Cancun: The Worst of the United States Meets the Worst of Mexico

Instead of the typical recommendation of good places to spend your summer vacation I'd like to take the time to do just the opposite. My purpose in writing here is to vent some of my hatred toward the vacation hot spot Cancun, Mexico. This is not to suggest that it is impossible to have a good time in Cancun. That is not case. In fact I had a great time when I last visited Cancun for a week. Nonetheless, the following contains several reasons why I feel you would be better off by eliminating Cancun from your summer travel list.

While it is true that going to Cancun is traveling outside the United States, you would hardly know it from visiting some of the more touristy districts of the city. They are perhaps even more American that many actual cities in the United States. Capitalism rules and neon signs flash obnoxious advertisements to lure customers to buy, buy, buy. However, the whole city does not follow this pattern. In fact, once you move outside of the main tourist districts, the city is downright dirty. Many tourists opt to escape these ritzy areas in search of a more 'cultural' experience. The market is a popular destination even though it is quite a complicated process getting there. For those who are actually able to find the cluster of tents located in what can only be described as a ghetto, it is quite a unique cultural experience. The contrast between the market and the malls is dumbfounding. Barkers follow you around as you peruse the endless stands of crafts, souvenirs, jewelry and often junk heckling you to buy their products, which are most likely identical to the ones in the booth across the aisle. Many of the items are marketed falsely and haggling for a bargain typically tends to be more annoying than charming. During my last trip to the market I even passed by a chicken that was doomed for a bloody battle according to the sign nearby.