Blogs from Campeche, Mexico, North America - page 8

Finally made it to Campeche today, about 2 hours from Merida located on the Carribean - no beach really but a boardwalk. Havent seen much of it yet - Carnaval here too and got stuck on the wrong side of the parade by the water. Campeche is much smaller than Merida - about the size of Victoria it feels and I am staying in the old historic walled section which is very quiet with little traffic - narrow streets and painted fronts - unlike Merida wher ethe buses constantly streamed down the narrow roads some spewing exhaust. The Carnaval is also much small *- more a small town feel - amatuarish in respect, small floats on pick up trucks and well it is just not as sexy. The parade started really late - even the locals ... read more

Travelling in earnest now on the excellent mexican coach services. Seats need to be booked, luggaged checked in the hold and in flight movies everywhere you go. The journey down to Xpujil (pronounced Ish-pu-heel) went very smoothly arriving in 4 hours (against the 8 hours it had said on the timetable). A barely one horse town, Xpujil is the stopping off point for the ruins of Calakmul and other smaller, though no less remarkable ruins in and around Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul. The Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul is a biosphere reserved to protect the rain-forest and its wildlife in a vast tract of jungle bordering Guatemala. The wildlife apparently includes jaguars, pumas, ocelots and spider monkeys, though all we got to see were wild turkeys! However it makes a fanatasic backdrop for the ruins. ... read more

We finally arrived in Campeche after a 9 hour bus journey, which are never the best as very difficult to get any sleep, a combination of uncomfy seats, load Music from the driver or Mexican film, snores or even worse travel sickness! The only positive to come from it are all the the long journeys have been overnight so saves the cost of a nights accommodation! On our arrival we were very tired so couldn’t be bothered traipsing around looking for the best deal for accommodation, so trusted are lonely planet guide, which every travelers learns to depend on as their bible. Unfortunately on this occasion it didn’t come up trumps. On first impression the room was nice and clean and the cheapest up to now at 8 pound per night. We took the room and ... read more

Tuesday 7th June 2005 : Goodbye Merida, Hello Campeche and Welcome Rowan Rose Read some more about Aristotle Onassis. Breakfast then off to the ADO Terminal to book seats for Merida. It is not essential to book but the last thing we want is to be stuck waiting while 2 or 3 full buses leave. Strangely I cannot pay in person using visa yet I could have bought the tickets online via www.ticketbus.com.mx - no problem as there is an ATM in the bus terminal. Back to The Nest, noticed there are ‘water floats’ in Merida i.e. electrically-powered carts like those used at home for milk deliveries. Throw the boys in the pool and pack. Check email, still no reply from either Campeche or El Panchan, but good news from Glossop …. Congratulations Chris and Helen ... read more