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.

Taxco - Silver City

Took a day tour to Taxco  180km south of Mexico City stopping first at the spa town of Cuernavaca to inspect the 1520's "Catedral de la Asuncion" which has a mural detailing the death by crucifixion of a local dude, Saint  Phillip, while a missionary in Japan way back then.

 

The town is very pretty and is known as "the place of eternal Spring" as flowers are always in bloom. It is very popular as a weekend spa retreat for the people of Mexico City

Next on to Taxco a true gem about to be world heritage listed, which is a famous silver mining town full of Silver Craft shops. As one Gadabout loves silver we shopped around a bit, but still had plenty of time to explore the winding cobblestone streets.

 
We witnessed an interesting funeral procession where the mourners followed the hearse to the church and then carried the coffin away down the street after the service with band playing a funeral march.

With both Gadabouts loving a drink we located Bar Bertha, the place where the famous Margarita cocktail was invented, and tried it out - lovely even though it wasn't served in in a fancy cocktail glass (the owner was a nice guy even though he looks one mean dude)

 We loved Taxco and wished we could stay longer - perhaps on our return from Cuba as we make our way overland back to Mexico City!

A Mexico City Mixture

 

 

The pre-Aztec site of Teotihaucan is only 35km north of Mexico City but is a full day tour with a few extra attractions thrown in. We walked down the 2.3 km "Avenue of the Dead" and clambered up the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon - it was hard going but Joan stood up well to the relentless sun while suffering from a dose of the common travellers' malady.

The next day we took it easy by taking the open deck city bus tour.

We disembarked in the bohemian district of Condesa and found a seafood restaurant that  was packed out by the locals, no wonder the food was great!

Today is Mayday and the crowds started flocking noisily past out hotel into the Central Plaza from 2am this morning. Its a big deal here especially as there is an ongoing protesters tent-city occupying the square. All day different bands of unions parade in as others disperse.

We had intended to travel around the Metro subway system today as its not packed on the weekend, but the stations around here are shut with the Mayday marches. Instead we strolled down a different route than usual and found nice restaurants and shopping emporiums nearby and had a day of retail therapy, replacing Joan's wardrobe; look at all this for just over A$200 - and finally a swimsuit!

Mexico City

Here we are in one of the highest capital cities in the world at 2.5 kilometres above sea level with a population of 22 million. We are in the heart of the city in the "Zocola" - conquistador central, staying in one of the best establishments The Gran Hotel Ciudad De Mexico - have a look at this.

Had an easy catch-up day yesterday recovering from our travels by just taking in the cathedral area.

Today we went flat out exploring the whole central area, taking in the local shopping precincts, an Aztec archaeological site and its museum, booked an all day tour for tomorrow and organised our travel to Cuba.

After taking a break for a drink at our hotel we next set off  into the tourist precinct for our evening meal. This part of Mexico City is nothing like the cosmopolitan Peru we loved - no casinos, few ATMs, everything is shut by 10pm - and trying to find a restaurant (worse still one that serves wine) is hard. There are McDs, Piza Hut, Burger King, Kentucky Fried, and this Mexican cafe chain that serves identical food in each city block.

After a long search we found the Opera Bar Restaurant - and even though the Entrée snails that were so small I had to use a toothpick to dig them out of the shell we had a very good meal in a pretty swank place!  

Adios Lima Muchos Gracias

The time has come to leave but before departing had to visit the nearby Atlantic City Casino, supposedly the best in South America. Were losing (as usual) until playing the familiar Kitty Cat poker machine - if your eyesight is good you may see the US$ winnings - its the best we have ever done!

We went back this afternoon with Ascot  but the $5 we put back in was wasted.   -  see The Adventures of Ascot here:-
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2413615243516752730 (Ascot has been in the bad-books after smoking cigars in Cuba, and has been in the backpack since his spin in the washing machine after being seasick sailing to Colombia)

Sarah and Lila left at 4:30pm for an over night bus to Cusco; it was a sad parting but what a lovely Easter we had together.

We are dagging around Marcello's establishment consuming wine, cheese and olives until our taxi arrives at 8pm and we fly out for Mexico City just after midnight.

As we are again with Aeromexico we have taken more precautions with our luggage - more ribbons added and ID photos. If any one finds these please return to Gadabouts3996 !

Easter Sunday in Lima

Easter Sunday morning cup of coffee discussing our Peru travels with Marcello when the gate intercom announced the arrival of Sarah & Lila. So Joan was awaken with a kiss from Lila bearing a rose.

After breakfast we walked  along the rugged coast line ending up in the bohemian suburb of Barranco, where we made more wishes crossing the wooden bridge in one breath, and dipped our feet into the Pacific Ocean.

 

We rode the Metro into Lima central  taking in the sights and visiting the Church of San Francisco.

With evening approaching  we arrived at Water-fountain Park for the laser spectacle and Lila's frolicking in the fountains.

With a very damp little girl in tow we arrived back at B&B151 where Marcello had a delicious charcoal grilled chicken and beef dinner prepared - we dined outside in the garden setting with his friends and completed a perfect day by contacting family back home.

Ica Peru

Its time to return to Lima but first we take a break at Ica, staying in Haucachina Oasis a few kilometres out of town.

The lagoon is fringed with palm trees and encircled by massive white sand dunes. This place is packed with young travellers who go burning around the dunes in dune buggies and then rage the night away, keeping the oldies awake.

 

Early morning took the Ballestas Islands boat tour from the nearby port town of Paracus and were amazed with the teeming wildlife - birds, sealions and penguines -  amazing considering everywhere you look around here is barren desert.

 Then breakfasted at the port on Cerviche Mixto (various fresh seafood only cooked by immersion in lime juice) washed down with wine/beer - Perfecto!

Ica is in the Pisco Valley  and Pisco is the famous Peruvian brandy (key ingredient of the yummy Pisco Sour cocktail) so we had to go on a winery tour and sample the wares, as one would!