In Veracruz !!

When I was in Mexico city, everyone told me I should go to Oaxaca after.  So I decided to go to Veracruz.  I wanted to get away from the main touristic path, and I didn’t heard anything about Veracruz (except in a famous french movie), so I decided to go there quickly to see by myself.
I stayed here only a very short time, so I just visited the main city.

it’s a big city with a very important port, next to the center you can see only big boat and big docks. a bit more south there is some really nice beach. and when it come at night, many people get together on different place in the center to dance la “Danzon” it looks like a quiet waltz, and Mexican music, it is very popular and typical from there.

Visiting Mexico city !!

So after few weeks visiting more northern part of mexico, I reach the Capital, mexico city, about in the middle of the country. it is very big city(one of the biggest in the world) , a lot of people everywhere but nothing crazy or overwhelming.

It was once a big Aztec city, but when the spanish arrived they destroy almost everything from the aztec to start rebuilding mexico city. now there is almost nothing left for the old aztec city, just few small ruins and archaeological sites.

In the city centre there is lots of nice building from different part of Mexican history, angles de la independencia, monumento de la revolution, one of the biggest cathedral in north america just next to the palacio national (the government building), a big castle build by the french during the short time they were in mexico.  there is really some building from every part of mexico’s post Hispanic history.

about 1h north of mexico there is the ruins of Teotihuacan, another Aztec city that haven't been totally destroyed by the Spanish, it is pretty impressive site, with two huge pyramid still standing there, templo de la luna   and el templo del sol.  it is really interesting site to visit and very easily accessible from mexico city.

a bit more south of the city the is some “floating garden”, it is possible to go through all this area by Trajinera, it’s a kind of big colorful wooden boat, that are moved around using a huge pole.  it is very interesting to visit, with different kind of “garden”or island along the way, and lot of vendedor sell food and souvenir, or some musician that you can pay to play few songs along the way.

I was in mexico city during the Dia de la independencia, the 16th of september. the day befor most mexican have party to celebrate the independence of the country, all in mexican color, and usually listen to “el grito” a small speech from the president.  And of the 16th there is a big military parade!!

I like the city, there is really lots of different neighborhood and always something to do.
I spend about a week visiting the city and around, then it was time to keep traveling toward south.

Visiting San Miguel de Allende

About 1.5h south of Guanajuato there is San Miguel de Allende, many people told me about this small town so I decided to stop there for one day on my way to mexico city.

It is a small colonial town where a lot of american moved to live here after world war two. it is indeed very charming city.  I found it a bit like a smaller version of Guanajuato. Guanajuato is much bigger, but much less touristic, and the street are much less organized which give it an extra charm.

both town definitely worth the visit, but If you have time to visit only one, Guanajuato have much more to offer.

In Guanajuato!!

Many people told me to go visit Guanajuato, it’s a small town maybe 5h north of mexico city, and when I arrived there i was extremely surprised by that town, it’s full of old building and street, and it is really beautiful.
One particularity of this town is that it have a full network of street underground, when I get in center of town in a small public bus I was already very surprised to go through these old tunnels, it feel like going through a big cave under a very old castle. it’s really amazing.

The bus stop in the middle of the tunnel and from there just of to take a small exit road, or some small staircase to get up the surface. and arriving in the surface is again amazing, all the street are very beautiful old street and the town is full of very nice building.

on the side of town there is some even smaller street that goes up the hills between house. i reached an awesome view point on top of one hill with an amazing view over the city.

the city is also well known for all the mines that are in the area from which they extract gold, platinum, silver and more different metals.

I stayed a bit less that two days walking around everywhere by day and by night and I really love this city, it is really unique and amazing !!

In Guadalaja%^* guadalar(#$% Cabron!!! In Guadalajara!!

The second largest city in Mexico is Guadalajara (I can't pronounce it right, therefore the title). I went there for a quick stop to see a bit what it look like, and didn’t find anything special, the historic center is very nice but haven't find anything that really grab my attention. maybe If i had stayed longer or went visiting around, but I decided to pass faster on here to have more time to visit other part of mexico and central america.

In Monterrey

After visiting Baja California, I decided to go in Monterrey, a city northeast of mexico. I had three good reason to get there, first it’s a big city but not touristy at all, with everyone I talk to over there they all think i was living here or here as exchange student, no one though I was just traveling by it was pretty good to get a good feel of the culture.  it is also surrounded by mountain which is pretty awesome. and I had a friend that I met along my travel that is living here. that was I good place to stay for a bit.

The city itself is pretty nice, but have nothing special, it’s just a big city like many other.  it can get good view with the surrounding mountains but with the pollution smoke it’s usually not so good.

what I really loved was all the mountain surrounding the city, there is some really amazing spot.
I climbed on top of 2 of the mountain surrounding the city.

El Cerro de la Silla (1800m), unfortunately when I get on top I was all in the cloud (first time I saw a cloud since i’m in mexico, it have to be that day, and that time !!)  I still had a pretty good view on the way down.

El Cerro de la Mitras(2000m), the way up there was really cool, we had to go across the mountain though an old mine, and climb some vertical slope using some old chains.  and the view from the summit was really amazing, pretty different from the mountain I used to climb back in Canada!!

in another of the mountains surrounding Monterrey, you can find some impressive canyon!!
el Estanzuela which is just next to the city you walk up and down the canyon which make a pretty nice day

Matacanes, this one is a bit further away from the city, and much harder to get. You have to go with a guide and all the equipment. we had to wake up at 3AM to be back home at 11PM. it make a very long day, but definitely worth it !!
after 1.5h in a truck on a very bad track we reach the top of the canyon. from there is was about 10h of walking, swimming jumping of big cliff, or going down in rappel.

The scenery all along the canyon is surrealist, going though all king of awesome spot, with nice pools of crystal clear water, amazing water falls, going through huge caves. all along the scenery never stop surprising me with more and more beautiful spot.  I would definitely recommend anyone that have the opportunity to go down this canyon!!

in Los Cabos

After two days in Loreto I reach the tip of the Baja California peninsula, to visit San Jose del Cabo, and Cabo San Lucas, these two small tourist town are called together “Los Cabos”.
I was really impressed by the amount of huge hotel along the beach, all along the beach there was just a big line of hotel, all side by side, with there own swimming pool, restaurant, and tourist attractions. and in the ocean just next to the beach there was huge cruise ship.

I didn’t find anything special about there, it was just funny to see all the tourist around,  I felt a bit like in a zoo, looking at mass tourism.
I had a good time there but I wouldn’t stay longer like that. I think it’s much better visiting there with a group of friends. or going there for a week of holiday from work, in one of these big hotel.