Mexico is a mosaic of different realities and beauties
Enrique Pena Nieto, former Mexican President
Over the last few months since our return from Mexico I’ve covered most of the highlights of our trip in a number of posts, from the sights of Mexico City to the ruins of Monte Alban, and from the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Copper Canyon to the whales in the Sea of Cortez.
But some favourite photos failed to find their way into those posts, not fitting any of my themes. So before I leave Mexico behind to focus on more recent trips closer to home, here are some of those favourites. These should also help to ‘fill in the gaps’ between the different places I’ve shared, as they include some shots taken on our journeys between them.
My feature photo is of a dancer in Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos, from where the grey whale spotting excursions depart.
Mural on Calle Regina in the Centro Historico, Mexico City
The street artist has created a cartoon-like version of Diego Rivera’s famous ‘Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Central Promenade’
Bart Simpson spotted in a southern suburb of Mexico City
(taken from the car)
The volcano Popocatépetl
Taken soon after take-off on a flight from Mexico City to Oaxaca
In Cafeto & Baristas, a small coffee shop in Oaxaca
A roadside stop on a drive from Chihuahua to Creel
We flew to Chihuahua from Oaxaca via Mexico City and then had a four hour drive up into the Sierra Madre mountains. We made a brief stop here to buy drinks and some crisps in lieu of lunch.
Train crew from the Copper Canyon railway at Creel station
This was taken late afternoon on the day before we ourselves took the train
White-eared Hummingbird at the Mirador Barrancas hotel
Photographed from the terrace outside our room
Lichen on a rock in the Copper Canyon
Early morning view from the Mirador Barrancas hotel, on the day of our departure
Riding the Copper Canyon railway to El Fuerte
We were in a carriage near the front and looking back on this long bend I could see the far end of the train
Evening on the Malecon, La Paz, Baja California Sur
On the road between Ciudad Insurgentes and Loreto, Baja California Sur
The road to the coast winds through mountains before finally descending to the sea near Loreto
The Mission church in Loreto, Baja California Sur: Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó
The mission closed in 1829 but the church, built in 1740, continues to serve the people of Loreto
On the main road through Ciudad Insurgentes, Baja California Sur
We stopped to explore this very un-touristy town in the centre of the peninsula on our drive back to La Paz
Also spotted in Ciudad Insurgentes
I have no idea whether the electric fittings are functional but they certainly wouldn’t pass a UK Health and Safety inspection!
Beside the road between Loreto and Ciudad Insurgentes, Baja California Sur
I’ve shared this photo before but not told the story. We pulled off the road here to eat a snack lunch, then got out of the car to take some photos of the run down building and large cacti. We’d taken quite a few before we realised that what we’d taken to be an abandoned home was actually being lived in! The fairy lights winking from a decoration in the covered porch gave it away – oops!
I visited Mexico in February 2024
48 Comments
Annie Berger
Sarah,
I can’t remember your having complied a miscellany of shots before but I love the idea and the stories behind so many of them, too. My favorites were the scary looking volcano and the nighttime promenade in La Paz
Sarah Wilkie
I’m not sure I have either Annie, but I might do so in future – it gave me a chance to share a few photos that hadn’t fitted into my more in-depth posts. I was pleased that evening shot in La Paz came out so well as I was just using my phone and I wasn’t sure how well it would cope in the low light.
wetanddustyroads
Your feature photo made me think how this lady made an effort to make the colour red stand out everywhere – her outfit, the flowers and even her hair! Beautiful photos and my favourite is the lovely evening scene on the Malecon.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – yes, I loved how her hair matched the red in her clothing and the flowers 🙂 That evening shot was a lucky grab with my phone, as I hadn’t taken my camera out with me. The phone seems to cope well with twilight conditions.
rkrontheroad
Glad you left these in color! The composition in the coffee shop is lovely.
Sarah Wilkie
Oh yes, these are all colour shots for sure! It’s hard to find a lot of B&W subjects in Mexico, apart perhaps from portraits and a few details.
equinoxio21
A perfect selection for Mexico’s variety.
The electric connection looks perfectly all right to me.
😉
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, but I’ll leave you to flick that switch on 😆
equinoxio21
Haha! In such cases, I just call the electrician… 😉
Rose
“Mexico is a mosaic”… What a lovely description! Your last 2 photo descriptions gave me a chuckle – electric ‘fittings’ (having worked on electrical automatic meter readers in a previous life, I’d agree with you, I don’t think those ‘fittings’ are up to code.) and the ‘abandoned home’, oopsie.
Sarah Wilkie
Haha yes Rose – ‘oopsie’ indeed 🤣
restlessjo
It’s like a join-the-dots of your Mexican trip, Sarah. I’m sure I’ve missed some bits but I’ll catch up when there’s time. Love the Malecon shot, the misty morning, the volcano, the beautiful hummingbird, and the simple spoon. What’s not to like? 🤗🩷
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Jo – join-the-dots is exactly it! I deliberate put the photos here in chronological order for that very reason 😀
restlessjo
😁🩵
tobyo
Lovely photos! I’ve been absent from the blogosphere and I’m doing the same thing with our trip to Spain, creating several posts. I’m going to go back and check out your Mexico posts as I’m hoping to take a trip to Mexico City next year. So glad I saw this one!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 Mexico City is so vibrant with loads to see! And there are great trips out of the centre – Teotihuacan is a must, and the Frida Kahlo home in Coyoacan too.
Robert J Jr.
Travel is such a wonderful gift to share with others!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂
Anonymous
I particularly like the hummingbird and the boats at evening time.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂
Amy
Wonderful selections from your trip to Mexico, Sarah! Love the blue spoon and the pot. Beautiful bird, you probably saw many birds there. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Amy. We saw a lot of birds at the coast and the hummingbirds here, otherwise not a large number. But then, we were in cities and towns a lot of the time.
Marie
Wonderful final selection – this should have everyone booking flights! I love the spoon – but mostly because it;s my fav colour!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Marie – maybe I should look into getting some commission on those flights 😂 I love the colour of that spoon too!
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
A lovely eclectic selection. As others have said, it’s all about the colour. Love the dancer, she really draws you in.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anabel – that dancer seemed to epitomise Mexico, so colourful, lively and friendly 🙂
Chuckster
I loved these photos. Thanks for sharing.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks, I’m pleased you enjoyed them 😀
grandmisadventures
Great pictures of Mexico. My favorite one is the blue spoon and pot hanging on the wall 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Meg 🙂 I really liked the decor in that coffeeshop – definitely what you would call shabby chic!
Monkey's Tale
Someone else mentioned this, but I also had problems opening up your post today. I’m reading from my laptop which is not my usual. A great collection of pictures showing the diversity of Mexico! Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, Jude mentioned it, and as I said to her, I’ve had problems myself, but it seems to be sorted now, hopefully! Glad you enjoyed the photos 🙂
Heyjude
I do like a miscellany! Had a few problems loading your site today – resolved it by going to the home page. Looks like a very enjoyable trip – was this independent or through a travel company? I think I’d be too nervous to visit Mexico, but you have shown it off beautifully. Love the spoon! And it certainly is a very colourful country. We need more colour here.
Sarah Wilkie
I’ve been having a few problems with the site myself this afternoon but it seems to be working better again now 🤞 This was a great trip! We organised it through a company we’ve used a few times, Rainbow Tours. They specialise in Latin America and Africa. And there’s no reason to be nervous if you stick to the popular tourist areas – no reputable company would send you into the arms of a drug cartel!
Anne Sandler
A nice final look at a beautiful country. We camped there when our kids were young and so totally enjoyed it. We visited again while on a cruise in 2014.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne – I’m glad you’ve had the opportunity to enjoy Mexico too 🙂
Sue
Thanks for sharing these, Sarah, like Teresa I will never get there, but can enjoy Virtually through your eyes! Loved some of the smaller details, and that early morning blue view of the mountains and Evening on the Malecon, La Paz
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sue, it’s always a pleasure to share with you virtually 🙂
I. J. Khanewala
That’s a great look back at your trip
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
Alison
Wonderful last look at Mexico
You have a great eye for what makes a good photo
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thanks so much Alison 😊 No doubt Mexico will still pop up from time to time in various themed challenges, but this is the last of my dedicated posts.
margaret21
A great gallery, from the ones that made me smile (Bart Simpson; the spoon-and-bowl decoration; the goat), to the landscapes, that hummingbird – and the dodgy electrical installation!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 😊 Bart really made us smile, especially as we were stuck in a Mexico City traffic jam at the time and needed something to make the slow crawl more interesting!
thehungrytravellers.blog
It’s such a varied country with so many different aspects, with such regional variations. Your collection shows it. I guess the biggest constant theme that links the whole together is colour.
Sarah Wilkie
You’re right, it is so colourful! That was my biggest take-away from this trip, although it’s just possible Colombia trumped it for colour 😀
Teresa
Thanks for sharing. It is somewhere that I think I can’t visit anymore.
Sarah Wilkie
It’s a fantastic country to visit, so a shame you feel unable to do so, but none of us can get everywhere!