World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Friday 11 January 2013
Highlights: Local Market, Weaving Class, Local Artwork, Piñata Fun, Homestay.
A huge fun packed day easily the highlight of this part of the 16 day tour. I started the morning by actually shopping in the local market and buying some artwork. After last nights sunset I just had to have a momento. Unfortunately Laura wasn’t feeling better today and decided to skip tonight’s local homestay.
Thursday 10 January 2013
Highlights: Chicken Buses, Stunning Panajachel sunset, Chichicastenango Handicraft Market.
There is a saying that it isn’t the destination but the journey that is special and that was very true today travelling on public Chicken Buses which can be very exciting. You can check out the YouTube video of the Chicken Bus if interested.
Wednesday 9 January 2013
Highlights: Birthday fun, Zocalo, Offered Marijuana.
Today was my 39th birthday party and the third time I have had a birthday while being overseas. The last time was in Peru on the Inca Trail back in 2009. I didn’t book an activity in Antigua today as we will be back again in a few days at which time I will probably book a hiking tour to a volcano.
Tuesday 8 January 2013
Highlights: A dangerous waterfall, Birthday wishes
Again last night we had a lot of rain, it seems this must be the wet season. We upgraded our transportation for today’s trip to Antigua from public bus to private vehicle. This meant less travelling time and a stop off at a local waterfall to made the day more comfortable and enjoyable.
After 22 days in Mexico I can say I have a much better understanding of this country despite missing the Northern drug war areas on the border with the USA. My trip here was one part Resort in Cancun and a bigger basic tour part.
Arriving in Cancun on the 9 December I had a much needed 6 day break from constant touring. Cancun is like a fantasy world where prices are quoted first in USD. The main highlights here were the visit to Xcaret Park and chilling.
Starting on 15 December I was back into touring with a very cool group. I was a little concerned before this tour since G Adventure recommend ages 18-39 and I’m in the top of that range. Seeing to older people in Robin and James and the spirit and the energy they bring to the group made everything a lot easier. Additionally excluding the Palenque forest lodgings accommodation and all the public transport was of a higher standard then I expected.
The wild 12 hour overnight bus ride to San Cristóbal was memorable for the high winds that pushed the bus all over the road but we survived. A lot of the group got sick I bordered on missing a day but pulled though to visit the cenotes in Cuzama which would have been terrible to miss.
Mexico for me was about the Mayan ruins with the only disappointing on being the most famous Chichen Itza. I won’t quickly forget the Monte Alban Ruins set high above Oaxaca offering great views of the valley with magnificent ruins. The Palenque ruins set in a forest was also very different as up to that point I had only experience pyramids in desert like setting all over the world.
I will also remember Mexico for its religion, being deeply Catholic Christmas was huge including temporary areas to experience snow in this hit wether country. Seeing a chicken sacrificed in a church in Chomula was also different.
It was with regret that Cynthia, Aaron and Lauren left the group in Playa. I really felt a good connection with all three.
Mexican Photos (Facebook)
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Journal Entries
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Day 74 – Havana to Cancun. Highlights: Welcome to Mexico play security roulette
Day 75 – Cancun. Highlights: Beaches and Pools, La Isla Shopping Mall
Day 76 – Cancun. Highlights: No show by tour company 😦
Day 77 – Cancun. Highlights: no show for second ATV activity, Relaxing in the many pools.
Day 78 – Cancun. Highlights: Earning a $100 USD voucher for attending a timeshare presentation.
Day 79 – Cancun. Highlights: Xcaret Park, Swimming in an underground cave system, Mexico Espectacular night show.
Day 80 – Cancun to Mexico City. Highlights: Meeting tour members
Day 81 – Mexico City. Highlights: Teotihuacan ruins, Snow activities in Mexico City, Basilica de Guadalupe, Tequila shots.
Day 82 – Mexico City to Puebla. Highlights: Puebla Cathedral, Zocalo (City Square), Lucha Libre, Billiards.
Day 83 – Puebla to Oaxaca. Highlights: Magnificent mountains, Oaxaca Cathedral, nightclub drinking.
Day 84 – Oaxaca. Highlights: Largest Tree in the World, Zapotec ruins, Petrified Waterfalls, Mezcal alcohol, Traditional clothes weaving.
Day 85 – Oaxaca to San Cristóbal de las Casas. Highlights: The magnificent Monte Alban Ruins.
Day 86 – San Cristóbal de las Casas. Highlights: Surviving the 12 hour overnight bus ride, Chomula and Zincantan Mayan villages.
Day 87 – San Cristóbal de las Casas. Highlights: Sumidero Canyon, Local Market, San Cristóbal Cathedral.
Day 88 – San Cristóbal to Palenque. Highlights: Aqua Azul and Misol Ha waterfalls, Hotel in the forest.
Day 89 – Palenque. Highlights: Ancient ruins of Palenque, Early Christmas.
Day 90 – Palenque to Merida. Highlights: Christmas day road trip, Mass group sickness 😦
Day 91 – Merida and Cuzama. Highlights: Visit to the cenotes (water sink holes).
Day 92 – Chichen Itza and Playa de Carmen. Highlights: Feeling better, Chichen Itza.
Day 93 – Playa de Carmen. Highlights: Farewell Dinner.
Day 94 – Playa de Carmen. Highlights: Meeting new tour members.
Day 95 – Playa de Carmen. Highlights: Tulum Ruins.
Monday 7 January 2013
Highlights: Kayaking, Howler Monkeys, Boat Cruise, Hot Springs, Volunteer School.
For most of the night it rained with the occasional thunder and lighting which wasn’t a good omen for today’s events but for the most part didn’t have to great an impact.
I got up very early for kayaking with several members of our group and we set out at 5.40 am in light rain. James and Robin took one kayak, Rita and Andrew another one which meant I was by myself with our kayak guide also by himself.
Sunday 6 January 2013
Highlights: Boat ride around Flores
During the night I woke many times to some very noisy late night / early morning fireworks. I later found out this was the last day of Christmas celebrations. The weather wasn’t ideal either today with it raining on an off during the day.
Saturday 5 January 2013
Highlights: Tikal Ruins
Today we left Belize behind getting up around 6 am in order to have breakfast and be on the road by 6.40 am. Border control was interesting, we paid $18.75 USD To exit Belize and about $1.25 USD to enter Guatemala. The interesting aspect is we walked past border control and Andrea then went back with our passports to pay the entry costs and get our passports stamped. We easily could have entered the country without getting checked. I’m guessing they aren’t really worried about terrorists or illegal immigration!
Friday 4 January 2013
Highlights: Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Caves.
During the night it rained very hard and as a result all our booked activities today underwent major changes. For me the Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves or the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre was changed from a 11.30 am departure to 8.15 am. This news was delivered by Andrea shouting “Nathan are you awake?”. Actually this turned out to be a good thing as otherwise we would have been hiking back in the dark across rivers which I don’t think would have been very safe.
Thursday 3 January 2013
Highlights: Travel day by boat and public yellow school bus
Travel day from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio which meant a 45 minute water boat ride back to the mainland and away from paradise, literary since that was the name of our hotel!
Nathan's Insights 