Central America

I think a blog is supposed to keep a regular update of what I'm doing. Well i seem to have missed a few countries or so. Its Christmas now and Central America has come and gone. I've been through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. In a few days I'll be in Colombia, South America....

Mexico City

Excursions from DF, District Federal (Mexico City)

From the high peaks of Orizaba, 5600m, to the ancient peaks of the Teotihuacan Pyramids, there are many excursions to be made around Mexico City, some more demanding than others. The Pyramids are only 50km from the city and take an hour by bus. The area only takes a few hours to walk around and two of the biggest pyramids give great views around the whole site, especially before sunset. Just don't wear your high heels unless you want to take the quick way back down!

Mexico's four highest volcanoes are all within a few hours of the city and 3 of these are inactive and can be climbed in a day. Although without proper acclimatisation, this can become a very, very long day! The highest is Pico de Orizaba and at 5610m is higher than Everest base camp but can be reached in 6-10 hours from the end of a rough 4WD road and a refuge at 4200m.

Day of the Dead

1st November


Day of the Dead is a big Mexican festival held all over the country. The ancient indigenous people of Mexico believed that the souls of the dead returned each year to visit their living relatives - to eat, drink and be merry with their loved ones.

Guanajuato

The Unesco World Heritage city of Guanajuato was founded in 1559 due to the region’s rich silver and gold deposits.  Colonial buildings, tree- filled plazas and brightly-colored houses are crammed onto the steep slopes of a ravine surrounded my rolling hills.  The city’s roads twist around the hillsides and delve into tunnels, which were formerly rivers.

Guadalajara

I hope to get a bus 12 hours south to Guadalajara, but its already 9pm, and i have no idea if there will be any more transport. Waiting outside, is a herd of taxis, but its very orderly and no-one harasses or try to rip me off. Its 50 pesos, £2.50, from the out of town train station to the bus station, there is a bus going in a few minutes, all the way to Guadalajara, but Ninety minutes later, however, it still hasn't arrived, but soon a guy who has seen me waiting tells me to change my ticket as the other bus has broken down. I guess my Spanish needs to improve a bit before i can understand the announcements (if there were any)!

Mexico

So I finally made it to Latin America, after seemingly avoiding it for the last 15 years of travelling around Europe, Africa and most of Asia. 

Its always been and alluring destination, but one so big i've been putting it off until i can appreciate it fully. Even now, i will 'only' be away for 7 months so can't cover the whole continent. Lets just say this is part one of a few trips i will make in the next few years.

'The Plan' is to travel overland, south from Mexico, as far as possible in the next half year. Then return to Guatemala for a Holy Week Festival in April, before coming home in May.

The route for now, is Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, by boat to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and finally Bolivia, hopefully in time for Carnival in March.