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| A truly chaotic city of around 25 million people. located in the mountains at an altitude of 2240 meters on an dry lakebed. A locaition which causes it to sink app. 7cm every year. It`s heavily trafficed and polluted and home of a crimescene you don`t want to know about. Need I say that I had a really good time there? |
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| The always exiting Zocalo (main square) the streetvendors who sells everything from plastic icecones to tacos, The markets with their colorful fruits and vegetables all neatly stacked in small pyramids, just waiting to be sold. |
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| The house of the painter Frida Kahlo, situated in a beautiful part of the city called Coyoacan also made a great impression on me. Especially her bed with the mirror in the ceiling moved me deeply. A truly remarkable place of a once remarkable woman. |
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| Not to be forgotten is the old ruin city of Teotihuacan, located just outside of Mexico city. Walking on the long "Avenue of death" is is a unique experience in itself. The worlds third largest pyramide, "The pyramide of the sun", measuring 222 meters on each side and 70 meters in the air is a breathtaking vision. 3 million tonsof stone, brick and rubble was used in the making. After climbing the 248 steep steps you are rewarded with a stunning view of Mexicos largest ancient city and the capital of what was probably Mexicos biggest pre-hispanic empire. |
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| An old charming silvermining city, beautifully situated in the mountains, at a height of 1800mts. Just two hours south of Mexico city, this is a place not to be missed when in Mexico. Unfortunately the traffic and pollution has escalated a great deal since my first visit ten years ago, but even though it sometimes requires dogding an out-of-control Herbie, it«s still well worth a visit. |
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| Wandering around the labyrinth-like and sometimes very steep narrow streets, filled to the max with street vendors, was a great experience like always. The beautiful/colorful zocalo was buzzing with life like never before. Once while eating a tasty and sweet "Churro" we happened to witness a local run which lead young as old participants up and down the not very running-friendly streets. To put this in the right perspective, we`re talking up to 35 degrees angles which made my legs sore just from walking up them...! I quickly uttered a low" respect!", and walked along. Later a funeral came our way, and leading the mourners and the carved wooden casket, was a group of tromphet players. Dressed in colorful shirts and wearing white cowboyhats, blowing a sad tune on their shiny silver tromphets. The violins and guitars tuned in from behind. A sad but at the same time beautiful sight, so very different from the Scandinavian traditions. |
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| Before departure we also got a chance to say hello to the new Jesus statue. A 10mts. high, not very well crafted Jesus, but none the less proudly overlooking the city from his platform, which also happened to offer a truly stunning panoramic view of the city that gave it it«s life. |
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| All in all a delightfull third visit, which probably won`t be the last. |
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| While being a well-visited place, Escondido retains it`s charme. The beautiful but dangerous beach of Zicatela pulls in a large crowd of surfers and the rest of us who just likes to hang out on the beach, and it even has it`s own big surfing competition. |
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| The undertow have to be taken seriously though. This I learned in 1993 on my first trip to Mexico, where I had to be pulled in by an American surfer. I was not pleased. |
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| Throw in a nice pedestrian mainroad with a wide selection of restaurants, taco joints, shops and bars offering multiple hours of happiness in their ongoing fight for customers, and you have Puerto Escondido. |
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| Five days with our fair share of beach, bars and Carmens delicious breakfast, we were ready to move on in search for new adventures. |
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| The old hippie beachtown of Zipolite is a great place to chill out for a few days or even a week or two. It's a place that grows on you and often makes you wanna stay for longer than expected. It's made up of just around two km of nice beach with a tuff pacific surf and undertow to go. This is to be taken seriously though. Last year when i arrived they had just buryied a local who had drowned. This time it came close as i saw a woman being pulled out of the water by the lifeguard. |
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| For those of you who likes to walk around in your birthdaysuit, this is also one of those places. And it's even allowed. The gay scene also seemed to be booming. New years eve we shared a table with a group from Mexico City . They were very nice, even when they repeatedly asked if we were sure that we were straight. We took it as a compliment, but kindly declined. |
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| One day we walked the 5km to nearby Mazunte. A small beachtown that has a famous turtlestation with a breeding program. On our way back we were told that they were about to "liberate" some babyturtles. We rushed back to the beach for this rare and special sight. Watching these small creatures make their way towards the big waves and a new life was as amazing as expected. |
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| After seven days of beach and bars we decided that that was that and headed of towards the cultural city of Oaxaca. |
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| Once again i'm back in the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca, and once again i'm having a really good time. The colors the artworks and the always smiling locals and the most charming zocalo that i know of in Mexico. We also happened to arrive to witness the grand opening ceremony of the beautifully restored Catedral which has been covered by skaffels for a few years. With fireworks and speaches since this was a big day for Oaxaca. Big posters on the side of the catedral also announced the arrival of a new archebischop (Jose L Chavez Botello). A new Catedral with a new archebischop. So once again as with the liberation of the turtles in Mazunte, we were spot on. |
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| Before coming to Mexico we had talked about renting bicycles (Joe is a avid cyclist) and driving around the valley of Oaxaxa. We found a bikeshop with quality bikes (Bravo, 125pesos a day) owned by an american. He showed us some possible routes and provided maps and tools. Later that evening we agreed on a 65km route which would take us to three small villages. O730 the next morning we took of on what will probably be the most beautiful bikeride of my life. It was a truly amazing route with indescribeable mountaintop views. The at times very steep hills (walking!) provided the longed-for physical training, which hadn't been as present as talked about before departure. This was a good day. |
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| The ruins of Monte Alban was another first for me and again a beautiful one. The site was first occupied around 500BC and the archaeologists believe Zapotecs was the first occupants. 3.5 very interesting hours and many photos later i returned to the hostel. |
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| Saturday the old dream of renting a car finally came true. Dodge provided the Ram-van (1500pesos) and of we went to visit Mitla and some other sights including Hierve el Agua. Hierve El Agua (boiling water) is a natural pool high in the mountains created by the mountain itself. The water comes from hole in the actual cliff. This has then created a mountaintop pool with spectacular views of a the green valley. A nearby "frosen" 30mt waterfall can also be seen from the pool. The minerals in the water running down the mountain has over the years created this white waterfall-like mountain. A unusual beautiful sight. |
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| San Cristobal de las casas is probably the most beautiful and popular city in the colorful state of Chiapas. You always meet a lot of backpackers when going there. Many of them choose this city as the place to study spanish. Located high in the mountains at 2100meters it is also one of the more cold places to stay. |
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| The many indians in their multicolored dresses makes this city one of the more colorful all of Mexico. Around the zocalo and in front of the old monastary you will find many of them selling their fabrics, clothes and jewellery. |
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| Around the region you can also find other interesting places, including Chamula where the locals are praying and healing their diseases over candles and coca cola..?in the smokefilled church. |
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| The cold weather though was a great factor in our somewhat short stay in this otherwise interesting city, Some didn't agree very well with the cold. |
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| As this was my second visit i didn't really mind the early departure. |
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| And off we went to Palenque and the humid and hot weather. |
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| The toen of Palenque is known for one thing only. That thing though, is the amazing ancient Mayan city of Palenque. In my opinion the most interesting ruins after Teotihuacan. The lush jungle sorrounding these ruins gives the place an extra special athmosphere. Around the site high in the trees, the howler monkeys are doing their best to deserve their "howler" title. While we were there we were lucky enough to catch a glimps of a couple with a small baby. |
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| This is high on the must-see places when in the south of Mexico. |
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| We mowed in with Ed & Margarita in the El Panchan area close to the ruins. El Panchan is a small junglearea where you will find a handful of places offering cabanas and hammocks. You'll also find a few restaurants, including the famous "Don Mucho" where every night is a party, often including live music and fireshows. |
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| The clubfooted king Pakal who reigned from AD 615 to 683 is the most influencial king to hold the throne. Under Pakal the place rose to be one of the most prominent cities of the time. He died at the age of 80 and he was followed by his Kan Balam. Palenque was abandoned at around AD 900 after 800 years of existence. |
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| As last year where we even meet some very nice Mexican people, now friends of mine, we had some great evenings under the large roof at the Don Mucho restaurant. |
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| Coban a small not very interesting city in the north of guatemala provided a nice base for some interesting excursions in the nearby area. A orchid plantation, some people, a coffee plantation started in the 19 century by a german and last but not least an amazing natural water paradise located in a spectacular jungle-like area. |
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| The green and blue pools and the water whichran under the stone bridge was an amazing sight, especially the rapid when watched from under the actual rock formation (no photos). Our guide supplied a rope ladder which we used to climb down the waterfall and in under the rock. From there we could see the massive waters thundering through under the rock while a gentle shower dripped upon us from the stone roof. |
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| The three unbelieveable bumpy hours to and from Semuc Champeyand the lunch basket, was worth it after all. |
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| Next on the itineary was the supposedly indian market of markets, beautifully named Chichicastenango. |
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| Not even the many, and i mean many, tourists and students can make me dislike this old beautiful capital of Guatemala. |
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| The city has consistently been damaged by earthquakes and even abandoned for many years after a big quake in 1773. Repopulation began in the 19 century and from 1972 restoration and preservation began for real. |
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| Stunningly situated at the foot of Agua volcano (3766) this city is one of the trademarks of Guatemala, and I could easily see why. |
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| In many ways similar to Oaxaca in Mexico, the many low colorful buildings and a high number of churches, monasteries and convents makes this city a visual delight. The busstation close to the market, is a buzzing place, always full of multicolored Bluebird (school) buses coming or going. A truly remarkable sight. |
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| One day Tim and I rode around to the nearby villages, close to the volcano, on two rented off-road bikes. A long talked about experience. Other days we just wandered about the city, taking in the sights, and at night we enjoying the many good restaurants and bars serving the many hungry tourists. |
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| It is hereby recommended |
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