Mexico & Guatemala MG 101
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A Mexican 'jimador' harvests a cactus during the tequila process.
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Jean enjoys a giggle with a friendly clown in Guadalajara.
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We caught this colouful display of local children doing some traditional dancing, Guadalajara
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We enjoyed the tequila tour on our second day in Mexico.
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We visited a silver mine in Guanajuato set in an old hacienda
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We enjoyed a colourful city tour in Guanajuato, City of Cervantes (Don Quitjote)
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In San Miguel we had a wonderful cooking lesson, learing how to make pozole. Jo mixes up a nopal (cactus) salad after some expert chopping.
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Sunset over San Miguel de Allende - we enjoyed it from the hotel's rooftop terrace.
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Jean & Charles at Teotihuacan, having climbed the 3rd largest pyramid in the world, the sun temple. Moon temple in background.
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We enjoyed seeing Mexico's history through Diego Rivera's murals at the National Palace in Mexico City
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We saw a display of Aztec dancing in the main square (zocalo), Mexico City.
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We have been enjoying a mix of public and private transport. Once we got to Taxco, we piled onto the back of a ute to take us & our bags up the steep road to the hotel.(Eileen, Patricia), Charles, Yvonne on the ute)
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Ted and Helen outside a quaint shop in Taxco
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Oaxaca is famous for its chocolate. Patricia, Helen, Jo, Ted and Nolene
decide which one to take home having tried a sample.
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Nolene tries a fried grasshopper, another of Oaxaca's delicacies
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The group at Monte Alban
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We visited an interesting workshop where they make rugs using natural dyes. Here we observe one of the best rug makers in Mexico crushing cochinea to prepare a dye.
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Mexican yarn and rugs
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We marvelled at the size of this tree, the largest in the world. Look how it towers over the church to the right. It is estimated to be about 3000 years old. Tule, Oaxaca.
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Ted, Jo, Charles and Patricia dressed up in the typical dress for a weddding ceremony
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We observed a weaving demonstration in Zinicantan, Chiapas
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Na Balom is a cutural centre in San Cristobal for the Lacandon indigenous people and other Mayan groups.
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The main church of San Cristobal by night
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The local authorities told us we should evacuate so here we are waiting for our boat to transport us to the other side of the lake. It didn't stop raining for 4 days.
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Off for a day trip to a women's cooperative, near Antigua Guatemala
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Typical artwork by Guatemala painters
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We were shown how to carry a baby in a blanket/shawl and balance a load on your head, something that indigenous people all over Guatemala do eveyday.
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Patricia, Jean, Charles, Nolene and Helen had a go at making tortillas which is harder than it looks.
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The ladies make handicrafts at the cooperative and sell others from around the country
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Nolene wasn't scared of this hairy tarantula who our guide Luis secures for the photo.
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Yvonne and Alison shelter in the buttress roots of a huge tree at Tikal,
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Ted was one of 6 brave group members to master ziplining
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We had the privelidge of crossing back into Mexico on a boat across the Umascinta River.
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Enjoying the tour of Palenque
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Yvonne and Alison enjoy the beautiful Agua Azul waterfall near Palenque, Chiapas
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The group at Chichen Itza
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Charles, Jean and Patricia take off on the mangrove tour
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Jo enjoys a ride at the Celestun estuary
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A great day out -whale sharks, nature spotting, fishing and snorkelling
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Whale Sharks - their polka dot markings make them quite unique amongst the shark family
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We were able to swim with the whla sharks, two people at a time along with the guide. For many people this was the best day of the trip and a truly once in a lifetime experience
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Two sea turtles enjoying each other's company at sea
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The meticulous beadwork of the Huichol Indians,
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We passed through Cancun, world famous for its white sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
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Taking a break on Cozumel
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Our final dessert in Cozumel - lovely tropical ice cream.
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