THESE ARE DRAFTS FROM MY JOURNALS OF THREE TRIPS TO MEXICO, CUBA, BELIZE, HONDURAS, GUATEMALA.(AUTUMN/WINTER 98-99)
NOTE: I TOOK THESE TRIPS ON MY OWN WHILE I WAS LIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO (FOR A TOTALLY 3 MONTHS IN CENTRAL AMERICA).
November 29th, 1988 SAN FRANCISCO
It's raining cats and dogs,,PJ (my landlord) warned me about going to Mexico alone on my own being a female...Well, I hope it is just an AmerIcan idea of Mexico, which sees Mexico as full of crime and hassle...Last time I have been in Bahia California with Linda it was alright, but probably the Caribbean and southern Mexico is different,,,who knows...
November 20th, 1988 MEXICAN ADVENTURE STARTS...
I left to Mexico city at 1 am, the flight was Ok and I even watched "OUT OF SIGHT"...mmm...George Clooney is soooo hot!!ihihihi It took ages to get out of the customs, even if I had a small Eastpack backpack they wanted to check every single thing I had...Then i decided to go to the downtown...if u can call it a downtown(18 million inhabitants!!!!!). The Metro is by far th cheapest (1.50 pesos) way to get there. The subway station TERMINAL AEREA LINE5 is just 10 minutes walk from the sala E. Try to avoid fullpacked wagoncars, I watched a guy stealing from another guy's backpack wiuth a knife and I could do no nothing...If you return to the airport by Metro, do not get off at the Aeropuerto stop, get off at the Terminal Aérea one.
The centre contains most of the historic sights,budget accomodations and stuff Zocado(also see murals by Rivera, Siquieros and Orozco) busstop is actually the centre. Also Alameda is another area for budget accomodations.
One thing that amazed me is the BOSQUE de CHAPULTEPEC which is the bieggest urban park in the Americas...loads of animals, even pandas...
If you do not feel like sightseeing the churches, at least you have to see this "BASILICA de GUADALUPE"
I overnighted for two nights at the CASA de LOS AMIGOS, a very dynamic mellow international atmosphered hostel. dorm rooms 50 pesos. Metro: Revolutiòn line2. tel 7050521.
I took daytrips int he surrounding in the next days such as: *Cuernavaca Norelos, this is a nice colonial town -turned-chich-upper-class-gateway. Very high prices and gringos,but colourful and trendy night life à la mexicana.
*Grutas de Cacahuamilpa,here you can see rock formations shaped like people make out..There are very impressive caverns here...stalagmites,stalagtites.
*Popocatépetl +Ixtaccìhuati Volcanos,they look really majestic and one of them is still active,it is called Popocatèpetl which means the Smoking Mountain.It's huge and locals report seeing UFOs there..iihihih I haven't seen any thogh.
Dicember 8th, 1988, GUADALAJARA, JALISCO STATE
More Mexican than Mexico itself, this city
is the crossroads of Mexico.This is the town where north meets south,
colonial meets modern, traditional meets cutting-egde. The result is a
place you gotta go for.
I got there by a 9 hours busride from Ciudad de
Mexico by Transporte del Pacifico bus for a 208pesos.
This city is full of places to stay. I
stayed at POSADA SAN PABLO, in Madero 429.tel 6142811,between Ocampo and
Donatp Guerra.Rooms are very big,clean,big backdoor yard, it's really a
relazing place.60 pesos for single room,7 double.Guadalajara 's palzas are clean, crowded and
often visited by fucked up mariachis ihihih.The city's museums are the
best introduction to Mexican culture and history outside Mexico city.Outsode the city what impressed me was the
town of Zapopan with her famous Basilica de la Virgen de Zapopan, a giant
16th-century church erected to commemorate a peasant's vision of the
Virgin.Also do not miss Lago de Chapala, Mexico's
secOnd largest lake.
Dicember 15th, 1988 PUERTO VALLARTA
I got here in 6 hours by ETN bus for 245
pesos. This is like the Miami of the Pacific and I didn't actually like to
be in here. At least I found a niceaccomodation at HOTEL AZTECA, Madero
473(tel 22750) between Jacarandas and Naranjo. Loads of surfers and
long-term beach dudes:)75 pesos single,doubles 95.I found one of the best restaurant ever here
though. 
It is called RESTAURANT BUFFET VEGETRIANO, it is in Iturbide
270,at Hidalgo, a few block away from the MAIN PLAZA, 100% vegan cuisine,
with strong Indian tastes.open till 7pm.Althought the herd of tourists tthe panorama
of the 40km of coast line and surrounding mountains is still enchanting.
Bst beaches are:Mismaloya, Playa de los Muertos, Playa de Olas Altas (my
friend surfs here every winter!!)
Night life is at the top here, just hang
around and choose from the wide range of clubs:) I was often partying at
the beach,but still check this out:ZOO(biggest party -place in town) and
Club ROXY(raggae, crossover, punkrock).If you have plenty of time for day-trips go
to Bahia de Navidad, big waves, clear water, 4 hours by bus. It is worth
of it!!!
Dicember21st, 1988 MANZANILLO, COLIMA STATE
This is the state's finest beach!!!Thanks to a fortuitous mix of currents and latitude Manzanillo is cooler iN summer than Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, and still really ok in winter:) about +26C. I got here by bus from Puerto Vallarta in 6 hours for 120 pesos.
I slept at a surfer's flat, but he told me he used to live in this hotel before moving there: HOTEL EMPERADOR, in Davalos 69 (tel.22374),1 block west of the main plaza. It is rustic but clean.
Best beaches: Playa Las Brisas, Olas Altas, Miramar Beach. You can also rent a bodyboard and a surfboard here. Mellow and laid back atmosphere, but also loads of poseurs from the California and Europe(especially French surfers!!).
If you feel like being alone or just want to relax from partytime beach-life, just go to Playa Audiencia, a small cove with calm waters, light brownsand .To get here take the bus called Las Hadas, the view is beautiful.
I flought back to San Francisco from Dicember 24th to January 3rd.
*I was flying United Airlines (to Mexico city)and Mexicana de Aviacion(other destinations and back) this time. Both very good. Mexicana was actaully better:)
