Part of the World Project. One country, one evolving collection of places, experiences, photographs, and memories.
My experience
Mexico was among the first places that made me curious about other languages and cultures. I returned repeatedly, and time spent learning Spanish in Mérida helped shape the direction of my life.
Places and journeys
Puerto Vallarta; Cancún; Mérida, Yucatán; Playa del Carmen
Travel stories
How Mexico Changed My Relationship with Spanish
Mexico across different stages of my life
My earliest trips to Mexico were family holidays in Puerto Vallarta and Cancún. Those trips did much more than put another place on a childhood map: they made Spanish feel like a language people actually lived in, rather than a subject on a school timetable.
Before university, I returned to Mexico for Spanish-language immersion in Mérida, Yucatán. Using the language outside the classroom played a part in my decision to study Spanish for the Professions alongside International Affairs at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Another return took me to Playa del Carmen when I was older. Mexico has never been just a single trip for me; it is one of the threads running through my education, work and later moves to Spanish-speaking countries.
Photographs and future chapters
I’m gradually working through my personal photo and video archive to add more of the experiences behind this destination. This is a living page, not a finished guide.
Explore more places
Other country chapters in The Americas: Canada · Panama. Browse the full The Americas list or explore the travel map.
