Home Home Home

It's been a fantastic holiday - we have loved the adventure and drama that has unfolded. The flight home was an epic in its own right - 2 hours late on our AeroMexico flight from Mexico City to LA, we just managed to get on the Virgin Australia  flight to Melbourne, rushing from LAX terminal 2 to terminal 3 with heavy luggage entow!

Ray & Nellie met us at Melbourne Airport on our arrival,

they insisted on breakfasting at Chas&Jill's on our return to Inverloch. Scrambled eggs on toast, Jamison whisky and white wine breakfast left us happy and content  but in a time-warped confused state.

To our friends and family who have prepared our home for our return, you guys are fantastic and have made our home-comming a special event.

Our return signalls the end of this blog. We thank you ALL who have followed us, and  who have contributed to this "Gadabouts3996"  blog  - its because of your interest that we did our best to describe and explain the situations we were in, and what was happening to us. So now its "adios amigos" - until our next Gadabout whenever it may occur!

Thank you, one and all for, being with us! Goodbye and God bless!

Love to you all  from Joan&Harry - Gadabouts3996

Adios Mexico

Back in Mexico City in our palatial hotel room:

we are taking it easy just revisiting a few spots to get some photos,

a little shopping and re-packing for our return home.

Mexico is at the same time a country, state, and city; it is aso something about a slower pace of life and way of living. It has truly been a surprise and revelation to us. Everywhere the people are friendly and easy going, despite the many and diverse regional cultures. Like Australia the distances are vast with a multitude of  different terrains and climates, so if one had a good command of the Spanish language Mexico would make a fantastic road trip!

 So on departing we say: "Hasta luego Mexico  ... (see you later!)"

Puebla - Mexico

The charm of Puebla's Centro is in its architecture with wide cobblestones streets and stone pavements flanked by colonial buildings with facades incorporating ceramic tile-work - truly magnificent when you see it everywhere!

We arrived early Saturday morning after a very comfortable and uneventful 11 hour bus journey; we slept till noon and then set out exploring the Zocola (city square) and Cathederal.

Next morning saw us atop an open-top double-decker bus headed for the outlying town of Cholula nestled at the base of Mexico's only acive volcano.

The focus of the tour is to view the Pyramid who's base is larger than the great pyramid of Giza however it is only 60 meteres high. Unlike the Pyramid of the Sun we visited earlier there is not much stone structure to see it is more like a hill with a church on top. The church was erected by the Spaniards as a statement of conquest and of the evangalisation of the people.

With 3 hours free time following the tour we trudged our way up to the church (we are back at 2500 meters altitude) with its wonderful panaramic view of the district.

We cooled down with drinks in a bar down below then shopped in the craft markets. Cholula is a beautiful place where the Peubla families come to relax on the weekends.

Yesterday we visited the cathederal during mass then took another open deck bus tour, this time around Peubla city and then visited the very beautiful and interesting artists and craftspersons district.

The rest of the day we veged out in the hotel - we are both suffering from a stupid cold we just can't shake off. And today its - back to Mexico City and nearly home!

Mexican Mix - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!

Visited a government travel bureau in Cancun who gave ideas of  a bus route back to Mexico City - so after Tulum we visited the village of Bacalar famous for its 7 coloured fresh water lagoon. The lake was wonderful but not being in the travel books is not geared for tourism and we really struggled to be understood. The next town was Chetumal for an overnight bus to San Cristobal de la Casas - we arrived earlier and visited the Museum of Mayan Culture - a fantastic display. We had a late afternoon meal then waited in the bus depot for the 9:50pm bus which was late and left at 11pm. The road system in Mexico is very good however they have speed humps on all country roads even main highways wherever there are schools and dwellings and the busses  come to a near stop to cross. Coupled with the Mexican army road blocks, checking for drug and weapons transportation - we had 5 bus searches on this trip - its slow going.

Two guys at the front were yacking on all night so I thought I didn´t get any sleep however when we alighted at San Cristobal at noon and went to get our hotel address from my tote bag, that had been stowed overhead I discovered both my cameras stolen along with my Netbook with all the travel pics (at least no-one will be bored with our travel slideshow). Also took A$350 & US$100 which was last of cash in travel folder, but thankfully didnt take passports and travel docuents.

Being tired, suffering some sort of cold, and running a temperature, San Cristobal was stinking hot to me, and  spening 2 hours in  the hot police station reporting the theft for travel insurance wan´t fun - I felt sick and didn´t want to be here - "wouldn´t it just be wonderful to be home!"

This morning the sun rose as usual and being somewhat recovered with appropiate medication we set out to explore our environs. San Cristobal is beautiful (it doen´t match Taxco though) with adobe colonial buildings - the biggest building is the cathederal which is not overly grand. Now armed with a new camera we will have a few photos to show. We leave here tomorrow night (night bus again) for 11 hour trip to the city of Pueblo.

We are just thankful we have this blog as a record of our travels - will just need a computer savvy friend to find a way to get it off the Internet. Oh yes don´t expect any Skype calls folks - don´t remember account name or password  - its the problem of automatic sign-on!

Tulum - Mexico

A "sleepy hollow" 130km south of Cancun Tulum is famous for its picturesque Mayan ruins which are perched atop the Caribbean coast.

Our eco-resort doesnt even have TV (although aircon is a must here) Here there is always something interesting to see ...

... or someone different to meet.

The day starts off very still then gradually the breeze picks up and is strongest between 2pm-6pm bringing out the kite-surfers.

Then evening falls, the wind dies down and total calm except for the roar of the surf - paradise!

Greetings from Cancun Mexico

We departed Cuba on an antique Russian version of the 707 T-Jet that Reg Ansett would have rejected back  in the 1960s. 

 

Sedated with Rum & Coke we landed safely in Cancun an Americanised version of the Gold Coast located on the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

 

Spent the first 2 days here in recovery, getting all our laundry done, and sorting out travel plans back to Mexico City. Now we are finally in the R&R mode.

Took a day trip to Isle Mujeres ...

 ... where we had late breakfast of Chardonnay/Beer with lime and Cervici (remember its raw seafood in lemon juice) served with freshly made Nachos. Still hobbling around on an injured foot unsuccessfully tried to locate the camping ground where Sarah & Lila stayed, instead finding a nice beach for a swim and drinks.

Before returning to the mainland we just had to have another Cerviche, this time with pizza and more wine.

Today is our last day here before making our wending way back to Mexico City so its intense relaxation - none of this...

... just this!

Gadabout's Cuba

Havana is a demanding mistress and a paradox - a place and culture that takes effort to appreciate. It is not the Harry Belafonte Caribbean of our expectations.

The people are more in your face, especially the guys, trying to get something out of you, and scam you - but when they only get paid $20/month you can justify that. You don't feel unsafe but its not a comfort zone! That explained it was a great experience to see it the way it is now. There is a simpleness in life here that has great value.

Look at this lady she loves me (it only cost $1) and look at her mother she loves me too! (another $1) - capitalism is healthy in Cuba!

Havana is a place of wrecks ...

... and yet it is a place of cultural significance and grand architecture

Travel out a bit to the rural settings, which although in drought show the Caribbean lifestyle - but its not one of people slumbering under coconut palms. We visited tobacco plantations and witnessed the lifestyle and saw how a cigar is rolled from a pile of leaves. A rural rum ("Rrrrrron" as they call it) distillery provided a tasty treat.

Even with the charm of 1950's cars everywhere (some are in beautiful condition - but most are oil burning, dented bombs,) the everlasting memory of Havana for us is the Malecon, the sea-wall promenade, and the drenching splash as the occasional wave surges over the wall to everyone's delight!

Off on the wrong foot in Cuba

Arrived here around noon - the taxi ride from airport revealed a time & place very similar to my early Navy days in Singapore Island - tropical 3rd worldish. Our "Hotel Nacional" is very good, even superb in its heyday!

Had some refreshing drinks in the shade of the veranda while waiting for our room to be ready.

 

Next we went for a walk looking for non-existant 711's to get some drinks - got into a conversation with a big black dude a foot taller than me about getting affordable laundry service, and keeping an eye on him while I was walking (we didn't trust him) I fell down a manhole in the footpath just as Joan yelled watch out Harry!

Walked in bloodied thong for 20 minutes along the Malceon (the sea retaining wall) unsuccessfully looking for access to the sea to bathe a bloodied foot in salt water.

Limped back to the hotel and saw the hotel doctor - $5 and 15 minutes later have dressing applied and will look pot for all footpath holes ion the future!

Come to think this place is very much like old Singapore, back in 1970 I fell into a 7ft storm drain (alcohol induced) and had to walk miles to get out.