The flight we took transferred in Madrid, Spain, and all told the journey took 20 hours from Turkey to Mexico, waiting and connecting flights included.Mexico lies between two oceans, the Atlantic Ocean on its eastern shores and the Pacific Ocean to its west.
In terms of natural resources, Mexico is quite wealthy. Petroleum and natural gas in particular play a critical role in Mexico's economy. With a population of 109 million, Mexico trails only Brazil in population among Latin American countries.
Mexico is bordered by Belize, Guatemala and the United States. The ethnic mixture of Mexico's population is interesting: Around 60 percent of Mexicans are known as "mestizo," meaning a mix of native and Spanish, while around another 30 percent are native and non-mixed and another 10 percent or so are ethnically European, mostly Spanish. Around 98 percent of Mexicans are literate. The currency is the Mexican peso. Currently, $1 is worth around 14 pesos.
Mexico was a Spanish colony for roughly 300 years. It declared independence in 1810, but it was not until 1821, after the long and hard-fought Mexican War of Independence, that Spain agreed to grant Mexico its independence. Today, of course, Mexico is an independent nation, though its official language remains Spanish. There are also around 50 native languages spoken in Mexico.
No visa requirement for EU nations
Citizens of Mexico are able to enter EU nations without visas. State wages are not high in Mexico, with the normal policeman's monthly salary being equivalent to around TL 600. A new teacher earns around 5,000 pesos, or TL 570. Despite this, the third-richest man in the world is a Mexican citizen, the ethnically Arab Carlos Slim.
The Bellas Artes Museum
Since the two countries are so far away from each other, Turks and Mexicans really don't know that much about one another. Trade relations between these two nations are practically nonexistent. On an annual basis, only about 13,000 Mexican citizens visit Turkey.
Unfortunately, obtaining a Mexican visa can be a very difficult and lengthy process for Turkish citizens, who sometimes have to wait a month or even up to 45 days to get their visas. There are some Turkish citizens who apply only to find out eight weeks later that their request has been denied.
Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Mexico date back to the founding of the Turkish Republic. Despite this, the only incumbent Turkish foreign minister to visit Mexico was Ali Babacan, who made an official visit to Mexico in December 2008. There are currently around 200 Turkish citizens registered as living in Mexico with the Turkish Embassy in Mexico City. Mexico is one of the world's most important oil producers, which also means that gasoline is cheap here, with one liter costing only 7 pesos, or less than TL 1.
Mexico City 2,240 meters above sea
Mexico City is also North America's highest capital city. It was founded on a plateau that lies 2,240 meters above sea level. Mexico City is also, significantly, one of the world's most crowded cities, with an estimated population of around 19 million. With this many people, traffic is, of course, very problematic in Mexico City. People living in this mega-city are used to waiting for hours in their cars when there is particularly bad traffic. There are some laws in place to deal with this all though: For example, cars 11 years and older are forbidden from entering traffic one day a week. This is a law aimed at easing not only traffic volume, but also general pollution.
Boats on Xochimilco canals
Mexico City's Zocalo is one of the world's largest city squares. It is by far the most famous square in Mexico. The famous Mexico City Municipal Cathedral, the National Palace and city hall are all located around this square. Zocalo is the site of all the city's great celebrations. Construction on the cathedral here started in 1572 but was not completed until 1813. Because the cathedral's construction took so long, the result is that the architectural style embraces classic, neo-classical and baroque flourishes. Right next to the Zocalo are remains of one of the greatest Aztec temples, the Templo Mayor. Spaniards building the cathedral incorporated stones from this Aztec temple in the new structure.
The Templo Mayor (Great Temple) was the most important Aztec temple. It was built some time during the 1390s. It is 40 meters tall and was used by the Aztecs for, among other things, human sacrifices to the gods. When the Spaniards invaded Mexico in 1519, they destroyed much of what they found. Especially in the center of Aztec civilization, not much was left standing. Some say the population of these lands when the Spaniards first arrived was around 25 million. During the course of Christianizing the people here, the Spaniards also killed many people. So many people were killed during those first decades of Spanish colonization that by 1650, the indigenous population had dropped to only 1.5 million. In many ways, Mexico is thus a portrait of how an enormous civilization was destroyed under the command of the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes. The Mayans were another culturally dynamic civilization that flourished on Mexican soil. Established around 2000 B.C. to A.D. 250, they fought off the Spanish for 170 years before finally falling to Spanish forces.
An Ottoman treasure in Mexico City
There is a small clock tower that you might notice on Mexico City's Bolivar Boulevard. It was given as a gift by Sultan Mehmet V to Mexico in 1910, and as with so many other Ottoman-era treasures it is decorated with İznik tiles. Still today, this Ottoman clock ticks away on this boulevard in the Mexican capital.
The ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza - An Azteca indigenous man
One of the most important boulevards in Mexico City is the Paseo De La Reforma. This is a wide thoroughfare that heads into the heart of the city and carries a significant bulk of the city's traffic. This boulevard is lined on both sides with modern skyscrapers.
The fine arts museum in Mexico City is called the Bellas Artes, and with its unique architectural style and its location right in the middle of the city, it attracts many visitors. One interesting and delicious kind of food you can find in Mexico is the pit kebab they make here, with meat that has been cooked literally in a pit dug in the ground.
Due to its warm climate, you can find melons -- even watermelons -- every season of the year in Mexico. Lots and lots of fruit is eaten here, even for breakfast!
And don't worry, before returning to your country from Mexico, you will find many shops selling the perfect items to help you remember your trip and to give as gifts to friends and relatives. One such item is the poncho, a traditional Mexican piece of clothing nowadays worn for special days or celebrations. Or buy a sombrero, a traditional Mexican hat, and you'll be ready to hop back on the plane headed home in style and wearing your memories on your head.
[QUICK FACTS]
Capital: Mexico City
Language: Spanish, indigenous languages
Government: federal republic
President: Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa
Area: 1,964,375 square kilometers
Population: 111,211,789*
Gross domestic product (PPP): $14,200**
Main religions: Roman Catholic (76.5 percent), Protestant (6.3 percent)
*July 2009 estimate **2008 estimate
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