Blogs from Mexico, North America - page 641

Our visit to Mexico City began with a series of interesting experiences. First, we wandered into our dorm room and found a group of fellow travellers smoking joints, turning the room into a bit of a hot box. Then, to get our bearings, we went down to the square outside the Fine Arts museum. There, we were confronted by a bunch of nude campesinos protesting and banging drums. We really wanted to visit the museum (since there was a big exhibit on Frida Khalo), but the line stretched into the square. This meant nude women would occasionally come over and explain their cause to us in rather hurried spanish. Ben didnt know where to look and quietly took their pamphlet rather than explain he didnt really speak Spanish. At some point they all put their clothes ... read more

I've been in Mexico for a few days now and this country has been a revelation to me. In a word, beguiling. More on that in another entry I think... I flew down to Puerto Escondido yesterday over the mountains south of Mexico City. I'd heard about Puerto Escondido from some Austrian surfers in Indonesia a few years back. They told me about this magical place on the Pacific coast in Mexico. They told me it was a tough wave to surf but the way they spoke of the whole experience, I knew one day I would have to make the journey. Today I can say, they were so right. Puerto Escondido is like a travellers paradise. For all of you people sitting in your office in London, this is exactly what you are dreaming ... read more

After a beautiful bus ride through the mountains of Mexico I finally arrived into the giant monstrosity of a city referred to as Distrito Federal (D.F.- or Mexico City). I had no idea what to expect because I had heard so many things about the danger factor- violence, muggings and corruption. So I arrived at night as I was trying to find my cousin Michita´s place in barrio Colonial Santo Domigo. I entered the metro station and rode the train for about 45 minutes from the northern end of the city down to the southern section- just to give an idea of the shear size of the place. Once I got off the train, I must have walked a good 4 to 5 miles in the dark looking for Michita´s place as the house/apartment numbers went ... read more

After a wasted day of waiting in the courtyard of the Yeneka Hotel, in La Paz was finally picked up by truck, across the street from the bus station, on the Malecon, the next morning. They had camped at some disgustingly dirty playa… too bad they did not go a little further and find the perfect Playa Tecolote. I had rebooked myself into the room I had had the two previous nights. None of the group had seen La Paz. In the heat of the day they had an hours wander. I stayed on truck guard duty. I had spent a lovely time in the place already. The ferry ride involved a long wait and then a long crossing from La Paz to Topo, 24k outside Los Mochis. It was very noisy on the ferry. ... read more

Mon 2nd July - Fri 6th July: Arrived in Albany to visit with my cousin Melinda and her family. Was excited to have a July 4th in USA but it rained so was a bit of an anticlimax. While in Albany visited Woodstock (of the famous 1969 music festival), Lake George, Saratoga and spent a lovely time catching up with my American cousin who I don´t see much of. Left Sat for Mexico City. Sat 7th July: Arrived safely in Mexico City after an early start from Albany in NY State. Had to send my backpack through to Mexico City unlocked as I didn´t have TSA approved locks and wasn´t going to buy any just because the Yanks are paranoid about national security. Anyway it arrived with nothing missing ...and more importantly, nothing added to ... read more