Puerto Vallarta has retained its popularity as a vacation destination for more than forty years. Great weather, nice beaches and many outdoor activities attract the tourists and help fuel the growing expat population. Puerto Vallarta’s record as one of the safest destinations in Mexico also makes it a popular choice among people visiting Mexico for the first time.

What is your impossible? That is the challenge of a 6,000 mile journey that Diego Gonzalez Joven, 26, recently completed. Diego and fellow adventurer Rachael Scdoris pedaled their special tandem bike from Alaska, through Canada and down the U.S. coast. They crossed the border into Mexico in December, heading to Los Cabos in Baja California Sur. Diego attempted to swim a 180 miles across the Sea of Cortez to Mazatlan before he and Rachael started cycling across Mexico. Diego says that the goal of the expedition is to inspire people. “To prove to people that nothing is impossible as long as one commits to their goals,” writes Diego on his website, www.whatsyourimpossible.com.

In a recent email to friends and supporters, Diego and Rachael describe the last part of their long journey:

“After 6,000 miles of cycling, over terrain that varied from boring flat desert to 11,000ft mountain roads, in freezing rain storms to extreme heat and humidity and everything in between, we rode our tandem bike of bamboo into beautiful Cancun. Immediately, we stuffed ourselves with tacos from the street vendor we found.

The ride from Mazatlan to Mexico City was long, hot and hilly but we made it there in time for Christmas with three days to spare. We took those three days to relax and explore the city. We spent Christmas with Diego’s family and took one more rest day. We felt like we should have been on the road but the extra day was necessary as we were so bloated from all of the amazing food, there was no way we could have ridden anywhere. Then it was time to push on toward Cancun.

We met so many wonderful people along the way. Diego’s friends, one of our police escorts, or just people we met randomly along the way would take us in and treat us like family. 

For the new year, we took a slight detour from the expedition and celebrated in a small coastal city called Veracruz. The next day we were back on the bike, averaging an easy 60 to 80 miles per day at 15 miles per hour. We had planned to average 100 miles per day but everywhere we went, we had media lined up to speak to us and the people were so warm and engaging, it was hard to leave.

The last two days, however, all of us were ready to finish. After we finished our presentation in Merida, we did two days of 100 miles at 15mph.

We are so thrilled to be finished and so thankful for all of your support. And we are ready to move onto new challenges. We spent a few days in Cancun, mostly playing on the beach. Now we are heading back to Mexico City. There Diego will begin to coordinate his second attempt at the sea of Cortez.”

¿Cuál es tu meta imposible? Ese es el reto de un viaje de 6,000 millas que Diego González Joven, de 26 años, recientemente completó. Diego y su compañera de aventura Rachael Scdoris pedalearon su bicicleta hecha de bambú durante varias millas desde Alaska, a través de Canadá y hasta la costa de los Estados Unidos. Cruzaron la frontera de México en diciembre, dirigiéndose hacia Los Cabos, en Baja California Sur. Diego pretendía nadar 180 millas

La diversidad regional de México hace de éste uno de los países más interesantes para explorar, a pesar de que la capital de la nación, la Ciudad de México, no es un destino turístico muy importante para los extranjeros. Al poner en contexto los informes exagerados del crimen y el tráfico, vale la pena visitar la ciudad, especialmente para los viajeros interesados en explorar la fascinante historia cultural y política de México. Si la Ciudad de México es

Mexico’s regional diversity makes it one of the most interesting countries to explore, though the nation’s capital, Mexico City, is not a popular tourist destination for foreigners. The city, though, is a very popular destination for Mexicans, who visit from around the country. Foreigners able to put the inflated reports of crime and congestion into context will find the city well worth visiting, especially for travelers interested in exploring Mexico’s fascinating cultural and political history. If Mexico City is the heart of the nation, the Zócalo is heart of the city and it's the natural place to start your touring. 

The Zócalo square, officially called Plaza de la Constitution, is the most popular destination for Mexican and foreign tourists, as well as the primary gathering spot for the city’s residents. As one of the world’s largest urban public squares, the Zócalo hosts countless festivals, political events, concerts, and national celebrations.

One of the largest and oldest churches in the Americas, the Metropolitan Cathedral will likely be the first feature to attract your eyes as you enter the Zócalo. Built and expanded between 1563 and 1813, the cathedral shows a mix of styles but the overwhelming impression is Baroque. Walking through the cathedral during a Sunday mass is a captivating experience regardless of one’s spiritual values. Viewing the remains of an Aztec pyramid temple beneath the cathedral is the most telling sight of the pre-Hispanic history of the city center, and of Mexico.

Parts of the pyramid and well-preserved statues can be explored at the excavation site that is next to the cathedral. It is a fascinating view of the physical and symbolic conquest of an ancient culture, which today has a renewed value and respect among the Mexican people.

The Museum of the Main Temple (Museo Templo Mayor) is world-class and has some very interesting pieces including the Coyolxauhqui offering stone and almost intact statues of the eagle warriors.

There is a lot to experience in the city’s central historical district, far more than can be enjoyed in one day. Finding a comfortable and affordable home base close to the Zócalo requires some homework. My home base for my three day stay in the historical district was the Hampton Inn & Suites, which is housed in a beautiful historic building three blocks from the Zócalo. Newly rebuilt just a year ago, the Hampton is a modern hotel wrapped in a historic façade. Though the hotel has tried to retain or recreate some of the building’s historic charm on the inside, there’s no hiding the fact that this is a new hotel. The newness was not a problem for me as I stayed at other hotels in the area where the historic charm was accompanied with antiquated plumbing and a view of a crumbling brick wall (at four star rates).

Exiting the hotel, I strolled past shops and restaurants to the Palacio Nacional (National Palace), which runs the full length of the Zócalo’s eastern side. It’s a grand building whose interior is adorned with huge murals by the famous painter Diego Rivera. The complex and colorful murals depict much of Mexico’s history and culture – studying them is a visual history lesson, as interpreted by Rivera. A walk through the beautiful and peaceful gardens behind the palace will make you forget that you’re in the city center.

The buildings on the western side of the Zócalo are mostly commercial, with jewelry stores and a few restaurants. Not surprisingly, there are some wonderful, and even infamous, restaurants in the historic district. The food experiences of Mexico City will be the focus of a future travel article in Vision Hispana.

En un esfuerzo por facilitar el ingreso y estadía a los miles de inmigrantes mexicanos que regresan a su país a visitar a familiares y amigos en Navidad y año nuevo, el gobierno mexicano está fortaleciendo el programa “Paisano” del Instituto Nacional de Migración, diseñado para darles la bienvenida y protegerles de extorsiones.

“Este año, durante esta temporada navideña, estamos esperando el arribo de entre 200 mil y 300 mil mexicanos”, mencionó Alejandro Orbezo Elizaga,