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Published: August 7th 2008
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With over 20 million people in the city I didn't know what to expect from Mexico City. All I knew when I arrived was that the 20 million were all coming in the opposite direction to me on the streets!!! I had heard all the stories about crime but it was no different to any big city I had been to. The hostel we stayed at was pretty cool, set around a courtyard right in the centre of the old city. The only problem with the courtyard was that sound travelled....some of the guys got drunk and were up all night making a big racket....I got one hour sleep that night and I was not a happy bunny I can tell you!!!! Lack of sleep is torture in some countries!!!!!
In the centre there were people dressed up in Indian costumes and performing purification rituals, for a few pesos you can be sprayed with luck (which comes in a handy can) and all your troubles are washed away.....I was tempted...but no.
I went and saw Diego Riveria murals and Frieda Khalos house which was cool. I also saw some guys spinning round a pole in mid air which was cool too.
Linda adopted a Peruvian girl who was travelling on her own, so we took her round the city and tired her out....bless!
The next day I explored the city myself as Linda had had a big night and was hung over. I met a guy called Robert from California who was living in Mexico. You know when you meet people on holiday and you chat for a while and then you go on your merry way......well he didn't.......he walked all the way to the underground with me, then bought a ticket, then came on the tube, then walked to my hostel with me........he was harmless enough, but very hard to get rid of....I think he was lonely!!!!
From Mexico City we headed up to Teotithucan, it was driver Andy's first time driving the truck, he had to reverse out of the parking area whilst we all watched....I think he was quite nervous. To add to this neither Kirsty or Andy had driven in Mexico City. They hired a taxi and followed him out of the city. We did actually get lost a couple of times along the way.....I can only guess what profanities were being uttered in the cab.
Andy
- Used to work for Exodus and was shadowing my truck whilst I was in Argentina and Brazil at the beginning of the year. So I had actually seen him about, but not to talk to. Essentially he looks like a yob, tatoo's, shaved hair except for a mohican, drinks and smokes like a chimney. In reality yob is a bit harsh I suppose....he is too well spoken for a yob. He had a reputation with the ladies.....no more needs to be said! He likes to take the piss!
Kirsty - Blonde, petite Australian, comes over quite quiet until she gets some drink in her and then you can't shut her up. Also smokes like a chimney.
We arrive at Teotithucan ruins, the start of one of many Mayan sites, I suspected that by the end I would have seen more ruins than you have had hot dinners......and I was right, after Chitzen Itza, Palenque, Tulum, Monte Alban, Lamanai they all start merging into one. Don't get me wrong they are interesting....but once you have seen 10 pyramids, you've seen them all! Also I had previously been to some of these places when they were less manicured and when you
could climb all over the ruins......you loose the Indiana Jones feel when there is rope around them!
Our visit to the city of Oaxaca (pronouced Wah haca ???????) was great. They had a local festival going on and all the locals were in costume and dancing in the main square. There were ladies carrying baskets of flowers on their head. Linda, Sue, Nigel and me sat in a restuarant overlooking the square.....we had wine and good food.....it was a great night. Nigel wanted to try deep fried grasshopper.....but chickened out.....to be honest I was glad cause I mistakenly agreed to eat them with him!!!! I then went back to the campsite and polished off a bottle of wine!!!!!
San Cristobal was a smaller version of Oaxaca.....it was nice to chill out there and watch the world go by.
We were extremely lucky that our next 3 campsites had a pool and in the case of Playa del Carmen beach as well. It was really weird because the places resembled high class tourist hotels....and yet we were camping. It was nice to relax though.....I am not really a beach person (I get bored within 2 hours of sitting still) but after
all the travelling it was great just to chill by the pool - and the view was great.
Next stop Belize...........
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