Mexico - Preface

Chichen Itza

I’m on my way to Mexico.  Well, to the Yucatán, specifically.

Machu Picchu

     I’ve always been interested in architecture and archeology.  And the Yucatán has some of the most fascinating architectural ruins in the Western Hemisphere.

Easter Island

     Yes, of course there’s Machu Picchu, and I’ve been there.  In fact it’s the first place I ever covered on this Bucket List blog of mine.  And I’ve seen the moais of Easter Island, which are not anywhere near as old, but even more shrouded in mystery.  Both are farther south of Mexico by a lot.  These ruins I’m headed off to see are in my backyard, so to speak.
     I’m talking about the pyramids built by the Mayans long before Columbus - or even the Vikings - ever set foot in the New World.  Pyramids that startled the Spanish conquistadors, who smugly thought only Europeans could build such monumental structures.
     As I’ve seen the pyramids in Egypt, it will be interesting to compare them all.

Egypt

Malta

I’m a bit less carefree about this solo trip than I have been about others:  Prague, Malta, St. Petersburg in Russia, even Petra in Jordan.  Not because of the American president’s warnings about caravans on the southern border, but because of Mexico’s recent reputation in some regions.  The news carries stories of drug cartels, some kidnappings of tourists, and some murders.

Petra

     And then there’s my somewhat hectic itinerary, which will entail finding a way to get from Point A to Points B, C, D, E and F.  I am not driving myself around on roads that are pretty much off the grid, and for which I have no reliable roadmap.
     My touristic fate will depend on how good the concierges are in the hotels where I stay.  I’ve tried to book myself as near as possible to the ruins I want to see, so that I can just stroll over.  But getting from one hotel to the next, from one town to the next, will involve buses or drivers.  As for guides, there will surely be a plethora to choose from at the ruins themselves, like  Gloria at Machu Picchu or Abdullah at Petra or Hugo on Easter Island, all of whom were phenomenal.

Prague

     Another point is the language.  I had two years of Spanish in high school, four at the University of Michigan, and one at the Sorbonne, but that was about half a century ago.  How good will my linguistic memory be?
     I’ll be off the grid - no computer, no phone, not even a watch... only a camera for technology, and my two eyes to take in all the beauty.
     As usual, I’m traveling light, a fact that will be helped by the warm climate in the Yucatán at this time of the year.
     Without regret, I leave behind the snow and cloudy grey skies of Michigan for ten days.  I look forward to warmth, sun and blue skies.  And hopefully not too much noise and craziness, because it appears it’s spring break for U.S. universities and those birds fly south to revel.
     In short, this will be interesting.  And amazing, I’m sure.

St. Petersburg, Russia