The Wanderings of busman7

They say only “mad dogs & Englishman go out in the midday sun” so it’s time to get out of the sun for a bit.

Just a couple observations from my travels in Mexico; read your Lonely Planet or which ever guide book you use to get a general idea of prices etc, a Hola, Buenos dias & gracais go a long way to getting help, especially when that in the extent of your language skills, know your numbers in Spanish so you can pay for things.

When you get off the over night bus & the place you picked from Lonely Planet to stay is full a taxi driver will be your best friend. Always have 3 peso for the toilet at the bus station & remember what that waste can beside the toilet is there for.

Where I have been so far; Ft Lauderdale, Puerto Vallarta, Guardalajara, Mexico City,  Villahermosa, Palenque visited the Maya ruins there, Cancun, Chichen-Itza to visit the Maya site, one of the wonders of the world, Tulum, Chetumal that makes for a total of 50 hrs on excellent Mexican buses.

Also from Chetumal to Belize City on a Belize bus then water taxi to Caye Caulker where I am now.

Will comment on Belize after I have seen a bit more of the country & the Maya ruin sites after I have been to Tikal but I will say put Caye Caulker on your “bucket list” it’s absolutely awesome.

Next stop Flores Guatemala.

Just a few final thoughts on Mexico, after Puerto Vallarta I started travelling on the cheap after all not many here can swing 6 mo of resort living. I have also confirmed that in the limited time I have I can barely scratch the surface of the countries I am visiting, that’s why I will be dedicating a full 3 mo or so to Cuba.

I with the exception of the odd tour am spending my time within a few blocks of the bus station & staying in hostels or budget hotels (some even have hot water showers) & my perception of the country side is coloured by having been brought up in Quebec’s Eastern Township hills (don’t like the flat lands). From what I have seen Mexico is booming, there is new construction all over the country & a lot of Mexicans travelling with a cell phone attached to their head. Saw a billboard in Mexico City advertising the Apple 3G iphone for 649 pesos ($65 US), we Canadians are sure getting ripped off by Rogers.

Bottom line is Mexico is a large & very diverse country & doing well with the exception of the Chipasis (spelling) state around Palenque. Of course all the tourist areas are doing well but also is the manufacturing sector.

Loved the country with the exception og the Yuctan peninsula, too flat. Must be cooling off out side now so check out Caye Caulker a bit more, report on it next time.

Figured out how to access my blog to post updates, actually Chris at Boots figured it out, so we are off and running now. Pina gave the basics yesterday, just a bit to fill in. Just want to mention any one ... [Continue reading this entry]