I've known that Oaxaca City would be the beginning of another phase of my journey. Zero backpackers had mentioned Oaxaca City on their itinerary. Yes, the beaches of Oaxaca, specifically Puerto Escondido and Mazunte, would be on the list but no one seemed to have Oaxaca City on their list. Because my next step after would be Zipolite, also not on the radar, I started to accept that maybe I was no longer part of the backpacker circuit and I would start making friends in different ways (not just in the hostel)…
Read MoreThis is only the beginning.
Palenque
This would be the beginning of many moments travelers telling me that I absolutely must go to Palenque. Palenque is located in the Mexican state of Chiapas. It is a jungle city nestled in the mountains. It is most famous for its archaeological zone that is considered one of the most astounding sites to have been discovered. This place was hyped like crazy...
Read MoreThe Mayan Ruins of Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, Uxmal & Dzibilchaltun
I love archaeology mostly because I am an emotional person. When I see what is left of these great civilizations of the past, I feel things. In the case of the Mayan ruins and the Teotihucan site, these sites were not conquered as far as we know. These sites were abandoned. We have theories as to why but we may never really know why they were deserted. I think there is something about the abandonment of these sites that resonates with me because of the stories of my grandparents who fled WWII Europe. When their neighbors turned on them, words that the Nazi Army was getting closer, there were signs that leaving everything behind may be the best solution for survival. I do wonder when I visit these sites if perhaps there was an eminent invasion and perhaps for the sake of the lineage, it made more sense to take what you can and leave quickly…
Read MoreValladolid and Nerds
Lots of backpackers seem to skip Valladolid because it is advertised that they can get to Chichen Itza from either Cancun/Playa Del Carmen or Merida. Valladolid is the best city to stay in to wake up early and see Chichen Itza before the tour buses from hell arrive. However, there is another level to the Valladolid experience that I will document below. I recommend Valladolid as an intermediate stop not just for the ease of access to archaeological sites, but because of the other travelers you will meet there…
Read MoreAmanda, Cenotes, Coba, Greg & Kaan Luum
When I first announced to my friends from home that I was going to spend the next year or so traveling (instead of sitting on my sofa for incredibly long periods of time at high frequency), my first week in Mexico happened to overlap with Amanda and Greg's planned vacation to Tulum. I knew that I wanted to tour the Yucatan and I did not have an itinerary.
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