Best Of Mexico: The First Month

Updated with new category!

Emily and I decided it would be amusing to try to do a "best of" list for our first month in Mexico. We'll reevaluate after Month 2 and again after the trip is over. In the meantime, here is the best of our first month in Mexico (and please, if you have any suggestions on categories, post them in comments and we'll either add new winners or include the categories next time around):

(NEW) Best Brand Name: Negritos--this chocolatey racial goodness features on its cover a young black boy with a large afro (we'll try to get a photo to illustrate). Runner-up: Bimbo, just because it's funny (and as luck would have it, Negritos happens to be a Bimbo brand)

Best City: San Cristóbal de las Casas--the combo of fresh mountain air, a lovely walkable city, and our first taste of real (not tourist-driven) Mexican culture can't be beat

Best Ancient Ruins: Palenque--it has it all: huge pyramids, explorable buildings, a tremendous overall site in the middle of beautiful jungle, and even a pretty walk towards the exit amidst ruins and waterfalls.

Best Beach: Tulum--soft sand, the picture-perfect turquoise water of the Caribbean, and picturesque ruins on the cliffs

Best Translated Book/Movie Title: Yo, Robot (for those of you who don't speak Spanish, that is the translation of I, Robot)

Best Roadside Sign: "No dejen piedras en el pavimento" (or, "Don't leave rocks on the pavement")

Best Mistranslation: "Dangerous not to swim", seen at the cascades at Agua Azul (translated with a completely new meaning from the Spanish, "Peligroso--No Bañar")

Best Tacos: Señor Tacombi--absolutely delicious tacos, not to mention a cute atmosphere

Best Meal: Salbutes, which we made ourselves in our cooking class

Best Beauty Treatment: Flesh-eating (?) fish at El Cenote Jardín de Edén

Best Natural Wonder: El Cañon del Sumidero--it may not be as cool as the Grand Canyon, despite the protests of the locals, but it's still pretty darn impressive

Top 3 New Spanish Words Learned: 1. Achicharrada ("really, really sunburnt"); 2. Ronronear ("to purr"--both for cats and for engines); 3. Pegajoso ("gooey")