some regions (Mexico City, Oaxaca). Here they are called "chapulines" and are sold fried with garlic, chili or other seasonings. They are usually served with lime juice.Even in Mexico, cacti and ant eggs are cooked.

14. There are a lot of bookstores in Mexico. There are entire neighborhoods in Mexico City where every house is a giant bookstore. Books are sold in underground passages, at subway exits, in stalls, small and large stores. In my early days in Mexico, I was amazed at the number of bookstores. By the way, there were no people reading in public places.

15. Every Sunday, all museums and archaeological sites in the country for Mexicans free admission. On this occasion, kilometer-long queues line up in popular museums. If you want, then a foreigner can go for free. For example, together with a crowd of Mexicans or just silently, no one checks passports.

16. In Mexico City, earthquakes with a small magnitude often occur. You can feel small tremors almost every day. The locals are used to this, and automatically go out into the street at the sound of a siren. The city has special signs on the pavement - green circles with white arrows pointing to the center. These are safe zones where you have to stand during a strong earthquake.

And in general, all of Mexico is located in the so-called "Ring of Fire", where the most powerful earthquakes on Earth are witnessed.

17. Mexico is a country of ancient civilizations. I used to think that there are several Mayan and Aztec pyramids here, but in fact, dozens of different Indian tribes lived on the territory of modern Mexico, which left behind thousands of cities. In fact, all of Mexico stands on the ruins of ancient civilizations. Only a small part of the ancient cities has been excavated and found, but even this is already hundreds of archaeological complexes. Today, there are dozens of languages ​​and dialects in the country, which prevail in number over the languages ​​and dialects of Europe.

18. The main souvenirs from Mexico are skulls. and varied skeletons . The point is that inMexico is common cult death, which is called Santa Muerte (from Spanish Santa Muerte - Holy Death). The cult was due to the mixing of the culture of the Indians of Mexico (Aztec and Maya) with Catholicism. Mexicans have traditionally worshiped death for centuries. Moreover, even purely religious Catholics do this, although the essence of worship significantly contradicts the postulates of religion. But in addition, in Mexico there are independent cultists who revere Death like a deity. Sometimes adherents of the cult sacrifice animals, and especially fanatical even people. It is said that this mostly happens in the poor neighborhoods of Mexico City.

19. The world considers that the national drink of Mexico is tequila. Actually, it is not. The main alcoholic drink in Mexico is mezcal. It has been produced from the Agave plant since Native American times. There are dozens of types of mezcal, which differ in the type of agave and in aging. Mexicans revere and love mezcal very much. Unlike tequila, mezcal is a completely natural drink, without any chemical additives. In some regions of Mexico, there are other popular drinks. It is worth noting that, in essence, tequila is just a more modern and industrial variety of mezcal.

20. Mexico - very interesting country, where you can see the most beautiful colonial cities and Spanish architecture, and the ruins ancient civilizations, and to the jungle with exotic animals, and to the chic turquoise beaches caribbean, startling National parks. Is here and mountainous areas, and ancient caves with the purest lakes - cenotes - and rich underwater life. There is entertainment for everyone here.

21. In Mexico amazing nature. Mexico ranks fourth in the world in terms of biological diversity. Five types of climate and nine of the 11 types of ecosystems are represented here. Nearly 80% of the cacti that grow in Mexico are found nowhere else in the world. More than 50 different species of hummingbirds, several species of pelicans and many other unique representatives of flora and fauna live in Mexico.

22. Mexico City is generally my love. A huge metropolis in which life is in full swing. Some events are constantly taking place, on Sundays the main thoroughfare of the city is blocked so that residents can ride bicycles and play sports. Bicycles, by the way, are rented for free. IN new year holidays a giant skating rink, slides for cheesecakes and skiing areas are being built on the main square of the capital and everyone is allowed in there for free! The system is organized perfectly - you can buy tickets for a convenient time, so there are no crowds and fleas in the huge snow complex.

23. Mexico City is the city with the largest number of museums in the world. One of the most popular museums today is Chapultepec Castle, which was once the residence of governors, the only castle built on the entire American continent.

24. Mexico can be formally divided into three large parts: the north, the central part and the Yucatan Peninsula. These three parts are very different from each other. The north is a dangerous state where some kind of criminal wars are going on, and even the Mexicans themselves try not to go there without a special reason. The central part is the usual Mexico, not too spoiled by tourists. The prices are very low and the people are incredibly friendly. Yucatan is the wildest tourist peninsula, home to the world famous seaside resort Cancun. Here the prices for everything are almost twice as expensive, and the locals are so accustomed to the frantic flow of tourists that sometimes, although politely, they are not particularly happy when foreigners contact them.

25. An interesting fact about Yucatan: when the conquistadors arrived here, the Spaniard asked the Indian what this place was called, and heard the answer - “Yucatan”. But he had no idea that the native answered him, "I don't understand you."

26. The beaches of Cancun and Tulum are in the top ten the best beaches world according to TripAdvisor. This is not surprising: the water in the Caribbean Sea is very warm, about 25-28 degrees all year round, and the sand on the Caribbean coast is very fine, white and hardly warms up.

27. Mexico - big country. Buses are the main way to get around. There are three types of buses here - first class, second class and buses for locals. First class buses are very expensive, but luxurious. In terms of service level, this is a business class aircraft! They have very comfortable chairs, separate toilets (the women's one has a changing table), individual TVs, food, drinks and fast Wi-Fi! Buses of the second class are about half the price, and are ordinary comfortable buses. Buses for locals are five times cheaper, but finding them is not so easy. These are buses chaotically moving between cities that do not have a schedule.

Tickets for the first two classes can be bought online with decent discounts.

28. The most popular car in Mexico is a rare and decrepit Volkswagen Beetle. In all the cities where we were — it's a hit.

29. In Mexico there is a tree with the widest trunk in the world. Tule tree included in the Guinness Book of Records - its trunk is 14 meters in diameter.

30. Mexicans are very open, cheerful, sociable people. Here everyone smiles at each other, strangers on the streets and in buses often talk about all sorts of nonsense. There are no boors here, people are friendly and polite: drivers ALWAYS give way to pedestrians, passers-by answer any question carefully and try to help.

31. But the coolest thing is families. In Mexico, the cult of the family. Relatives love to get together at a large table, eat a lot of food, talk and laugh. This is very impressive.

32. All Mexican cities are very similar to each other. Every city has a main square, which certainly has Cathedral, a row of buildings with columns and arches around the perimeter, a park with a gazebo in the center.

33. Modern Mexicans are a unique mix of representatives of many ancient civilizations, including the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Toltecs, Maya, Aztecs, Incas, Africans, French and Spaniards. At the same time, Mexico is second only to Brazil in terms of the number of Catholic citizens. There are very religious people here.

34. About 60% of the modern Mexican population are mestizos (half Indians and Spaniards), 30% are Indians or predominantly Indians, 9% are Caucasians and 1% are other nationalities.

35. In Mexico, on the island of Cozumel, there is the second largest coral reef in the world, with a length of over 700 km.

36. Also in Mexico in the city of Cholula is the largest pyramid in the world. True, most of the pyramid has long been overgrown with a layer of earth, and a Catholic church flaunts on its top ...