Puebla is both a state of the nation of Mexico and the capital city of that state. The city has a population of less than one and a half million, but the metropolitan area covers several other municipalities and the total population is over two million.

Puebla was founded 16 April, 1531 and is thus one of the oldest Spanish cities in North American not founded on older native settlements. "La Puebla de los Ángeles" was in a strategic location between Mexico City and Veracruz, which made it the second most important city in the colonial era. The city center has a distinctly Spanish/Moorish look and feel because of this.

The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the old Colonial Era buildings still standing. Many are still damaged from a 1999 earthquake, with some buildings restored and others net yet starting repairs. The Puebla Cathedral is the best-known example of the city’s buildings, but it is far from the only famous building found in Puebla.

On 5 May 1862 General Zaragoza defeated the French expeditionary force in the Battle of Puebla, and the name of the city was changed to "Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza." This had such an effect on Mexico that the fifth of May is still a primary national holiday. While the city fell to the French later, the heroic defense of the city is still a national inspiration.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the arrival of many European immigrants, largely German, Italian and Spanish. This created neighborhoods with distinct architecture, dialect or language and distinctive and common Mexican styles of dress and pottery were created in Puebla from the fusion of local and European tastes.

The city is located in the Valley of Puebla, also known as the Valley of Cuetlaxcoapan, and is surrounded on four sides by mountains and volcanoes. This creates a magnificent view of snow-covered peaks and is reportedly especially impressive at sunrise.

Puebla was the first city in what is now Mexico to industrialize, and is still an important textiles center. Volkswagen operates its only North American factory in Puebla, and several other European companies operate local subsidiaries to support the plant. This was the last factory building the famous VW Beetle.

Puebla also possesses an automobile museum, Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos “National Museum of Mexican Railroads,” a famous railroad museum, and the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, which is a baroque library of forty-two thousand volumes going back to 1646. The famous Amparo Museum is in the city, with one of the world’s best collections of Mexican art from pre-Columbian to contemporary. The city also has the Africam Safari Zoo, intended to create a safari style experience. The city is known for red double-decker buses. These run tours around the city. The Pyramid of Cholula is a small city within Puebla, possessing the largest known Aztec pyramid and enough churches to visit a different one each day of the year.

Puebla has more than twenty universities present, two professional soccer teams, two professional baseball teams and a food culture popular all over Mexico. There are over 70 churches to go with the cathedral. The cathedral is more than 207 feet high, the tallest in Mexico. The Casa de Cultural is next to the cathedral, occupies a whole block and contains the oldest library in the Americas.

Puebla has strong Spanish influences. To this day architectural characteristics going back to Spain and the Moors can be found all over the city and Puebla has a long relationship with Talavera. This is a type of strong and hardwearing ceramic that originally came from the Moors. It is primarily used on walls and floors, and while it isn’t cheap anywhere in Mexico, the prices are probably lowest in Puebla. It is very normal to see Talavera used in the buildings of the city.

Puebla has an international airport, is a two-hour bus ride from Mexico City and can be easily reached on major roads for those who desire to drive themselves. Once there, car rentals are available. Taxis are unmetered, so be certain to agree to price before you get into the vehicle. Puebla has year round spring type weather. The rainy season is from April to November, but these tend to be heavy showers in the late afternoons, leaving the evening cool and dry. Outside of that period, rain isn’t common. A sweater for the mornings, especially in the winter months, is a wise precaution.

By: Ken Wilssens
For lots of information on Puebla and other cities in Mexico, visitMexico Explored at http://www.mexicoexplored.com.

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For years, Cozumel, Mexico has ranked among the world’s top five diving destinations.

The southwest coast is lined with tall reefs. These create soaring walls offering divers a magical landscape to explore.

Non-divers can enjoy Cozumel’s beautiful Caribbean waters with their associated water sports and seaside activities.

Naturally, one of Cozumel, Mexico’s main attractions is diving. Cozumel, Mexico's warm, clear, blue-green waters contain the second-largest reef network in the world. The vibrant sea life in the Cozumel reef attracts scuba divers the world over.

Cozumel Reefs National Park is a protected 121.4-sq km (30,000-acre) national area at the southern section of Cozumel. It takes in 85 percent of Cozumel's dive sites.

Cozumel, Mexico is a paradise for diving enthusiasts and sun-worshippers.

Divers from all over the world come to Cozumel. They experience, while diving, the endless variety of its underwater life. The marine life here in Cozumel contains every texture and color imaginable.

The second most popular sport on Cozumel is snorkeling. Beginning snorkelers need not swim far distances or embark on boat trips to take advantage of the reefs. There are great snorkeling opportunities even at Cozumel beach resort and beach hotels.

Sightseeing in Cozumel offers gorgeous scenery and various delightful activities for visitors, like:
• Water sports
• Boat tours
• Sunset cruises
• An ecological park
• Duty-free shopping
• A few archaeological sites

Semi-submersible subs and real submarines can also take visitors to view Cozumel’s unique undersea marvels. They can also ride through the jungle on horseback.

The only town on Cozumel, Mexico is San Miguel. It is a small town, in spite of the last 20 years’ growth. San Miguel is not strikingly beautiful, but the town and its people are pleasant.

Cozumel is hugely popular with cruise ships. Its waterfront is jam-packed with jewelry stores and souvenir shops. Most cruise ship passengers do not venture further into town than these shops and the area around the town's main square.

Visitors who develop island fever and need a break can catch a ferry to Playa del Carmen and the mainland.

Some travel agencies on Cozumel, Mexico can organize a tour of the major ruins on the mainland. These include:
• Tulum
• Coba
• Chichén Itzá
• Xel-Ha or Xcaret (nature parks)
Cozumel, Mexico has its own ruins. But there is no comparison with the major sites of the mainland.

During pre-Hispanic times, Maya women used to come to Cozumel to make offerings to Ixchel, the goddess of fertility.

Visitors enjoy the pleasant restaurants in Cozumel, Mexico.
Cozumel is the ideal location to enjoy a romantic dinner with a view of the ocean.
Dining in Cozumel means dining in the kinds of places previously only dreamed of.
Diners can find just what they crave, including:
• American fast-food outlets
• Simple outdoor eateries serving great regional dishes
• Dining spots offering gourmet Mexican seafood and romantic settings Cozumel restaurants are generally quite good.

The restaurants are located around the main plaza. They offer reasonably-priced international cuisine. In short, visitors to Cozumel have to be truly dedicated to try all the good restaurants. The "flavor" of Cozumel is not to be missed.

The Carnaval in Cozumel is one of the main event during the year. Similar to Mardi Gras, the Cozumel Carnaval is a colorful fiesta! Carnaval starts on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. Daytime street dancing and nighttime parades take place on Thursday and Saturday. Monday, however, has the best parade and dancing!

Being an island, Cozumel is very safe. It is safe to walk the streets downtown, even late at night.

Cozumel, is frequented by athletic visitors. They expend energy all day and unwind early in the evening. People sit in outdoor cafés around the zocalo. They enjoy the cool night breeze until the restaurant-bars close. Because of this, dinner and night life often run into one another.

Pack your sense of adventure and come visit Cozumel!

By: Elena Piccini
Cozumel-hotels-rates-and-all-inclusive-resorts-deals.

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If you love nature and want to know more about Mexican history, visit XCaret, an hour south of Cancun. Having lived in the nearby city of Playa del Carmen and worked as the illustrator for this company years ago, I spent a large amount of time there, and it is stunning.

What exactly is this place? It's a combination of zoo, aviary, butterfly garden, amusement park (without rides) and outdoor natural history museum and more. Situated within the Mexican jungle, you board a bus at the main Cancun-Tulum corridor road, and it takes you down a lush jungle road to the park. It is a large complex, so expect to spend the whole day there, and use vast quantities of sunscreen to avoid getting sunburned while there.

Walking into XCaret's main building, holding the gift shop and dioramas of major Mayan ruin sites, you will see a snack area. Sometimes there are events that happen in this building, which is the gateway to the park. Make sure to go to the gift shop, there are many lovely nature-related items for sale. You may even find something with my artwork on it, as many of my designs were used for novelty items. There are posters (which I did not do) that were there before me, and are still being sold, that are incredibly original and beautiful work. This isn't your average tacky gift shop, it's impressive.

When you walk into the park itself, you are walking into a maze of exhibits and attractions, woven by paths throughout a huge section of the Mexican jungle. There is an underground river cave, where you can go snorkeling. If you get to the park early, you'll be able to do this without being in too big a crowd. It's surreal to be carried by the water through a real underground cave, that winds around the park. Very relaxing. This is a great way to cool off, as the hot sun can get to you, even in the jungle.

There is a horseback riding stable. The horses are gorgeous Spanish-descent creatures, with long manes and elegant stature. But, when I was there, they were slow and just did what the horse in front of them did. If you want to gallop independently on the beach, forget it. They follow eachother in a line day in and day out, so they are trained to be trail horses only. It's fine if you are afraid of riding and want to try it, there's a high probability that none of them will buck you off. The ones I saw were mellow, not hyper.

Both the zoo and aviary have lovely animals that are indigenous to the Yucatan peninsula, such as jaguars, flamingos, parrots of many sizes and colors, a harpy eagle, spider monkeys, and more. All animals at the park are well taken care of. Many live in very elaborate, natural environments. The jaguars are kept on an island, separated from the tourists by a deep gorge. You can see them wiithout fear of them escaping, as they live their lives free from bars. It is a beautiful, large setup.

The lagoon is a scenic area that feeds into the Caribbean Sea, where you can go snorkeling or swim with dolphins. There are hammocks to rest in, for those who don't care to swim. This area is so colorful, with the deep turquoise water of the sea, the flowers, and palm trees all around. It is truly the full tropical experience. Stop and take a rest there.

At the amphitheatre, there are various shows worth seeing. These actors, dancers and musicians put their whole hearts and souls into their performances. For example, when I was there, they had a showcase of the different regional dances of Mexico, along with each area's characteristic costumes. It was spectacular. They have evening performances on different themes, expertly lit for the full night effect. It is all educational and great family fun.

When at the park, don't forget to stop by the numerous restaurants and snack areas. In Mexico, the wait staff will go out of their way in grand style to take excellent care of you, so tip them well. These jobs are in high demand, so they are taken very seriously. If you want top quality service, try the restaurant near the ocean, for scenery and great food.

Since my time at XCaret years ago, it has surely grown even more since then. Whatever has been added is surely innovative and educational. This establishment is pure class, they know how to take care of their customers and treat them right. Make sure to see all the sights and exhibits. You will walk away with a better understanding and appreciation for the Yucatan peninsula, its history and nature.

By: Carolyn McFann
Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio, which can be seen at: http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats. Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist, writer and photographer.

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When you are traveling to another country on vacation it will be a special time for you to relax, spend time with your family, see the interesting sites, and try different things that are not in your own country.

A Cozumel Mexico vacation can offer you all of these things and more. You will transported into another world with fantastic sites, sounds, tastes, and culture as you experience Mexico at its best.

When you are on vacation one of the most important things before you decide on where to go, is what the weather will be like. In Mexico the rainy Hurricane season is from August to September, so you should not go during this time, especially to the low lying coastal areas like Cozumel. The inland areas can be very hot during summer but will be cool at night.

A Cozumel Mexico vacation must be done over a fairly long period of time. This will be time for relaxation, but you will not want to miss out on any of the other activities that are on offer like diving, snorkeling, fishing, and visiting the famous sea turtle colony that Jacques Cousteau discovered.

Cozumel is considered to be an island paradise and you can see palm trees and beach huts along the gorgeous stretches of white sand.


Cozumel Mexico Vacation Activities

You can take part in many water activities, but also have fun in the night bars and experience wonderful seafood and authentic Mexican cuisine. You can visit the many shops to find interesting mementos, cloth, clothing, accessories and much more.

A Cozumel Mexico vacation must be spent in a luxury resort on the beach front, and most people that get married here will spend their honeymoon here as well. There are secluded beaches, family beaches and various hotels with pools, spas, and air conditioning.

In Cozumel you can also learn about the history of the Maya people and take part in the Vernal Equinox from the temple. The rich culture of the Mexican people is still very well preserved and you can witness it first hand on your Cozumel Mexico vacation in March.

There is also a carnival at this time of year to celebrate Lent with cock fights, fireworks, dances, and other cultural events. There are other festivals throughout the year where folk dances will be held, as well as plays, feasts, and general celebration.

A Cozumel Mexico vacation is a great way to see the different aspects that make up Mexico and their traditions. You can stay in first class accommodation and take tours of the ecosphere, and then watch some traditional folk dances.

You can go rock climbing, see the Mayan ruins, and swim with the dolphins. You can also attend the square every Sunday night for a live band in the permanent gazebo and then do some hectic water sports the following day on wave runners.

You can also go horseback riding and parasailing on your Cozumel Mexico vacation which means that you will have your calendar full for your entire stay.

By: Jack Harmon
Want to discover how to get the best travel deals for a Cozumel Mexico vacation? Check out, All Inclusive Cozumel Mexico Vacation Deals.

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Veracruz is a less traveled tourist destination in Mexico. However, this state offers some unique and choice attractions. Additionally, it doesn't have the commercialism and development associated with more popular destinations.

Veracruz is one of Mexico's 31 states, located in the east central part of the country. Veracruz evokes images of the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico, steamy jungles and mouth-watering fresh ocean seafood. As a result of heavy Cuban influence, the Spanish of Veracruz, and Tabasco for that matter, is considered Caribbean Spanish.

Wonderful Tourist Choice for the Adventurous

Due to its hot, humid weather, Veracruz has traditionally been less of a tourist destination. However, the state has a range of climates, from the damp jungle areas in the northwest to the cooler, mountainous region of Xalapa (or Jalapa).

Veracruz has many choices for tourists. Among these, the most notable is El Tajín. The location has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. El Tajín is a group of sacred buildings where ceremonies and religious sporting events were held starting in around AD 100. The Spaniards rediscovered el Tajín in 1785.

El Tajín is near the beach resort town of Tecolutla along the Atlantic coast. Tecolutla has a resort with a beach and water that's warm enough to swim in all year round. Great sport fishing is also an attraction as the water is home for King Mackrel, Dorado (MahiMahi), Barracuda, Snook, Tarpon, Tuna, and Jack. There are also excellent dive sites on virgin reefs. The Tecolutla has a small downtown core where one can visit for souvenirs and the cities of Papantla and Poza Rica are nearby for those wishing to do more intensive shopping.

If you are looking to visit a less touristically developed, closer to nature and Mexican culture destination then Veracruz is definitely a place you should consider.

By: Tom Klos
To learn more about Veracruz, Mexico, visit the Veracruz Mexico Travel Information site. The free site contains maps, weather info, travel tips and ideas, and helps you find valuable services in Veracruz.

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Transcending the tourist blitz that conquered its Mayan Riviera counterpart, Playa del Carmen is a destination where the simple pleasures take center stage and relaxation is always the order of the day. Beaches, historical attractions, and local comforts are served up in abundant quantities, and everything you need for a memorable seaside getaway is at your fingertips for a Playa del Carmen getaway to remember.

The central part of Playa del Carmen, or Playa as it is commonly called, offers a wide beach that gradually narrows as it winds it way past the various vendors, beach bars, and restaurants. While you will find a sparkling white sands and gorgeous turquoise waters that are ripe for swimming, the beach can become narrow and rocky as the winds and current change. If this happens during your sunbathing hours, it is a good idea to move north and enjoy the gorgeous fine sands of Playa Tukan. As one of the best beaches in the area, be sure to rent a canopy bed and stake out a prime sunning spot early so you can experience this beautiful stretch of sand at your own leisure.

While strolling along the sands and soaking up the tropical breeze are ideal for forgetting your worries, more active pursuits are at your disposal along the banks of this stunning paradise. Scuba diving and snorkeling are available around reefs and caverns that can be accessed far offshore, but a better option lies around the island of Cozumel. Simply hop aboard the ferry and you are on your way towards underwater adventures beyond compare. If you are looking for boat and deep-sea fishing charters, your best bet is to try the nearby community of Puerto Aventuras.

Impossible to miss since it is the starting point for essentially every Playa del Carmen excursion, Quinta Avenida (or 5th Avenue) is a 14-block extravaganza where pedestrians can stroll the cobblestone-lined streets and soak up the distinct and lively atmosphere. Buzzing with bars, clubs, restaurants, shops, and vendors, you can pick up a few souvenirs, enjoy some tasty cuisine, or plan your seaworthy adventures along this bustling thoroughfare.

If you can pull yourself away from the refreshing waters, fine white sand, and excitement of Quinta Avenida, other towns along the coast offer some must-see historical attractions that are sure to leave you spellbound. The Coba and Tulum Ruins are easily within striking distance and offer stunning examples of Mayan settlements and civilization. Although the Coba Ruins have not been reconstructed or uncovered to the same degree as the Tulum Ruins, they are still worth the effort for the striking pyramid and mysterious aura. The Tulum Ruins, the most visited archaeological site in Mexico, feature a massive wall that surrounds the imposing civilization and is one of only a few in the Mayan culture.

Two other sights that certainly should not be missed are the nature parks Xcaret and Xel-Ha. Xcaret, located just south of Playa del Carmen, is a spectacular eco-park that features a gorgeous swimming beach, a butterfly pavilion, a museum with models of ancient Maya cities, and numerous other outdoor pursuits. Xel-Ha is a natural wonderland where waterways and paths wind their way through a tropical jungle and past crystal-clear lagoons and coves. When you aren’t soaking in the stunning scenery, snorkeling around schools of multicolored fish and swimming with the dolphins are all popular in this area.

Playa del Carmen is a land of endless opportunities, where you can swim, play, and explore to your heart’s content in a shockingly simple and diverse waterfront riviera. Always commanding attention for its stunning natural beauty and its exciting attractions, you can surround yourself with the best the Mayan Riviera has to offer in Playa del Carmen vacation rentals. Resting along the sparkling white sands and within sight of the clear Caribbean waters, the finest pleasures of a seaside vacation are just a short stroll away morning and night. Set our own agenda or follow the pace of the town, whatever you want out of your Mexico getaway, Playa del Carmen rentals are always an accommodating host.

By: Jennifer Weiss
GreatRentals.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider Playa del Carmen vacation rentals for your next trip to the Mayan Riviera.

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