Amazing Mexico City
| December 6, 2012 | Filed under Mexico |
I didn’t know much about Mexico City before we arrived. The first time I heard about the place was at a quiz night, many years ago. The question was, “Which city has the most amount of taxis per square meter?” and after each table got the answer wrong with answers like “New York,” and “Bombay”, a girl proudly stood up and announced, “Mexico City!” This was before the days of Google being accessed by hidden-under-the-table smart phones, so despite the… more
Using My Imagination in San Cristobal de las Casas
| November 25, 2012 | Filed under Mexico |
We returned from the jungle eager to give the high-altitude town of San Cristobal de las Casas a second go. Being quick to judge is not a trait about myself I’m particularly proud of, but it does mean I’m also quick to love, and on the last morning of our previous visit, I had fallen in love with a little square called Plaza de Mexicanos. Of course, I didn’t know that at the time; I called it ‘The quiet little… more
Pondering Life, Travel and the Mayan Calendar in Palenque
| November 20, 2012 | Filed under Mexico |
We arrived in the bustling little town of Palenque after a five-hour bus ride that wove us through the mountains of north-eastern Chiapas. Ear phones in, listening to a killer playlist that included Billy Bragg’s ‘Californian Stars’ on repeat, I was calm and relaxed despite the narrow and curvy roads we bounced over, exited to be on another adventure in an as yet unexplored land. After almost 10 months of continuous travel, on a variety of vehicles of questionable road-worthiness,… more
Back on the Road in Chiapas
| November 15, 2012 | Filed under Mexico |
Whenever I told anyone in Playa del Carmen that we were going to Chiapas, Mexico’s southern-most state, their eyes would glaze over in a kind of in-love way, and they would start to swoon, with ‘Oohs’ and ‘Aahs’ and ‘You’re going to love its.’ I’d begun to swoon a bit myself, if not only to soothe my sadness at leaving our temporary home in Playa del Carmen. Over internet searches and conversations with friends, my desire to explore Chiapas’ cultural riches just… more
This Too, Shall Pass: Leaving Playa del Carmen
| November 8, 2012 | Filed under Mexico |
Our time on Mexico’s Caribbean coast is coming to an end as they say all good things must. And it’s certainly been a good thing, one of the best I’ve ever experienced. I’m sad to leave, but excited about what’s next; torn between wanting to continue this very good thing as well as experience all the exciting adventures that lie ahead. It’s a blessed dilemma. It’s a blessed life, and I’m so grateful for the love and the energy these… more
Festival of Life and Death at Xcaret
| November 5, 2012 | Filed under Mexico |
Dio de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities began in Playa del Carmen around the 31st (Halloween) and finished around the 2nd. The official Day of the Dead was on November 1st, so we wanted to mark the occasion somehow and learn a bit more about this macabre celebration. But Playa del Carmen is not exactly traditional Mexico. In fact, it is one of the most rapidly growing and developing cities in the country, becoming more modern and multicultural by… more
A Rooftop Farewell
| October 29, 2012 | Filed under Mexico |
On our friends’ Sabina and Phillip’s last night in Playa, I wanted to cook a nice farewell dinner for them. We had previously shared communal meals in the small courtyard in front of our apartment, but a final dinner called for a special location. I procured the keys to the rooftop terrace of our apartment block from the land-lord, (which was usually locked in the evening), and prepared to dazzle my guests of honour with my creative event planning. Me,… more
A Different Kind of Normal
| October 25, 2012 | Filed under Mexico, Personal Musings |
We have two weeks left here in our apartment in Playa del Carmen. Our time here is winding down, and whilst I am looking forward to discovering more of Mexico when we leave, I am also sad to leave the lovely home we have created here. Cooking lunch yesterday, I wondered what it is about this ‘different kind of normal’ that I love so much. Obviously the experiences we have had here and the sights we have seen have been… more
Riviera Maya Life: Akumal, Paamul, Xcacel and Cenote Azul
| October 21, 2012 | Filed under Mexico |
I’ve been so busy covering the big issues like blog redesign, topless sun-bathing and under-water anxiety attacks that I have fallen a bit behind on filling you in on what we have been up to the last few weeks. Aside from a lot of floating in our beautifully clear-blue Caribbean front yard, we have actually done a few things, some of which have been with our Swiss friends and neighbours, Sabina and Phillipp (who we met at the infamous Spanish school). Since… more
Topless Sunbathing: Are You In Or Out?
| October 18, 2012 | Filed under Mexico |
I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as prudish, but I must admit to be a bit taken aback by topless sunbathing. Here in Playa del Carmen, I have seen a few women ‘out and proud’ on the beach, though it is certainly not as commonly practiced as say, Europe. One day I hired a sun-bed for the day, which was probably the first and last time. It was nice for a while, but honestly, after an hour or so, I got bored.… more
