INTRODUCTION

Delighted in 2003 by our 2 month visit to Peru we decided to tackle Mexico in May/June 2004 with a return visit in less hot weather in Nov/December 2004 including a month spent in Guatemala. Later we added a two week to explore the Yukatan in Feb/March 2008. Mexico remains a superb destination such a pity that the rise in violence has made it less attractive to visit.

Unfortunately for once I recorded very little in the form of a written diary so my record traces than anything else my attempts to extend my vocabulary in Spanish and to keep a check on costs. 

Apologies to early readers for a blog which was started only in November 2016 and will rely heavily on memories resurrected by a study of photographs and the written comments of my wife Joan. 

ITINERARY (May/June 2004)

MEXICO 40 nights
Mexico City 10-13 May 2004, Hotel Catedral
Tasco Friday 14-17 May, Hotel Posada San Javier
Puebla Wed 18-21, Hotel Colonial,
Cuetzalan 22&23 June,
Puebla 24 May 
Oaxaca 25-30 May
Puerto Escondido 31 May & 1 June, Hotel Arco Iris
Chiapa de Corzo, 2&3 June, Casa de Huespedes Los Angeles?
Overnight Bus 4 June
Tuxtla 5&6 June, Hotel Regional San Marcos
San Cristobal 7-9 June, Posada San Cristobal
Palenque 10 June, Posada Aguila Real
Overnight Bus 11 June
Vera Cruz 12-14 June, Hotel Imperial
Jalapa (Xalapa) 15&16 June
Mexico City 17&18 June, Hotel Catedral 

ITINERARY (October/November 2004)
MEXICO 7 nights
Mexico City 30&31 October, Hotel Catedral
Oaxaca 1&2 November, Antonio's
Overnight Bus 3 November
San Cristobal 4&5 November, Villa Real 2
GUATEMALA 21 nights
Quetzaltenango (Xela) 6&7 November, Hotel Casa Florencia
San Marcos la Laguna (Atitlan) 8-12 November, Chalets Ji Nava
Chichicastenango 13&14 November, Posada el Arco
Nebaj 15&17 November, Pasada de Taranza
Acul 16 November, Pasada Ixil Dona Magdalena
Coban 18&19 November, Hotel La Pasada then Hotel Alcazar
El Estor 20 November, Hotel Vista del Lago
Rio Dulce (Lago de Izabal 21&22), November  Hotel Rio Dulce
Flores 23-26 November, Hotel Villa del Lago
MEXICO 3 nights
Villa Hermosa 27 November, Hotel Madero
Mexico City 28&29 November
Overnight flight to London 30 November

ITINERARY (February - March 2008)
MEXICO YUKATAN 14 nights
First Choice flight from London 
Cancun 26 February B&B
Valladolid 27 Feb to 1 March, El Meson del Marques, Chicken Itza

Merida 2-4 March, Hotel Caribe
Ticul  5 March, Hotel Plaza, Uxmal
Valladolid 6 March, Ek Balam
Tulum 7-9 March, Les Arrecifes
Cancun 10 March 2008, El Rey del Caribe
First Choice flight to London

INTRODUCTION written in November 2016
Way back in the 50's three of young men drove across the USA largely along Route 66 returning a stolen car to its rightful owner. It the sort of adventure which left me with so many unique memories, San Francisco of course but none more so than the vibrant city of Santa Fe. In those days it was practically unknown as a tourist destination but to us it buzzed because of its Mexican vibes. 

That's what sent Joan and I exploring Mexico almost fifty years later in 2004 and the appeal of our first visit took us back twice in the following years to explore the south of that country including Guatemala which like Mexico's Yukatan is based on Mayan culture. As is our norm we traveled around solely by local scheduled buses and got as involved as possible in local life.  

Mexico then as now had a somewhat tarnished reputation of criminality largely drug related. We set out with some trepidation not improved by being told by a Mexican girl, met through Italian language classes!, that one even had to be careful about choosing taxis. But the overriding impression left is one of delight in the country and the welcome of the people, though there were occasional downsides. We would love to go again but sadly we have concluded at eighty that our long haul flying days are over and our now resigned to local travel within Europe.