Oaxaca is a smallish city situated well south of Mexico City. It lies in the mountains and is reached by good roads. The truck stayed in a trailer camp that was only half there. The Oaxaca Trailer Camp situated at the corner of Violetta and Navel Militare, has been half sold to some one who is building a very large building at that corner. Only the men’s bathroom was open and as follows the rule since arriving in Mexico… paper is not flushed down the toilet. Even number two paper is deposited in a basket… (some with plastic liners…many not…) that stands beside the toilet bowl … at times closer to ones face than comfortable. The place was as usual set up for RV’s so it was dusty and hard ground into which we had to ... read more

Mexico City, El Ciudad, has 22million inhabitants, a fantastic Metro system, lots of good food and fantastic activities. Every store, restaurant and street vendor has a turned on TV watching either soap or the beautiful game. Most sidewalks in the city are covered with street vendors, selling anything and everything, leaving only space for single file walking, if that. The Hostel Mexico City, on Republica de Brasil No.8, email: reservacions@mexicocityhostel.com is squeezed between a Chinese Buffet and a camera shop, just steps away from the Zocala or Plaza de la Constitucion, creating the centre of the city. This square is proclaimed one of the biggest squares of the world, according to the Turistico info. On one side stands the Metropolitan Cathedral, the biggest in Latin America, behind an iron gate. The inside of the cathedral ... read more

THE HOTEL This place is so much fun I recommend it for the alternative traveller and adventure seeker on a budget. Right downtown and terribly stimulating. Madero No.1520 e/ 16 de SeptembreE Indeptendencia, La PAz, BCS, Mexico. Tel y Fax 01 612 125 4688. Email: ynkmacias@prodigy.net.mx .... elycerecer67@hotmail.com Happy to report luckily brought my orange YMCA t-shirt for loungewear since I have been assigned room #20 … the yellow and orange room. Lesson learned: turn on all taps to see a) if they work and b) is there enough pressure in the pipes to send the water in the shower far enough away from the wall so that hugging the wall during ones libation is not necessary. It is a fifty year old hotel. The courtyard and every other spot that can hold, hang or ... read more

With sadness I returned to Sudbury because my Mother, who had been sick for seven years with multiple myloma was finally relieved from her unending pain. Hemine Smatlanek Calyn died June 12, 2007. She was 83 years old and had accomplished much in her life. She was an artist, a tailor, a weaver, a porcelain doll maker, a great cook and baker and a friend to many. She spoke Slovak, German, Hungarian and English. She crossed the ocean in a tiny freighter in the middle of winter and she trapped rabbits until a wolf chased her in the bush. She worked as a seamstress, waitress and chef. Mom loved her garden... flower and vegetable. I have a passion for Sweet Williams because in her first garden she had lined both sides the whole length of ... read more

Three Sleeps in Vancouver The drive from Banff to Vancouver was fast and presented spectacular views of flooding rivers, burnt out forest sections, some new growth and the ever present meandering bear. The ctitters were busy eating dandelions. The bears looked healthy with masses of good thick fur and not at all emaciated. In the environs of Vancouver, Maple Ridge to be exact we chanced upon a campsite that was close to the Black Sheep Pub and Grill, was within walking distance of the first of three buses to catch to go downtown and had hot water galor but no showers. Pablo and I set up the portable shower and all who so desired filled the pink pail with water from the outdoor hot water tap and gloried in free cleanliness. Doing a small wash ... read more