It´s been awhile...

O.k. so I realize it´s been a little while since I last updated anyone...I haven´t really been in contact with the internet...I miss it!
We left San Cristobal on Thursday (i think)...it´s hard to remember exactly when, when you don´t know what day it is!
Before we left we did the Cañon del Sumidero trip which was fabulous! It was totally beautiful and definately worth the $200 pesos! The only bummer is seeing all the garbage left behind. It´s a shame that most Mexicans do not yet respect the beauty of their environment...
We also made a quick stop at the Mayan Medicine Museum. I would share photos but unfortunately my camera was stolen after I accidentally left it in a common area...STUPID! I´m pretty sure the night staff stole it since we were the last to go to bed...BUMMER!
Luckily I only lost photos from San Cristobal since I had downloaded most to my computer...oh well can´t let it spoil the trip!
Next stop was Palenque! Palenque is cool...we stayed in the city the first night and then in the Jungle the next 2 nights. We stayed at a place called El Panchan which is almost like a hippie commune. The whole place is called El Panchan but there is a variety of places you can stay...you can camp...you can rent a Cabaña...you can rent a hammock...It´s cool!
We visited the Palenque ruins which were really cool. It was hotter than a f&%$ing Sauna however, which for me sometimes makes day-trips hard to withstand!
Yesterday we went to Agua Azul and Misol-Ha which are a series of waterfalls. In Agua Azul you can swim in the pools at the bottom. Some of the cleanest water i´ve seen in Mexico...ha! The water is totally blue...Only problem is Lalo forgot his camera so...no photos to share :(
Now we are in Villahermosa..which is less than hermosa...again it´s a big city...hot and busy!
I´ll share more soon!
Adios...Besitos...Nos Vemos Pronto!

Beautiful San Cristobal de Las Casas!

I arrived in San Cristobal Friday afternoon and welcomed the cool, crisp air! Walking around in the hot sun all day sweating makes you feel pretty tired and makes you wonder if you are actually really lazy! Here, I felt energized to do lots of walking!
San Cristobol is a much smaller city than Tuxla...about 87,000 people. It is well known for the Zapatista movement that took place in the 90's...and is still lingering today. If you don't know much about Marcos or the Zapatistas you should read, it's interesting!
The city is rested in the mountains and full of indigenous woman and children peddling their goods. They are pushy...buy this, buy this, buy this! Their clothes are beautiful and traditional but their lives are sad. They live in extreme poverty and the woman in particular carry the large burden of too many children and not enough money to feed them. It is common to see children who are probably 4 selling goods. It is sad.
We are staying at a great Hostal here in the city. We have met some fabulous people. Cynthia and Will both of whom are working for the Peace Corp and have lived in Guatemala for the last 2 years and Carlos is from Veracruz, Mexico looking to marry a foreiner :) We all went out last night and had a great time...we went to a Lebanese restaurant and smoked the Hooka! We shared some really interesting conversation regarding poverty and the indigenous population.
Been speaking a ton of spanish...even with Americans cuz it's the common language we all share!
We're sharing a room with 2 Polish woman who are noisy and wake up early.
Today our plan is to visit a local Mayan Medicine museum!
We're also going to cook our own food today...my specialty...pasta with fresh tomato sauce! We'll see how that goes over....
The best food we've eaten so far has been the cheapest. Street tamales for 10 pesos a piece (mole and chipilin...mmmmm) 1/2 a chicken and rice for 38 pesos...elotes for 8 pesos! QUE RICO!
Really enjoying San Cristobal! It's truly beautiful!
Adios...Besitos...Nos Vemos Pronto!

"Combis"

Today we moved to a new Hotel named Hotel Hostel...how creative right?!

It is the definition of tres B...300 pesos, clean, free internet and cable t.v., dry floors, non-smelly bed...haha! It's amazing what you learn is important after sleeping in some serious shit-holes!

It makes for some good memories...

We decided to make a trip to the zoo today. Tuesdays are free entrance at the zoo so we left the hotel with less than 40 pesos. It cost 18 pesos for the ride in the combi (more on that later).

We quickly learned that today is Wednesday NOT Tuesday...I was shocked when the woman told us it was Wednesday I started laughing uncontrollably.

Needless to say we did not have enough cash to actually enter the zoo so returned in the same way we came...the "combi" or colectivo.

Let me tell you about the "combi". You pay 4.5 pesos each to ride in the most obnoxious mini-van type contraption. Many people use it because it's much cheaper than a taxi...especially if you have a long way to go! They drive really slow when it is empty because they need more passengers! REALLY SLOW!

Then when it is full...away they go! REALLY FAST! and if you think the "combi" is full...you are sorely mistaken. We kept stopping and I kept thinking to myself...where on earth are they going to sit? Everyone just crunches together...crazy ride, stop, crunch, crazy ride, stop, crunch...continue like this until you are really sweaty and desperate for some water!

We made it to the Mirador de Tuxla...an overlook of the whole city...4 million people! Its huge!

Tomorrow hopefully we will actually get to enter the zoo!

I'm trying to take everything in and remember everything...it's so hard when everything is new!

Adios...Besitos...Nos Vemos Pronto!

Last day in Huatulco

My last day in Huatulco was one of the best i've had yet. Did you know that it is a constitutional right that all Mexicans are allowed access to all beaches? Many hotels claim to have "private" beaches only because access to them is limited to the hotel entrance. If you arrive by sea...you're set!
We snuck into a private beach of a hotel called Las Brisas...check it out...it's amazing! We climbed some trecherous rocks to get there and almost died but we made it!
We ordered drinks from our own private palapa and enjoyed the mellow ocean waves all day.
Pretty sweet!
La Crema, a small pizza place in the zocalo in Huatulco, is a must if you visit. They have awesome pizza!
I ate the most delicious mango covered in chili, lemon, and Valentina salsa (delicious)!
I miss my family and friends!
Adios...Besitos...nos vemos pronto!

Tuxla

10 hour bus ride from Huatulco to Tuxla.
Less than pleasant. I cannot sleep on those things. SOOOO uncomfortable!
Tuxla is much different than I imagined, it's a really big city.
Found a cheap hotel...once again lamenting our choice. The floor is constantly wet...not sure why? and the bed kind of smells again.
Looking for something new.
Not sure how long we'll stay here...kind of dull in comparison to the lovely beach scene!
I'm learning that complaining does nothing more than bring more problems...
Adios...Besitos...Nos Vemos Pronto!

Huatulco...popo!

We arrived in Huatulco on Thursday afternoon. I have been slowly sweating to death ever since. I cannot describe the heat...it's wet...meaning all day long you sweat. Sweat running down your face, sweat running down your chest, sweat running down your back. On the plus side you always have that sexy sweaty glow!
It is vacation time here now. Everything has doubled in price since I was here last in April. There are Mexicans everywhere (surprise, surprise!) Puerto had many more foreign travellers. Huatulco is the national vacation destination.
We found a nice little place to stay but quickly realized that we were going to sweat to death. It was completely enclosed...and added bonus there was a baby that cried ALL F&$#ing night!
We moved next door...it's much better!
We went out last night to a bar called El D'Pa. I was the only gringa there...ALL NIGHT...strangely comfortable. Everytime Lalo went to the bathroom guys asked me to dance!We drank too much!
We almost got the cops called on us at the hotel...Lalo had the hiccups and I slapped him on the back really hard...he screamed...the owner thought we were fighting. It was funny!
We straightened it out this morning.
I think we'll leave tomorrow. I feel like i'm at the Mexican version of Valley Fair...gross overpriced food, hot, sweaty, too many people...
Next stop is Tuxla in Chiapas...really long bus ride!
Adios...Besitos...Nos Vemos Pronto!

Ahh...Mexico time!

Never believe a Mexican when they tell you how much time something is going to take. In my experience...you should take the time they give you and at least double it!
We asked a lovely little woman for a quiet calm beach...she told us it was no more than a 25 minute walk along the beach. We opted for the walk rather than a cab since we could save some cash and take in some sun...let me tell you...I would have rather paid $100 dollars than walk the 1.5 hours it took through slippery wet rocks in flip flops. I swear I climbed no less than 1,000 steps! I almost started crying! I was sweating like you sweat in a sauna...my forearms were soaked!
Lalo was less than pleased with my whining...
The beach was quiet and nice...but we took a cab home (25 pesos)! Vale la pena!
We went out on Monday. Met lots of travellers. Met some really cool people! Lots of young travellers with similar stories. I was craving English so it was really nice to meet a few Americans and Australians. I had lots of fun!
I think we'll be moving on tomorrow. I'm feeling much better and my last injection will be tomorrow...Huatulco or maybe Mazunte...we're interested in the nude beach there :)
Adios....Besitos...Nos vemos pronto!