If someone blindfolded you, spun you around, and dropped you into the heart of Old Quebec, you’d swear you were in some corner of Europe — perhaps France. But surprise: you're standing in the only fortified city north of Mexico, nestled along the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Welcome to Quebec City, where cobblestone streets whisper old stories, and castle-like hotels pierce the sky.

Imagine this: you're standing in a quiet plaza in the steamy town of Papantla, Veracruz. The scent of sweet tamales drifts through the air. A tall pole—nearly 30 meters high—rises above the trees. Flutes start to play, slow and haunting. And then… men begin to fly.