After the blockades, rough highways, and jungle ruins of Chiapas we were ready to head for the touristic coastline. We arrived into the still, humidity of the city of Villahermosa (located in the state of Villahermosa) late in the evening. Our campsite for the night was a museum parking lot. We planned to tour the … More Three more Mexican states: Villahermosa, Campeche and Yucatan
The Pan-American Highway held a couple of special highway conditions. In addition to more speed bumps than any other section of roadway in Mexico, it also has terrible potholes. Not the kind that bump a tire or make you splash your coffee in your lap. But this kind: This hole has consumed over half … More Pan-American Highway to Palenque
While we were visiting San Cristobal de las Casas we took our first trip with a tour guide! We paid for a van ride and boat tour of Sumidero Canyon. The van picked us up in town and drove us about 2 hours to the boat launch area. We boarded a boat with our puffy … More San Cristobal to Palenque – Roadblock! You can’t pass by here today!
After the low valleys and ocean roads of Chiapas, we were thrilled to climb into the mountains and experience San Cristobal de las Casas. This gorgeous mountain town is was once named San Cristobal, but later added the last name of a monk (Bartoleme de las Casas) to honor his work in protecting the Mayans … More San Cristobal de las Casas, Agua Azul and silly roadblocks!
Chiapas made us feel nervous. I will not lie about this fact. When we traveled across Mexico many years ago, Chiapas was the only state where we encountered a roadblock, a detour and a feeling of uneasiness back then. It is also the state that generated a lot of negative press when we were living … More Chiapas state- A few nights in the capital, Tuxtla!
Hogar means home. Infantil means children. Hogar Infantil is a children’s home with an excellent record of success. It is not really an orphanage, as many of the children have family elsewhere. But it is a place where they are safe, cared for, fed and can form a community that feels like family. Without exception, … More Visiting an “orphanage” in Mexico- Hogar Infantil
One of the highlights of Oaxaca City for most visitors is the ruins of the Monte Alban archeological site. This is huge area located on a mountain overlooking the city. There are crowds of visitors there, because it is easy to get to. But most of the structures are closed to climbing and all of … More Ancient ruins and water frozen in time! Oaxaca part two.
This city is in an ideal climate zone. It is surrounded by lush green mountains that send gentle breezes through. It blessed with a light afternoon rain almost daily and a torrential downpour occasionally. Although the valley can also become very warm, we found it to be pleasant during our time there. And there is … More Oaxaca City, Oaxaca.
Somewhere in the jungly mountains of Mexico lies the line between the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca. I suppose there is a sign on a highway somewhere that marks that state-line. But we did not travel on a major highway. We drove smaller roads through villages clinging to hillsides and fighting back the growth of … More Mountain village scenes (Veracruz and Oaxaca)
Mexico has 31 States and one Federal District. Many of them are named the same as the capital city. Leaving the city of Puebla and driving through the state of Puebla, we crossed into the state of Veracruz on our way to the city of Veracruz. In Estado Veracruz we had our first encounters with … More Veracruz state- police encounters!