The author believes that a trip to the Aztec Empire is worthwhile, especially considering the upcoming South Africa versus Mexico match in the World Cup. His guide, Roberto Mahele, joked about traveling on a dirt road, calling it a 'Mexican kidnapping experience.'
Although marketing brochures call this place the 'Riviera,' it is still Mexico. The author recalls his stay on the coast of the federal republic, where he enjoyed local cuisine, art, and culture after reading Barbara Kingsolver's novel 'The Lacuna' from 2009.
The novel describes how Mexico welcomes a person through an arched stone opening into a garden where tortilla soup with cilantro and lime is served. The author remembers his first encounter with the country when the ship arrived in Puerto Vallarta at dawn, feeling the tropical warmth and watching the birds.
Roberto led the author along a dusty road to teach the basics of Mexican sauce, explaining the spice scale from ketchup to 'hot enough to end up in the hospital.' During this journey, Roberto wore a velvet Santa hat, which seemed appropriate given the plans for tequila tasting.
Attractive are coastal settlements such as Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas. Old Mazatlán features Franco-Spanish Mexican architecture, housing bars, cafes, and restaurants offering tacos, tequila, and Cerveza Pacífico Clara. Among the sights are colonial churches, and bright flags flutter everywhere.
The trip into the countryside allowed him to see a more authentic Mexico. The heat, scrubland, and villages with farm animals reminded the author of parts of Limpopo. In a quarry near Malpica, the author met bricklayers Hugo González and his 87-year-old father, who manually makes blocks from sand, manure, sawdust, and water.
Similar encounters occurred with a potter using a technique brought by the Spanish in the 16th century, and with a bakery next to a wood-fired oven.
During lunch at the historic restaurant El Granero in Concordia, the author enjoyed the cool interior, as well as the drink suero. Later, in Cabo San Lucas, the author missed this drink during a UTV ride.
Cabo San Lucas is located on a cape that extends south of Tijuana and forms the Gulf of California. The place is a center of activity bordering a harbor filled with yachts and charter boats. Ultimately, the author concluded that Mexico is much deeper than postcards suggest, and its true essence is revealed in the quiet dusty squares of small towns, the complexity of regional mole, and the warmth of its people.
Puerto Vallarta is a popular stop for cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, which offers a seven-day cruise from Los Angeles. International airlines serve the Lisenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz international airport. At the time of publication, South African citizens required a visa to enter Mexico, while holders of American visas were exempt from this requirement.
Mexico has a thriving tourism industry. For the best experience, it is recommended to avoid shopping and dining on the main street. The exchange rate of the Mexican peso to the South African rand at the time of printing was almost one-to-one. Like South Africa, Mexico has its problems, so before traveling, one should research safe areas or use a guide.