Guatemala is ripe with volcanic activity, leading to some impressive live volcanoes, and today’s jaunt: the mineral baths of Fuentes Georginas. Surrounded by lush mountain vegetation and bathed in steamy hot waters, this was a sight tough to beat. Jump in, and relax in the baths of today’s photo gallery.
After two weeks in Mexico, things were starting to feel more familiar, even comfy. Having entered Guatemala, even though it sits right below Mexico, certain differences become immediately apparent and serve as reminders of the importance of the imaginary lines drawn by nations, as well as physical boundaries, that both affect groups of people. Entering Guatemala has opened up a different world that we can now compare with the first.
A day in Guatemala is all you need to realize that Mexico’s size and proximity to the United States has created a dynamic that doesn’t exist in Guatemala. The difference between the two countries in trade, governmental cooperation, and de facto cultural exchange with the United States is clear in the way the two countries function as a whole. (more…)
A seemingly endless string of buses, minibuses, and cars—eight in all—carry us from Palenque, Mexico to Quetzaltenango, Guatemala over a span of 20 hours, but more remarkable than the distance traveled is the change in surroundings from one country to the next. The two countries share language, but have developed in distinctly different ways as independent nations. Cross the border with us in todays photo gallery…
Ok we’ll admit - the steady diet of tacos has gotten to us. During a layover in our 20-hour trek to Guatemala by bus, we were tempted, seduced and succumbed to the sight of Hong Kong restaurant. Salty, greasy and probably laced with MSG, the meal hit the spot as our last meal in Mexico. Get your dinner and fortune cookie with today’s photo gallery…
After centuries of abandonment, the “Land of Strong Houses” was re-discovered under a thick tropical forest in the late 1500’s by a Spanish priest in what is today the state of Chiapas. Years later the ancient city was excavated by archaeologists to reveal towering pyramids, aqueducts, and bas-relief carvings—all constructed without metal tools or the invention of the wheel. Explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Palenque in today’s photo gallery…
Keeping costs pretty much on an even keel, we’ve managed to raise our average daily costs only by a couple dollars despite some expensive bus tickets and jaunting across 620 miles this week, to $28 a day. Tomorrow we’ll make our second border crossing, entering Guatemala, where over the next six days, we expect to be paying less than our current average. And now, on for the rest of The Count for the week between 1/8/2008 and 1/14/2008, where a the patron saint of travel should have been involved… (more…)
Cliche. Absolutely. We took it easy today and headed to the beach to catch the sunset and take a gander at the Gulf of Mexico. Oil rigs and coconut trees abound in today’s beach side photo gallery.
A 13 hour bus drive leaves us in the formerly flood ravaged city of Villahermosa near the Gulf Coast. Certainly off the beaten path, we got to take a look at how this city is recovering from what locals called the “Mexican Katrina,” which affected more than 300,000 locals. See how the recovery effort is progressing in today’s photos.
The Zocalos found in most Mexican cities are more than just the town’s main square, it’s a vibrant hub where everyone socializes, conducts business and simply lay about to watch the world go by. In our travels through three Central Mexico cities, we’ve constantly gravitated to each city’s Zocalo, and our last day in Oaxaca is no different. See and be seen at the Zocalo in Oaxaca with today’s photos.
The relaxing town of Oaxaca, about 165 miles southeast of Puebla, has an eclectic mix of local culinary treats. With only two days to spend in this vibrant city, we went on a local food binge that filled our stomachs to the brim. From grasshoppers to chocolate to mezcal, give your taste buds a lickin’ with these photos…
Our decision to visit Oaxaca was not by coincidence; its reputation preceded it. I had grown up knowing only the name of this place thanks to a poster in my friend’s living room. I spent many a bleary-eyed morning, after a late night Sega Genisis filled sleepover, trying to imagine how to pronounce that first syllable—O-a…x? (”wah,” as it turns out) More recently it was the teacher protests and subsequent shutdown of the city in 2006 that brought the town to my attention. And then I heard about the culinary treats that one might find on the quiet streets of this town. Since our arrival 24-hours ago, Thushan and I have spent as much time as possible eating, tasting, and sipping our way from one end of town to the other.
(more…)