Mountains and Cliffs

Enjoying the Attractions of Acapulco

Acapulco, one of the most famous party place choices for your Mexico vacation, beckons to vacationers with its delightful mix of 12 miles of sunny sandy beaches and pulsating nightlife. The La Quebrada Cliff Divers, their most famous attraction since 1934, are for thrill seekers who wait for a wave and dive 130 feet off steep cliffs into the surf. The Magico Mundo Marino is a fun family water park with stunning outdoor and indoor marine life aquarium exhibits, swimming pools and slides and a glass bottom boat to take you to Isla La Roqueta for snorkeling. The Parque Papagayo is a 52-acre city park that was named for a luxury hotel that used to be located in that site and houses a life-sized model of a Spanish galleon that you can climb on, a space shuttle Columbia replica, roller skating rink, bumper boats and go-carts for the kids. If you are simply looking for a place to unwind and relax under gigantic mango and rubber trees, Zocalo which is located at the heart of Old Acapulco and just opposite the fishing harbor is a perfect destination. Acapulco just has so many things to offer to visitors that have included this city in their Mexico vacation itinerary.

The Wonders of Mazatlan

Experience the real Mexico vacation with a trip to Mazatlan located on the Mexican Gold Coast that boasts of long beach stretches lined with palm trees. Just like many places in Mexico, Mazatlan is an interesting combination of history, culture and adventure. A must-do is a visit to Old Mazatlan where the citys famous twin towered cathedral is located while nearby is the citys second oldest plaza, Plazuela Machado. The malecon (promenade) gives you a refreshing palm-lined oceanfront walkway that connects Old Mazatlan with the resort area known as zona dorada. The villages of Concordia, Copala and Cosala with its beautiful handcrafted furniture and ceramic and clay handicrafts is located on the Sierra Madre Mountains and forms part of the countryside tours. The known islands of Mazatlan, Isla de Chivos or Goat Island, Isla de Pajaros or Bird Island and Isla de Venados or Deer Island has fine sand beaches and should be included in your tour of Mazatlan. Mazatlan should be an important part of your Mexico vacation for that glimpse of Mexicos passion.

Exciting Place to see in Veracruz

Veracruz is one of the cities that have retained its old world charm and although it is not top on the list of Mexico vacation destinations, it is now slowly emerging to be one. Ideal for day or night strolling is the main plaza called the Plaza de las Armas. There are several old but well-preserved buildings that you should visit such as the Municipal Palace with its baroque style of architecture and the neo-classic Virgin de la Asuncion cathedral that were all built in the 17th century. In the port area is the Pemex Tower which is an old lighthouse, the Crafts Market, the Old Customs Building, the Postal and Telegraph Building, the Civil Registry Building and the Juarez Hemicycle Monument. The Fort San Juan de Ulua is now an island that is now connected to the land. You can go walking and exercising at several kilometers boardwalk known as the malecon. One of the newer developments is the Veracruz Aquarium which is the biggest in Latin America. With all these and more, Veracruz is still a worthy vacation destination in Mexico.

The Beauty of the Border City of Tijuana

The border city of Tijuana is easily reachable via the San Diego trolley that goes right up to the Mexican border. Despite its close proximity to the US, Mexico vacations in sunny Tijuana allows you to shop at the legendary Avenida Revolucion where you will find the amazing bargains of beautiful Mexican handicrafts, leather goods, cigars, silver, beadwork, jewelry together with imported goods at bargain prices. Immerse yourself in the culture of Mexico and visit the Tijuana Cultural Center or Municipal Institute of Arts and Culture. InInject some excitement to your day and watch a Greyhound race at the Hipodromo Caliente, go to a Jai Alai Game at the Jai Alai Fronton Palace or see a bullfight at the El Toreo de Tijuana or the Plaza Munumental Playas de Tijuana. Tijuana showcases vibrant Mexican culture and is a place that is truly worth visiting.

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Enjoying the Attractions of Acapulco

Sunny Acapulco lures in vacationers with a long stretch of white sand beaches and its popular exciting nightlife. Those seeking some breathtaking adventure can try jumping off 130 feet into the surf at the La Quebrada Cliff Divers that is Acapulcos most popular attraction since the 1930s. Children and adults will surely love the abundance of aquatic life exhibits at the Magico Mundo Marino, a waterpark with swimming pools and aquariums, plus a boat trip and snorkeling to Isla La Roqueta aboard a glass bottom boat. The 52-acre city park Parque Papagayo named after a luxury hotel has been packed with various attractions and activities for all ages such as a roller skating rink, go carts, bumper boats, a space shuttle Columbia replica and the famous life-sized Spanish galleon model. The town center of Acapulco that is popularly called the Zocalo is just right across the fishing harbor and has a lot of giant rubber and mango trees that you can laze under. Acapulco, Mexico vacations offers a wide selection of enriching sights and adventure-filled activities that everyone will surely enjoy.

What to see in Ixtapa

If you want to go for elegance and luxury on your Mexico vacations, the best place to go would be the resort paradise of Ixtapa. Club Med Ixtapa is one of the most popular resorts in Ixtapa which has fully furnished rooms and a host of activities for the whole family. Another popular resort that is suitable for families is the all-inclusive Barcelo Ixtapa. Most of the resorts, if not all are on the beachfront where the white sands and crystal waters are just a few steps away. You have the option to go snorkeling, body boarding and swimming which is guaranteed fun for all beach lovers. You can also take a day trip to the Playa las Gatas by taking an inexpensive water taxi ride at Zihuatanejo that will drop you off at the beach that is lined with quaint local shops and restaurants featuring delectable local cuisine. If you want to take the luxurious and elegant vacation, go to Ixtapa.

The Wonders of Mazatlan

Experience the real Mexico vacation with a trip to Mazatlan located on the Mexican Gold Coast that boasts of long beach stretches lined with palm trees. This place combines history and culture with adventure. In old Mazatlan, you can take a stroll in the citys second oldest plaza, Plazuela Machado and light a candle at the citys famed cathedral with its twin towers. Take a walk down Mexicos most beautiful walkway, the malecon (promenade) with its palm-lined oceanfront connecting Old Mazatlan with zona dorada or resort area. There are countryside tours that include a visit to the villages of Concordia, Copala and Cosala on the Sierra Madre Mountains which has the finest hand-crafted furniture and ceramic and clay handicrafts. The known islands of Mazatlan, Isla de Chivos or Goat Island, Isla de Pajaros or Bird Island and Isla de Venados or Deer Island has fine sand beaches and should be included in your tour of Mazatlan. There are so much more to see in Mazatlan that thrives with the passion which Mexico is known for.

The Sights and Sounds of Cozumel

One of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the world can be found at Cozumel which is just south of Cancun and across Riviera Maya. Dubbed as one of the best diving destinations in the world, it has amazingly crystal clear waters and the worlds second largest barrier reef, the Palancar. Be sure to include this city in your Mexico vacation itinerary and get the chance to see the Chichen Itza which is the capital of ancient Maya empire and is included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. There are several archaeological sites near Cozumel like Tulum that was the main Mayan port and is a unique walled fortress, Coba is located in the lush jungle forest with an authentic Mayan community that allows you a view of what life was during the Mayan civilization, Castillo Real which used to be the Mayan astronomical observatory and San Gervasio which was most visited by the Mayan women as it was a site dedicated to Ixchel, deity of midwifery, fertility, medicine and weaving. You will definitely need a lot of time at Cozumel with all these and more at Cozumel. The list of attractions in Cozumel is quite long.

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Silver City, New Mexico grew to a bustling city because of the gold and silver discovery in the 1870s. One of its most famous citizens was Billy the Kid. We know of his reputation from Pat Garrett’s book “The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid.” Pat Garrett was the sheriff who killed Billy. Billy, I feel, has been much maligned. He moved to Silver City as a young boy in 1873 with his mother and stepfather William Antrim. Billy’s mother was sick with tuberculosis and passed away in 1874. Billy’s step-dad spent most of his time mining gold and silver. So Billy was left alone with his younger brother. Like any unsupervised rebellious young boy, he got into trouble with some petty thefts. Sheriff Whitehill wanted to scare him and teach him a lesson. He put him in jail. Billy escaped by climbing out the chimney. He was very slender; weighing only seventy-five pounds and was constantly bullied.

This came to a head at the age of seventeen, shooting a blacksmith, who was harassing him in an Arizona bar. Billy returned to New Mexico and got caught up in the Range Wars of Lincoln County. Here his legend grew.

Silver City is also noted for its Ditch Park. This was the main street of the town and was carved out by a series of floods from 1895-1906. The Silver City Museum has pictures of the devastation caused by this flooding. The museum is housed in the former home of H.B. Ailman, who made his fortune in gold and lost it by starting a bank. (Hmm!) There were no bailouts in those days. The museum has permanent and rotating exhibits. It has an extensive research library about Silver City and its mining history.

Up the hill Western New Mexico University has a wonderful museum in Fleming Hall at the end of 10th Street.

It houses an extensive collection of Mimbres pottery and other artifacts. The designs of the pottery are beautiful, depicting animals and geometric designs. Many of them have holes in the base of the bowls. The bowls were placed on top of the heads of a deceased person and a hole was made. This was to allow the spirit of the deceased to depart for the afterlife. No photos were allowed in the museum.

Sixty-five miles Northwest of Silver City is the town of Glenwood, which Butch Cassidy frequently visited. The important thing about the town is that it is the gateway to the Catwalk National Recreation Trail five miles east on 174.The Catwalk runs along the Whitewater Canyon. Miners erected it in 1893 to process the gold and silver ore three miles into the canyon. The constructed a pipeline to deliver water from up in the canyon to the base where the crusher was. At first four-inch pipes were adequate. Later, when a larger generator was installed, eighteen-inch pipes were installed. Some of these are still visible today, along with some of the rigging for the pipeline.

The area is called the catwalk, because the men had to walk the pipes like cats to do the maintenance. The CCC workers in the 1930s built the present day catwalk and trail. The trail is 1.1 miles in length and takes between one and one and half-hours to make the round trip. The first half-mile is paved with a 0 to 10% grade. After that the grade increases with many steps and bridges. The elevation varies from 4,923 feet at the parking lot to 5,234 at the end of the trail. This does not count into the effect of the four or five times the trail goes to the water and then ascends thirty to forty feet above. Little children were able to take the trail along with senior citizens like myself. If you have knee problems, I recommend you take the paved section only.

There is much wildlife along the way: squirrels, birds, chipmunks, and lizards. Not seen were the mountain lions, big horned sheep, fox, and a feral cat, which they are trying to catch.

A not to be missed stop along the way is the Aldo Leopold Picnic area, twenty miles toward Silver City. There are beautiful views of the Gila National Wilderness, which he helped to establish.

The next day we went on the other side of the Gila (pronounced He la) Mountains to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. We took Rte 15 through Pinos Altos over the Continental Divide and into the Gila National Forest. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, PULL A RV ON THIS ROAD. The road is at best a one and a half lane wide with no middle lines drawn. There are more twists and turns than on a crowded club dance floor on a Saturday night. We white knuckled the entire eighteen miles. The views, when I could see them were spectacular. After the twists and turns the road meets up with rte 35 and becomes more manageable.

At the end of the road are the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, forty constructions built within seven caves 180 feet above the floor of the creek.

The tour guide, given daily at noon during the winter season, explained that these were most probable ceremonial chambers and gathering places for the Mogollon (pronounced mugg e Yon) around 1270 during a time of severe drought. There are a few pictographs in one of the caves. According to astro-historians, one points to the Pleiades during the Summer Solstice.

One cave was used for food preparation: nuts being hulled and ground and corn and beans being processed. The Mogollon people were both hunter-gatherers and farmers planting the three sisters: corn, beans, and squash.

The next cave was the kitchen, which holes formed out of the rock. Stones were heated and put in these holes. Then the food was put into bowls and heated over the coals.

The third cave is pretty much sealed, but has a window reminiscent of the Anasazi culture. This window is in the form of a Tao cross. No one knows its purpose.

The fourth cave has most of the buildings. Since there were no written records and the site was stripped of most of the artifacts before archeologists arrived there, most of what is known is speculative. Most of the rooms seem to be used for different ceremonies. Some of them might have been dwellings for the medicine clan while seeking their visions and dreams. The cave is the largest of all of them and is quite impressive.

The National Monument is run primarily with volunteers. Only the Superintendent is paid. These volunteers are very knowledgeable and friendly.

They talked about the pictographs at the Lower Scorpion Campground, which was on the way back to visitor center. There were three pretty distinct ones drawn using the red paint.

The volunteers also said that on the National Monument property was found an archeological site with over three hundred building foundations. These, most probably were the homes of the Mogollon people, rather than the cliff dwellings, which would have been pretty indefensible.

We went back to Silver City via Rte 35 and 152. We though that 152 was a wonderful road and that we would take it the next day to go to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

On 152 we passed by the Santa Rita Copper Mines near Bayard, New Mexico. These are open pit mines, which stretch for miles. They are beautiful in their own way.

The next day we took Rte 152 with our trailer. It was a disaster waiting to happen, forty miles of twisting roads, which kept going up and up to Emory Pass at over 8,200 feet. It took us five hours to go the fifty miles and almost lost a transmission. I am happy we have a transmission thermometer. It saved the day.

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