Distrito Federal (Mexico City)

Mexico city is a happening place with lots to do and see. Initially I was planning on spending a couple days in the city, but as I quickly checked off everything from my to do list for the city it only took 16 hours. Early in the morning I visited the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtiltan. It is incredible to see what these early civilizations were able to create from pure brute human muscle power. After spending a number of hours baking under the sun I returned to the city core. While there I spent a few more hours in the Bosque de Chapultepec, which is the largest city park in the Americas. In the park I spent most of my time at the Zoo and the National museum of Anthropology. These where both great sites to see (and cheap) it was the first time I have seen a lot of the animals they had there, such as the pandas, monkeys and giraffes to name a few. From there I had a fun time trying to squeeze into the subway. I am not kidding here. It was literally crazy. It took 4 subs to go by before I was able to squeeze in and I mean squeeze. It was like playing sardines, how many people can we get into a subway car. With that experience I made my way to the Zocalo (Plaza de la constitucion). This is was another very interesting place. It had everything from native singers and dancers, to protesters, to religious groups and of course lots of people trying to sell stuff. Around the Zocal were a few buildings and sites of interest. The most enjoyable thing in the area was the absolutely huge market that covered I would say over 50 blocks (it felt like it at least). After that full day of exploring it was another night on the bus making my way to Tuxtla Gutierrez.

The Coast

A few of the statues that line the coastal walks of Mazatlan.
Puerto Vallarta in the evening hours. It was a bustling town. For some reason beyond my imagination everyone walks along this extremely crowed walkway along the coast when they could simply jump down and walk along the beautiful beach basically all alone (well at least 30 feet from the crowded walkway) .
Zihuatanejo was a great town. Much more laid back and take it easy compared to the other cities I had visited. Before I left I was able to take a boat ride across the harbour to a "secluded beach" were I was able to go snorkeling. When I got there I thought of my brother Ben since there is this old, now basically washed away, wall that was build by some king back in the day to keep out the sharks. (for the uninformed Ben does not like sharks very much)
Acapulco (population 2 million) was another fast paced city. However this time it was from locals not gringos so it was a different fast pace. I could see how back in the day while it was still a fishing town that it would have been amazing, but now the slums climb the hills in the background.
The famous cliff jumpers of Acapulco were crazy. They jumped from a 35 - 40 meter cliff after they climb it. Not only that, they jump into a small area that the waves are crashing back and forth with great force. I sure wouldn't jump it.

Along the Way

The ferry ride from La Paz to Los Mochis was lovely. A great sunset along with seeing some huge Wales. It reminded me of the good ol´days of taking the ferry to and from the mainland. The only thing was that this was a bit longer of a boat ride (a little over 8 hours).

The train ride "chepe" from Los Mochis to Creel was simply amazing.

It would have been interesting to spend more time in El Divisadero to hike down into the canyon.
In Creel I rented a bike for the day with a few guys and biked around. This is in the Valley of the Monks.

Zihuatanejo (See-wah-tah-NEH-ho)

Since leaving the rugged beauty of the Copper Canyon I have been exploring the Pacific coast before I head inland for a short time. (Pictures are still to come, still waiting on a place that I can get my USB key to work-Hopefully I´ll find a place in the morning.)   My first stop was in Mazatlan.  Overall I enjoyed the city even though the beaches are nothing overly special.  I thought it was unfortuanet that there was an extremely heavy fog going on for the majority of the time I was there, but I feel I got some fun pictures non-the-less.  Next stop was in the ever popular Puerto Vallarta.  All I have to say is "gringoville".  I had a good time, but the streets were simply packed with gringos.  The beaches were nice, but all backed by huge hotels (not exactly my style).  Manzanillo, well I did stop there very shortly.  I didn't see much.  I would have to have gone out of the city to see good beaches so I simply moved on and hoped to see them on my bus ride to Zihuatanejo.  Well that I did and more.  The 9 hour bus ride to Zihuatanejo was extremely beautiful.  Weaving though the hills that cut right into the Pacific.  The views were incredible.  However for most of the other passengers in the bus I think they would have preferred an easy straight road to the constant tight, hilly corners because almost everyone was throwing up (it was gross).  At first I heard people throwing up, but wasn't sure what it was.  Then the lady next to me did it and when I looked, yikes I quickly clued into what that noise that everyone was making was.  About half way through we had to stop and mop the bus then pass out new barf bags (good times).  I'm Currently relaxing in Zihuatanejo with the locals.  I am really enjoying it here.  There are not nearly as many gringos.  It seems to be more of a tourist spot for Mexicans (possibly from Mexico city). Tomorrow I plan on stopping at my last beach on the Pacific side of Mexico before I head inland and onto the Yucatan.

Copper Canyon

The Copper Canyon is simply amazing. I can easily see why it is such
a popular attraction for so many tourists. The Chepe train goes
through the canyon with over 7 hours of breath taking views. During
the course of the track there are 87 tunnels and 37 bridges. This
trainride should be on everyones todo list.
On the long ferry ride from La Paz I met a Brit (he has been traveling
for 2 years now) who I have been traveling with for the past couple
days. We stayed in Los Mochis then caught the train to Creel (where
we are now). Today we rented some bikes and toured around a few areas
of interest here. When I get to a better internet site I will try to
upload a few pictures, but for now you have to trust me that this is a
beautiful area.

San Jose and San Lucas

Oop it´s sideways. If you look hard you can see a few surfers waiting for a wave.













There are beautiful beaches all along the coast.














I would like to say that that is me, but I wasn´t quite up to that skill yet.













El Arco or the Cabos Arch was just off the end of this outcrop of rock. It was a fun time to climb and swim out to that area. It would have been nice if I had an underwater camera to get a few shots of the fish in the area.

Baja

Playa Los Cerritos, this is such a beautiful area. The waves were huge so it is a very popular place to surf. Although the surfing was mainly done in the other direction as to what the photo was taken from mainly so if you take a fall it doesn´t hurt as much.









This is the little palapa that some of the locals said we could stay under. The guy on the right taught me to surf and the two guys on the left that are trying to make tacos are the guys that I went out there with.

Seratos

If anyone has a chance to come down here, Wow, it´s great. I would have to admit Inicially I was a bit timid (and still am), but things have been working out great. I spent a day in Los Cabos san Lucas hiking around the cliffs trying to get out to Lover´s beach and the Arch del Cabo. For anyone who isn´t a strong swimmer, it wouldn´t be a good idea. Everyone else gets out there by little boats that run back and forth. I rented a mask and was able to do some snorkling there on the tip of the Baja. It was increadible. Fish I have only ever seen in extravagant aquariums were swimming around in schools. Like I said, Amazing. That evening I caught a bus to Todo Santos(Hometown of Hotel California). On the bus however I met a fellow Canadian along with his Mexican friend. They were heading to a surfers beach just before Todo. I got off with them and spent the night under the stars at the beach in Seratos. It was interesting there, we met up with a whole subculture of beach bums who simply live on the beach. One guy has been living there since October. He actually caught a bunch of lobster that day so I had a little feed of Lobster. In the morning I got a few picts then another guy I met from Wales lent me his board and taught me how to surf. I´m no expert, but I can at least catch a wave and stand up on the board in the process. It´s starting to cool off (it was over 25 on the beach), which feels great since I got even more burnt today. Again I forgot my USB drive so I will have to wait till morning to post some picts. Tonight I am in La Paz, which is a lovely city on the Sea of Cortez. Buenos noche.

Los Cabos

Well I´m definitely am not in Kansas anymore.  People here speak some other language??  What up with that.  It has been fine so far with the very few words in Spanish that I know along with the many words of English a few people here know.  Hopefully I should be able to find a place to stay here shortly then head to the beach.

Los Cabos

I booked my flight to Los Cabos, Baja Mexico last night.  I fly up to San Francisco tonight then down to Los Cabos in the morning.