Vamos a Mexico

The funny thing about Mexico for me is how close it is. With all the travel I have been able to do lately, the most of Mexico I have seen before a month ago was still limited to Baja California! In my San Diego years, I spent so much time in Tijuana and got really into Mexican-US politics. It amazed that such a different place was right there, like two neighbors with so much in common, yet so entirely contrasting to each other. My times in TJ are some of the most beautiful moments I remember about that period of my life, moments that are the reasons themselves for why I eventually decided to travel so much more after leaving San Diego.

A quick stop in San Diego at the Vine before heading toTJ!

At the TJ airport, headed to Oaxaca!

But, I could never find time or opportunities to travel there. Between all my new adventures in India, intense semesters at Berkeley, and trotting around South America, I had to keep deferring the wonder of what else Mexico has beyond it's northern border. Finally, my friend Nadia Espinoza, la mexicana that opened up my eyes to her country, and I decided that we had to act quick and go way south before I left Berkeley and North America again for my upcoming 6 months in Ghana. We took 10 days and headed to Oaxaca, Chiapas and the Yucatan.

This was our schedule:

November 19: SFO - SD. Hang out in my old hood Ocean Beach for the day!
November 20 2am: TJ - Oaxaca
November 20 - 22: Oaxaca
November 22 - 24: San Cristobal de las Casas
November 24 - 26: Chiapas
November 26 - 28: Merida
November 29: Merida - DF - Guadalajara - Tijuana - San Diego - SFO!

Oaxaca

A nice snack from Oaxaca

Handstands with Robinson

We ate these crickets!
So good with some lime and chile!

Mezcal de Oaxaca!!

EL MEXICO. Wow es la única cosa que puedo decir. Los sabores, la gente, las vistas, los colores, las ruinas, la natura... Todo me hizo sentir como yo estaba en otro mundo tanto lejos de los Estados Unidos. Con una maniera local muy única, con una cultura demasiado agradable y que se da la bienvenida, y con una historia impresionante y aun visible fiscalmente -- no podría parar a pensar porqué no vine más pronto.

San Cristobal de las Casas

San Cristobal de las Casas

The trip was the most incredible 10 days that I have ever experienced. I wanted it to be way longer of course -- I imagine backpacking for months down there, or living for awhile in a Chiapas -- but I was already skipping classes and work at Berkeley and stretching a 4 day Thanksgiving vacation! I was just amazed at how beautiful everything was. The entire time, I could not believe that I was only a 5 hour flight from San Francisco. That is how long it takes for me to get to Ohio! And probably the same price. We explored Oaxaca for awhile. One of the greatest surprises was having my friend Ryan Robinson meet us up after 3 months in Brazil. It was perfect to have him since I missed him a lot my last semester at Cal! After so much mole, Mezcal and handstands in Oaxaca, we checked out a really beautiful and cool little city of San Cristobal de las Casas and got lost in all of its colorful winding street. We took a day trip and explored a small village indigenous village with a really interesting church. There were religious ceremonies happening that involved a mixture of indigenous beliefs with Catholicism. A lot of the customs reminded me so much of Hindu rituals in India. 

Indigenous Church

Tacos . . . Oh my god Mexican food is soo good!

Next stop was Chiapas. This place is one the most gorgeous places I have ever seen in my life. In one day, you can see incredible waterfalls, hike the jungle, encounter crazy screaming monkeys, see Palenque pyramids and sleep in a hut within a rainforest. Misol Ha waterfall was one of my favorite experiences. I have never been able to swim under a waterfall that strong before, with the water running so deep underneath me. 

Palenque Pyramids

Palenque

The city of Palenque

Misol Ha - First visit

Misol Ha, Chiapas - Second Visit

Misol Ha, Chiapas

Our house in Chiapas

It was hard to beat Chiapas. Then we got rerouted since our flight's got screwed up. We had to head to Merida to catch a flight back to Berkeley on time before we got thrown out! Merida was a really beautiful surprise though. It was like stepping into a Mexican version of Europe. Salsa in the street at nights, romantic patio restaurants around the main Zocolo, gorgeous architecture. Not to mentions it was on the Yucatan, so there were plenty of beaches to visit. We arrived right in time for Thanksgiving, and luck behold Merida was famous for it's turkey! This is the only place outside of Canada and the USA where I found turkey so prevalently! For the big T-giving dinner, we sat down and ate some amazing tostadas del pavo. Wow.... I would go back just for that right now! The last stop were these "cenotes" or caves about an hour car ride and a 40 minute manual train ride away. Jumping from 30 feet high into clear blue fresh water at the bottom of epic looking caves. . . need I say more?

Progreso Beach, Robinson and I 

Merida

Tostada de pavo

Merida! 

Cenotes

Rickshaw ride back to Merida

Mexico City DF Subway

Gudalajara

Gudalajara

The best part of all the trip was that I was finally able to practice Spanish again. It was so weird to be in a place where I could speak to language. It had been too long. . . I was already addicted in 10 days!  This was the perfect end of the semester and my time at Berkeley for me. Now I know that I don't have to go to far to be amazed. Mexico is still one of my favorite places in the world. Gracias a Mexico!!