Mexican flag in the Zócalo The largest city in the world, so they say…20 million people…and possibly the worst air pollution! Would the pilot see the airport for smog, I wonder? For this reason, I have ambivalent feelings about flying to Mexico City. Better go by bus. I am loathe to leave the sun and [...]
Oaxaca Interlude – Mexico By Allan Taylor A church on every corner The Zócalo, Christmas Eve, 10pm Chrissy and I were engulfed in a sea of happy families filling all available space behind the roped off streets of the procession route. Each church (and there seems to be one every few city blocks) had its [...]
Uruapan avocados (aguacates) “Dos cervezas, por favor” I said after greeting the smiling barmaid in Bar Montecarlo located in a rough part of Uruápan, Mexico. We were desperate for a cold beer. My companion, Chrissy, somewhat averse to entering seedy cantinas, scanned the joint with a critical eye. Eyebrows rose on sighting “girlie” calendars on [...]
Drakensberg from Inkosana It was great to rest up awhile in Jo’burg after a tedious two day flight from Panama City. The lounge room of Rockey Street Backpackers is awash with tourist brochures enticing travellers to all over Southern Africa. I knew roughly where I wanted to go. There were still parts of the Drakensberg [...]
More than a million slaves perished mining and processing silver ore Besides plundering the gold riches of the Incas in Peru and Aztecs in Mexico, the conquistadors discovered in 1544 AD, a fabulously rich mountain of silver ore on the altiplano of Bolivia. Cerro Rico Called Cerro Rico (rich mountain), this barren conical hill is [...]
Statue of Miguel Hidalgo and his church Dawn was breaking. Church bells clanged in the Mexican village of Dolores. Indians congregated for Mass. September the 16th, 1810. Father Miguel Hidalgo gave a powerful sermon that immortalised him in Mexican history. “El Grito de Dolores” the Cry went out to take up arms and overthrow the [...]
“Where in Central America is the best place to buy jade?” Try Guatemala, the home of Mayan jadeite. Last summer I stopped for a week in Antigua, the old colonial capital. It is located 45 kms west of Guatemala City, the modern capital. In Antigua, a thriving lapidary industry produces beautiful carvings and jewellery from [...]
