Geo: 19.312, -100.143The Eastern Monarch butterfly sets off from north-eastern USA and south eastern Canada beginning in September or October to make a journey of up to 4300 miles (given they don't fly in straight lines) to overwinter in one tiny, mountainous part of Mexico west of Mexico City. Two or three will start from a bush near Boston (where we got to tag them a few years ago as they started the journey) , a few from a place near Chicago...they make their way South, resting and feeding at layovers in the Appalachians and other places, merging with other streams from other directions until millions of them gather in a few small locations where the altitude, the foliage, the climate are right for them to pass the winter. They cluster together in great fronds that ... read more

Geo: 21.02, -101.28Our view of Mexico changed as we hired a car from the airport to travel north on a 3 week tour of small towns and ancient ruins. We began by taking motorways, which have lots of tolls, but the petrol is very cheap. In most cases they were direct and certainly better surfaced than minor roads. They are frequented with lots of lorries and buses, but fewer cars than Europe. The countryside north of Mexico City is mainly flat and dusty, with strange shaped mountains in the distance. Where the grass is greener there are cattle and some sheep, sometimes herded by groucho cowboys on horseback - typical Mexicans, just like the films!Our first stop was Teotahuacan, where a guide took us round the ruins of Quezachotal's Palace and climbed the many steps of ... read more

Geo: 20.06, -99.35... read more

Geo: 19.4106, -99.1306Beginning another adventure.The flight to \mexico was surrisingly long and seemed to detour way north over Greenland. Maybe this was to avoid the storms and headwind crossing the Atlantic to hit UK. But after 12 hours and 4 movies we arrived early evening Mexican time.We had a short wander to the main square all lit up with Xmas festive lights and busy with a huge ice rink in the centre. One night we found ourselves walking through a powder snow fall (generated by snow machines and accompanied by carols!) in the main shopping street. They like to experience winter, even if temperatures are very un wintery - 10 at night and 20+ with hot sun and blue skies once it warms up in the day.On our first day we explored the ancient Aztec remains ... read more

Geo: 51.5002, -0.126236... read more