In the past, when I told my friends we were going to Mexico for vacation, they would express excitement and make an envious comment. Today when I tell them we are going, the response is one of concern and everyone bids us a safe journey. It’s too bad. Although Mexico has its share of problems, it also has an allure that I’ve experienced in few other places.
From the moment you arrive in Mexico City, your senses are bombarded. Simply walking down the street , there is the explosive palette of colors. Lush foliage and colorful bougainvilleas adorn the avenues.
House painters have fun here.
The streets are alive with color
As you continue to meander, it is obvious that Mexicans love to eat. Food stalls are everywhere. No matter what time of day, you’ll see construction workers standing next to well dressed executives or purple hair punk rockers enjoying a mouth watering taco or a piping hot bowl of menudo. Thirsty? Your taste buds are awakened as you sample the best fresh squeezed orange juice you’ve ever sipped at a mere US $1.00 for a 16 oz cup.
Squeeze me out a juice please
Take a stroll through the Medellin market and your sense of smell is assailed by countless odors, both familiar and some entirely unknown. There are fish stalls with colorful arrays of squid, octopus, sea urchins, mussels and shrimp lying next to whole red snapper, grouper, and corvino fresh off the boat.
The aroma of pork in its many incarnations is everywhere. This little fellow will be transformed into juicy carnitas, steaming pozole, and spicy chorizo. Even his skin will be made into the sinfully delicious crispy chicharrón, with the crunch of potato chips and the flavor of bacon.
This little Piggy went to Market.
And then there are the sounds. The cacophony of vehicular congestion almost drowns out the sweet melodies from an era gone by.
Mexico City envelops you with its warmth, character and charm. It is unfortunate that the media describes only the bad and the ugly. You owe it to yourself to come to Mexico and sample all the good it has to offer.