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Mexico City

Friday, December 15th, 2006

I get the feeling that no matter how hard I try not to have preconceptions about places, I will still carry them in and they will all be thrown out soon after arriving.  I went into Mexico City expecting a filthy, rundown, over-crowded second-class large city.  While I can’t report that it is not over-crowded, it is not as densely packed as many cities due to lack of sky-scrapers.  This is a world-class city that I truly believe is on par with New York, London and Paris.  It has the architecture, history, culture, arts, diversity and worldliness of the others.  And all at a fraction of the cost.  I stayed at Hotel Isabel near the zocalo in Centro Historico in a very large, clean albeit rundown with a comfortable bed for $20 per night.  It gets cheaper and more expensive in Mexico City depending on your needs, but specifically with my place, where in NYC, London or Paris could you stay for that?  Aside… I am currently sitting in Guatemala on a deck off my room overlooking Heaven on Earth.  I’ll save the location for a future post, but I will say that I am looking out over one of the most beautiful lakes I will ever see ringed by volcanoes with the last rays of sunlight shining.  This makes it very difficult to go back to Mexico City and tell you about it…

[read on]

How Lucky Are We!

Friday, December 8th, 2006

It just hit me today on my perfect travel from Mexico City to Antigua (via 20-30 minute taxi and a 1 hour, 40 minute flight on Taca Airline (Great!) and a 1 hour, 30 minute shuttle van ride which should have only been 45 minutes, but construction of new highway is ongoing) about how lucky that we can travel so easily.  Oh things go wrong and can get us a little pissy, but how many of us would ever see another continent let alone the other side of the continent less than one hundred years ago?  I continue to find that the best airports do not reside in the U.S.  Far from it.  Oh they may be shabbier in other parts, BUT…

1) you usually get your ticket and baggage check done very quickly

2) everyone is courteous and seems to truly appreciate having a job due to travelers, 

3) no one hassles you when you are going through security,  

4) usually the airport personnel go out of their way to help especially when language issues arise,

5) the plane loading is efficient,

6) almost all of my flights taken so far have been on time departing and arriving,

7) passport control is quick, friendly and efficient,

8) customs officials are probably not waiting to search,

9) there is a FREE – every damn airport except every single one in U.S. – luggage trolley because who needs to lug stuff after arriving and why should they cost money, and

10) someone is waiting to take you somewhere at a fair price. 

So just consider yourself lucky next time you are on a delayed flight or whatever else can go wrong because you wouldn’t have been doing it too long ago.  By the way, Mexico City is a world-class city and I had a great time although being sick really affected what I was able to do… more on that visit in the future.  Meanwhile, arrived in Antigua, Guatemala (not the island!) this evening and it looks quite charming – Colonial, Latin American, maybe Mayan with the worst engineered, but most charming cobblestone (stretch) streets. 

What Goes Up Often Comes Down

Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
My great times in Mexico City came to a halt very early Monday when I woke up with Turista or Montezuma's Revenge.  Went out to an Argentinian restaurant Sunday night and had a nice meal (a bit heavy on the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Instituto de Lengaujes Puerto Escondido

Saturday, December 2nd, 2006
Tomorrow finishes off my stay in Puerto and I would like to bring attention to the school which has provided my first lessons in Spanish.  Instituto de Lenguajes has been fantastic.  I am just now starting to get comfortable with ... [Continue reading this entry]

Strange (But Charming… Sometimes) Things in Mexico

Friday, December 1st, 2006
There's always something different about another country (let alone your own) which gets your attention usually wondering why it exists or why it is allowed to continue.  Here are some that have caught my attention in Oaxaca State, Mexico... Unfinished buildings are ... [Continue reading this entry]

Oaxaca Photos

Friday, December 1st, 2006
Here are some photos from my adventures in the state of Oaxaca... Oaxaca City: View of City from Monte Alban Oaxaca Cathedral Javier Martin Scupture 1, [Continue reading this entry]

Nocturnal Hummingbird?

Wednesday, November 29th, 2006
So I am sitting on my veranda this beautiful evening in Puerto Escondido processing my Oaxacan photos (which I will try to post this week) and I head some squeaking.  I thought it was just one of the many geckos ... [Continue reading this entry]

Retired Surfer!

Monday, November 27th, 2006
I took three surfing lessons last week.  One was a land lesson and the other two were in the water.  Land lesson - good.  The first water lesson went OK.  I had some problems getting some balance on the board ... [Continue reading this entry]

Schedule…

Monday, November 27th, 2006
I have decided to push off to Mexico City next Saturday rather than the previously scheduled flight the following Monday.  This will allow me to get to the bullfights on Sunday - another event loved by PETA.  I'm not sure ... [Continue reading this entry]

Oaxaca Village Trip

Monday, November 27th, 2006
It looks like I made the right decision to go to Oaxaca last weekend and miss the surfing competition here because things have gotten more out of hand this weekend in that lovely colonial city.  From what I just read, ... [Continue reading this entry]