mexico

castillo de chapultepec, one of many must-visit museums in Mexico city, CDMX

Fun Facts About Mexico

  1. What’s in a name: the actual name of the country is Estados Unidos Mexicanos (United States of Mexico) and is made up of 32 states and the capital city, Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX).
  2. It is home to 35 UNESCO Heritage Sites, coming in the 7th spot of the world’s highest.
  3. CDMX was built on a lake and, like Venice, it is now sinking, though at a much faster pace. 
  4. The name Mexico derives from Nahuatl, though the actual meaning is debated to this day. One theory: It’s a combination of three words: metzli which means ‘moon’, xictli which is either ‘belly button’, and co meaning ‘place’. Thus, the full name is the “belly button of the moon”.
  5. Languages: Spanish is the most widely spoken, followed closely by Nahuatl, Mayan and Mixtec, but the government recognizes more than 60 indigenous languages. 
  6. A (wo)man’s paw-rfect companion
    • Let me introduce you to the Xoloitzcuintle (aka Mexican hairless) – arguably the cutest ugly dog out there.
    • It was once believed that this breed, thousands of years old, would guide its owner’s soul through the underworld.

When is the best time to visit Mexico?

Well, this is a hard question to answer. The best one I can give you is it depends!

I know, how helpful right!?

The thing is that Mexico is a country with many different microclimates.

Now, for the most part, the rainy season runs from June until mid-October, with a hurricane season between mid-August to mid-October.

As you could imagine the summers are very busy as schools are out and vacationers come from abroad. Other holidays like Semana Santa and Spring Break can get pretty packed too, so if you’re looking to avoid the crowds, keep this in mind.

What do they eat in Mexico?

Mexican food is one of the most recognized cuisines worldwide.

Though many ingredients vary depending on the region, there are some basic ingredients commonly used throughout the country like corn, beans, chiles, nopal, pumpkin, tomatillo, avocado, cilantro and a variety of spices.

Common dishes include:

  • Chiles Rellenos (Stuffed Peppers)
  • Mole
  • Tacos
  • Pozole
  • Tamales
  • Barbacoa
 
If you’re an adventurous eater, definitely check out any of these specialties:
  • Escamoles
  • Chapulines
  • Cocopaches
  • Chicatanas
  • Gusanos de Maguey

What is Mexican culture like?

aztec art in museo de antropologia, one of many must-visit museums in Mexico city, CDMX

Language:

  • Mexico does not have an official language. Why, you may ask? Well, this way they can protect indigenous languages. This ensures languages other than Spanish can be used in governmental communications and official documents.
  • Did you know? There are many common words we use that come from Nahuatl. Some examples include ‘tomato’ (from tomatl),  ‘chocolate” (chikolatl), avocado (ahuacatl) as well as guacamole (ahuacamolli: ahuacatl+molli = avocado sauce yuuumm), and ‘chili’ (chilli).

Famous Artists:

Painters

  • I’m sure I don’t have to tell you about Frida Kahlo, maybe not even Diego Rivera. But there are many other very influential artists like Leonora Carrington, Jose Clemente Orozco, Remedios Varo, and David Alfaro Siqueiros.

Writers

  • So many to choose from, but to just mention a few: Octavio Paz, Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentes, Rosario Castellanos, and Laura Esquivel.

Film:

  • A comedy genius: Cantinflas.
  • Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (Mexican with the most Oscars to date)
  • Filmmakers like Alfonso Cuadron (Y Tu Tama tambien, Roma), Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water), Alejandro González Iñárritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams).

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