"The Actual Route of the Gods" is your hilarious, irreverent, and genuinely useful guide to exploring the ancient heartland of Mexico. Inspired this book ditches the glossy platitudes and dives headfirst into the glorious, chaotic, and delicious reality of traveling through Mexico City, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, and Oaxaca.

Join us on a journey from the bustling streets of CDMX, where Aztec ruins peek out from beneath colonial cathedrals, to the pyramid-studded plains of Teotihuacan. We'll help you conquer the magnificent National Anthropology Museum without losing your mind, and guide you to the best street tacos you've ever tasted.

Discover Puebla, the city of angels and Talavera tiles, where you'll learn the sacred secrets of Mole Poblano and Chiles en Nogada. We’ll show you the pyramid hiding under a church in Cholula and navigate the colourful chaos of local markets. Uncover the unique history of tiny Tlaxcala, the state that allied with Cortés, and marvel at the stunning ancient murals of Cacaxtla.

Feel the humid embrace of Veracruz, from its lively port city echoing with pirate tales and son jarocho music, to the mysterious ruins of El Tajín, home to the Pyramid of the Niches and the gravity-defying Voladores of Papantla. We’ll even tell you where to find the best vanilla!

Finally, lose your heart (and possibly your pesos on amazing crafts) in Oaxaca City. Explore the Zapotec grandeur of Monte Albán, the intricate Mixtec designs of Mitla, and taste your way through the legendary seven moles. We’ll introduce you to fantastical alebrijes, hand-woven textiles, and the magic of mezcal.

This isn't just a travel guide; it's your witty, opinionated companion, packed with:

• Practical tips on visas, money (pesos & tipping like a pro!), navigating buses from heaven (and hell!), rental car roulette, and staying safe without paranoia.

• Essential Spanish phrases you'll actually need (like "More tequila, please!" and "Where is the bathroom?!").

• A crash course in Mexican history – the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Aztecs, the Conquest, and beyond – told with humor and focusing on the weird and wonderful.

• Honest advice on souvenirs that don't suck, and how to haggle without being a jerk.

• Recommendations for further reading and viewing to deepen your appreciation.

• Humorous anecdotes and observations about the realities of travel – from map-eating goats to surviving re-entry into your "normal" life.

Whether you're planning an epic independent adventure or just dreaming from your armchair, "The Actual Route of the Gods" will equip you with the knowledge, laughter, and culinary courage to explore one of the most fascinating and delicious corners of the world. Ditch the tour bus mentality and discover the real magic of Mexico. ¡Vámonos!