Mexico

Actually true

• The food is vastly more diverse than tacos

  Each region has its own moles, seafood styles and corn traditions dating back thousands of years.

• Family is the center of life

  Multi-generational households and Sunday family meals remain the norm across social classes.

• Ancient civilizations left staggering ruins

  Teotihuacan, Chichén Itzá and Palenque rival any archaeological sites in the world.

• Mexico City is a global cultural capital

  Its museums, murals and restaurant scene rank among the best in the Americas.

Commonly believed, wrong

• "It's all desert and cacti"

  Mexico has cloud forests, snow-capped volcanoes, coral reefs and jungle — desert is only part of the north.

• "It's unsafe everywhere"

  Violence is concentrated in specific regions; major tourist areas like the Yucatán and Mexico City centers are heavily visited safely.

• "Tacos are eaten with hard shells"

  Authentic tacos use soft corn tortillas; hard shells are a US invention rarely seen in Mexico.

• "It's a poor, underdeveloped country"

  Mexico has the world's 12th-largest economy and major manufacturing, tech and finance sectors.