Our tour guide knows some native Indians who make money by allowing tourists to visit their home. We thought this would be a good way to learn more about the area from the point of view of the people who actually live there instead of only what the tourists see, so we stop and explore.…

In Mexico, religious beliefs are very important. Hundreds of years ago, the Mayans worshipped multiple gods, but that changed when the Spanish conquered the region. The Conquistadores were members of the Catholic church and brought that religion with them to teach to—and in some cases force on—the natives as part of the Spanish claiming of…

Continuing the story of Juan Diego: When he opened his cloak to display his find, in addition to the roses, an image of Mary appeared. Now a believer, the archbishop ordered the shrine to be built. This church, the Basilica of Ville Madera, still stands, and still contains Juan Diego’s cloak with the image of…

On Sundays, the Merida area hosts a huge market where locals sell crafts, clothing, housewares, and food. The preparation for the marketplace begins the night before with the vendors setting up for the following day. Streets are blocked off to make the market a safe destination for pedestrians. A wide variety of goods are available,…