Mexico & Guatemala MG1
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 1. Noreen and Judy heading up the seemingly endless steps that lead to
the top of the Grand Pyramid at Uxmal, an ancient Mayan temple site near
Merida
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 2. Ian and Trish, trying out a love seat in the Zocalo, the main square
of Merida.
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 3. Every Sunday it´s fiesta time in Merida - street dancing and stalls
galore.
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4. Today we visited the Celestun Bio-sphere, about 1.5 hrs from Merida on the Gulf of Mexico. Well known for its birds we saw large flocks of orangey pink flamingos and some very unusual herons. Later a yummy fish lunch on the beach, and for some a swim!
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 5. We travelled to Flores in Guatemala by the little used overland route. Bus from Palenque, river boat then local bus to Flores. What a pity it rained. We've now done tropical downpour. A BIG puddle to cross so the luggage van came back to collect us.
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6. The "Day of the Dead" Festival 1 and 2 Nov is important throughout Mexico. Raeleyne and Judy admire the decorations of flowers and banners that decorate the graves.
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 7. Temple 5 at Tikal, a vast Mayan site set in the tropical jungle. This spire of 58 metres is one of the tallest and we were able to climb to the top by means of the steep ladder to the left. The view from the top was wonderful.
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8. Hey, it's great to reach the top! Climbing up the steep rock steps of Tikals "Lost World" pyramid was a challenge, but well worth it!
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9. After returning from Tikal, six of us headed out for a kayak on Lake Peten.
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 10. Elizabeth can't resist a little play, outside the historic La Merced Church, Antigua.
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11. What a place for our evening gathering! This is the view we enjoyed from the roof top of Pasada de La Merced, our hotel in Antigua. Volcan Agua is one of three volcanoes that dominate the landscape.
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 12. Antigua is amazing, we all loved it. Established by the Spanish in 1543, Antigua is one of the oldest and most beautiful colonial cities in the Americas.
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13. Today ten of us climbed Volcan Pacaya, an active volcano near Antigua. We reached the top at 2,500 metres after a steep, and slippery scoria climb. We did it!.
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14. The descent was a challenge as we worked our way down the steep loose scoria slope. The climb and descent took 4 hours.
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15. Elsa admiring the fruit and veg stall enroute to the Chichicastenango Markets.
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16. Most of us did some serious shopping at the Chichi Markets as the evenings "show and tell" revealed.
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 17. At Lake Atitilan we went horse riding through the coffee plantations on the slopes of the Volcan San Pedro.
The views were stunning. Noreen and her mount with the rim of the giant lake filled caldera in the background. |
18. As you can see the weather was perfect for our day at Lake Atitilan. After San Pedro we went to the village of Santiago before returning to Panajachel.
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19. Lyn in the village square at San Juan Chamula, an indigenous Indian community in Chiapas State where religious worship is a mixture of Roman Catholicism and ancient Mayan beliefs.
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20. Faye checks out the brightly coloured traditional weavings at Zincantan another indigenous village near San Christobal
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 21. We speed along Sumidero Canyon as far as the beautiful fern-faced water fall. In places the cliffs towered 1,000 metre's above us.
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 22. In Oaxaca we attended a great cultural show, the costumes were magnificent.
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 23. We made it! John reaching the summit of the pyramide of the Moon, at Teotihaucan the ancient temple site north of Mexico City. The even higher Pyramide of the Sun in the background - we climb that one as well !!
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 24. Lois enjoys her lunch in the traditional Mexican ambience of the Casa de Cafe in San Miguel de Allende.
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 25. We very much enjoyed our cooking class at the Casa, which demonstrated the preparation of a typical Mexican meal of tortilla, beans, salsa and chicken. We all agreed with Olivia, it was totally yummy.
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26. One can't visit Mexico without sampling a traditional Mexican Margarita. (San Miguel de Allende)
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27. We really enjoyed our stay in San Miguel de Allende, in Central Mexico. The "light" is fantastic and theré is lots of interest, to see and do.
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 28. Christel snuggles up to "Don Quijote" in the deserted mining town of Pozos. Once a rich silver mining region, the mines were abandoned overnight in 1927 when a massive flood resulted in the death of over 10,000 miners.
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 29. Guanajuato during the 16th and 17th Centuries produced over 40% of the world's silver. It was a very rich city indeed and today the surviving architecture is still quite magnificent. Looking down on the shaded Plaza de Union in the Central Historico area of town.
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 30. In 1905, to alleviate traffic congestion Guanajuato built tunnels in the diverted river bed that ran through the city. Barbara, standing at the entrance to the vast tunnel network.
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 31. Happy Birthday Lois, her surprise celebration in Guadalajara
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32. A traditional "mariachi" band entertains the crowd in Guadalajara.
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 33. Ian helping to secure the packs on the roof of the van. We´re off to Tequila and our last stop at Rincon de Guayabitos on the Pacific coast.
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34. We've reached Rincon de Guayabitos a small beach settlement on the central Pacific Coast. Palm trees line the white sand beach and the water's mid summer warm........ it's time for some R and R before flying home.
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 35. Judy and the pelicans on Guayabitos beach. The bird life here is amazing - with large numbers of pelicans and frigates soaring overhead.
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36. In Tequila we visited the Jose Cuervo tequila production plant. Lyn, Olivia and Faye check out the size of the huge agave hearts from which "aquamiel", the essential ingredient of tequila is extracted. Of course we had to sample the real thing!
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37. Our accommodation in Rincon de Guayabitos - appartments just a stone throw from the beach, close to shops and restaurants. Thanks Heather and Mundo for your wonderful hospitality.
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38. For our final day, armed with a bundle of juicy pineapples, we took a small boat to the island of Isolete to swim and snorkel.
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32. Time to contemplate, for tomorrow we start the journey home. (Isolete Island, Rincon De Guayabitos)
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