Mexico, Guatemala 2007

I was between jobs so I had time to travel. In almost 2 months I was 1 week in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic with friends, 1 week in a 5-star hotel with ex-coworkers in Egypt, and in between for almost 1 month in Mexico and Guatemala. The first plan was to go to SE Asia (I did it later in 2014 and 2017), but I didn’t find co-traveler. So I went looking around forums and on Nomago (than STA) I found Špela. After a few emails and calls, we met and decided to do this trip together.

23/4/2007 Venice – Madrid

With the train we moved in the morning to Venice, the price of a return ticket was 25 €. At Mestre, we took a short bus ride to the airport, 5 €.

First, it was a flight to Madrid with Iberia, two and a half hours.

There we waited and rested a bit until the next flight to Mexico City in the middle of the night, 12 hours flight.

24/4/2007 Mexico City

On arrival at the airport in Mexico City (at that moment probably the biggest city in the world), we collected our bags. After we changed some money for an official taxi, we moved to a hostel.

When we setelled down we went out for a walk.

We passed interesting hotel Camino Real Polanco

Sat a bit in park Bosque de Chapultepec, huge park with museums and ZOO, NW from center

For visit of museum we were a bit late, but there were kids in school uniforme.

We continued our walk on Paseo de la Reforma, one of the most important roads in the city. There were roundabouts with interesting monuments.

One of the roads was named after our former capital

We finished our tour with beer in Zona Rosa, part of town known for party, shopping and gay community.

25/4/2007 Mexico City

Next morning we moved with metro to city center, somebody played loud reggaeton music.

There we caught a bus to Teotihuacan, an ancient city, 40 km northeast from the capital city. We had Jesus lit with shining lights to protect us and live music for entertainment.

Contryside was dry with lot of cactus

On arrival they explained many uses of Agave – maguey (paper, drink, medicine, sawing, …). We tried pulque, fermented agave juice. Not too tasty, low alcohol percentage.

We had a tour guide that explained to us all about Teotihuacan (Moon pyramid, Sun Pyramid, Avenue of Dead). We were together with the Argentinian couple.

On return to Ciudad de Mexico, we walked around the historical center. We saw the main cathedral, main square Zocalo, Diego Rivera mural, market, Aztec site El Templo Mayor, buildings like Palacio de Bellas Artes, rested in a park with squirrels and people playing chess

26/4/2007 Mexico City-San Miguel de Allende

It was time to say goodby to our kind hosts in hostel.

Soon we were on the bus to San Miguel de Allende, a small, colorful, artesian, and colonial town under UNSECO protection.

On the bus we met local family. After an hour of talk they invited us to their home. So we stopped bus some 10 km before town. Got in an old Ford pickup and went to their home in suburbs. House was still not finished but they were happy to share it with us.

They took us to town so we can enjoy its beautiful streets. When they were not back in time Špela paniced a bit. But finally they showed and we went shopping before returning to their home. After dinner man sat out for a beer and women were inside. They invited us to stay one more week until their son’s baptism, but our schedule was tight.

So we went to ‘bed’, sleeping on the floor

27/4/2007 San Miguel de Allende-Guanajuato

Next morning they took us back to town. Before going to bus station we took nice view of town from above.

Guanajuato was a place we went next, capital of the state with the same name. Historically it is known for mines of metal ore. We went around the city, visiting places like zocalo, market, …

Most interesting was mummy museum. If you couldn’t pay they would store you and because climat bodies becam mummified. It is a bit spooky, specially seeing child mummy.

28/4/2007 Guanajuato

We visited the university and went uphill for a beautiful view of the city and statue of miner revolutionary Pipila on top. Soon we took a 12-hour ride on bus to Oaxaca.

29/4/2007 Guanajuato-Oxaca

Next morning we arrived to Oaxaca, all tired from long ride. There I meet friend from college. Manca was traveling in Mexico in oposite direction. Together we went to some concert.

We visited golden Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán and monastery.

30/4/2007 Oxaca

While Špela was more into sports we went for a hike into the hills around Oaxaca with guide.

I manged to cut myslef on Agave torn.

Saw some stranfe plant on this hike

On return we went to market

1/5/2007 Oxaca-Puerto Escondido

In the morning there were some kind of protest for 1st of May.

It was time for another long ride on bus.

There was turkey riding with us.

We stoped on our way few times

It was heavy raining, second part of trip. We arrived at Puerto Escondido late in night.

2/5/2007 Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido is surfers and party place, but begining of May wasn’t to crowded yet.

We went to the beach, I sat in shade drinking beer

Locals gave us some strange fruit to try

Even I was in shade I got sunburns

In the evening we went out to party. In the end, I was the last guest with an English cook, his girlfriend waitress and boss, drinking tequila with scorpions inside.

3/5/2007 Puerto Escondido

Next morning was time for next beach

In the evening we had party at hostel with others staying there

4/5/2007 Puerto Escondido-Chiapa de Corzo

We were on the move again. In Chiapa de Corzo we met Slovenian couple Nataša and Peter. We had some common friends. We decided to continue our trip together.

On market I tried tequila with worm. Survived 🙂

Actually it is not tequila but mezcal, similar spirit. Also it is not worm but larva of moth feeding on Agave.

Girls had to do their nails

I saw even hummingbird

5/5/2007 Sumidero-San Cristobal de la casas

After breakfast in Chiapa de Corzo we moved to Sumidero canyon

Canyon is high around 1000 meters. There we saw some interesting shapes and animals

In the evening we arrived to San Cristobal de las casas. It was bit chilli there.

There we saw few nice churches

After dinner we went to bed

6/5/2007 Agua Azul & Misol-Ha Waterfalls & Palenque Ruins

This day was packed. First we visited beautiful turqoiuze Agua Azul pools and waterfalls.

Next was big Misol-Ha waterfall, weeven walked behind it. Here was filmed Predator

Palenque ruins were Maya city state.

7/5/2007 San Pedro

It was time to move to Guatemala. We took van.

It was raining and our bags were on the roof

We crossed lake Atitlan from Panajachel

So on arrival to San Pedro our stuff was wet.

8/5/2007 San Pedro

We had nice view from place we stayed

We took a ride on horses in countryside. My horse was affraid of cars

On market I bought 100 braclet for gifts.

9/5/2007 Pacaya, Antigua

In the morning we went to vulcano Pacaya. I ate half a kilo of spice peanuts and had problem with stomack. I had problem walking around.

We came to one of side openings

We met there Canadian couple Colline and Carey. He came really close to touching lava 🙂

In the afternoon we came to Antigua, nice colonial city that was capital and it is UNESCO protected.

10/5/2007 Tikal, Flores

We visited Tikal Maya ruins.

Some interesting nests were there

Some local had scorion in his hand

In afternoon we went to Flores, nice town in island on lake Peten Itza.

11/5/2007 Belize, Chetumal, Tulum

We moved over Belize back to Mexico. On border we sat few hours. Sam Norvegians sold us US$ we needed for visa.

Belize was different, English language, black population, wooden houses

We crossed border to Mexico at Chetumal. From there we moved to Tulum.

12/5/2007 Tulum

Tulum was great coastal town.

After some relaxation at beach we had nice evening at hostel

13/5/2007 Tulum

Second day I went to snorkel. There I saw baracuda and stingray

14/5/2007 Tulum, Chichenitza, Playa del Carmen

Before leaving we passed temple in Tulum used in movie Dusk till Dawn.

It was time to visit most famous piramid in Americas, Chichen Itza

Cenotes are caves that are filled with water and can be found around Yucatan

Basketball court, winner would be sacrified

Round building was not common

We spent night in Playa del Carmen, Nataša and Peter went to Cosumel to dive.

15/5/2007 Playa del Carmen, Isla de Mujeres

Playa del Carmen was too touristic for me. Also room was worst and most expensive

We moved to Isla Mujeres. There we reunited with Nataša and Peter. The were bit under the weather so we had dinner in our room.

16/5/2007 Isla de Mujeres

We visited tourtle shelter

At south tip of island, Punta Sur, we had nice walk.

In the evening we went out

17/5/2007 Isla de Mujeres, Cancun. Mexico city

We had our last drink together and it was time to leave.

We took ferry to Cancun.

From there we flew to Mexico City.

After few hourse we took next flight to Europe

18/5/2007 Madrid, Benetke, Ljubljana

We arrived to Madrid. Špela made a new friend

On arrival to Venice I was tired and Špela was still full of energy. It was just a train raid until we arrived back home.