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Presenters: Ian Wright, Justine Shapiro and Zay Harding
For over 4000 years, Mexico has been the home of
huge and complex civilizations and today it's one of
the most colorful cultures in the world. In this ultimate
guide to Mexico, Ian Wright, Justine Shapiro and Zay
Harding explore the country's many different facets.
In search of the history of Mexico, Justine and Ian
trek into the mountains and the jungles, climbing the
mighty pyramids and seek out the remains of Teotihuacan,
Chichen Itza, Palenque, Tulum and Tenochtitlan
to find out how the Mayans, Aztecs
and other pre-colonial Mexicans lived, died, and worshipped.
Ian then heads to the coast to investigate the arrival
of Cortez and his conquistadores near Acapulco
in 1519. Between them, Ian and Justine see how the arrival
of Christianity and the oppression by the Spanish transformed
the culture of Mexico right up to the present day. Cortez
brought the horse to America and Ian's attempts to join
in a Mexican rodeo demonstrate the brilliance of Mexican
horsemanship and the bullriding abilities of Ian! Justine
visits a bullfight, more popular these days in Mexico
than in Spain, and she joins the annual pilgrimage to
the Basilica de Guadelupe. Ian finds
Christian and pre-Christian beliefs blending in the
mysterious Day of The Dead festival. |
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Justine Shapiro discovers the origins of Mexican
food at La Merced market, New Mexico City
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Zay Harding goes rafting in Veracruz
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Mexican artistry, food and drink also show a blend
of indigenous and Spanish flavors, from the silversmiths
of Taxco and the tile makers of Talavera,
to the global influence of Mexican ingredients and cuisine.
Justine finds the origins of tomatoes, maize, peppers,
tequila, chillis and chocolate and Ian finds that a
tortilla can make a pretty good Frisbee.
But away from the cities, Mexico offers adventure,
from cliff diving and surfing near Acapulco,
to desert treks in search of prehistory. Ian comes nose
to nose with whales in Baja. Zay Harding
sweats it out with the Tarahumara Indians
in the spectacular Copper Canyon and
rafts the jungle whitewater of Veracruz.
And finally, Ian goes back deep into Mexican history,
living in the jungle with the last descendents of the
Mayan people of Palenque, the Lancandon
Indians and taking a spiritual journey into
the overgrown jungle home of their ancestors. |
