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Post by onlyMark on Feb 18, 2023 21:36:57 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 18, 2023 21:40:39 GMT
Breakfast in the first photo looked pretty good to me.
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Post by htmb on Feb 18, 2023 22:49:24 GMT
This has been a very interesting report, Mark. I’ve enjoyed seeing little bits and pieces of Mexico as you’ve explored. The hot air balloons were quite a surprise, especially seeing so many at once. Must have been quite a thrill. Thanks for sharing photos of your trip. Looking forward to seeing more.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 18, 2023 22:56:36 GMT
htmb, thanks. There will be more. K2, ideal breakfast though big enough I can't eat it when I first get up, it has to be a couple of hours later and big enough to last me into the afternoon. I did have the fruit drink later, plus a container of pineapple in the next photo, plus later still the Sopa Azteca, (tortilla soup) - a tomato, onion, garlic, chilli broth with other bits depending I suppose on which city/town/area you get it -
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 19, 2023 23:20:08 GMT
I know you are all disappointed that I didn't take any photos today. I left Veracruz in the wind and rain and arrived with less wind but still spits of rain at a stopover town. Checked into the hotel, went to the room and had no internet. Saw the router down the corridor many metres. Connected to it, went back to the room, shut the door and it cut out. Opened the door and it connected. So as long as I was sitting in the doorway it was ok. Nope, not good enough. No matter Mexico or not.
Asked to change rooms. Was told no rooms available - yeah, right, I said. You are not completely full, in fact I bet you've only me and a couple more guests. Compromised by someone coming to the room to check the internet, Found they couldn't connect. All of a sudden there is a room available same as before but one floor lower. All ok now.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 19, 2023 23:50:52 GMT
Last thing - a couple of days ago I lost or was stolen, one of the wheel trim/covers thing. Plastic wheel cover. I know if I take the car back without it they'll charge me for a gold plated one studded with diamonds. Handcrafted by an aged monk on the flanks of Mount Fuji. Then shipped by Thor Heyerdahl on a hand built raft made from papyrus reed. And finally overland across Mexico on an Aztec funeral chariot to be fitted by long fingered surgeons.
It'd cost a lot, I'm sure.
So I've kept my eyes open along the roads and spotted one hanging from a shack at one of the many puncture repairs places. I stopped, discussed the price with the owner for purchase an fitting, came to an agreement and after he had done so I raised the price, obviously confusingly to him, from the equivalent of three Euros, to five Euros. We were both happy. I then went to Walmart - some people do hate the place, I think it was mentioned recently, but I walked in, bought some cable ties/zip ties to secure all four wheel trims better, a box of plasters, a small sharp knife, two nice soft bread rolls with some cheese and an apple, a phone charging cable and a whatsit for my thingymajig. All in one shop. Can't beat it.
Clean toilets at this one too. That's a big thing.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 20, 2023 3:51:37 GMT
More than once I have had to sit in the door frame of my hotel room to use the internet.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 20, 2023 4:34:56 GMT
Ahem ~ a treasured & much-missed Anyporter was coming to Mexico with her handsome & cheerful husband & world's cutest child (cutest child in N.America -- pace, Rikita) & was not planning on visiting Oaxaca or at least messing up the family's itinerary by rendezvousing with the cutest Anyporter living in the area between the US & Central America?! Fine. Just fine. Kidding, dear NYCGirl! Along with everyone else, I am thrilled to see you back on these pages again and also happy you're hitting Mexico finally, which I predict you'll love. I'm off on an adventure of my own, but am eager to get your & NYCBoy's take on this country, should you be so moved. In the meantime, and buen viaje!
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 20, 2023 14:11:41 GMT
Dear Mark ~ I had no idea the coast of Veracruz got that windy. Glad you got through that okay. Thanks for the pictures of seedy, but somehow loveable Veracruz. The breakfast looks excellent. I never saw that omelet permutation here before & I love that you got a generous serving of a just-made table sauce.
Good job, too, of overriding the bs & getting some decent wifi. Good to know that can happen in a Mexico hotel.
Your sopa Azteca looks deeper & richer than some other versions, but the garnishes are the classics for that dish.
Walmart. Despite virtue-signally from people who can afford to shop where they wish, it's helpful to realize that Walmart offers jobs anywhere it opens.
Hubcaps ~ I laugh bitterly. I used to own a VW Jetta, a very common car around here. Every time I had to take it in to have a flat tire fixed at the volcanizador (<-- do you love it?) place, the nice man would note that I was missing one or more & he'd kindly throw one in along with the tire patching. The hubcap thieves were undoubtedly grateful that their source had been magically renewed.
side note: I wrote all but the last few words of the above last night, but was so sleepy that I just turned off the laptop & went to bed. But since I have the Draft function enabled in my Profile, my deathless prose turned out to be in fact deathless & there was my unfinished post waiting this morning. Enable Draft!
Since my post was waiting, I just finished it without refreshing the page, so for all I know, this is a complete non-sequitur. Anyway, thanks for the always interesting updates on your travels.
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Post by lugg on Feb 20, 2023 19:21:50 GMT
Well... Hi NYCgirl - long time no see. Hope you carry on posting here xx
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Post by lugg on Feb 20, 2023 19:27:40 GMT
More great stuff Mark - what an adventure , so good to read about your time in Mexico and so many great photos as well. In your photos of Tajin it looked as if you were the only person there. Certainly not crwoded with tourists. And oh yes please keep the food photos coming - looks so good.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 20, 2023 21:53:41 GMT
Bixa, hardly for me to make Spanish corrections and I need to check but I believe it's not "volkan....." but "vulkan..... Refers to the process of vulcanisation using a lot of heat to process rubber and from the god of fire, Vulkan. And that's why I like Spanish, because I can often work words out - like pneumatico meaning tyre/tire.
My rule of thumb is the cheaper the eatery, the more sauce you get. This was an exception though, more mid-range. The omlette was on the menu as a Spanish omlette, i.e. tortilla de Espanol I think.
As for the wifi, my argument was it is difficult to get in touch with my wife, my children and grandchildren then. I think the motherly type woman receptionist related to it.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 20, 2023 22:31:34 GMT
Well bugger. Just tried to download some photos of the journey today and I realise I've stuffed up the camera settings because I was using it one handed whilst driving. So I've nothing to show for it. Never mind though as I'm now in a nice place with something to see tomorrow. I'll just have to take care.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 21, 2023 1:26:37 GMT
not "volkan....." but "vulkan You are absolutely correct & I even know how to spell it correctly. My excuse is, as said, very sleepy & had Volkswagen in my head because of the Jetta. A pet peeve with increasingly touristic Oaxaca is that now restaurants, "nice" places, are more & more just offering a dab of salsa macha. It's an oil-based sauce that doesn't have to be made up fresh, as Mexican table sauces have been since forever. Sorry about the photos -- we've all been there. Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 21, 2023 2:36:15 GMT
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 21, 2023 2:40:35 GMT
Sorry about the photos -- we've all been there. Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. The annoying thing was I'd got, or thought I'd got, some excellent photos of some big birds at the side of the road eating a dead cow. They were epic.
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Post by lugg on Feb 21, 2023 19:33:29 GMT
Gutted for you Mark - maybe when you get home you will find them backed up ? Anyway lad to see you have salvaged some for us to view. Applauding your food choices - I would have chosen the same.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 21, 2023 20:55:54 GMT
They've gone forever Lugg. I connected the camera to the computer and searched but there is nothing there. Never mind.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 22, 2023 2:16:45 GMT
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 22, 2023 2:21:13 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 22, 2023 4:47:11 GMT
They were probably celebrating mardi gras.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 23, 2023 1:28:38 GMT
I’ll title this one “a travelling day”. Just to see what a full(ish) normal day entails. So bear with me. A four to five hour drive is a little longer than normal but I wanted to get to the place I am because I’ll be here two nights. That gives me time to tomorrow to have a wander round but there isn’t actually a lot here. It’s just a rest day, get some washing done etc. I came through here on the way down and wasn’t expecting initially to come back, but because the route through an area I did want to take seems to be affected by road blockages from time to time, and I did encounter one, plus a long road works, I had a change to spend the day in the warmth and on the coast. Breakfast was unusually in the hotel. Nice hotel in Palenque and fair priced (for the tourist area) restaurant. Coffee, orange juice, toast butter and jam (Continental breakfast, top left on the menu) - Set off to drive and made a number of stops. Nice river – Came across a dead snake – And one of the birds feasting on it. I scared them away but caught this one giving me the evil eye – Carried on driving – A bit of local “colour” – Stopped later to stretch my legs (getting old now) – Drove more - Stopped again, because I felt like it. Just before this I was stopped at a road check by the police. First time and have gone through many. My first words in Spanish are always, I don’t speak Spanish, then I see what will happen. There were half a dozen of them hanging around and one approached me and realised communication would be a problem. So he “asked” where I had come from, where was I going and what country am I from. I smiled, said I was a tourist, answered his questions and he waved me on. As I passed the rest of them, with the window down, they all asked me for “dollars”. I smiled, shrugged as though I didn’t understand and drove on. This was a small village at the side of the road and close to the coast – Yikes! – No sharks were harmed in the making of this photo – Good thing for the kids – And then.... Of course I spoke to the man, who said he was the Robin Hood on the sign and we each expressed surprise for me to see the name here and for him to realise I was from Nottingham. Nice moment. Saw some fishermen and stopped – Stopped again because of the beach – Again because I’d spotted the birds, especially the one doing Tai Chi and the beach – I think these two are married - This is Oxxo. You know it if you’ve been to Mexico. They are everywhere and at probably thirty percent of petrol stations. I stop usually mid-morning at one because I can grab a coffee. They are what I can say is a poor excuse for a supermarket. This is one of the things that I shake my head at every time I enter one. It has rows of crisps, sweets, cake type stuff, coolers full of soft drinks and beer – and no fruit/veg or anything to eat. I correct myself, it does have some pre-made pathetic sandwiches and you can even buy a pot noodle they will heat up. Even in the towns and not at a service station, they are the same. But, at those, they may have one shelf in the twenty cooling cabinets that has a bit of yogurt and some plastic sliced cheese. I may have missed something somewhere as to their use, but if you want junk, they are the place. I will apologise if anyone who lives, has lived or visited what is an amazing country can correct me. They should all be gutted and fresh, local produce sold – Rant over. More driving and stopping randomly plus a photo first and second of a road I drove down/bridge I crossed more than a couple of weeks ago - The opposite end of the scale to Oxxo is the chain of these places. Stupendous idea and you can’t miss them. It’s a pharmacy, farmacia, chemists, apotheke with a bonus. Bixa put me on to these and though it is a chain, other pharmacies sometimes have the same idea. I know I’m preaching to those who know but, they have a built in doctor. On the right of the photo is a place titled Orientacion Medica Gratuita. During office hours you can call in and he/she will attend to you. Obviously I wouldn’t call there for major stuff, but for my travel needs they are ideal. Then you call next door for your medication from the prescription the doctor has written. Wonderful – Eventually got to my destination late lunch time. I didn’t hold out too much hope for this hotel but I think they must think I’m a VIP or hotel reviewer or something because I’ve got possibly the best room in the place. Corner room, sunny, cheerful and go0d views out the large windows and patio doors. Even a balcony – Last thing. This juice is called ‘Jamaica’. I know it well from Egypt where it is called karkade. Made from hibiscus flowers. Good and refreshing. Yes, I like normal juices but they often don’t quench my thirst after a long hot day’s travel. This is a litre glass and it went down a treat. I don’t want to push Steven too much on here but, bless him, he was really thirsty as well and jumped up to grab the straw. For every one I post I do have another three I send back, one a day at least - Late lunch, Mexican eggs, beans, banana, eggs with tomato, onion etc. I’ve had it before and i may well have it again sometime – That’s it. A walk round this late afternoon, shower, rest and go out again later for something else to eat when it’s dark.
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Post by bjd on Feb 23, 2023 6:52:21 GMT
Even though I don't particularly like the look of pelicans, those pictures of the birds sitting on posts are great. And the picture of people in the water, some of whom appear to be dressed, made me think of some evangelical baptism rather than just a swim.
Your hotel rooms looks nice, and the Virgin in the parking lot will certainly prevent anything unfortunate happening.
Finally, your description of the Oxxo shops must be the reason for Mexico's very high obesity rates. I did read some time ago that the tax on sugary drinks has helped a bit.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 23, 2023 12:42:38 GMT
Mexico has as many Oxxo shops as there are 7-11s in Asia. 7-11 is several degrees above Oxxo however.
I like the colourful façades in that little residential street. Even if the people do not hold committee meetings to coordinate the colours, I'm sure there is a conscious effort to get the variety right.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 23, 2023 14:29:44 GMT
I wondered also about the obesity rate. Mexico comes in at number 29. US is 12, UK at 36.
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Post by fumobici on Feb 23, 2023 15:47:07 GMT
All that's almost exactly what I'd expect to see on the Mexican Gulf Coast in my imagination. I love you can travel solo winging it as you go, I can't imagine trying to travel in company without a rigidly planned itinerary agreed in advance. It'd be one huge, emotional never-ending argument with normal people involved.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 23, 2023 16:27:55 GMT
I wondered also about the obesity rate. I seem to recall that Mexico is the #1 consumer of Coca-Cola per capita. Luckily their diet offsets their drink.
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Post by lugg on Feb 23, 2023 19:51:41 GMT
What are the chances that you would come face to face with Robin Hood ? ...that made me smile. But really all of this made me smile ...what a great report and photos. I would not say no to those beaches and sunshine either.
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Post by onlyMark on Feb 23, 2023 21:20:01 GMT
K2, I do wonder who decides on the colours. If there are arguments.
Fumo, on this time I made hotel bookings for the whole trip. But they all could be cancelled without penalty. I then used that as a basic framework for when I am/was here. Normally I book the first few nights and make it up later as I go along. I changed my normal method because of having too much time to plan stuff and in my not doing much moments I kept going back to the route/plan and playing with it. I have made a few changes but mainly kept to something like the original plan. I do like the flexibility solo travel brings. Bear in mind I spent many years taking groups of travellers whereby every day was planned and there were often disagreements - but I always said there is no problem for you to go off and do what you want and meet us later. Few ever did, they liked the security of group travel, that's often why they booked it.
Lugg, he looked a bit older and less fit than I thought. Glad you are enjoying the report. Nice to hear.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Feb 23, 2023 21:33:41 GMT
Me an'all This is a great report Mark. Culture, plants AND adventure. Looks nice and warm there too.
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