In order to avoid "la papa" and the 22 million people who are trying to get to see the pope during his visit I decided to go to Oaxaca - pronounced Wahacka. A lively city of 400,000 people, many of them being from the indigenous people who live in the villages near by. The hostel Modena had adverts for one way trips from the hostel door to door to a Oaxaca hostel for the same price as a bus fair... it made sense, why struggle when you don't have to? The sixteen seat mini bus that picked me up from the hostel was clean and new. I said good bye to Robbie - he headed off to Veracruz the same day. I will see him again, hopefully in Central America - but if not Paris. A ... read more

After all I've read and seen about the barbarous behaviour of the Aztec civilisation a fitting end to stay in Mexico City seemed to be a trip to the Inquisition. The Inquisition is a touring exhibit of torture devices from throughout the centuries, mostly from Europe. Some of the ways which were devised to kill, maim and disable were horrific. From simple floggings to the gruesome sophistication of the Electric Chair, it seems that the Aztecs did not have a monopoly on horrendous treatment of others. I visited the muesuem with Shane and Regina and Linda - two middle-aged American women who were travelling without their husbands... as they don't like hostels and carrying backpacks. They demonstrated again that my preconceptions about people that travel are often wrong. Drank with Boghen, Ramsey and Shane. Ramsey is ... read more

Mexico City is the biggest city in the world, and from reading the lonely planet guide it is also the most dangerous, polluted and over-populated. ut it also has some of the most fantastic sites, food and culture in the entire region. It´s hopefully worth the risk (whatever the risk actually is). This entry though is going to be about the journey. Robbie and I have travelled from La Paz (Baja Sur) to Mexico city over the past few days, without stopping for rest or using hotels. Meaning I haven´t seen a bed or shower for around 54 hours... you might ask why I´m using the Internet right now and not sorting out the essentials - because we are not able to check into a hotel or hostel until 11am - it´s currently 8.30am - we ... read more

We caught the bus to La Paz, a small seaside city which derives most of its income from a combination of aquaculture (fishing), tourism and the oil refinery. During the day I wandered the city took some photos, went to an Internet café - $1 an hour and as fast as anywhere I've used yet. Lunch at a café - club sandwich and some great nachos. Matt disappeared without making an impact on his club sandwich - Montezuma had his first victim. Montezuma's Revenge is the Mexican equivalent of Deli Belly, and after over a week in Mexico we were surprised that no one had yet had any trouble. Our last night in Cabo San Lucas had involved a lobster dinner for Matt and Robbie. I'd had a steak. Matt had had bbq ribs with the ... read more

Cabos San Lucas turned out to be a bit of a surprise for us. We had been led to expect a very tacky dirty and generally unpleasant place. Instead the beach was beautiful, bars along the sand, fantastically clean cool sea water and an attractive town centre. Granted as with everywhere there are some ugly bits... but these weren't areas that you have to go. The lonely planet guide said regarding budget accommodation - "there isn't any." Matt's Lets Go guide listed a few suggestions. The "el dorardo" our motel for the next few days was impressive. Huge rooms, very clean and all importantly - air con. Hmm - maybe I should be slumming it a bit more - the backpacker way - but when you get a room in the most expensive part of Mexico ... read more