Apr 19, 2013 - Goodbye to P, P and P (Pachuca, Pepe and Philippa)

Pachuca is not a tourist destination, in fact we are the anglo tourists here. It has a BIG flag, like Mexico City and a big Jesus, like Rio but really it’s essentially a large rural city with a history in silver mining. Just as British miners came to parts of South Australia they also came here and the legacy is in the hundreds of Pastes (pastie) outlets around town and the pitched roofs of the houses in the hillside villages. Jim has joined the locals in the snack of choice on many occasions. The fillings may be sweet or savoury but his...

Apr 17, 2013 - Puerto Penasco, Sonora Mexico

We drove around Puerto Penasco again, saw a very eclectic 5th Wheel, horse riders on the beach and wonderful views. We then went to Visit "Tugboat Dave" a friend of Jimmie and Jeaine, the couple from whom we bought our 5th Wheel. Tugboat Dave got his name from captaining a Tugboat that brought Oil and other tankers into Ferndale, Washington. Jimmie was 1st mate on one of Exxon's oil tankers and Tugboat Dave's tugboat was the one that brought Jimmie into port. We drove to Ostonera Oyser Farm, run by 12 women, to eat "extremely fresh"...

Apr 16, 2013 - Puerto Penasco, Sonora Mexico

We did some touring and saw Old Town Puerto, very quaint and we found Three Guys Fish Market, Geraldo one of the owners, was extremely honest and we will eventually buy our seafood from him. We then ate lunch at the highest point in Puerto Penasco, El Casa de Captain. A wonder full view of Puerto Penasco and the Sea of Cortez. Went back to Kay & Marlins for cocktails and dinner that Reggi prepared.

Apr 15, 2013 - Puerto Penasco, Sonora Mexico

We drove to Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico. We met up with Kay & Marlin, our friends from Alaska and who we have met several times along our journeys. Marlin made Crab Cakes & Asparagus and Kay made Corn pudding, all was outstanding. We have to say that Marlin's Crab Cakes were the 2nd Best we have every had, Reggi's Crab Cakes being the Best. Now we have a challenge, when we meet again, Reggi and Marlin are going to have a Crab Cake cook off, now with Kay and Michael as the judges, the contest will be a tie.....ummm.

Apr 15, 2013 - More cobblestones narrow streets and colourful houses -San Miguel de Allende

Not long after arriving in San Miguel we were fortunate to make the acquaintance of Juan Carlos. This is what makes travel fun for us. Finding common ground with people in far flung places. Thanks to Juan Carlos, who we met at his delightful tea room Camino Silvestre, just down from our accommodation Casa Mia, we were able to access a tiny hole in the wall coffee shop for the best coffee to take home to Elise, the Buena Vida bakery which had delicious sour dough bread and the best orange doughnuts (in the world according to Juan Carlos) and...

Apr 13, 2013 - I know you rider, gonna miss me when I'm gone ....

I know you rider, gonna miss me when I'm gone Gonna miss your baby, from rolling in your arms .... Alright back in Mexico, back on the Yucatan Peninsula, back in Quintana Roo, back to the Riviera Maya, back to the beach, back to the caves. I've had an awesome month or so kicking it on the beach, working on the tan, practicing my cave diving and meeting all kinds of interesting and wacky people. All of this was not without it's woes. The biggest issue I had to deal with was that I stressed big time over my relationship with LC. I'll get to...

Apr 10, 2013 - Pyramids- Mexico’s the place to see them

Scarcely had our feet touched the ground from our Mexico City visit than we were in the Beetle and on the road again, this time to the Teotihuacan pyramids. Construction began here in 100BC and continued for another 350 years. What the Teotihuacans built was remarkable. Two huge pyramids the pyramid de la luna and the pyramid del sol (the world’s second largest). There is also an amazing temple decorated with carved jaguar heads and the locals keen to make a living do a good trade in jaguar whistles from which a low jaguar growl emanates....

Apr 6, 2013 - The earth moves for us in Mexico City

On our return from Oaxaca we overnighted in Mexico City which we reached in time for the buffet lunch which Pepe had thoughtfully planned at a restaurant overlooking the main square (the Zocalo) This was constructed by the Spanish on old Aztec ruins (after they had leveled their buildings in a show of dominance). The newly constructed buildings are now noticeably sinking, as Mexico City is sited on a lake bed. As well as the ever present Catholic cathedral there is the National Palace housing the administration of the Mexican parliament....

Apr 1, 2013 - Dead Cuban heroes

As mentioned in an earlier entry Cuba sure does have a lot of billboards, however unlike all the other countries we've visited, Cuba's are all about the glory of the Revolution with images and slogans of deceased heroes, current heroes (held prisoner in the US) and anti US propaganda. There was very little graffiti anywhere and most of it was pro government and socialism. I suppose the work camp prisons would be a deterrent. Most people have heard of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, the Argentinian born revolutionary who masterminded a successful...

Mar 31, 2013 - Oaxaca

Easter continues at a breakneck pace with our local tourguides, however things back in Australia must be more relaxed as I notice a large jump in the readers of my journal. Happy Easter to absent friends and family from all of us. Back in Oaxaca we continued our strategy of beating the crowds by leaving at 7.30 and this time we headed for Hierve el Agua or Boiling Waters. The white knuckle drive featured switchbacks all the way to the giddying heights before more switchbacks down the other side. Pepe has apparently been driving since he was...

Mar 26, 2013 - On tour and at home with P&P in Mexico

Finally our mission is accomplished and we are spending long days and nights with Philippa and Pepe, both at home in Pachuca and on the road here in Oaxaca. We arrived via Air Mexico and were pleasantly surprised with their spacious economy and professional service. The scanning of our luggage to get on a bus and snaps of our faces for security purposes alarmed us a little. As did the big guns being carried by police arming the toll booths on the freeway and the dilapidated state of housing on the outskirts of Mexico city. Once we arrived...

Mar 24, 2013 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

March 24, 2013 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico We are disappointed that we only have a few hours at this port of call. We arrived at 7 am and sail at about 2 pm. This is a tender port and the last tender back to the ship leaves at 1 pm. We swam with the dolphins today. What a great experience! It was better than I expected. We were in a very large saltwater pool; in groups of 8 people. Each group had a dolphin and trainer. Our dolphin’s name is Aqua, a 26 year old female 550 pounds about 10 feet long. We started out sitting at the edge of the pool...