WINTER | 2014
39
ARGENTINA & MEXICO
ARE DIVERSE,
COLOURFUL, ENERGETIC AND OOZING
WITH
ASTONISHING HISTORY,
NATURE AND CULTURE.
THEY’RE
DELIGHTFUL COUNTRIES THAT WILL
MAKE YOUR SOUL SMILE.
queezed in at the bottom end of North
America and bordering on the USA,
Mexico has a unique feel and friendly
Latino vibe that is difficult to explain and hard to
forget. A melting pot of Mesoamerican culture
and more modern indigenous tribes and peppered
with a liberal amount of Spanish, the country is
known as one of the world’s great civilisations.
Like so much of Central and South America,
Mexico is a land of extreme contrasts. From the
Caribbean beaches and resorts of Cancun in the
east and the Pacific Baja California to the iconic
deserts of the north, from volcanoes to palm-
strewn beaches, from ostentatious wealth to dire
poverty, from ancient sites to modern cities –
you’ll find something of everything.
A hugely popular destination, much of the tour-
ism is concentrated around the beach resorts and
the plateau in the central part of the country. But
if you have a little more time, venture beyond
the glitz and tat-traps of the tourist meccas into
authentic Mexico. It will surprise you.
Although it has the perception of being a develop-
ing nation, Mexico is remarkably well developed.
Its vibrant economy is the 14th largest in the
world, it has a great internal transport system and
a thriving arts and music scene – always a good
indicator of the social health of a nation. Away
from the bigger cities, however, lies the real cul-
tural heart of Mexico. It’s relaxed and easy-going,
punctuated by village rituals such as weekly mar-
kets, and whether its eating, drinking, bullfighting
or dancing, people embrace the moment and live
their lives fully.
S
RCI.co.za
Photo: Thinkstock
Photo: Thinkstock
Photo: Thinkstock
