EDGE on the Net

You know those vacation spots where everything beckons: places to go, people to meet, things to keep you busy morning, noon and night? Yeah, I hate those places.

Big and gritty and complex and glamorous, Mexico City defies categorization. El Distrito Federal or DF, as the city is commonly called, is far more nuanced than many of the country’s famous resort towns, where the tourism bubble stays easily intact.

In spite of all the warnings from friends and family, I went anyway - to Mexico. And I’m glad that I did, learning a few valuable travel (and life) lessons along the way.

With its sandy beaches, quaint white washed buildings and bustling nightlife, Puerto Vallarta certainly lives up to its reputation as one of the world’s friendliest cities. And the locals strive to keep it that way!

Casa de Sierra Nevada, in picturesque San Miguel de Allende, is setting the standard for luxury and service in Mexico. Conde Nast Traveler named it as one of the ten best hotels in all of Mexico and Central America.

Before the BP oil spill, the Gulf Coast was a place of abundant shrimping, tourist-filled beaches and a happy if humble lifestyle. Now, it’s home to depression, worry and sadness for many.

The 100 days since the April 20 explosion have been a gut-wrenching time for folks who work, play and live along the Gulf Coast. The Gulf is a sanctuary for some, an employer for others, and now, a tragedy.

Communities along the Gulf Coast wondering about what kind of legacy the monstrous oil slick will leave can look no further than the towns along the Alaska coastline that were ravaged by the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989.