As Mexico City on Christmas reminds us on some the-day-after-apocalypse-movies, we hit the road earlier than planned and head towards Oaxaca. This city is always mentioned for their own kind of food. As we’re always interested to taste something new, we’re curious to get there. …as long as there’s at least some life in the city now. And we’re surprised: In contrast to the capital the streets are crowded.
A traditional Christmas music parade moves through the small streets of the inner-city playing Mexican versions of Christmas songs, attracting many spectators who gathered there to meet and greet, eat street-food and watch playing children on the central square. As we’re hungry we chose one recommended restaurant where a Jazz band plays a complete different kind of music. Another different evening at Christmas. We like it.
Although we’re already some days in Mexico we didn’t see any Maya temples so far. Chichen-Itza, one of the seven wonders of the world, is on our list but still quite far away. On our planned way to the peninsula Yucatan, we find a small town with a big May temple: Palenque. We could reach it on a long day on the motor-cycle but we’re not only here to sit on the bike but also want to see places on our way, we make a stop at San Cristobal de las Casas, which is more than beautiful. The way from there to Palenque is only about 125 miles (200km) but will finally take a whole day of driving as the road is very windy (good), has many damages (not so good) and offers a huge collection of speed bumps in different variations (bad). Those speed bumps are everywhere: At the entrance of a village, within a village, in the middle of nowhere. Some are colored and marked with signs. These are fine. Others are barely to see at all. As they are sometimes pretty high (up to one foot/30 cm), you really have to reduce the speed to walking speed not to scratch the bottom and/or use the full way of your dampers. Finally we’re driving in the lowest average cruising speed but are able to see natives in their daily life, like women carrying their babies tied on their backs, children going hunting with bow and arrows or old men gathering in front of their huts.
The first big rain shower catches us somewhere in the hills and slows us down even more. Finally we make it to Palenque just before the sun sets and we enjoy our dinner in the jungle.
In the morning we’re one of the first to get to the temples but no matter how early we were: Hundreds of tourists are also there which doesn’t really fit to the atmosphere of the temples. Before getting frustrated, SJ disclose one of her hidden secrets: She’s Lara Croft. And as this, she knows some tricks..and tah-tah: We can enjoy the ruins nearly alone.
It’s not a special side-kick which she performed but finally we just went a few yards further. As this area is huge and has many ruins, the tourists only walk to the first three ruins. All the others seem to be ignored although not less impressive.
Palenque is great…when you do the trick but finally we realize that we’re traveling quite fast and we see and experience a lot in the days we’re on the road. We need a break! Mérida is just perfect for that! We enjoy the beach during the day and the night-life under the night sky with music, dance and 1 Liter-Mojitos served in storage-jars. It’s just amazing. We should have done this far earlier.
Filled with new energy we visit Chichen-Itza, swim in a cenote (highly recommended!!) and travel further to the Costa Maya
Costa Maya is often mentioned as the most beautiful beach coast of Mexico. Well, it’s nice but we weren’t too impressed. Plus as we had some not so nice experiences there, we decide to start the new year in a different country! Belize, we’re coming!