When it comes to Mexico, I definitely have mixed feelings. 
I visited Tijuana a number of years ago. I've been told that you don't really get a feel for Mexican culture when you go there, because it is so close to the border that's it's got too much U.S. influence. I'd love to venture further in, go to Mexico City and check out the Pyramids.
When I was in T.J. I still got the feeling that I was in the middle of an ancient culture. There really is something about it, something that I can't identify that seems like it must be closer to the ancients. Maybe it's just the look of the people. In many, you can still see their native ancestry in their beautiful sun-kissed faces. Or, maybe it was that feeling that it's okay to linger and enjoy the day. The people were warm and friendly, and the food was amazing!
Something else comes to mind when I think of Mexico: Poverty. There were children in streets in the middle of the day, trying to sell jewelry and candy. I wondered if they were orphans, or if their families were just so poor that they had to send them out to help make a living. It's sad to see so many of us living in poverty.