First Post – Please Welcome Joe & Claire (Travels In North & Central America)

Hi everybody,

Here is the first update from Claire´s and my travels through Mexico and Central America.

We left one week ago from NZ, and first stop with Orange County L.A. where my newly acquired Godmothers family put us up (thanks a lot). We stayed with James and Angie who have a beautiful baby girl, Isabelle.

They live in Irvine, a city the size of Wellington where houses must be painted in sand colours. Aside from that, it´s ´sweet as´! James took us to a bona fide high-school American Football game. While chowing down on a hotgod, we met the quarterback´s family and sat with them on the fifty yard line. We cheered the Seahawks to a home victory, and helped ourselves to a big slice of Americana Pie.

But it´s not all hot dogs, burgers and orange cheese over there.

We had our preconceptions thoroughly blown about U.S. food. Highlights include ´heirloom´ tomatoes. These are grown from old stock, so they put flavor above appearance.

Muy deliciouso!

We also had some buttery Napa Vally pinot, and french coffee. We visited a huge organic  supermarket with 20 types of salsa, 5 types of Soy Milk and Cloudy Bay Sauvingnon Blanc. In amongst this finery I paid homage to the home of hamburgers by eating seven.

We visited Laguna Beach, which aside from being a palm-tree paradise, totally lived up to its reputation as the gay capital of California. I saw a dayglow orange Porsche Boxter with the numberplate LAG(heart)FAGS. Awesome.

Then we saw a lesbian marriage down on the beach, where they were both hot and dressed as brides – even more awesome. Though this could be because of the amount of plastic fantastic in ´operation´, California must be the mecca of implants.

Then on to Mexico city. With 20 million people in the metropolitan area, you expect it to be busy. We took an illegal ride on the metro from the airport (bags aren’t allowed, but we didn’t know that) and got fully sardined in the morning rush hour. Japan, UK and Paris has nothing on the level of squash experienced here.

Subsequent trips (sans backpacks) were awesome though, it´s a hell of a good system, making the massive city really accessible. Hawkers jump onboard to sell $1 nicknack’s (like candies shaped like Maracas), and we had one ´hawker´that even made the locals wince. He arrived topless, then asked for donations to see him roll around in broken glass. None were given. He did it anyhow.

Viva Mexico!

Viva Mexico indeed, as yesterday was Independence day. We downed some 4-for-$1 tacos (yep you read that right!!!) and headed into the town square. It´s the second largest in the world, and it was totally decked out in lights celebrating 199 years of Mexican Independence.

There was a huge stage with performances all day, by some really famous people we´ve never heard of.

We´ve also seen some pretty sweet pyramids (photos to come) and downed some fantastic domestic beer. Over here they have dark and strong varieties of Sol and Bohemia, so there´s a lot to try out at $1a pop.

Luckily the 7-11s stock them eh? The convenience stores here are awesome, Claire´s been comparing them to Japan.

Which leads us onto our perceptions being blown again. Mexico gets a rap for being dirty and full of poverty. But Mexico city was just like any other big city, except things are cheaper. The hawkers are polite and leave you alone if you say ´no´.

We haven´t got sick.

We haven´t got mugged.

And yes, there are shanties on the outskirts of town, but for every shanty there are 20 regular houses. You´ve got to expect some poverty in a city this size. The standard of living here isn´t as good as NZ, but it´s noway near India.

We´ve just arrived in Oaxaca, a 300,000 strong colonial town, and we´re off to explore. Spanish lessons will take up all of next week,

then we´re off to the beach.

Catch you guys later, when I can update you on sun, sand and snorkelling.

Hasta luego,

Clara y José