Tropics

Saturday, January 30, 2010
Villahermosa, Central Mexico and Gulf Coast, Mexico
Zipped through a lot of Mexico in just a few days. Having been to Guadalajara, Guanajuato and D.F. back in 2002 I wasn't so interested in the colonial cities of the central highlands. So I just took my time enjoying the road. And what a road it is!! Out of Monterrey towards San Luis Potosi you've got some beautiful stretches of deserted highway, cacti and the arid Sierra Madre Oriental at your side. Then from S.L. Potosi to Puebla got some gorgeous views of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl at dusk. Puebla to Veracruz topped it all with the segment between the base of Orizaba (Mexico's highest mountain) and the lowlands, switching climates in half an hour. It's an amazing descent into the lushness of the coastal plain while still having Orizaba's snowy peak in sight. 
It was in Veracruz that I really started feeling away . My only experience with the tropics was Colombia in 2003 and Veracruz brought back those smells. It's hot and wet, facades crumbling from the humidity, old couples dancing in the plaza late at night, you hear salsa everywhere and you eat guanabana ice cream. Lovely!!! I never thought I'd enjoy the sticky heat so much but I do. The fleece is off and it'll stay that way for quite some time! 
Veracruz was getting ready for Carnival. Stands raised throughout the length of its malecon and drumming practices in the evening. It's always my first temptation to slap labels on things and places, it's how I function in understanding the world, and while I have some ready for Veracruz I'll give them some time to ferment. They revolve around the concept of Caribbean and I am very curious how they'll evolve as I travel its western shores. Anyhow, Veracruz prompted a major change of itinerary: not sure when I'll get another chance at experiencing Carnival so I'm taking this one.Booked my flight to Panama City for the Carnival there which means I'll be skipping Belize and Honduras altogether and do Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in reverse order. 
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Comments

catalina
2010-01-31

daca mai ajungi prin San Cristobal de Las Casas nu uita sa treci si prin San Juan de Chamula - must see aici este biserica - atentie fara poze inauntru daca nu vrei sa se opreasca aventura acolo :)

tudorbenga
2010-02-04

am sarit San Cristobal din schema ca mi-i bine cu caldurica :-) dar multzam oricum.

2025-02-10

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