Im roadtriping WA down to Mexico city, Guadalajara and the Aztec ruins with some friends. I want to take my cam but dont have any real idea about what I should shoot, so any ideas or anything newsworthy happening down there in July? It should be interesting to say the least.

Any ideas would be great,

John

John,

San Miguel de Allende, Islas Mujeres and Playa del Carmen are places you might want to read about and consider. There's also a train that will take you through "Copper Canyon" which has some pectacular scenery and is an interesting way to crossover from Texas. I believe it starts in Laredo.

Them be mainly Mayan ruins I think.

The main sites are great for videography but there is precious little moving except tourists. Everything is stone. Unless you are going to do a Ken Burns approach, zooming and panning all the time, stills almost do as well IMHO. But I'm imagination-poor anyway.

Now if you get into the scuba diving down there, the underwater views are spectacular around Cozumel.

Take some gear to protect your gear from humidity and unbelievable rain.

When I was there, I hired a guide from the National Tourist organization. Relatively inexpensive, these licensed guides took us in their cars out to the ruins and gave us a great tour complete with a lot of info. And on the way to and from, they dropped by Mayan villages and we did meet some very interesting people.

Most particulary, at one place, they brough out a Jaguar kit that was a very cute fur-ball with sharp little teeth and claws! Right away we were trying to figure out how to smuggle it back to the states.

If you are traveling from Washington, be certain to drive part of the way on Highway 1 in California. Just from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara would do it. You will see some of the most spectacular coastline in the world, have a chance to visit Carmel and San Simeon and a few very nice national parks as well.

Alright, that sounds cool...hmm Jaguar kitten smuggling. lol, might make a good movie!

Good info John & Mike, thanks!

John

Don't forget the Immodium.

...and plenty of bottled water.

Hey John.
Try picking up a lonely planet guide. has a list of all the festivals and interesting things to see etc etc...
I drove the Pan American from Colorado to the tip of Chile....there are are some great little towns all along the coast of Mexico.
My advice...get away from the touristy places and film the REAL Mexico
Good Traveling!
Cameron