The Perfect time to go to Mexico and the last time you’ll hear about Swine Flu
Swine flu. Scary scary stuff. Something about pigs and Mexicans and sure death. You remember SARS? How people sent it through your mailbox? Yeah that SARS killed off everyone you know, right? Oh and West Nile Virus. We hope you’re current on the vaccinations because you never know when those mosquitoes might make it over here from Africa and bite your vulnerable flesh. Africanized Killer Bees still got you down? Point is, these disease fads have come and gone and have left no massacre behind. The damage they have had effects the travel industry. Swine flu, particularly, has diverted travelers from Mexico in fear of infection. Despite the U.S. Department of State’s May 15, 2009 lift of their recommendation to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico, many backpackers have avoided travel to Mexico just to be safe. We decided to go to the source and ask “Que Pasa con el Swine Flu”? Here are the facts, from a real Mexican:
Esmeralda Garcia, 22, is well-traveled and is currently finishing her degree in International Business at Tec De Monterrey in Guadalajara, Mexico. She is our favorite Mexican and a true authority on the subject at hand:
OTP: How many people do you know that have swine flu?
EG: None
Q: Are you afraid of eating pork because of the swine flu?
A: No, people eat pork as usual
Q: How has swine flu affected Guadalajara? Politically and from the traveling perspective.
A: Politically, the government is implementing more cleaning regulations and also informing our society how to prevent the disease. From the traveling perspective, there are fewer tourists in Mexico because of the bad marketing campaigns abroad. In Guadalajara you don’t see as many travelers as before.
Q: Should backpackers realistically worry about getting swine flu?
A: No they don’t have to worry at all. Everything is fine.
Q: Describe a few places you like to go in Mexico and what you see, do there.
A: Mexico is characterized for having everything that a backpacker needs: nice people, great weather, beautiful beaches, jungles, forests, big cosmopolitan cities, desserts, lakes, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, prehispanic ruins, colonial cities, and everything for a good price.
I am planning to travel to North Central Mexico in December. Some of the places I will visit are Zacatecas City which is a city full of mines (there are actually bars inside mines). I will also go to the ghost town of Real de Catorce in San Luis Potosi. This town was abandoned and still has some old Spanish architecture. It is famous for their ethnic group, Huicholes,who travel each year to Real de Catorece to eat Peyote (Mexican mushrooms) to get high. While in San Luis, I will go to la Huasteca where you can see some ruins in the middle of the jungle of an ethnic group called “huasteco”. After traveling to San Miguel de Allende, which is a city filled with street artists, my last destination will be Puerto Vallarta. I love traveling in Mexico because every state has its own culture, its own food and its own people. People are so happy to see foreigners that they will offer you everything even though they don’t have anything. There are so many things to do, see and fall in love with in this country.
Q: What is the best beach in Mexico?
A: The best beach in Mexico is Tulum. A white sand Caribbean beach which is also the site of a Pre Columbian Maya walled city. The ruins are located on the 12 meter cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of the Caribbean Sea. Tulum is a national park and one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan sites.
Tulum, Mexico
Q: Where is the best place for a backpacker to stay in Guadalajara?
A: There are many hostels in the heart the city of Guadalajara. You can check out a few at hostelbookers.com
Q: Favorite place to eat; what’s the most popular local dish?
A: Food in Mexico is delicious and it is hard to keep a diet here. The most popular local dish in Guadalajara is Tortas Ahogadas (Drowned Sandwich). It is called drowned because the sandwich is submerged totally in a sauce made of dried chili pepper. The flavor when its well drowned is very spicy but Mexicans enjoy it. Tortas ahogadas are made with birote bread sliced open on a side and filled with pork (yeah pork!) served with onion rings, beans, and lemon. It is traditionally eaten while watching futbol (soccer).
Q: Have you backpacked around Mexico?
A: Yes, many times. I love it and can’t get enough. If its your first time go to Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. There are many roads to discover.
Q: In your opinion, why is Mexico a great destination for backpacking?
A: Mexico is a paradise for backpacking! Besides being incredibly cheap, its beautiful and full of really nice people. Its a big country, rich in history and culture so you’ll always have enough to see and do.
There’s malaria in Africa, avian flu in Egypt and great white shark attacks in Australia. Your cubicle is probably the safest place on earth (unless you get carpal tunnel of course.) Point is, quit listening to the bullshit the media feeds you. Mexico is worth checking out despite the new swine fad disease. We’ll hold your hand if you want to get the vaccine first.
Written By: Anna Starostinetskaya
with Interview Contribution By: Esmeralda Garcia
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