JohNyx, I just got a passport for the first time in my whole entire life. I desire to go to Mexico, because it is a place that it not within this shithole country and it is close enough that I can possibly afford it even though I am a bitch-ass broke single mother. Are there any locations you particularly recommend? Or others you particularly suggest I avoid?
I am considering Mexico City because it is bigger than any city I have ever been to in my life, but I kind of also want to see water and maybe some of the holy shit insane ancient ruins.
Also note that I have no use for luxury and will likely be traveling with only a backpack. High among my priorities are not getting raped or kidnapped, other than that I don't really care.
Thanks in advance!
The ruins as far as i know are located starting from the middle towards the south east area.
Baja California Norte is idiosyncratic in its own way (i was born there) since its bordering with California and has some hybrid Mexican-American culture and is a beach city, but its not exactly beautiful...
Ive lived in the past at Querétaro for about total 13 years, and i visit family each 2-3 weeks, its a safe city where most everything is within an hours walking range, has a preserved historical city centre, one can safely walk the streets at night...
Guadalajara ive visited a couple of times, its pretty and 2nd place in size compared to Mexico City, has a lot of preserved architecture...
My personal favourite for just slacking is Guanajuato, it is very similar to San Miguel de Allende, but its not a "bar city" per se, its similitudes are pre-modern architecture, long windy streets that go up and down (i love that)...
San Miguel de Allende is sort of a retirement city for USA people, and i consider it a "party town" for as far as i know, its "industry" is just alcohol consumption.
Now, about Distrito Federal (Mexico City)... its sort of hard to explain... in terms of population, its 20 million... in terms of size, to get to the almost northernmost part, from my almost southernmost area, its a 15 minute taxi ride and a 45 minutes Metro ride, id say the same in terms of west-east... there sure are a lot of "rabbit-hole" places, which i personally fear, but theres also a lot of interesting safe places... Cuernavaca is nearby (30-40 minutes) which is a sort of vacational rural place...
Now, places to avoid? Sinaloa, Sonora, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán (which ironically is a pretty place), Chihuahua (do NOT go to Juarez, highest rate of feminicide in the world)...
If you come to DF i can offer you a place to stay. And if its during my school vacations (which has an offbeat calendar) i can show you other cities.
I've been to Cozumel, Mexico which was a pretty cool place to visit. Granted, it was via a Royal Carribean Cruise Ship. But there was a little bit of everything there. Mayan ruins, nice beaches, good food (as long as you avoid the tourist traps). Nice place.
If you go to DF, Teotihuacan is very close. Something I've always wanted to see.
In fact, when I was in middle school I began taking Spanish in preparation for archeology in central america, and Teotihuacan was one of the sites foremost in my mind.
Quote from: BAI on December 29, 2009, 04:44:22 AM
Honestly cannot see why anyone would want to go to Mexico.
All my neighbors, who expended serious time, energy and risked life and limb trying to escape from mexiico have been telling me horror stories about Government death squads, warring drug lords and rampant poverty.
:? Sounds like Somalia to me.
sounds like most American cities to me.
JohNyx, when I come down I will certainly hit you up for tour guidance and maybe even a place to stay, thank you!
Quote from: BAI on December 29, 2009, 04:44:22 AM
Honestly cannot see why anyone would want to go to Mexico.
All my neighbors, who expended serious time, energy and risked life and limb trying to escape from mexiico have been telling me horror stories about Government death squads, warring drug lords and rampant poverty.
:? Sounds like Somalia to me.
I suppose it's kind of different if you go there with the means, and intent to return?
Quote from: BAI on December 29, 2009, 04:44:22 AM
Honestly cannot see why anyone would want to go to Mexico.
All my neighbors, who expended serious time, energy and risked life and limb trying to escape from mexiico have been telling me horror stories about Government death squads, warring drug lords and rampant poverty.
:? Sounds like Somalia to me.
Poverty is common, but the drug war zones are pretty much the ones i said Nigel shouldnt visit.
Of course theres many places that people will mug you for $20, but one shouldnt be there in the first place.
Walking the streets after 11pm is ok in most small cities; shouldnt do that in cities with more population than 2 million people do.
Among reasons to go:
1. Unbelievable beauty
2. Warmer weather
3. Cheap enough that even I can afford it
4. Some of the most amazing historical and prehistorical ruins in the world
5. Animals I will never see outside of zoos
6. Food I will never eat anywhere else
7. Distinct and unique cultures that don't exist anywhere else
I am sure there are many more reasons.
you forgot:
8. Donkey shows
Here's 3 newspapers if any of you are interested in seeing the current situation:
Leftie: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/ (http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/)
Center: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx (http://www.eluniversal.com.mx)
Righty: http://www.reforma.com (http://www.reforma.com)
But if no spanish skills, then youll need to use google page translator or something like it.
Quote from: JohNyx on December 31, 2009, 12:26:54 AM
Here's 3 newspapers if any of you are interested in seeing the current situation:
Leftie: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/ (http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/)
Center: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx (http://www.eluniversal.com.mx)
Righty: http://www.reforma.com (http://www.reforma.com)
But if no spanish skills, then youll need to use google page translator or something like it.
There's also Newsmap's Mexico tab.
http://newsmap.jp/#/b,m,n,t,w/es_mx/view/ (http://newsmap.jp/#/b,m,n,t,w/es_mx/view/)
Quote from: Kai on December 31, 2009, 12:50:57 AM
There's also Newsmap's Mexico tab.
http://newsmap.jp/#/b,m,n,t,w/es_mx/view/ (http://newsmap.jp/#/b,m,n,t,w/es_mx/view/)
Thats an interesting interface, but by which criterion it picks what to display? Seems the sources are diverse.
Quote from: JohNyx on December 31, 2009, 01:18:01 AM
Quote from: Kai on December 31, 2009, 12:50:57 AM
There's also Newsmap's Mexico tab.
http://newsmap.jp/#/b,m,n,t,w/es_mx/view/ (http://newsmap.jp/#/b,m,n,t,w/es_mx/view/)
Thats an interesting interface, but by which criterion it picks what to display? Seems the sources are diverse.
It interfaces directly with Google News. Whatever comes up in the most hits is what gets displayed, IOW, the most read stories are up there. It's remarkably good at showing what is of interest at the moment, as well as the /bias/ in reporting (whats not being reported on).
Quote from: JohNyx on December 31, 2009, 12:26:54 AM
Here's 3 newspapers if any of you are interested in seeing the current situation:
Leftie: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/ (http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/)
Center: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx (http://www.eluniversal.com.mx)
Righty: http://www.reforma.com (http://www.reforma.com)
But if no spanish skills, then youll need to use google page translator or something like it.
good links. My spanish outside of the kitchen isn't very good and my Mexican is even worse, but I think I can get the gist of it with some patience.
Quote from: Frenulum Pendulum on December 31, 2009, 01:59:12 AM
good links. My spanish outside of the kitchen isn't very good and my Mexican is even worse, but I think I can get the gist of it with some patience.
lol dude, "mexican" is spanish.
The only other language south from here is portuguese i think (except french in the guyana i guess).
Portuguese btw is insane - i can read it, but no way can i understand it when its spoken.
mexican might be spanish but you DO have different slang and stuff... :lol:
Quote from: Fredamir Putin on December 31, 2009, 02:32:38 AM
mexican might be spanish but you DO have different slang and stuff... :lol:
Oh hell yeah, the slang/dialect spoken by argentinians is "
douchebagñol"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYPKUaemxJc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYPKUaemxJc)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxbIwg9-Tms&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxbIwg9-Tms&feature=related)
STRANGEEELLL THEY !!!
lol im not familiar enough with native spanish speakers to tell why that is douchebaggy
The tone in general is agressive and arrogant, and theres the general cultural idea that they are superior, "emancipated from the USA" and all their "intellectual" snobbery.
Heres some mexican people talking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Jodt3OLT4&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Jodt3OLT4&feature=related)
im just used to some family from spain and my spanish teachers speaking slowly for us :D
so argentinians are like new englanders of south america? :lol:
Yea, "OH look at US we have french ancestors blahbhlbha" and all the bad things but none of the good of the French
Quote from: JohNyx on December 31, 2009, 02:40:18 AM
Quote from: Fredamir Putin on December 31, 2009, 02:32:38 AM
mexican might be spanish but you DO have different slang and stuff... :lol:
Oh hell yeah, the slang/dialect spoken by argentinians is "douchebagñol"
I have a guatemalan officemate back at university, and she has very strong R's. Coupled with a generally constant and allegro speed, when she talks on the phone it makes my head spin.
Quote from: JohNyx on December 31, 2009, 02:48:20 AM
The tone in general is agressive and arrogant, and theres the general cultural idea that they are superior, "emancipated from the USA" and all their "intellectual" snobbery.
Heres some mexican people talking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Jodt3OLT4&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Jodt3OLT4&feature=related)
They say "Mexicans are ugly?" :sad:
Quote from: Kai on December 31, 2009, 03:39:00 AM
Quote from: JohNyx on December 31, 2009, 02:48:20 AM
The tone in general is agressive and arrogant, and theres the general cultural idea that they are superior, "emancipated from the USA" and all their "intellectual" snobbery.
Heres some mexican people talking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Jodt3OLT4&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Jodt3OLT4&feature=related)
They say "Mexicans are ugly?" :sad:
QuoteCameraman: Minerva! Ja, ¿Què opinas de que los argentinos dicen que todos los mexicanos estamos jodidos y somos indigenas?
Minerva: Ah, pues yo opino que como viven, juzgen, y que, a ver, que cuenten cuantos indigenas hay aquí...
*******************
Cameraman: Minverva! Ha, what is your opinion about argentinians saying that all mexicans are miserably poor and that we are indigenous people?
Minerva: Ah, well my opinion is that how they live, they should judge and that, lets see, let them count how many indigenous people there are here...
A nice example of racism by both sides; first by the unspecified argentinian's comment, calling Mexicans "indigenous people" as an insult, and by the respondants assuming the attribution of being "indigenous people" as an insult. Colonial ancenstry is idealized over native ancestry, just like in the USA and many places.
White over dark, foreign above national. What some people call "malinchismo".
I personally think that people in first world countries have better opportunities "to succeed" because of better per capita income. I also find people of finer characteristics and white skin to be more attractive. Contrast with what the majority thinks, which is, foreigners being "better" categorically.
Mexico's a lovely place to visit, Nigel. I've been up and down the left coast of it, to Central America (Costa Rica and Panama) and through to Colombia. It's all beautiful, in its own way. Even TJ--nah, fuck that, TJ's a hole, but you'll find lots to explore and love all over Mexico.
Most mexicans that go to the USA constitute our poorest farmer population; or mid-low class that are close to the border.
Cholos, beyond the fixation on the Guadalupe Virgin, are not a representative population of Mexico, nor are all the construction workers.
I can understand some spoken Mexican Spanish but I cannot speak it for shit, I need to learn. My sister-in-law is Mexican and my nephews and nieces are half, and my brother is fluent, and I feel like a total retard for not having learned it by now.
There is so much to do and see down there, and I really can't help thinking that it is ridiculous that I should live on the same continent as some of the oldest artifacts of civilization in the world and not have mustered the means to see them, especially as according to the oral history of my own family that is where our origins lie.
Also, man, before we get too hard about criticizing Mexico we should maybe take a hard look at Detroit.
I personally wish to emigrate to a 1st world country.
But i dont want to leave my father behind and i chose to get a college degree first.
I spent a few weeks in Ensenada a while ago. The fish tacos were memorable, and the air was nice. But avoid the local coffee. Mine tasted very much the way pee smells.
Argentinians may be douchebags, but I loved Buenos Aires.
Quote from: LMNO on December 31, 2009, 01:30:24 PM
Argentinians may be douchebags, but I loved Buenos Aires.
And the chicks are
hot.
Damn straight.
And, when I was there 3 years ago, there was the beginnings of a Gay Pride movement. Our hotel was across the street from "The Gay Wine Shop". Srsly.
Quote from: LMNO on December 31, 2009, 02:28:36 PM
Damn straight.
Not exactly the most accurate adjective in the context of a gay parade :lulz:
I am a teeming mass of contradictions. Deal with it.
Quote from: JohNyx on December 31, 2009, 02:29:04 AM
Quote from: Frenulum Pendulum on December 31, 2009, 01:59:12 AM
good links. My spanish outside of the kitchen isn't very good and my Mexican is even worse, but I think I can get the gist of it with some patience.
lol dude, "mexican" is spanish.
The only other language south from here is portuguese i think (except french in the guyana i guess).
Portuguese btw is insane - i can read it, but no way can i understand it when its spoken.
yeah, but Mexican spanish and Caribbean spanish are about as similar as American english and Scottish english.
for example, I worked in a restaurant in St .Thomas with a chef who had lived in the DF for 7 years. His Mexican spanish was impeccable. He put "Drunken Duck" on the board as a daily special one monday, monday being the day that all the Puerto Ricans come to STT to do their jewelry shopping.
"Pato" does not mean "duck" in island spanish. It means "faggot". I have never before seen an entire restaurant (staff AND customers) break out in simultaneous hysterical sobbing laughter.
Also, for any European Spanish speakers, there is a small but significant difference between Castillian Spanish and American Spanish. No lisping is one of the benefits, but I would definitely say there are more basic linguistic differences than there are between, say, British and American English.
Quote from: Cain on December 31, 2009, 04:27:53 PM
Also, for any European Spanish speakers, there is a small but significant difference between Castillian Spanish and American Spanish. No lisping is one of the benefits, but I would definitely say there are more basic linguistic differences than there are between, say, British and American English.
like additional verb forms to learn :sad:
Quote from: Fredamir Putin on December 31, 2009, 05:23:42 PM
Quote from: Cain on December 31, 2009, 04:27:53 PM
Also, for any European Spanish speakers, there is a small but significant difference between Castillian Spanish and American Spanish. No lisping is one of the benefits, but I would definitely say there are more basic linguistic differences than there are between, say, British and American English.
like additional verb forms to learn :sad:
vosotros. :/
this thread makes me want to work harder on spanish now lol
Quote from: JohNyx on December 31, 2009, 08:13:01 AM
I personally wish to emigrate to a 1st world country.
better hurry. there aren't many of those left.
Quote from: BAI on December 31, 2009, 06:56:50 PM
QuoteAlso, for any European Spanish speakers, there is a small but significant difference between Castillian Spanish and American Spanish.
:argh!:
back to the torrents go I. cocktoast.
You'd likely be OK on the basics, if you learnt Castillian. I spent 9 months doing that, and it took me about three weeks to properly adjust in Peru, but even before that I rarely had a problem. My issue is I'm an language perfectionist, and it annoys me if I'm speaking the wrong dialect or something, even if it is perfectly intelligible (I also have a deep-seated and not entirely unreasonable desire to not be considered British while abroad, since British, American and target are interchangeable in many, many world languages).
Quote from: Cain on December 31, 2009, 11:32:34 PM
You'd likely be OK on the basics, if you learnt Castillian.
The reason behind that is that spanish originally comes from Spain, and all of America below Mexico was basicly a colony of Spain too...
I would draw slight paralels between British English and all its USA variants and its particular manifestation in Australia.
Learning the "mother" dialect from where all the subsequent ones derive makes it all easier.
P.S. For spanish one of the most important references is the work done by the Real Academia Española, just like for english it´s the Oxford's.