About.com Mexico Travel

The Right Way to Eat Turkey

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:27 +0000

_{Photo by Ryan Godfrey, licensed under Creative Commons}

Forget the gravy. The correct topping for turkey is mole (pronounced "mo-lay"). But if you're not ready to change your traditional Thanksgiving dinner, you can give it a try with your leftover turkey. There are many different types of mole, and many variations on recipes. Here's one from About.com's Guide to Mexican Food: Traditional Mole.

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The Right Way to Eat Turkey originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 15:00:27.

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Christmas in Mexico City

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:57:49 +0000

Mexico City's winter festivities the past few years have been pretty spectacular, but this year's celebrations promise to be even more so. In a recent press conference, Mexico City mayor Marcelo Ebrard announced that this year's "La Magia de Navidad" (The Magic of Christmas) festival will take place from December 5, 2009 to January 9, 2010, and will include the tallest Christmas tree in the world, and not one, but two skating rinks in the Zocalo, as well as traditional Mexican Christmas celebrations such as posadas, pinatas and pastorelas. One of the main events planned as part of this year's Christmas celebration in Mexico City is a free concert by famed tenor Placido Domingo. Billed as the Concierto del Angel, the concert will take place on December 19 at the Angel of Independence monument on the Paseo de la Reforma.

_{Photo of last year's Christmas tree by Gary Denness, licensed under Creative Commons}

Christmas in Mexico City originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 14:57:49.

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Monarch Butterflies in Mexico

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:56:19 +0000

When the weather starts turning cold up north, those smart Monarch butterflies begin to head south for the winter. In a space of a few months the monarchs fly over 1500 miles to return to their overwintering grounds in the Mexican states of Michoacan and Mexico. The Monarch butterflies begin arriving in Mexico around the Day of the Dead, but January and February are the best months for visiting butterfly reserves, when you can experience being surrounded by these colorful creatures and have them fluttering around you. A trip to the monarch butterfly reserves is an amazing experience.

This year's monarch migration is lower than in past years due to the drought in Texas in the spring, and cold, wet weather in the northern United States over the summer, but there will still be plenty of monarchs for those who plan to visit them in Mexico this winter.

Read more about the amazing monarch butterfly, and about visiting Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Reserves.

_{Photo by Suzanne Barbezat}

Monarch Butterflies in Mexico originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 16:56:19.

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Monumento a la Revoluci�n

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:47:09 +0000

_{Photo by Ivan Hernandez, licensed under Creative Commons}

This week marks the 99th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution and there's a big celebration in store next year, when besides being 100 years since the Revolution, it will also mark the bicentennial of Mexican independence. Read more about Mexico's 2010 Bicentennial Celebrations.

The Monumento a la Revoluci�n is located in Mexico City in the Colonia Tabacalera. The monument was built between 1932 and 1938 using the foundation of what was to be a legislative palace under president Porfirio Diaz, who was deposed during the revolution. The remains of some of the important leaders of the Mexican Revolution are contained in crypts in the four columns of the monument, including Francisco Madero, Venustiano Carranza, Francisco "Pancho" Villa, Plutarco El�as Calles and L�zaro C�rdenas. A museum dedicated to the Mexican Revolution is located beneath the monument.

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Monumento a la Revoluci�n originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 12:47:09.

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H1N1 Risk in Mexico

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:21:30 +0000

The H1N1 virus (formerly known as swine flu) first came to the world's attention when several cases were detected in Mexico in April 2009. The flu gradually spread over the world, and was declared a pandemic. At no point has the World Health Organization recommended that people avoid travel to Mexico, however, the US Centers for Disease Control, as well as the US Department of State and the governments of several other countries advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Mexico from April 27 until mid-May, when these recommendations were rescinded.

The fact that the H1N1 strain of influenza sprang up in Mexico, and the initial recommendations against travel to this country, have left a cloud of doubt in the minds of many about whether there is a greater chance of contracting H1N1 in Mexico than in other places. A recent news report from KSTP television station in Minneapolis looked at this question. See the video here: Fears of Higher H1N1 Risk in Mexico Debunked. In the video, Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic says that your chances of contracting H1N1 in Mexico may be less than if you stay home: "The warmer the weather, generally the lower the transmission risk."

If you're still concerned about catching the flu on your trip to Mexico, here are some tips to help you avoid it: H1N1 travel tips

H1N1 Risk in Mexico originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 11:21:30.

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Revolution Day - Dia de la Revolucion

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:05:31 +0000

The 20th of November is the D�a de la Revoluci�n in Mexico, a day for Mexicans to remember and commemorate the Mexican Revolution which was fundamental to Mexico's development as a modern nation. This year the Revolution Day holiday was moved forward to the 16th, so we're enjoying a long weekend (called a "puente" in Spanish), but some civic events and parades will still be taking place on the 20th.

Revolution Day is celebrated on the 20th of November because this is the date in 1910 that Francisco Madero set in his Plan de San Luis Potosi for the people to rise up in arms against president Porfirio Diaz. The ten years of the Mexican Revolution saw great destruction, war and mayhem and left a deep mark in Mexican culture. Read this short overview to get a grasp of the main events, causes and outcomes of the Mexican Revolution, or read a detailed explanation from About.com's Guide to Latin American History, Christopher Minster.

Find out about other Mexican national holidays.

Revolution Day - Dia de la Revolucion originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 10:05:31.

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Mexico in 2010: Bicentennial Celebrations

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:37:23 +0000

Mexico will be celebrating two important anniversaries in 2010. The year marks the bicentennial of Mexican independence - the independence movement in Mexico began in September of 1810 - and the centennial of the Mexican Revolution, which began on November 20, 1910.

Many projects are in the works to celebrate these anniversaries. Several museums that have been chosen to serve as venues for the Independence Bicentennial and the Revolution Centennial celebrations are being remodeled. Many of the country's ancient sites are receiving maintenance, and ten new archaeological sites will be opened. There are exhibits of prehispanic, Spanish, modern and contemporary Mexican art planned at museums in Mexico and around the world, and infrastructure and memorial architecture construction projects are also being planned.

Countdown clocks have been strategically placed in cities throughout the country which mark the days until September 15, 2010. When traveling around Mexico you may also notice signs posted along Mexican highways that say "Ruta 2010" which is part of a project of tracing historic routes of military campaigns of both the War of Independence and the Mexican Revolution.

Mexico in 2010: Bicentennial Celebrations originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 13:37:23.

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Tour Group Travel in Mexico

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:14:42 +0000

One of the first things you might consider when planning a trip Mexico is whether to travel independently or with a group. Travel with a tour group may be a good option for you if: it's your first trip to Mexico; you're going on your own and you would prefer the companionship that you would have as part of a group; you don't speak Spanish and you're concerned about being able to communicate and get your basic needs met; or you want to cover a lot of distance but you want to avoid the hassle of having to make travel arrangements for buses and hotels.

Traveling with a tour group has advantages and disadvantages, and you should give some thought to how you like to travel before deciding whether to travel as part of a group and what type of tour is right for you. About.com's Guide to Senior Travel, Nancy Parode, has a great resource for exploring the pros and cons of tour groups.

If you do decide to take a tour group trip to Mexico, there are different types of tours to choose from. Some groups are geared towards senior travelers, some toward younger travelers, and some have a mix of ages. Some group tours are coach tours and others are backpacking groups with a leader who will take you on public transportation.

Here's a list of tour companies offering multi-day group tours in Mexico: Group Tour Companies Operating in Mexico.

More Mexico travel planning resources:

_{Photo Tim Hall/Getty Images}

Tour Group Travel in Mexico originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 20:14:42.

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Yucatan Bird Festival

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:44:13 +0000

The 8th annual Yucatan Bird Festival is taking place this month, from November 19 to 22. This festival aims to promote the rich diversity of bird species found in the Yucatan and develop a conservationist culture among tourists and tour providers. Activities will include field trips, conferences, photographic exhibits and a "bird-a-thon." Events will be held in Merida, Celestun and the archaeological site of Uxmal.

The Yucatan Peninsula is home to over 500 bird species, and besides being an excellent destination for birdwatching, visitors can also enjoy beautiful beaches, water parks and ecological reserves.

Read up about other events taking place this month: Festivals and Events in November.

Yucatan Bird Festival originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 09:44:13.

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Day of the Dead: In the Cemetery

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:20:11 +0000

_{&copy Suzanne Barbezat}

A woman lights candles on the grave of a family member during Day of the Dead.

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Day of the Dead: In the Cemetery originally appeared on About.com Mexico Travel on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 14:20:11.

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