¡no me joder cabrón!

First off, a big congratulations to Tim and Shalan for their new baby boy Bronson Abadox McGruder. I couldn't have picked a better name myself, you crazy kids.

The murals of Diego Rivera were absolutely the best thing I saw in Mexico City, anyone who checks the city out should make the Palacio Nacional a first priority, besides, it's free.

Jadon and I took a cheap bus to Puebla for a day. That city was pretty big and bustling. Their soccer team won a big game, so for hours and hours the streets were clogged with people laying on their horns in celebration. People honk in this country quite a bit actually. Sometimes all night.

In Puebla we pretty much just took it in for the night and made plans to leave the next day. We shared a $10 room in a flophouse that was absolutely dreadful. The bed was misshapen in the middle and really uncomfortable. I was afraid of the scabies but I did it anyways - no sign of them anyhow. The bathroom was communal and flooded, and I didn't trust the shower.

There was a church adjacent to the roach motel that had loud chimes that went off every 15 minutes - even through the night. I was able to sleep through it all right, but Jadon tossed and turned the whole time. Poor guy. I'd sleep through a train crashing though my house, which I guess is a mixed blessing.

In the morning, we futzed around for a little bit and then headed to the bus station. I had credit card trouble, because for some reason my bank thought I was receiving fraudulent charges in Mexico - I guess you're supposed to tell them you're leaving the country first. After playing phone tag with my dad and the bank, I finally was able to get a new PIN and withdrawl some cash.

The bus was completely packed, and I ended up sitting next to some stinky guey who snored and kept touching his swampy genitals - plus he took up 3/4 of the seat. 12 hours later, we arrived here in town and got a quick hotel. This one was much nicer. I got a nice shower and a shave. much better, now for laundry.

Now we're in San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas. We paid for a week of Spanish Classes and a weekly homestay with this nice lady Esmerelda and her son. It's coming along fine for me I think, Jadon's definitely having some difficulty. Knowing what I do of French has helped quite a bit, although I keep confusing prononciations.
I'll get the hang of it soon enough, no prob.

Anyone care for a friendly fight to the death?

I've been reading more about Ulama today. If you lose, you'll end up honorably decapitated, so it won't be a total loss right?

Tonight is our last night in Mexico city, tomorrow we'll be off to Oaxaca, then Chiapas. Anyone have any suggestions? send me an email!

Calzada de los Muertos

we met up with this Australian named Mick earlier today to head off to Teotihuacán. Besides Stonehenge and the mountain carvings in Britain, I think it's the oldest neolithic thing I've ever seen. I didn't get any good pictures because my batteries were dead, and Jadon ran out of cash (with no ATM around), so I had to conserve my money. Besides, with all of these landmarks, everyone's probably seen way better photos online and in magazines. It would have been nice though.

I got a killer sunburn, which i hope is the worst I get through the whole trip. Nothing besides water tonight, it'll just dry me out totally, so I don't want any part of it, I'm already hurting.

We're planning on crashing in the hostel for another night, then heading to Oaxaca in the next couple of days. Tomorrow I want to just hang out in the city, and take in a few good walks and whatever. I want to see some Diego Rivera murals and find a good restaurant.

I found a vegetarian restaurant today that was practically atrocious. Mick the Australian was the least pleased , but I did watch him pull apart a whole fish and eat it. Tomorrow I'll just take some of Jason's advice and use the "sin carne, sin pollo, sin puerco y sin pesco" routine and cross my fingers. so far, Montezuma has nothing on me (so far).

gestalt

Jadon and I made it into Mexico City just in time for it to rain and get cold. All in all the vast majority of people here have been very forthcoming and friendly. Granted, I've only been here a day now, but it's a sharp contrast from the filth and crime that lots of people attribute to this place. The architecture is very old, and the streets are well worn. This place is way older than anything you'd find in the states. The only place I could compare it to would be Europe as far as the feel and architecture, but that doesn't give it justice.

Last night Jadon and I wandered the streets a little, took in a few drinks, and made a couple of friends at the hostel we're staying at. We found a little restaurant down the street, I wonder whether the soup I had was made with beef stock, but it was at the very least quite tasty. At this point, my novice Spanish isn't quite to the level of asking that kind of question. I'd give it a week or so. So hopefully I won't be getting a shitty (pardon the pun) visit from Montezuma.

Today I think we're going to explore the old ruins outside the city with an old Australian guy named Mick (I think). Now, I need to buy batteries and get some more coffee.

captivating right? well, our adventure has barely started. We've got about 4-5 more weeks to go before I plan on returning to the states.

la casa de la muerte

I fly out for Mexico City in two hours. I barely know a word of Spanish, and have never had a formal lesson. Neither has my traveling partner Jadon. I'm afraid to look like a tourist, but fuck it, I'm going to enjoy myself. I've got $500 to make it there and back and stay alive for 6 weeks. The plan is to take in a bunch of ruins, sleep on the beach, avoid getting fucked with, and soak in a pretty solid adventure. After Mexico City, I'll be headed east towards the Yucatan and all the ruins along the way. The goal is to find a way to hitch a boat ride back across to the US and end up along the Gulf Coast somewhere and find our way back to our respective cities. I've got a frame pack, some clothes, a couple of books, a chessboard, my documents, and a sleeping bag. sink or swim, right?