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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 10, 2023 15:20:02 GMT
I neglected to say how interested I was in the Villahermosa pictures. It's been a really long time since I was there, but I remember it as being rather scruffy. They've done wonders with the place!
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Post by casimira on Feb 10, 2023 15:20:48 GMT
It's a shame that what would normally take a certain amount of time turn into a lengthy ordeal.
I loved the soups there, sopa de lima and tortilla were consistently good wherever we went. They're substantial enough to make it a main meal along with a side dish for those who don't like to eat a heavy meal while traveling. Just my personal preference.
The waterside pictures are fabulous.
I'm curious as to whether or not while driving through small villages you encountered the efficient, ingenious speed bumps? The ones we drove across were canvas hoses that fire departments use to extinguish fires. These were laid across the road and were filled with sand. They definitely slowed one down. I thought how clever and effective they were.
You are really covering a lot of ground in a such a short period of time. As you mentioned this was by design and aside from the aforementioned delay affecting your timetable, you're accomplishing what you set out to do.
I am enjoying your report immensely. Thank you for sharing it with us.
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Post by lugg on Feb 10, 2023 20:03:50 GMT
am enjoying your report immensely. Thank you for sharing it with us. Ditto Mark - it really is great to read about your travel in Mexico and see your photos . For me ...your bird photos are just fab in particular
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 10, 2023 22:27:14 GMT
Bixa, the rest of it is still scruffy. The part in the old streets. "Atmospheric" I suppose you could call it.
Casi, the 'topes'(?) I've encountered so far, about half a million or so, are tarmac. None as you describe but I'll keep my eyes out for them. I like soups and will take them whenever I can. I have no problem filling up on them. I will carry on covering some ground, until I don't, and we'll see what happens. I have a route I'd like to go around but it isn't written in stone.
Lugg, thanks. I'll keep my eyes out for birds.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 11, 2023 2:56:33 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 11, 2023 4:41:04 GMT
What beautiful country you drove through! Is that in Tabasco? What is the body of water?
Was Steven stretching to take in the views, or just objecting to the traffic?
Mexico really affords some wonderful vistas of terrain.
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Post by casimira on Feb 11, 2023 16:08:04 GMT
Your mode of transportation is brilliant in that it affords you to take in such gorgeous views and the opportunity to start and stop at your own leisure.
Gorgeous pics Mark!
I would love to see on a map just where you are in relation to your last set of pics.
Steven looks to be a really good scout, your own personal GPS guide!!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Feb 11, 2023 20:49:54 GMT
Fabulous report. I'm enjoying it tremendously. Steven is a lucky dinosaur
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 12, 2023 1:53:50 GMT
Bixa, the body of water is the Embalse de Malpaso in Chiapas - gps ref 17.156668, -93.597664 It was on the drive between Villahermosa and Tuxtla Guitierrez. Just into Chiapas though. After Steve got in on the act, the last three are between Tuxtla and Salina Cruz. Very windy down there. Lots of windmills. These are from today, beautiful driving road, 300km of bends through the hills between Salina Cruz and Oaxaca -
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 12, 2023 2:10:10 GMT
Casi, on this page are photos from Villahermosa, to Tuxtla, to Salina Cruz and then to Oaxaca. You have a map? After here it'll be to Puebla. Renting a car by myself is frowned upon by many people who travel to many countries. They feel it is too dangerous, too expensive, to insular in that you are not on buses with the locals etc etc. I have been advised countless times in many countries to never rent a car. I was banned from the Sri Lanka forum on Trip Advisor by an "expert(s)" after I pulled him up because he kept on and on and on about you'll be surrounded by locals baying for your blood and end up in prison even for the most minor of bumps. I drive. I rent a car. The advantages to the way I want to travel far outweigh the doom mongers' reasons for not getting one.
To get back to Steven.... Me and my three kids have always played a game whilst driving. If you see a yellow car you can tap/slap everyone else in the car that is playing the same game, three times. For many years now it's usually just me and one of them in a car anyway going somewhere. The girl who's toy Steven is knows the game and I told her I would play it with him. That's why he's sat up on the dashboard so he can see. I told her though I was winning all the time because if he saw one first his prehistoric arms aren't long enough to slap me - so I'd claim it and slap him instead. She sent me laughing emojis.
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Post by mickthecactus on Feb 12, 2023 7:29:54 GMT
Look at those cacti!
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Post by casimira on Feb 12, 2023 13:54:29 GMT
Good morning Mark, (I believe we are in the same time zone so for once I have a general if not specific time, I can address folks traveling properly),
Thank you for the update with locations and a better idea of where you have been and where you are going. Some rugged terrain on that trek through the mountains leading you in Oaxaca State on to the capitol.
I know of several people who have made a similar if not the same journey and all have reported that the roads are very challenging and take one into very remote and rugged terrain. I don't know if in some areas a car versus a jeep or sturdier vehicle would allow for a smoother drive.
(I had entertained making the journey from the capitol city down to the Pacific coast but was discouraged from doing so by both locals and others who drove there themselves all because of the aforementioned reasons and also being a woman traveling alone.)
Our contractor and his wife made the journey twice, once by car and another by plane. The time they saved naturally made the journey by air less time consuming and less of a challenge.
The coast has always been a desired destination for me. A young lady who sat next to me on the flight from Oaxaca to Dallas recently shared with me her experience there. She had gorgeous photos of her visit, and it only made me more disappointed that I didn't take advantage of ever going there. The shots of the beaches and the Pacific were stunning. The ocean in some of the pics, one or two in particular showed just how vast a body of water it is when seen on a clear day. There is an ancient saying about the Pacific; "it has no memory." (I have traveled up and down the US Atlantic Coast many, many times but only briefly visited the Pacific in 2 locations both in California).
The mountainous area there in some locations have some microclimates where some unusual flora thrive. Many species of ferns and other unusual other species of plants have attracted many an expedition into those areas. (Something I always yearned to do in another lifetime).
I hope you have a safe and smooth journey and enjoy the city life that awaits you and look forward to your report and further impressions. Thank you and Steven for sharing it with us.
At this point it is likely the most condensed and comprehensive report on Mexico ever posted.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 12, 2023 15:05:21 GMT
I stopped just for you Mick. There were miles of them.
Casi, the report is condensed as it were because I have other photos that will be sorted to be posted when I get back. At the moment the idea is just to keep track of where/when etc. I tend to feel the information you have regarding the ruggedness of the roads and such is somewhat exaggerated. Maybe it's just the route I'm going which takes in more main road than side road. I am sure there are plenty of roads you'd need a 4wd on though. I'll be heading up to the northern coast later and I'll have a look what it's like. A few days ago, Campeche to Villahermosa, drove along the coast and it was pretty enough but I doubt I saw the best bits.
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Post by fumobici on Feb 12, 2023 15:17:10 GMT
I'm astonished how familiar Southern Mexico looks. almost exactly like much of Arizona's higher Sonoran desert. I'd pictured it much greener and junglier.
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Post by mickthecactus on Feb 12, 2023 15:19:38 GMT
Very generous of you Mark and much appreciated.
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Post by casimira on Feb 12, 2023 15:22:46 GMT
Thanks Mark. I look forward to the continuation of your adventures whichever way you chose to post them.
Both times that I learned of the roads being rough and rugged were not too long after the area had suffered either a hurricane, earthquake or other natural disaster which made the roads impassable because of mudslides and rocks having fallen as a result and impeding both highways and side roads.
The cacti seem to have just sprung up and lend to a very surreal and primordial like terrain. Not where one would normally expect to see them.
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Post by lugg on Feb 12, 2023 20:09:51 GMT
So enjoying your journey Mark - what a fabulous road trip. It is certainly opening my eyes to the variety of scenery this country has to offer.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 13, 2023 0:54:31 GMT
Fumo, in a country this size I bet there's plenty of environments. If I come again, which is likely, I'll be looking for the deserts.
Mick, I'll keep my eye out now and again, see if there's anything worth stopping for. It's always something to occupy me on a long journey.
Casi, not surprising then you're advised not to drive that bit. As for the cacti, I've no idea where you're supposed to see them, apart from hot and dry I suppose.
Lugg, I'll try and see what else there is on the way round.
I've just had a little snooze. A young attractive woman wore me out. I'll get back later maybe with a few Oaxaca photos.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 13, 2023 2:58:15 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 13, 2023 3:02:28 GMT
Yesterday's batch of pictures beautifully capture different aspects of the Mexican terrain. I do love the one with the river.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 13, 2023 3:03:35 GMT
Sorry ~ we simul-posted, but you did a WOW job on the Oaxaca photos!
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 13, 2023 3:38:11 GMT
It's not me, it's the camera and the subject. I just point and shoot.
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Post by mickthecactus on Feb 13, 2023 7:44:27 GMT
That is a great set of photos.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 13, 2023 16:36:04 GMT
Hey, I think I've seen some of that stuff before.
Then again, I look at everybody's reports about Paris, too. Keep going.
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Post by lugg on Feb 13, 2023 19:52:23 GMT
Ah - the colours of Mexico that i have come to love from Bixa's reports. Fabulous
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Post by fumobici on Feb 13, 2023 20:01:33 GMT
All this time I thought bixa was a genius photographer and it turns out you just need to take photos in Oaxaca!
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 13, 2023 21:34:50 GMT
Some of y'all are awfully fickle!
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 13, 2023 22:25:11 GMT
Mick, I have more photos but actually not too many as Bixa, K2 etc have I'm sure photographed every building from every angle and probably some of the same people to. There is something about the light and colours that just make a photo better than average. K2, more photos when I get home. For now you'll just have to view photos of places you've not been to yet. Lugg, Fumo, you may not know but Bixa, K2 and I have roughly the same cameras as far as I remember. I'm sure that's the excuse.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 13, 2023 22:56:23 GMT
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 14, 2023 1:14:43 GMT
Nice simple dinner tonight. Somebody remind me what the green sauce is =
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