San Christobal: The most authentic Mexican City?

In contrast to Puerto Escondido I arrive recovered in San Christobal. From the local busstation I first go my hostel and can lionize the beauty of San Christobal on the way. Sometimes you can feel from the first moment that the place is a city you will love and definitely San Christobal is such a city. The city is not so hot like the beach cities on the Yucatan Island but still hot enough.

San Christobal Street

San Christobal in a short view:

The city consists of many colourful houses and churches like the blue church. On two sides you can see a church on a mountain and the whole city is surrounded by forests and mountains. The center is not very big and you can walk easily around. It has two streets without any cars but instead many bars, restaurants and shops. It is famous for the beautiful churches the indigenous markets, mountains with cactus and the good vibe.

A church in San Christobal

Whats to do in San Christobal?

• Canyun de Sumidero in Chiapas de Corzo
• Churches in San Christobal
• San Juan Chamula (Church and graveyard including locals who perform Maya rituals)
• Local Markets with fruits, local food and local cloth
• Party in the bar Revolution
• Eat Tacos on the streets
• Learning Salsa in a school or in a bar

And finally some impressions:

Blue Church San Christobal

Car accident on the Highway

With boat in the Canyon

Old Maya Village: San Juan Chamula

Environment of Maya village

Cooking with friends in the best hostel Posada del Abuelito

I really loved San Christobal however it is time to say again: Next stop….

Palenque and Tulum!

The most famous ruins of Mexico and Tulum

Reading Time: 3 minutes

After a night bus journey, as so often, there are many organizational things to do, where can I leave my luggage, where can I get food and where is the transportation to the next place. Then it goes directly to the Maya ruins which are in the jungle and located on hills. The atmosphere is completed by monkeys which screaming in the jungle. From the high ruins I have a good view over a green countryside. However it is quite tough to walk steps up and down. The rest of the day I spend in Palenque because after raining the whole night, the waterfall “agua azul” is not blue any more. Palenque itself is not beautiful but sometimes everyone needs a rest. Nevertheless one highlight is a Mexican graveyard which is completely different to Europe. Mexicans celebrate death and drink with the dead people. Therefore the graves are colourful and you can find food and beer on the graves.

Tulum:

On the first view there is nothing special in Tulum, it is more or less a touristy main road. However there are many activities and day trips you can do in its environment. Thus it is not as bad as it sounds. The people are relaxed and the beach which is next to the local Maya ruins is beautiful like the ruins itself. If you want to see Caribbean beaches and the sea you are definitely right here. In addition there is a beach called Akumal (between Playa del Carmen and Tulum) where I swim with big and small turtles (sometimes as big as my backpack). Due to the fact that the prices for everything are really high you should bring your own equipment with you. Unfortunately, I cannot show you pictures because I do not have an underwater camera. Furthermore there are many cenotes in the area around Tulum in which you can snorkel and even dive if you have a licence. What is a cenote? A cenote is a kind of cave which is flooded over the years and sometimes consists of many tunnels. I dive in the Dos Ojos cenote. Here as well, I have no pictures but I want to give you an idea: I enter a kind of cave with blue crystal clear water. I jump with my tank on the back, my googles and a neopren into the water and can feel the cold water on my skin. Everywhere the stalactites are hanging down. When I m diving I see sometimes a natural light in the end otherwise the diving lamp illuminate a magical underwater stone world which is usually quiet and dark. When I go to the surface I can hear and see bats flying around in some of the holes between. Slowly I hover over the stalamites. Definitely one of my favourite experiences so far.

Lake Bacalar: Now I m at the Lake Bacalar. For sure it is worth to make a quick stop there. The lake consists of seven colours. You can go diving, snorkelling or swimming there as well. It is my last stop before I leave Mexico. Hopefully without any problems because some days ago during a police control at night I realized that I am illegal in Mexico having no stamp and no arrival card (Crossing border in Tijuana through a metal gate without any control). Thus I expect many troubles at the border. I will let you know how it is going on with me.

Illegal in Mexico: Stories from Borders

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The next morning I wake up very early and take the next taxi collectivo to the Belize border. I expect a long, adventures day. The reason is some nights ago the police stopped the bus and checked the passports. In this moment I realized that they wanted to see a stamp and the arrival card in my passport which are not existing because I got nothing at the border from San Diego to Tijuana. I had big luck because they forget me on the way out. Otherwise …. I did some research and it seemed that I m not the only one who has no stamp. However there was a story in the Australian news about a girl who was in the same situation and must stay 10 days in prison. Despite this story I am optimistic that I can handle it. Expecting a long waiting time to cross the border, I cannot take a direct bus to Belize. Thus I walk to the border and should pay 100$ to the border control which I refuse. After discussions I can go without any stamp to Belize. It is still raining and I m a little bit sceptical. This was too easy. At the border in Belize they refuse me because I cannot enter their country without a stamp from Mexico. There is no space for discussions and I walk back to Mexico. My mood is now like the weather. I can see that the border control has already expected me. I continue my discussion. Finally after waiting one more hour the supervisor gives me the required exit stamp without paying any money. Then the entrance in Belize is very easy and I travel through Belize at the same day.

Unfortunately I do not have time to get money from the ATM because the buses always leave when I arrive. Using my last Mexican Pesos I have changed at the border in Belize Dollar and US Dollar from the States I can pay at least the buses. True, I could stay one night to get money and food but the places I have been in Belize are not very pleasant. By the way Belize city is not very beautiful and although the country is poor, everything is quite expensive. In Belize the local buses are old School buses from the US which has the disadvantage of small seats. Without any money, some water and no food the long day continues. In the late afternoon I arrive at the last town in Belize before the border to Guatemala. I must walk 3 km to reach the border.

Shortly I want to describe my situation: I m tired, hungry and I m not sure where I will sleep because in the last hostel the internet did not work. Nevertheless I m excited as always when I m at a border and travel to a new country. I try to hitch-hike to the border but nobody wants to give me a lift without money. Some people call Belize also the One-Dollar country because many people come and ask for one dollar. When I arrive at a little hill some pupils sitting on their bmx bikes look at me like an alien and shout they will give me a lift. Not taking them serious I continue. In fact 200 m later they stop beside me and offer me a lift. With some doubts I accept and it goes to the border sitting on the back of a small bike with my big backpack and a small one in the front. It must look very funny. At this point: “muchas gracias chicos!” I crossed the border without paying the unofficial “processing fee” of 15€. In Guatemala many things are easier and I m excited what new adventures expect me in this country.