Recipe for Mexican Cooking
Consome de pollo
(A delicious Chicken Soup).
Ingredients to make 6-8 servings:
1 small fresh chicken,
( or 2-3 chicken quarters)
4-5 black peppercorns
table salt
2-3 litres of cold water
2 bay leaves
1 onion, (quartered)
4 cloves garlic
1 large carrot
2 sticks of celery
2 cups of rice
1 onion, (finely chopped)
1 large carrot, (chopped
into small pieces)
2 courgettes or a small squash,
(chopped into small pieces)
1 lime, (quartered)
Salt and pepper to season

Clean, wash and dry a large fresh
chicken. Remove any excess fat from
the inside of the carcass. Place
in a large saucepan or stock pot,
cover with 3 liters of cold water.
Season the water with 2 tbsp of
salt, 4-5 black peppercorns, 1 onion,
1 carrot, 2 sticks of celery, 4 cloves
of garlic and 2 bay leaves. Bring
to the boil and then allow to simmer,
With a spoon. Simmer for 2-3 hours
or until the chicken is cooked
through, (when the meat falls
away from the bone with ease).

When cooked, remove the chicken
from the cooking liquor and place on
a chopping board and allow to cool
slightly before cutting into quarters/small pieces. Remove the skin from the chicken pieces.

Whilst the chicken is cooking soak
the rice in cold water for 20 minutes,
rinse in a strainer under running water,
(until the washings are clear), drain
and allow to dry.

In a large saucepan gently fry the onion and one of the cloves of garlic,
(that has been precooked in the
chicken stock) until just translucent
in a 2-3 tbsp of vegetable oil.
Add the diced carrot and the
courgette and gently fry for a
minute before adding the rice to
the pan. Stir thoroughly to mix
all of the ingredients before adding
the chicken stock. Bring the soup
to the boil then reduce the heat
to a simmer for 15-20 minutes until
the rice is cooked. Once the rice
is cooked return the chicken meat to
the soup and heat through. Ensure
that the meat is piping hot before
serving. Season with salt and pepper
 

A2. Always keep jewellery in a safe place. Things like cameras should always be kept in bags and held at all time. Recommended use of credit cards or cash withdrawals from ATMs. Carry a reasonable amount of cash with you, a thousand pesos ( ~$100 dollars) can get you by most days.

A3. Taxi drivers are a good source of knowledge as to where it is safe to venture into. Don't be afraid to chat with them, you will find that most of them are quite friendly and eager to help.

A4.  Three star Hotels are quite safe for leaving possessions, however  it is important to be sensible

A. Normally Mexico tends to be a warm country with a vast part of the Yucatan peninsula residing on the Caribbean. Mexico does have its cold climate but its more a question of how high you are at rather  than where you are at along the country. Its a good idea to pack light as the climate does tend to get warm. However if you are coming in from the US or another location make sure you pack for changes in climate, you don't want to be caught with your shorts on when you hit - 5 degrees Celsius.

A.  How cheap or expensive a country is, really depends on your exchange rate. For Australians  travelling to Mexico it is quite cheap, however you may find that getting there is more expensive than initially thought. Flying to Mexico will require  connecting flights  and a possible stop over.

Food in general is quite cheap and satisfying. If there is one thing Mexicans like to do is to eat.  I think this explain why Mexican are can boast  to having some world renowned dishes like Tacos and Burritos. Tacos bought from a street vendor will cost you approximately one dollar or a bit over.  Restaurant meals are also relatively cheap;  2-3 course meals range between $15-$18 dollars ( Depending on the venue the prices may be higher or cheaper). In Merida full size cocktails ranged from $3 to 5 dollars ( USD)

Clothes is quite cheap. A good idea is to pack light and buy the clothes that you need whilst you are over there. You'll soon find that you will need to buy another travel bag as bargains seem to be everywhere. - Remember to check the excess luggage restrictions with  your airline. What you save on bargains may end up been eaten away by luggage fees.

Transport quite cheap for the overseas tourist. ( see below)

A. Transport is cheap and comfortable. The coach service is  comparable to any  of a developed country. Fares are reasonably cheap so you may want  to pamper yourself with a Luxury seating bus . Please note that in times of the year like Christmas  booking in advance ( 2-3 days) may help you reach your destination without delay or discomfort. The Bus service does get overwhelmed. Taxis are best to be used by government recognised services. These taxis are normally coloured coded and fares can be purchased at selected providers.

You can find a list of Bus services here

Mexico  is a deeply religious catholic country with a deeply rooted indigenous culture.  Many Mexican cities have a main cathedral as part of  their central plaza. Its important to behave in a manner that respects these traditions and cultural beliefs.  Drunkenness is something that is frowned upon   and tends to be  characteristic of a small minority of tourists that venture into Mexico.

Please note that you should consult your doctor prior to travelling (3- 6 months before departure). Some of the vaccines that you may need include: Hep A, Typhoid , Tetanus and Malaria