Once Upon a Time in Mexico Trivia Quiz

Answer: Popocatepetl

Popocatepetl, on a good day, can be seen from Mexico City. Rising to a height of 5426m, it's the second largest mountain in all of Mexico (second only to Pico de Orizaba on the border of Veracruz and Puebla). Popocatepetl, however, is found at the intersection of borders between Mexico (home to Teotihuacan), Morelos to the southwest, and Puebla, home to the highlands and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

Popocatepetl is an active stratovolcano and when it does erupt, its ash clouds can be seen for hundreds of miles. In the region, UNESCO has deemed a series of local monasteries Heritage Sites. Several of these are also tourist attractions.

Carlos likely wouldn't have needed to travel as far as Arenal as it's in Costa Rica and Volcán de Fuego is Guatemalan. Upon arriving at this mountain, he hopped back into his cab and headed westward.

Answer: Acapulco

Acapulco, for those following along, is southwest of Mexico City and it's found on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the State of Guerrero. For decades, it's been a major tourist spot for people in and outside of the country, mostly because of its beautiful weather and expansive beach. Unsurprisingly, much of its tourism comes from people escaping the U.S. and Canada in the winter and from college kids celebrating Spring Break. Of course, over half a century ago, it was a getaway for Hollywood stars and was frequently seen in movies during the 1940s and 1950s. Acapulco is the largest city in the state.

Of these choices, San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador; Carlos isn't going anywhere near there. Chilpancingo is the capital of Guerrero, but it's not on the coast, and Mazatlán is a coastal city much further north in the State of Sinaloa.

Carlos certainly enjoyed a dip in the warm waters of sunny Acapulco, but soon he needed to continue on with his search. He would take a bus north.

Answer: Jalisco

The State of Jalisco is the sixth-largest in area and the fourth-largest in population; Guadalajara is actually the second-most populated city in the entire country. Jalisco is cited as the home of mariachi-style music, so Carlos actually fits in quite nicely here. While Guadalajara is certainly quite beautiful and advanced for the country, Jalisco is also home to other major points of interest including the city of Tequila (known for, what else, tequila) and Puerto Vallarta, a Pacific vacation city.

After spending the day walking the streets of Guadalajara, Carlos started to wonder, "Did I leave it in Baja?" And then he was off to the ferry terminal.

Answer: San Diego, California

La Paz is the ideal place for Carlos to hop off the ferry because of its location on the southern edge of Baja California Sur and its spot on the Sea of Cortes (the Gulf of California). This is an important center for Baja and it's relatively close to the resort city of Cabo St. Lucas which is known for its five-star resorts.

Carlos needs to head to the border though, so he'd need take a trip up the highway to Tijuana, where Mexico meets the United States. Tijuana is an important cultural center (as it's the third-largest Mexican city) and it's a major tourist spot. This point in the border, between San Diego and Tijuana, is often regarded as the busiest border crossing in the entire world. Tijuana is also on the Pacific Coast.

Upon arriving at the border and searching the coastal waters, Carlos was unable to find his guitar anywhere. Where next?

Answer: Chihuahua

The State of Chihuahua is best known for its desert (the Chihuahua Desert, go figure) which is full of sand and seemingly inhospitable living conditions. It's one of the largest deserts in the Americas and it borders the Sonoran Desert to the west. Chihuahua is the largest state in Mexico and it borders a great deal of Texas and New Mexico. The city of Chihuahua (also the state's capital) is actually the second-largest city in the region. Although it's in the center of the state, the city of Ciudad Juárez, bordering the U.S., is larger.

The dog, Chihuahua, did not originate in this area.

A bit parched, Carlos took a drink of water in the city of Chihuahua and continued on. If someone found his guitar here, he certainly didn't meet them. The only thing he could do was carry on.

Answer: Gulf of Mexico

While the Sea of Cortes (also known as the Gulf of California) is found on the western side of Mexico between Baja and the country proper, the Gulf of Mexico stretches along the east coast, boasting a number of beaches and coastal cities taking advantage of beautiful weather and warm waters. The city of Veracruz is the capital of this particular state (of the same name) and it's the oldest port city in the entire country due to its location and access to Caribbean trade routes. Although Veracruz is rarely considered for tourism, many of its points of interest revolve around the interesting history of the state and the nation as a whole.

There was no time to waste, though. Carlos would head onward along the coastline, retracing his steps and, hopefully, finding what was rightfully his.

Answer: Tabasco

The State of Tabasco is found along the southern edge of the Gulf of Mexico where the country wraps around. This region is also borders the country of Guatemala. The state is home to the first Mayan ruins to be found in Mexico (if you're heading from west to east); the Comalcalco Ruins are found near the verdant capital city of Villahermosa. Despite the name, Tabasco sauce isn't made in Tabasco, Mexico; it's made in Louisiana. It does contain Tabasco peppers, though.

Tlaxcala is the smallest state in Mexico and it's far west of Tabasco (surrounded almost entirely by Pueblo). Hidalgo is even further northwest while Chiapas is the furthest state to the south.

Leaving no stone unturned, Carlos started to take his search to the Mayan ruins of Southern Mexico. Despite ongoing archaeological pursuits in the area, no one could find his guitar. Sigh...onward he went.

Answer: Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza was occupied by the Mayans for several centuries and has since become one of the most famous, most-visited ruins in all of Central America. The Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo, is the focal point for these structures. Rising 30m from the ground, it was built on top of another temple. Chichen Itza is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bonampak, Chiapa de Corzo, and Chinkultic are all Mayan ruins in the State of Chiapas.

The State of Yucatan is on, of course, the Yucatan Peninsula and it rests on the southern end of the Gulf of Mexico. Its capital is Merida, a city of Spanish influence containing a great number of historic buildings.

Checking cenotes, temples, and columns, Carlos still had yet to locate his prized possession. Nothing to do but head onwards though.

Answer: Cancun

The city of Cancun is one of the most-visited vacation spots in all of Central America and the Caribbean. At the northern tip of the Mayan Riviera, it's also fairly close to the island of Cozumel, another major vacationer's paradise, and the archaeological ruins of Coba and Tulum to the southwest.

The state of Quintana Roo is found on the Yucatan Peninsula and because of its location on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, it's also prone to tropical storms forming over the Atlantic. This doesn't stop visitors though; you're more likely to enjoy the sun.

Carlos searched the country from top to bottom and still couldn't find that missing guitar. What next?

Answer: The Angel of Independence

The Angel of Independence stands 40m above the ground atop a large pedestal. Made of bronze, the statue was erected in 1910 following Mexico's independence. This column actually rests atop a tomb containing many of Mexico's key figureheads during the revolution.

Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. Containing millions upon millions of citizens, it also happens to be one of the most densely populated locations. Unsurprisingly, it is also regarded as one of the smoggiest. Nevertheless, Mexico City is one of the most culturally-enriched spots on the planet and it's an important center for finance and commercial ventures.

Sitting down on the steps in front of El Angel, Carlos looked to his side and saw a black guitar case. "Oh. It was right here the whole time." Go figure.