Let's start from the basics. Mexico is a huge country. Travelling between different states can take up to 17 hours or more, depending how far you're going. Having visited Mexico City, Puebla, Cholula, Oaxaca, San Cristóbal de las Casas and Tapachula, after 28 days we barely scratched the surface.
Another thing we noticed, possibly sparked by the sheer size of the country, was the believed stereotypes and prejudices Mexicans had against their compatriots on the other end of the country. To a Mexican, the country is divided between the North, the Centre and the South. And a northerner can be quite clueless about the way of life of a southerner having all sorts of cultural misconceptions. That was a common pattern observed in the different countries we passed by. The Americans were warning us about the Mexicans and the Cubans. The Cubans disliked the Americans. Everybody felt the need to enlighten us about their prejudices, concerns and opinions about the others.
We experienced a safe environment whenever we were travelling in Mexico and never really felt threatened in any way. However, the constant warnings of how dangerous Mexico can be, led us to avoid hitchhiking. This didn't really agree with our method of travelling nor with our budget but we decided to put our safety first and ended up taking buses to our various destinations.
For the first time we attempted to travel solo which introduced us to a new way of experiencing a country and prevented us from killing each other. For more on that topic check post #46: https://globetrotters-gr.blogspot.com/2019/10/46-our-thoughts-on-solo-travelling.html
Also, one of us getting sick was something that was bound to happen at some point during this journey. This time it was Nikoletta's turn. No matter how hard you try to protect yourself from unknown quality of food or water or weather conditions it can get to you. But we got through it quite fast and were happy to continue our adventure.
On a brighter note, for us Mexico was a land of endless food options!! Food is probably the first thing that pops into our mind when we think of Mexico. Such a great variety of fruits! We learned that there is not only tequila but also mezcal. So so many dishes, even some drinks and sweets, would come with a side of chilli. Panos actually grew a taste for spicy food and would ocassionally add a bit of hot pepper sauce on his plate. More about food see post #53: https://globetrotters-gr.blogspot.com/2019/10/53-food-in-mexico.html
Colourful clothes and fabrics were hanging from every big local market and the colonial architecture of the historic centres and churches was at times breathtaking. Archaelogical sites were abundant in every state with pyramids hidden in the jungles of the Mayan heartland in the southeastern states. The more south we went, the more indigenous the population became. Local women from mountain villages were travelling to the cities to sell their goods, wearing their traditional colourful dresses and speaking Nahuatl or Mayan languages like Tzotzil and Tzeltal. Pictures from the pyramids in post #50: https://globetrotters-gr.blogspot.com/2019/10/50-mayan-pyramids.html
Panos was having a much easier time understanding the Mexican Spanish accent which was a refreshing change from the almost incomprehensible Cuban one. And speaking of languages, Nikoletta started learning Spanish in earnest, using flashcards and practicing with local people.
Hasta luego,
Nikoletta y Panos
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