I'm thinking of planning a honeymoon trip to Mexico this summer. Has anyone seen the pyramids? The Templo Mayor? Teotihuacán? What else is around Mexico City? Maybe I should look at Acapulco and a day trip to the archaeological sites. Any suggestions?

P.S. I do not speak Spanish.

Ok- scratch that. I misundersood the Mr.
(I can't delete but the idea is the same)


What do you know about Chichen-Itza in the Yucatan?

Oh, those pyramids are absolutely compelling! I went with a tour group, since I don't speak Spanish, and got so engrossed in taking photos and creeping around the passages I got separated from my group and almost left behind. I climbed the Temple of the Moon (so-called for the tourists) which is the second-tallest and had a good view of the site. But I didn't climb the biggest one. We had been warned that since we had come from sea-level (Vancouver) and the area around Mexico City is quite high, 7,500 or so feet, we should avoid exertion. But I was fine. Next time I'll climb the big one.

And the king's tomb is eerie but interesting, especially the body armour which is, essentially, jewellery. I have never seen -- and never will see -- the pyramids of Egypt, but they can't be more fascinating.

You can skip Mexico city, it's huge, mile after mile of sad shacktowns, horrible air pollution, lots of beggars, lots of very persistent peddlars. Good night life, they say, but if you're like me you're not into that.

quote:

but if you're like me you're not into that.

I'm more like you than you think.

Thanks so much! Any other info you can give would greatly be appreciated. (hotel, other things to do, security, etc...)

Well, in Mexico the hotel was awful, clean inside, good staff, pretty shabby, but dangerous beyond belief! We arrived in the evening. I looked in vain for a fire exit because they could not put me on the ground floor which is what I usually request in hotels. Finally I found a back stairwell, and followed it down into a basement, and walked in on about two dozen workers who were sewing and laundering bedding. They looked shocked to see me. I walked toward the exit and found it was barred by those sort of folding metal doors that form a sort of mesh. You know, like a kiddie gate, only floor to ceiling, and metal. No one could break through it. So I went to my room and resigned myself to a fiery fate, which you may infer did not actually happen. But in Canada, this could never happen. The fire marshal would have them shut down in about ten seconds.

However I loved the hotel in Acapulco. Clean, airy, safe, right on the beach. I'm looking up the name as soon as I post this and will get back to you.

I would sneak up the stairs to the roof to enjoy the stars at night, and again at dawn to see that mysterious effect, first a flush of dawn light, then a fading of the light, then the true dawn. We don't get that effect in my latitudes. No hotel staff ever noticed what I was doing.

We stayed at a nice enough place in Taxco but it was really the only game in town, so no point discussing it. If you go to Taxco, you stay there, or sleep among the cacti.

I'd say avoid Mexico City. Even decades ago the smog was fatal...it's probably even worse now. Try the Yucatán, Cuernavaca, or Oaxaca.

What have you decided to do, CB?

Clare! Last fall we went to Cancun and stayed Here

This resort is an all-inclusive, with all the food & beverage included. It was a very nice hotel, and I think you know how picky I am!

They had access to all of the tours, to Xcaret, Chichen Itza, Isla Mujeres, etc...you can purchase the tours in advance and save some money.

A hint about any Mexican vacation, regardless of where you go...we had the whole week planned out with a different tour almost every day but decided to wait until we got there. And boy we're glad we did. We did Xcaret one day and absolutely had to stay in and rest the next, because we were so exhausted. It was pure torture just relaxing by the pool and the beach ya know So in other words, don't try to see to much or DO too much. The heat can be stifling, even if you are used to humidity - ocean humidity is different.

Anyway, be sure to let us know what you decide!