http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/ruins_explorer/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from ruins_explorer en-us Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:26:31 +0000 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:26:31 +0000 We had to leave Mexico early Sunday morning and we flew back to Mexico City from Oaxaca around noon. We had a whole afternoon left. We ended up going to a really fun place from the Zocalo the huge main square in Mexico City we saw the Templo Mayor. It is the only remaining Aztec temple in the center of Mexico City and it has a really great museum to go with it. The atmosphere was quite http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Distrito-Federal/Mexico-City/blog-399494.html We took a day trip with a private guide on our last day in Oaxaca. He took us to the Friday market at Ocatlan. This market was fairly overwhelming. With the guide along we never really felt like it was OK to stop and buy something or to explore. It kept feeling like we were rushing through the market to get somewhere and then suddenly it was over. We had seen the market but we hadn't http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-399492.html The days that we spent in Oaxaca were for the most part very leisurely. This beautiful colonial town is perfect for long strolls with its Spanish colonial architecture broad plazas ancient churches and delectable food. It feels that there is an equal part traveller or Spanish student for every native Mexican here. As many people are here studying in language schools it is easy to find pe http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/Monte-Albon/blog-399489.html We spent four fantastic days in Oaxaca and it is known for its food. so this entry will be all about the foodFriday March 6Los DanzantesModern restaurant with open sky atmosphere great service very popular.duck tacos with slices of avocado and a smoky salsahoja de hierba santa relleno con queso de ldquogoatrdquo in a sweet sauceblack bean soup with Chiapas cheese masa dumpings and onio http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-399472.html March 2nd 2009We had an early wakeup call for our day tour to Teotihuacan. Itrsquos a long drive from the D.F. so we decided to take a bus tour. Our tour consisted of 2 Honduran ladies one American 2 Brazilian guys and 4 French people. Only the French people didnrsquot share a common language with us not even Spanish otherwise we chatted with everyone.Teotihuacan was not what I exp http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Estado-de-Mexico/Teotihuac-n/blog-399462.html Today was serendipitous in the extreme. While we had planned to take the Turibus around Mexico Cityrsquos main sites the main thoroughfare was closed to autotraffic so the only available route was the southern route. The turibus was as advertised its own adventure. it's a great deal taking you all around town and you can get off and on as many times as you want in a day. It's a doublede http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Distrito-Federal/Mexico-City/blog-399459.html We arrived in Mexico City to be greeted by Sharid San and her boyfriend. It was such a joy and relief to see the big pink sign with my name on it. I literally jumped for joy. Sharid could not be a nicer person and although we were stuck in traffic for an hour and a half she was very goodnatured and we talked about bellydance most of the way talking about teachers we've taken with and works http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Distrito-Federal/Mexico-City/blog-399446.html We just got back from a weeklong trip around NoCal. We were in Napa to begin with for three days. Then we spent a brief period of time in Sacramento for a wedding. Afterwards we drove back to Sonoma for more wine food and hiking and then ended our trip in San Francisco. I didn't write extensive journals and the USA isn't that exciting to read or even write about for me so just a few no http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Napa-Valley/blog-311022.html Man if I lived here I would be a little piglet in no time. The food here is so fatty fried and sugary. The major cause of death is diabetes and heart disease. And I look around and everyone is partaking in it. Depending on genetics people seem to be really thin here...or not. But no one is obese like in the US. But I sure would be if I lived here. With the sun and the fatty food I would s http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Luzon/Metro-Manila/Marikina-City/blog-264391.html Yesterday Dona and I went on a great adventure. We went to Corregidor Island. This is a small island shaped like a tadpole in Manila Bay. It has been used to protect Manila Bay since the Spanish. As such it was the scene of many battles in WWII. First the Japanese struggled to take Corregidor the last place in the Philippines to fall into their hands. Then the Americans had to take it http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Corregidor/blog-264387.html I finally got to ask my coworkers about some of the things I had been observing when we drove home from work together on Friday.The chickens with all the plumage These are special Filipino chickens and apparently taste better too. The beautiful cows with the big curvy horns carabao. Clear Black Valentines a shampoo made by Unilever not a holiday for goths. Spending 2 hours in traf http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Manila/blog-263263.html I am still in the Philippines. Once again my coworkers have given me a window on the country I would not have had otherwise. And that window is....the life of the uppermiddleclass professional citydwelling Filipinoa I can't say I mind. It is extremely hot here and it is nice to have a driver. It's very nice to sit in an airconditioned coffee shop. Oh lest I forget these people love c http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Luzon/Metro-Manila/blog-263262.html Actually it wasn't THAT bizarre. But I did try some new foods for meMost of this post will be about my lunch at Josephines overlooking the beautiful Taal lake and volcano. But first let me say the best mangos in the world are from the Philippines The food here is really great and even the cafeteria has tasty food. I admit that I like Asian food more than American food on any day of the wee http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Taal-Lake/blog-262332.html I have spent a long time in the road in the Philippines. 3 hours a day back and forth to the office. I have read so many Filipino billboards and signs that I am starting to learn Tagalog words and am even starting to get jokes that make reference to local advertising campaigns. There are only a few highways here and the rest of the time you are driving through little villages and farmland a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Luzon/Metro-Manila/Makati-City/blog-262329.html I was supposed to be in the Philippines today. Or at least flying over the Arctic circle on my way to the Philippines via Tokyo. But instead my plane in Boston was delayed by mechanical problems and weather and I was stranded in Minneapolis. Better here than NWA's other hub Detroit. NWA provided lodging at the Days Inn in Bloomington and a few meal vouchers. I had 24 hours to kill until http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Minneapolis/blog-260776.html We took a poll of our fellow travellers while we were still in Cairo. I promised I would post the answers later. It was interesting to hear all the different points of view.Favorite Shopping Experience1. The Inflatable Boy King Blowup Doll in the Egyptian museum gift shop Alli2. Rugs Scott Tere3. Mahmoud's ShannonFavorite Dining Experience1. Fishawi's Shannon Scott Tere2. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-250463.html Assorted memories from my first day in Cairo...Nibal is the wonderful guide we have contracted to spend the first day with. She picked us up at the Grand Pyramids hotel and took us to the Citadel of SalahalDin by my request. I have just finished a book about the 3rd crusade and I am a great admirer of the man we call Saladin. We visited the Mohammed Ali mosque within where Nibal briefed us o http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Cairo/blog-250460.html We met Susan and her roommate Nicky at breakfast at the Grand Pyramids hotel. They are both very nice and I can tell this group is going to be funloving. We feel pretty lucky to have chosen to go on this tour.On our first full day with the Peregrine tour we are going to Memphis and Sakkara. For me Memphis was unimpressive. It's like an outdoor museum but none of the items are insitu. The http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Cairo/blog-250444.html Today was a long day. We began fairly early at the pyramids and ended our day at the Egyptian museum.The pyramids are absolutely unreal Until I walked up to the base stone of one of the pyramids I didn't quite process I was there. Unfortunately we arrived too late to go inside the Great Pyramid as only 150 people per day can do that. Instead we went through the 2nd largest pyramid. Scott http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Cairo/blog-250435.html Just some notes I took while staring sleepdeprived out of the train windows at dawn...Land is shot through with green the color of paradise indeed. Palm trees in fertile fields. Sunrise dusty rose at the horizon. small minarets a village mosque. a mudbrick enclave painted blue containing goats. The people are not yet awake I suppose. The sun is beginning to cast its golden rays a http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/blog-250430.html