Program 273: Two Sides of Mexico: From the Drug War in the North to the Mundo Maya in the South

Ed Vulliamy investigates the escalating bloodshed from drug gangs in Northern Mexico and shares what he found in a "post-political" war zone, where few outsiders dare to tread. But Mexico is a big country, so Rick also explores this year's special tourism emphasis around an ancient Mayan prophesy, which is is fostering a deeper interest in the indigenous culture in the south.

• British-based investigative journalist Ed Vulliamy, author of "Amexica: War Along the Borderline" (Picador)
• Travel writer Josh Berman, author of the "Maya 2012" guidebook (Moon Publications)

• The publisher's link to the updated edition of Ed Vulliamy's book "Amexica: War Along the Borderline": http://us.macmillan.com/amexica/EdVulliamy
• The Guardian newspaper in the U.K. offers two reviews of Ed Vulliamy's book "Amexica": http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/07/amexica-ed-vulliamy and http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/nov/13/amexica-war-ed-vulliamy
• Joshua Berman's website includes his blog, "The Tranquilo Traveler": http://blog.joshuaberman.net/
• Josh is also writing a blog about the Mundo Maya in 2012 for Moon Publications: http://www.moon.com/blogs/mundo-maya
• The Moon "Maya 2012" guidebook, authored by Josh Berman: http://www.moon.com/books/moon-handbooks/moon-maya-2012-first-edition