I arrived in Mexico 2 weeks ago and met up with Rita and Sean. Rita has lived in Mexico for the past 3 years and Sean hails from Seattle. I met them both when I lived in Huatulco, Mexico last year. Couldn't ask for 2 better people to travel with. It took us awhile to leave Mexico, partly because I wanted to see some of the people I met last year and to get Rita's paperwork straight. She is a resident of Mexico and needed to get her papers renewed so she can get back in when our travels are over.
Finally all the paperwork was done, 5 trips to the Immigration Office!, and we're off.
We headed out of Huatulco at about 11:45am on Jan. 20th, destination Guatemala. We were hoping to make it to the border that evening but Mexican roads aren't the fastest. Curvy and narrow, you can get stuck behind a bus or truck until you get the nerve to pass. No matter, it's a beautiful drive. As we left the desert beauty of Oaxaca, we passed into the lush areas of Chiapas. We drove past huge flowering trees, cattle and horses grazing on the road side, majestic rock formations and even a few shrimp farms.
If we had pushed on to the border we would have been driving in the dark. Never a good idea, as you never know what's in the road around the next corner; cow, rock or even a bridge out. We decided to stop at Playa Arista and arrived just in time to watch the sun set over the Pacific. Gorgeous! We spent the night at Jose's campground. Jose's is a colorful gent from Canada, who has been in Mexico for many years. He runs a great place with cabanas and campsites. The beers are cold and the bats keep the bugs down.
Up bright and early the next morning, my traveling companions are early risers, ugh. Stopped at a roadside stand for some breakfast, not the best. Usually, you can find great inexpensive fare on the road, but not where we stopped. Oh well! We also stopped at a Wal-mart, of all places, to stock up on some supplies.
Then we got to the border! Wow! As we got closer, all sort of people tried to get us to let them help us across, you just have to ignore them and keep going. Getting out of Mexico isn't a problem. Take your passport to the office and they stamp you goodbye. Rita and I went in while Sean watched the car, we were not charged a departure fee. When it was Sean's turn, they charged him. He said "you didn't charge my friends", the guy just shrugged and took his money, go figure! Now into Guatemala, again, all sorts of people telling us what to do. We got a young man, named Joel, to help us, cause it's confusing. First, he told us where to get our passports stamped and then while Sean stayed with the car, he took us to get the car cleared though. Rita and I followed him down a side street to a little office, where a man told us he could sell us a pass all the way to Costa Rica. Hmmmm, no official things on the walls, no official uniform on him! Rita said no way and we are out of there. Joel tried to get us to go back, but Rita, all of 5'2 and 110 soaking wet, got up in his face and told him off. He then took us to the right place. All told we were there about an hour. As we headed into Guatemala, it was high fives all around!!
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Location:Panajachel, Guatemala
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