TOWARDS THE ATLANTIC

Oaxaca is a nice place to spend time if you are planning on driving off the main roads to find stunning views and culture.  The travelers spent only a couple of days there visiting Monte Alban (the oldest large city ruins around) and driving a little further to Mitla to see this town's ruins as well.

RUINS OF MONTE ALBAN

Mitla Ruins

From there they drove through Orizaba which had a warm feeling to it, a big main street where lots of people walked up and down till late at night.  The giant active volcano is stunning.  From Orizaba they drove to Veracruz for a quick stop and rest, which included getting in the atlantic ocean followed by a swim in a deluxe beach front hotel swimming pool.  Between Veracruz and Villa Hermosa they drove beautiful isolated coastlines, including an awesome winding road around volcano San Martin, with a night spent in the town of Catemaco.

VOLCANO SAN MARTIN COASTLINE

LAGUNA CATEMACO

They continued along to the city of Campeche, which seemed unappealing at first, but as soon as they reached the right part of town and saw the lit cathedrals, plazas by the ocean, and lively atmosphere, their impression changed.  Some of the streets and buildings resembled those found in USA's San Francisco.
From there they went to a tourist trap called Chiche Itza.  These historic pyramids and ruins are beautiful but expensive (parking 22 pesos, admittance fee 166 pesos) and there are many persistent local artists trying to sell their beautiful work.  Cenotes are also abundant here.

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza

Hotel Pool Poaching

The couple is now in Cancun, where they will spend the full day today relaxing and going to the Belize consulate on Monday (25/0ct/2010) to get a visa for Debora.  From Cancun they are planning to visit some cenotes and may go diving at Playa Del Carmen before exiting Mexico.

Cancun (our first real hotel room)

TRICKS
- take advantage of your gringo appearance to poach swimming pools unsuspectedly
- sleep in the car whenever you can if it's safe and save hundreds of pesos


TROUBLES
- they slept in the car in Cancun (4th day in a row) but it started pouring therefore the windows couldn't stay open and they were very hot = not good night of sleep + wet sleeping gear
- Banamex atm machine didn't work one day (don't know why) so they almost ran out of pesos.