luke7777

Hi all,

I hope this question makes sense. I am trying to decide where in Mexico, or perhaps elsewhere in Latin America, to travel to, and I'm hoping to tap into other's experiences. I think one of the things that makes some of the old European countries like Italy so popular to tourists is the perception of "stepping back in time" - visiting a city that is essentially as it was a couple hundred years ago, that is still culturally authentic. You get the feeling that Venice is not all that changed since, say, 1500, and the people are the same as they were then.

In contrast, if you go to a city like London, this is not the feel at all. In London, you can visit the historical sites of 500 years ago, but you are not "immersed" in them. You look, then move on, rather than being part of them.

My question, then, is what towns/cities/regions of Mexico (or elsewhere in Latin America) are analogous to Italy? Where is the culture unchanged by modernization, and you experience the "old world"? What is the Venice of Mexico? This is where I want to go.

Thank you for any guidance.

fuzzylogic

I understand the question, and sort of know where you are coming from.

But Venice is a very special case. How do you know that the people who live there (dropping in numbers all the time) don't go off to work in the industrial areas outside the city? They probably do. They also probably beaver away on their laptops just like you and me.

But the superficial appearance is of a city that hasn't changed. The architecture has survived (god knows how, and god knows for how much longer). But much of the reason is tourism and the money it brings in, and the high profile the city has.

London is still a living city; changing all the time. And it has survived (so far). If you can't sense the history there I can't help you with that. Some people can intuit, put small things into the big picture and some can't.

As for Mexico - its town are not set in aspic either. But despite all the American influence and economic muscle, there is still a Mexican way of life.

I'm really not sure if you are seeking architectural aspic or social aspic.

I mean, do you want to see folk dances in the streets or are a few good old buildings sufficient?

Many Mexican cities have seriously ugly outskirts and sublime (protected) centres, I'm a visitor to Mexico neophyte - but you could try Queretaro. And wandering the streets of Mexico City, or Veracruz, or Xalapa.

Suspect Puerta Vallerta/Cancun are not what you are after.

Happy travels.

drdawggy

Veracruz is a port city, influenced by trade over the centuries

Xalapa is a university town, influenced by foreign students and faculty trained at foreign universities. Not to mention a couple of McDonalds restaurants.

Both Veracruz and Xalapa are clearly closer to traditional culture than Cancun....but it will be tough to find a town where life has remained unchanged for hundreds of years....even remote villages have sattelite TV.

Dude

Any rural non industrialized area in Mexico that is not frequented by tourists fits the bill. There are plenty all around the country. Last summer we headed a bit north of Oaxaca City around Yanhuitlan, Noixchitlan, and Coixtlahuyaca and were the only gringos around. I have worked south of Monterrey in the North and spent a few weeks in Por Venir-no grinogos there. I think there is abundant opportunity to visit less travled places in Mexico. Start riding second class buses around and you will find them.

Dude

grinogos- I don't know what my mind was thnking when it wrote that. Maybe it means gringos shouldn't go there...

Stewbear

Patzcuaro, Uruapan & Playa Azul all in Michoacan.

crosscheck

Agree w/ Stewbear. Also Guanajuato, Puebla or Cholula.

Much of Oaxaca and Chiapas are like stepping back in time, but not in the same way as Venice. Not sure about travel safety there now.

suze

Luke, Do you speak Spanish? I mention this only because I think for the kind of out-of-the-way places you seek to visit, basic language skills will be needed to get by.

suze

Luke, I've been following your posts and my other (hopefully) helpful contribution is, can you get more time for the trip? In other threads you mentioned only having 6 days. In order to get off-the-beaten-path in Mexico or Latin America you'll need to be taking a bus around, as mentioned, which takes time. It's "slow travel" in the extreme. The kind of trip you are describing is better done with at least a month's time, not over spring break.

Suzie2

Just left Antigua Guatemala and it is just beautiful. Designed after Seville Spain with walled buildings and beautiful courtyards. Unfortunately, the streets are full of tourists like me and you.

Some of the mayan villages around Atitlan have been able to maintain some of the old ways. I may feel like it some days but not being 200 years old I can't say for sure what it was like back then but going to Solola market and being the only tourists was a real experience.

luke7777

Hi suze,

The most time that I will have for a trip is 11 days, including travel time - although this is not assured. It depends what happens with my school schedule and if I'm able to skip several classes, so I'm really not sure. I think ultimately I will be able to take this shorter trip during spring break and then a longer trip in May, so at this point I'm trying to decide whether to do a country in Europe during the Spring and Mexico/Central America in May, or vice versa - do Mexico now and a longer Europe trip in May. What would you do? I do speak some Spanish - I used to be close to fluent but haven't studied for about 3 years so my skills are very rusty.

hopefulist

It sounds like the Latin American cultural immersion you're most interested in is a European/colonial type, is that accurate? When I think of cultural immersion and "stepping back in time" I think of indigenous groups and village homestays. There are some fascinating options out there if you're interested in really seeing how the locals lived before the conquistadors swept through.

suze

Hmmmm, only since you asked (lol)... what I would suggest with those options - is one week in Europe during your spring break. Because I think you can get a lot out going to one city for 6 days, plus the travel time is less and you can fly directly in and out.

In the meantime I would be researching what you are hoping to find on your Latin America adventure because that is less obvious (finding a place that is like 'stepping back in time' vs flying to Paris or Amsterdam) and go there in May when you have a longer time to spend.

That's fantastic you have some Spanish background and I would sign up asap for a refresher course or start brushing up on your own.

All that said, can you afford (sorry, not to get too personal) 2 major trips like this just a few months apart? Neither of what you describe will be particularly cheap.

luke7777

Suze,

Regarding costs - that's an excellent question. I am a senior in college, and I was fortunate enough to get a full ride to college. My parents promised me that if I took the full ride (instead of choosing another, private school) they'd buy me a car - but I never got the car because I didn't see the need for having a nice car during college. I'm naturally a very cheap person. So my parents have now offered to fund some vacations before I begin working, although I'm still reluctant to take their money because I try to be self-reliant. Still, I am going to be working very hard next year and may not have the chance to travel as I do now, which is why I'm considering taking these two trips.

Also, your post got me thinking - I could conceivably skip 3-4 days of school in addition to spring break - I am a senior, after all - which would give me about 14 days to travel. If I did this, would your recommendations change (just curious)? BTW, thanks to all for the valuable advice so far.

Luke

suze

Luke, Your posts are thoughtful and inspiring! Brilliant about skipping the car for some travel btw.

Sure, with 14 days I think some kind of trek to Mexico becomes much more do-able. Understand it is your desire to get off-the-beaten-path that is mostly why I think longer is better. Also you get more bang-for-your-buck so to speak, when you stay anywhere for a longer period, as your plane ticket is always the major % budget expense (compared to daily costs once you arrive) on a trip.

I'd check out the recommendations above, especially from Stewbear and Dude, they are long-time posters who really know their Mexico.

suze

thorntree.lonelyplanet.com is another forum geared more towards backpacking and immersion travel style