Blogs from Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico, North America - page 11

Hola amigos and bienvenidos to the mexican leg of our cycle jaunt. We start off in Cancun and, oo it ain't 'arf 'ot. Except in our room in Casa Mexico Tipico, where it is just about sub-zero. We are staying with Hilda, her family and Pepita, the chihuahua. Hilda's mother is a music teacher and we are entertained by a parade of young pianists, percusionists and guitarists. All is not harmony, however, and I fear at one point that someone has stepped on Pepita, but it is only the violin class warming up. We liberate our bikes from the cardboard that has encased them for the past month and take them for a test drive around the Cancun hotel zone. This purpose-built resort, set on a sand spit in the caribean, has luxurious hotels and beautiful ... read more

Leaving the Yucatan Peninsula and getting into Chiapas was like entering another country, one that is more green, hilly and simply more Mexican. It felt so much better when I could see whole Mexican families, how they eat, have fun and even do touristy stuff. The thing is, there really aren´t that many white tourists here, which is strange and quite refreshing at the same time. It forces you to learn the language a bit more quickly. So, for instance, I can now order my weak latte without explaining the milk Vs. coffee proportions (cafe suave) - it´s very helpful ;o) Palenque is a small town surrounded by this thick jungle and mainly known for its rather impressive Mayan ruins. We decided to stay in cabanas away from the town and in the middle of the ... read more

Flash, followed but a roaring, billowing BOOM. The lightning is close, very close. The sky is a constant flicker of light as sparks jump through the clouds. A heavy rain pitter patters on the aluminum roof of the truck. We just cooked a vegetable pasta dinner in the most extreme cooking conditions of my life. We were able to get the stove started on the tail gate just before the storm hit. instantly everything became dark as the thick storm clouds blocked the setting sun. Intense rain descended and we were soaked to the core in a matter of seconds. There was so much water falling that our bowls were overflowing by the time we were ready to use them. It's hot and humid in the cab of the car, but it's fun to step out ... read more

Ok, auf diesem Hoehenflug immer weiter.. trampen scheint ja nicht gefaehrlich und somit auf den Pickups immer weiter. doch diesmal schien mir das glueck nicht so hold zu sein.. schlussendlich fand ich mich irgendwo im guegerihue wieder an einer tankstelle (immerhin moeglichkeit zum essen, trinken, quatschen) und warten.. nach 4 stunden und voelliger dunkelheit war selbst das nicht mehr lustig. hab dann schon mal ne stelle ausfindig machen koennen um dort zu uebernachten (ja natuerlich hinter dem shop von der tanke) aber dann hielt dann zum glueck doch noch ein reisebus, der sich meiner erbarmen konnte und somit mich direkt (ist sowas moeglich) an der party ablieferte.. Dann mal da, und ich eigentlich nur fertig.. also erst mal zelt aufstellen.. (natuerlich hatte ich auf diesem ollen weg, meine zeltstangen verloren und somit war ich gezwungen im ... read more

Vanuit Campeche haden we dus de bus van 10 uur. ´s Avonds dus. Het was een eersteklas bus, wat o.a. inhield dat je wat meer beenruimte had. Ik probeerde wat te slapen, maar na een tijdje kwam ik tot de gedachte dat ik toch wel wakker wilde zijn als de bus op zjin kant zou tuimelen. Dat denkbeeld was waarschijnlijk wat overdreven, maar als je slaperig bent, achterin zit en het buiten pikkedonker is, dan voelen de schommelingen van de bus behoorlijk heftig. Ook fijn was het klimaat in de bus; met mijn vest aan en onder een plaid had ik het lekker warm, want de airco stond uiteraard op standje ´vrieskist´. Mijn voeten hadden het echter wel heel erg warm! Wat bleek: tegelijkertijd met de airco, stond de verwarming op standje ´hete luchtoven´(!) Jaja, die ... read more