When you think about Mexico, you picture pristine beaches and all-inclusive resorts. There is another side to Mexico and its history, however, that might have you talking.

(1) Mexico introduced chocolate, corn, and chilies to the world.

photo by Renée Suen 孫詩敏

(2) The border between Mexico and the United States is the world’s second largest border, just behind the U.S. and Canada’s border.

(3) The red poinsettia is named after the first United States ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett.

photo by flagondry

(4) The Chihuahua, the world’s smallest dog, is named for the Mexican state, Chihuahua.

photo by Kevin

(5) Mayans used a “hornet bomb” during battle — an actual hornet’s nest that they threw at enemies.

photo by Robert Wallace

(6) Aztec descendants speak a language called Nahuatl. Some of its words were passed on to English, such as tomatoes (tomatl), chocolate (chocolatl), and avocados (ahuacatl).

If you’re looking a Mexican adventure far from ordinary, check out www.amigotrails.com and explore some of Mexico’s most hidden gems.